Guest Report post Posted April 18, 2002 Everyone knows the popular, old school horror stuff. Evil Dead, Halloween, Friday the 13th etc. What horror movies out there do you feel are really good but have been ignored and overlooked? I can list off quite a few myself, but I'd say probably one of the best is a great backwoods slasher called Just Before Dawn. If you haven't seen it before, try and find a copy to buy or rent. It has great atmosphere and music, plus a freaky killer. It's on VHS, but out of print. No DVD, but maybe one day. ??? Here is a pic of the VHS box cover. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest El Satanico Report post Posted April 18, 2002 This is a tough question. Besides the b&w classics, the small number of modern classics and the teen slashers most horror movies are disrespected by the general public so it makes for a good number of underrated horror movies. I can't think of an answer right now but hopefully i'll return here with one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest evenflowDDT Report post Posted April 18, 2002 Being a Full Moon mark, I humbly offer what is probably their best picture, Castle Freak. I would say Ginger Snaps but seeing as how it shows up every few days it's obviously not underrated, at least around here Another underrated picture that's one of my faves is Chopping Mall. It may be stupid, it may have goofy robots, but it's the movie that got me hooked on b-films, and it's still one of my favorites, such that I'm actually thinking of spending the big bucks to import the Japanese DVD. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest TheDames7 Report post Posted April 18, 2002 Chopping Mall.....I think i saw that when I was 8. Is it about a group of kids that get locked into a mall where the security guards are killer robots? If I can recall, there's a seen where one of the girls gets her head blown off. If this is the movie....I'm just gonna mark out. I loved it when I saw it and I completely forgot the name of it til you mentioned it. Dames - Sex Robot Sent Back Through Time Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest muzanisa Report post Posted April 18, 2002 Wicker Man Witchfinder general Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest swan Report post Posted April 18, 2002 Luther the Geek Driller Killer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest swan Report post Posted April 18, 2002 Toxic Avenger Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Zack Malibu Report post Posted April 18, 2002 I agree with ya Swan, on Toxic Avenger, but I wouldn't call it underrated, since it's a b movie "Must Have". I'd go with Sleepaway Camp or The Wraith. The Wraith isn't really a "horror movie", but I remember it being on WPIX out of New York virtually every year around Halloween. It's the movie with Charlie Sheen where a mysterious figure in a suped up black car kills members of a gang out of vengeance. HBO wound up airing it a few times a while ago, and I got to tape it, then found it in WalMart on VHS for $5 bucks. Sleepaway Camp, I will say nothing about. If you haven't seen it, rent it or buy it. It can seem boring/draggy, since it's done in a mystery "whodunit" fashion, but the surprises in the movie will more than make up for it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest TUS_02 Report post Posted April 18, 2002 Heh, I was just thinking of Sleepaway Camp today. Only because I was comparing that fat, perverted cook to the camp cook in Wet Hot American Summer (Gene). But I'll back Zack up here, the surprise at the end really, REAAAAALLLLLY gets to you. I'm also happy someone brought up Wicker Man, because I would have forgotten it. It's incredibly slow (for my standards) but the last 20/30 minutes of it make up for it in spades. Holy shit did I ever mark out like a little girl at that ending. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anorak Report post Posted April 18, 2002 Most people seem to rate Wicker Man and Witchfinder General pretty highly, its not like they are critically underrated, just largely unseen by wide audiences. Its not like they have never recieved any recognition but they are films more people should be encouraged to check out, which is really the purpose of this thread. I like Witchfinder General slightly better than Wicker Man personally. I can't think of any other films off the top of my head so i'll post some later. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest CoreyLazarus416 Report post Posted April 18, 2002 I personally found Titanic to be frightening as all hell...does that count? IMO, the largest underrated horror movies are Return Of The Living Dead and Return Of The Living Dead Part 3. MGM gives the go-ahead for a B-Movie classic like Killer Klowns From Outer Space for a Special Edition DVD, but they want to release a bare-bones disc for Return Of The Living Dead, which is in the top 5 of best zombie movies ever (along with Dawn Of The Dead, Night Of The Living Dead, Evil Dead II, and Dead Alive/BrainDead)? Fuck MGM. Fuck them in their stupid asses. THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ARE THE BALL-LICKERS!! Sorry...I always use that phrase now...teehee... Yes, everybody, e-mail or write a letter to MGM about releasing a special edition Return Of The Living Dead DVD. The latest news says that Dan O'Bannon has souped up the picture quality, and wants to wait to transfer it PERFECTLY onto DVD, but MGM are rushing him for a late-summer release and are willing to push the old print (ie. poor quality picture) onto DVD just to meet a deadline. We'd all wait for a high-quality DVD of this classic, won't we? It's actually in high demand at my high school, as at least half of the school has seen it and enjoyed it because of its hilariously gory scenes. "SEND MORE PARAMEDICS!" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest ArkhamGlobe Report post Posted April 18, 2002 Wicker Man Witchfinder general I have to agree there, those films are phenomenal. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted April 18, 2002 Im in total agreement about Return of the Living Dead deserving a special edition DVD. speaking of zombies, Redneck Zombies is also an unheralded classic. it has maybe the lowest production values Ive ever seen, was shot video, and features terrible acting, but it has that lightning in a bottle quality which makes it enjoyable. Its insanely gory, with wall to dismemberment... and its funny. another was Night of the Creeps, which was about slugs from outer space which invested your brain and made you a zombie. it had one of my favorite horror scenes ever, where an axe murderer was buried in a vacant lot, which later had a house built over it, and an old lady is in there watching tv when the corpse hacks its way up through the floor also Ghoulies, The Funhouse, Creepshow and the Tom Savini directed version of Night of the Living Dead Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anorak Report post Posted April 19, 2002 The Beyond: Certainly a bit rough round the edges like any Fulci film but it has a great atmosphere and imagination to it at the same time. Plenty of gore as well. Deranged: The most involved and accurate account of the Ed Gein case. The version i saw had a really annoying mock reporter narrate the story but it doesn't take away from it too much. The actor playing Ed Gein was apparantly a renowned stage actor and is great in the role, despite some pretty black humour its quite a whimsical film overall. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Eric the Eagle Report post Posted April 19, 2002 The American remake of "the Night Watchman" (I think they called it that) was absolutely crap, but the Danish original is creepy, creepy... I think "Final Hour", also a Danish horror flick can be found with English subtitles, as well. One of the best horror movies I've ever seen. It's about a gang of high school students trapped in their school with someone or something that may or may not be the old watchman, who may or may not have been murdered years ago by a similar group of students. Add to this the media standing outsid doing the Natural Born Killers impression. The best part of it really was the fact that it never came completely clear with what was *really* going on - you had to piece that out for yourself. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest muzanisa Report post Posted April 19, 2002 There was a reasonably decent fist made of Rawhead Rex. The Clive Barker short story. It's by no means great and the monster suit is really bad, but its entertaining enough and worth renting if you're a fan of Clive Barker. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest El Satanico Report post Posted April 19, 2002 The American remake of "the Night Watchman" (I think they called it that) was absolutely crap, but the Danish original is creepy, creepy... If it's the one i'm thinking about with Ewan Mcgregor it was called Watchman on the american version. It suffered from the same problem that many recent American horror movies have suffered from. It started well and built up some good atmosphere and had a good setting but then the movie went to hell and wasted all of what they had done well. The other movies(that i can think of now) which also suffered from this was the remakes of House on Haunted Hill and 13 Ghosts. Both movies ended up being shitty and trust me i'm not arguing that point. However both movies did start out well and built up some good atmosphere and both had great settings. The problem came when they combined all that with a rather horrible script and terrible execution of the story. They both ended up being movies that were good looking but had no substance at all. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Eric the Eagle Report post Posted April 19, 2002 That would be the same flick, yes. Totally agree. Same with lots of other films. Great premise, but fails to deliver. God's Army, for example (though I really enjoyed it - It just could have been better). Or take the Haunting. Lots of small touches that I really liked - the children's ghosts that still fear their killer are pure gold - but then it somehow just fizzles, in this case through a number of "What the..."s (in a *bad* way) and plain bad storytelling. To sidestep the tread a bit, the "Firestarter" movie is quite all right, IMO. Not a real classic (or even a real horror movie), but worth checking out if you liked to book. Except for the Green Mile and Dolores Claiborne, it might just be the most faithful movie adaption of a King book (not counting mini-series). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted April 19, 2002 The Town that Dreaded Sundown and Waxwork, creepy shit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted April 19, 2002 I've never seen The Town that Dreaded Sundown, but I'd like to. I'm glad The Funhouse was mentioned, I absolutely love that movie. Someone mentioned Chopping Mall (one of my favourites), here is a crappy pic of my poster for it. Classic image! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest CoreyLazarus416 Report post Posted April 19, 2002 The Ewan McGregor film you speak of is called Nightwatch. Not too bad, because it has Nick Nolte and lots of sexual aspects to it...but the climax sucked. I can't wait until House Of 1,000 Corpses gets released this Halloween. Zombie is a fucking deity among horror fans, as he sticks to TRUE horror films and doesn't watch this I Know What You Did Last Summer/House On Haunted Hill (remake) bullshit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest El Satanico Report post Posted April 19, 2002 Zombie's movie has a release date now? Or is that just rumors as of now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest ArkhamGlobe Report post Posted April 20, 2002 Or take the Haunting. Lots of small touches that I really liked - the children's ghosts that still fear their killer are pure gold - but then it somehow just fizzles, in this case through a number of "What the..."s (in a *bad* way) and plain bad storytelling. The remake of the Haunting has got to be one of the single worst horror films I have ever seen in my entire life. Part of it may be that I had seen the original (which, on the other hand, is, IMO, one of the best horror films I have ever seen). I remember it starting out fairly well with them trying to actually build mood and atmosphere but then it just degenerated into a bunch of CGI nonsense. It actually put me to sleep the first time I watched it, so then I had to watch that miserable film again to see the whole film. What a waste of two hours. But the original rules, and I would have mentioned it if it weren't already pretty revered among horror fans. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest evenflowDDT Report post Posted April 20, 2002 Chopping Mall.....I think i saw that when I was 8. Is it about a group of kids that get locked into a mall where the security guards are killer robots? If I can recall, there's a seen where one of the girls gets her head blown off. If this is the movie....I'm just gonna mark out. I loved it when I saw it and I completely forgot the name of it til you mentioned it. Dames - Sex Robot Sent Back Through Time Yeah, Chopping Mall! Chopping Mall fans unite... me, Dames, and C.H.U.D. It can't be any worse of a Smarkboard Stable than the "aWo" Seriously though, it's good to see I'm not the only one who's seen this movie, or more importantly, not the only one who's seen the movie and liked it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted April 20, 2002 I can't wait until House Of 1,000 Corpses gets released this Halloween. Unfortunately, House of 1,000 Corpses still doesn't have a release date yet. Some studio's are looking to buy the film, but there haven't been any takers. I hope it doesn't go straight to video. ??? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest El Satanico Report post Posted April 20, 2002 Hell at this point i'd be happy if they gave House of 1000 Corpses a quality DVD release. But i'm still hoping a studio steps up for a theater release. Maybe Troma can make their first appearance in a first run theater release. I wouldn't mind that because there is a better chance that Troma would do some old school type horror promotion that this movie needs. Only problem is that i don't know if Troma has enough money even with Zombie pitching in to promote a mainstream release. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest CoreyLazarus416 Report post Posted April 21, 2002 Hey, Satanico, how easily you forget about Toxic Avenger, Toxic Avenger 2, and Squeeze Play, all of which had mainstream releases... And I'm betting that if Lloyd and Michael ask nice enough, Trey Parker and Matt Stone will lend a hand and promote a mainstream release of theirs. After all, Troma distributed Cannibal! The Musical when no other studio would. Don't doubt the power of Troma. They get attention from E!, MTV, and even CNN. I know you don't doubt their power, especially since their fanbase is increasingly growing day-by-day, but yeah...RANT~!~ Mmm...CKY...good band...funnier videos... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest El Satanico Report post Posted April 21, 2002 I remembing seeing Toxic Avenger 1 & 2 promotional stuff for the video releases. But i don't remember them getting theater releases. Oh i'm not doubting them at all i'd love to see them promote it this is the kind of movie that needs that old school vibe that Troma could provide. They need to pull a Night of the Living Dead and show it to unsuspecting people in a double feature after a romantic comedy which would need to be r rated to keep kiddies out. Since we all know parents will freak out if they surprised children with it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
