(Credit: New World Pictures)
Halloween is coming, and it's time to watch our favorite horror films. Rather than re-hash the same "classics" that everyone has seen a thousand times, I though I would focus on some films that I feel are a bit more obscure or underrated. Let's jump right in!
PIN (1988)
This is one of my all time favorite "hidden" gems, and it still creeps me out! The story of how an anatomical dummy from a medical office slowly takes over the lives of a mentally ill man and his sister (with whom he has a very unhealthy relationship) is relatively simple. Many people complain that the film is slow, and it can be, but I still maintain that Pin, the doll, is extremely creepy and for some people, it will be nightmare fuel. I still have this on on VHS, and if you have a chance to see it, check it out!
Burnt Offerings (1976)
This is one of my favorite haunted house films of all time. Whenever you have Bette Davis as the one sane person (we think) in the film, you've got something! Oliver Reed is awesome as always as he seems to hallucinate a creepy chauffer (tied to some childhood trauma), and the ever-amazing Karen Black makes us question our own sanity as she becomes completely obsessed with a never-seen old lady upstairs. This is a slow burn for sure, but you have to stick with it because the fear and anxiety definitely build, and the ending makes the journey worth it!
The Hamiltons (2006)
I saw "The Hamiltons" as part of After Dark Horrorfest, and it became on of my favorites of that event. I think that the less I actually say about the movie, the better it is, as I don't want to risk any spoilers. At it's core though, it's a horror film about a family of siblings just trying to get along without their recently deceased parents. Of course, there's a lot more to it than that. This one was written and directed by The Butcher Brothers and I have to say that it was one of the best entries in the After Dark Horrorfest series. It should be on anyone's Halloween viewing list.
The Invisible Man Returns (1940)
Of course everyone remembers the original, starring Claude Raines, but the highly underrated follow up often goes unnoticed, and it's probably one of the best of the Universal Classic horror sequels. This time, Vincent Price stars as the Invisible Man. The plot is basically a continuation of the first film. Geoffrey Radcliffe is sentenced to death for the murder of his brother, which he did not commit. His jail cell is found empty, with only clothes left behind, and chaos ensues. Price is great as the protagonist, with the invisibility serum slowly driving him insane as it did the first Invisible Man. This time around though, the Invisible Man is a more tragic, sympathetic figure, and Price does a fantastic job conveying this. If you've never seen this film, you should immediately do so.
The Return of the Vampire (1943)
I am an unabashed fan of black and white horror films from the 1930's and 1940's, and this is one of my favorites. Bela Lugosi is back doing what he does best, which is being Bela Lugosi. In this "non-Dracula" vampire tale, Lugosi stars as a bloodsucker who is revived when a Nazi bomb uncovers his tomb, and an unwitting (or just dumb) gravedigger removes the stake from his heart. He then sets about getting his revenge on the family who stakes him years earlier. If you love classic vampire action as much as I do, then this one is a must see.
The Lodger (1944)
Sticking with the 1940's for now, this list could never be complete without "The Lodger", starring Laird Cregar as the titular character. It's London, and Jack the Ripper is terrorizing the streets. The Burton family takes in a mysterious lodger, and Mrs. Burton slowly begins to suspect that their tenant might actually be the Ripper, and he might be targeting her niece. The performances are gripping, and the entire film is gloomy and atmospheric. (Side note: Many people do not realize that this is a remake of the 1927 Hitchcock silent film, "The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog")
Thankfully, the entire film is available for viewing on YouTube. Watch it now!
Thankfully, the entire film is available for viewing on YouTube. Watch it now!
Dying Breed (2008)
This is another one from After Dark Horrorfest, and again, it's one of the better ones (in my no-so-humble opinion). Four friends set off in search of the supposedly extinct Tasmanian Tiger. Mayhem ensues. At it's core, this is a basic "people go into the woods and get slaughtered" movie, but it's bleak, nasty and gruesome and the writing and acting are far better than most films of this type. My only gripe is that some of the effects are a bit rough around the edges, but I can forgive that in light of the good story and acting, and that fact that the film is just unrelenting in its bleakness.
Julia's Eyes (2010)
I only found out about this film a couple of years ago, and I'm glad I did! Usually when a film is "presented" by Guillermo Del Toro, it can be very hit-or-miss but that is definitely NOT the case here. This is a very creepy and atmospheric thriller, with a distinct giallo feel to it. The Julia of the title is losing her eyesight due to a disease that also affected her sister, who committed suicide rather than face blindness. Julia doesn't believe that her sister kills herself, so she goes about trying to prove it, despite her failing eyesight. I love the premise, AND the creepy characters she encounters along the way. You owe it to yourself to track this one down and watch it.
The Spiral Staircase (1945)
Let's go back to my favorite decade, the 1940's, for this next one. Dorothy McGuire plays a mute servant who works in a vast, creepy mansion. A killer is targeting girls who have physical deformities or other "abnormalities" and McGuire may be his next victim. I love this film for its gothic atmosphere, and the acting and cinematography are fantastic. If you like horror films from this era as much as I do, you're going to love this one.
Noroi: The Curse (2005)
To round out this list, I'm going with a lesser-known J-Horror film that came out back in 2005. It's one of the rate films that actually does found footage right. It can be a little hard to follow, and the conclusion is a bit convoluted, but it's got some genuinely good jump scares and a truly fantastic demon. The film is in the form of a documentary by a paranormal investigator who goes looking for a demonic entity known as Kagutaba and disappears. What starts with simple strange noises builds to what I believe is an awesome finale. Definitely give this one a try.
Well, there you have it folks! Take it from The Horror Nerd. Instead of watching "Halloween" or "Friday the 13th" for the 300th time, give these hidden gems a try, and let me know what you think!
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