Lesser Known Horrors: Part 3
The third (and final - for now!) part of my list of favorite oft overlooked horror movies.
1. Campfire Tales
This horror anthology has some big names (Christine Taylor, Ron Livingston, James Marsden, etc.) in it and came out during the post-Scream teen slasher boom, so I'm surprised it's not more widely known. Especially because it's also a lot of fun and boasts some seriously creepy scenes, particularly in the first two segments.
2. Zombeavers
This ridiculous film is so freaking great! I could watch it over and over again. In it, mutated beavers attack a group of annoying college students spending a weekend at a cabin on a lake. Whenever anyone gets bitten by one of the beavers, they turn into a crazed human/beaver hybrid, intent on chowing down on anybody nearby. Zombeavers is cheesy in the best way possible, and I recommend it to anyone who likes their horror a little on the ridiculous side.
3. Dog Soldiers
Neil Marshall may have made it big with his second feature film, The Descent, but his first, this werewolf chiller following a group of British soldiers training in the Scottish woods, will always be my favorite. With an excellent cast of likable, well developed characters (Shawn Pertwee is a particular standout) and plenty of tense, creepy stalk and kill scenes, this is one of the best horror films of the 21st century, and it's a shame that it has been largely ignored over the years.
4. Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter
This late entry to the Hammer vampire collection doesn't feature Dracula, Christopher Lee, or Peter Cushing, which may be why it's not as well as remembered as it's predecessors. But if you've overlooked this one, you're missing out! It's probably the most genuinely creepy of the lot, with vampires that drain the youth of their victims, leaving pretty young girls turned to withered husks. Captain Kronos is also just as gorgeous as its other, more famous companions, and the action sequences in this one are particularly thrilling. It was supposed to be the first in a series, but a poor box office reception quashed those plans. However Hammer is now releasing a comic book series to continue the tales of the titular Captain, which will hopefully bring new attention to this overlooked classic.
5. The Sentinel
The Sentinel oozes atmosphere, is full of delightfully zany and sinister characters, and features turns by many talented up and comers and older established stars, including Burgess Meredith, Ava Gardner, John Carradine, Christopher Walken, Chris Sarandon, Beverly D'Angelo, Jerry Orbach, and Jeff Goldblum. Cristina Raines plays a young model recovering from a nervous breakdown who moves into an old apartment building which houses various cooky and sinister characters. I particularly recommend this to fans of that particular 70s/80s brand of Euro-influenced occult horror.
6. Paranoiac
Another lesser known Hammer film, Paranoiac is not a period piece unlike many of it's more popular contemporaries, but it is just as beautifully shot and full of suspense. Focusing on the seedy goings-on of a mentally decaying but wealthy British family and the interloper who falls in love with the family's fragile daughter, this film oozes gothic sensibility, despite it's modern setting. It also features a typically manic. sinister (and vaguely drunken) performance from Oliver Reed who could loom and glower better than anyone back in his day.
7. Lesbian Vampire Killers
Another British horror comedy, this was released as simply Vampire Killers stateside. I will be the first to admit that a lot of the jokes in the film fall flat, however, the jokes that do work are genuinely hilarious, and the film is not without considerable charm. James Corden and Matthew Horne, both of Gavin and Stacey fame, are likable leads, and the female lead, Lottie (MyAnna Buring) is a personal favorite horror movie heroine. Ultimately, Lesbian Vampire Killers is imperfect but still a really good time if you're looking for something fun and silly.
8. Deep Rising
This was a relatively big budgeted movie, but it has been largely forgotten over the years which is a real shame. The cast is fantastic. Famke Janssen oozes slightly goofy charm and sexuality, while Treat Williams hams it up, and Kevin J. O'Connor (perhaps best known as the duplicitous Beni from The Mummy) provides comic relief. Djimon Hounsou and my forever-crush Jason Flemyng also have smaller roles as badass mercenaries. The monster itself is pretty impressive, and the action scenes exciting. It sets itself up for a sequel, but unfortunately none was was never made. The best thing about Deep Rising is that it is pure, unabashed fun, and I think we could all use more movies like that.
9. The Bay
The Bay is an unsettling eco-horror film about a small town being wiped out by a mysterious infection. This film is incredibly intense, and will definitely have you on the edge of your seat. To say more would be a disservice, but this one is worth hunting down, particularly if slow burn, socially aware horror flicks are your thing.
10. The Town That Dreaded Sundown
Now that The Town That Dreaded Sundown has had a proper DVD and Blu-ray release (and a well-received remake), I feel like it's possibly too well known to include on this list. Still, I'm including it anyway because a)it's my list and I can do what I want and b)this is one of my favorite movies, so I would still like to see it more appreciated than it is. It's a gritty, low-budget, semi-faux-documentary film, and despite, or perhaps because of, its low budget, it's genuinely disturbing and occasionally terrifying. Plus, it has an odd, off-beat sense of humor pulsing under the surface and features Mary Anne (Dawn Wells) from Gilligan's Island in a small role. Also, it's name dropped up in Scream. I highly recommend you seek this one out if you haven't seen it already.
1. Campfire Tales
This horror anthology has some big names (Christine Taylor, Ron Livingston, James Marsden, etc.) in it and came out during the post-Scream teen slasher boom, so I'm surprised it's not more widely known. Especially because it's also a lot of fun and boasts some seriously creepy scenes, particularly in the first two segments.
2. Zombeavers
This ridiculous film is so freaking great! I could watch it over and over again. In it, mutated beavers attack a group of annoying college students spending a weekend at a cabin on a lake. Whenever anyone gets bitten by one of the beavers, they turn into a crazed human/beaver hybrid, intent on chowing down on anybody nearby. Zombeavers is cheesy in the best way possible, and I recommend it to anyone who likes their horror a little on the ridiculous side.
3. Dog Soldiers
Neil Marshall may have made it big with his second feature film, The Descent, but his first, this werewolf chiller following a group of British soldiers training in the Scottish woods, will always be my favorite. With an excellent cast of likable, well developed characters (Shawn Pertwee is a particular standout) and plenty of tense, creepy stalk and kill scenes, this is one of the best horror films of the 21st century, and it's a shame that it has been largely ignored over the years.
4. Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter
This late entry to the Hammer vampire collection doesn't feature Dracula, Christopher Lee, or Peter Cushing, which may be why it's not as well as remembered as it's predecessors. But if you've overlooked this one, you're missing out! It's probably the most genuinely creepy of the lot, with vampires that drain the youth of their victims, leaving pretty young girls turned to withered husks. Captain Kronos is also just as gorgeous as its other, more famous companions, and the action sequences in this one are particularly thrilling. It was supposed to be the first in a series, but a poor box office reception quashed those plans. However Hammer is now releasing a comic book series to continue the tales of the titular Captain, which will hopefully bring new attention to this overlooked classic.
5. The Sentinel
The Sentinel oozes atmosphere, is full of delightfully zany and sinister characters, and features turns by many talented up and comers and older established stars, including Burgess Meredith, Ava Gardner, John Carradine, Christopher Walken, Chris Sarandon, Beverly D'Angelo, Jerry Orbach, and Jeff Goldblum. Cristina Raines plays a young model recovering from a nervous breakdown who moves into an old apartment building which houses various cooky and sinister characters. I particularly recommend this to fans of that particular 70s/80s brand of Euro-influenced occult horror.
6. Paranoiac
Another lesser known Hammer film, Paranoiac is not a period piece unlike many of it's more popular contemporaries, but it is just as beautifully shot and full of suspense. Focusing on the seedy goings-on of a mentally decaying but wealthy British family and the interloper who falls in love with the family's fragile daughter, this film oozes gothic sensibility, despite it's modern setting. It also features a typically manic. sinister (and vaguely drunken) performance from Oliver Reed who could loom and glower better than anyone back in his day.
7. Lesbian Vampire Killers
Another British horror comedy, this was released as simply Vampire Killers stateside. I will be the first to admit that a lot of the jokes in the film fall flat, however, the jokes that do work are genuinely hilarious, and the film is not without considerable charm. James Corden and Matthew Horne, both of Gavin and Stacey fame, are likable leads, and the female lead, Lottie (MyAnna Buring) is a personal favorite horror movie heroine. Ultimately, Lesbian Vampire Killers is imperfect but still a really good time if you're looking for something fun and silly.
8. Deep Rising
This was a relatively big budgeted movie, but it has been largely forgotten over the years which is a real shame. The cast is fantastic. Famke Janssen oozes slightly goofy charm and sexuality, while Treat Williams hams it up, and Kevin J. O'Connor (perhaps best known as the duplicitous Beni from The Mummy) provides comic relief. Djimon Hounsou and my forever-crush Jason Flemyng also have smaller roles as badass mercenaries. The monster itself is pretty impressive, and the action scenes exciting. It sets itself up for a sequel, but unfortunately none was was never made. The best thing about Deep Rising is that it is pure, unabashed fun, and I think we could all use more movies like that.
9. The Bay
The Bay is an unsettling eco-horror film about a small town being wiped out by a mysterious infection. This film is incredibly intense, and will definitely have you on the edge of your seat. To say more would be a disservice, but this one is worth hunting down, particularly if slow burn, socially aware horror flicks are your thing.
10. The Town That Dreaded Sundown
Now that The Town That Dreaded Sundown has had a proper DVD and Blu-ray release (and a well-received remake), I feel like it's possibly too well known to include on this list. Still, I'm including it anyway because a)it's my list and I can do what I want and b)this is one of my favorite movies, so I would still like to see it more appreciated than it is. It's a gritty, low-budget, semi-faux-documentary film, and despite, or perhaps because of, its low budget, it's genuinely disturbing and occasionally terrifying. Plus, it has an odd, off-beat sense of humor pulsing under the surface and features Mary Anne (Dawn Wells) from Gilligan's Island in a small role. Also, it's name dropped up in Scream. I highly recommend you seek this one out if you haven't seen it already.
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