ARKTOBER ARTICLE - SUNSHINE's Top 20 Horror Movies You Probably Haven't Seen (UPDATED, 2018)
Another year has come and gone and we are back to ARKTOBER, so bring on the horror movies! Every year I like to give out some of my favorite genre hidden gems, so below is my 2017 article, updated with some new quality flicks. Enjoy 2018’s 20 Best Horror Movies You Probably haven’t seen!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Not because you can finally get your pumpkin spiced everything that you’ve been waiting for. Not because the leaves are starting to change to beautiful colors. Tis the season of Halloween, bringing with it the annual bingeing of horror flicks, but great horror movies can be hard to find. So I took it upon myself to find some solid horror flicks that you probably haven’t seen (less than 50,000 ratings on IMDB). So let’s get to it.
20. Slice (2018) - <1000
Some of you are going to hate this and some of you are going to absolutely love it. Thriller meets Wet Hot American Summer in this campy horror-comedy. You get a fun cast of characters with fun banter, campy kill scenes, and a surprisingly smart and subtle social commentary.
19. Pontypool (2008) - 25,000
This is a nice little pressure cooker. It gives off a claustrophobic feeling and though it’s mostly talk and little action, it delivers more than you might think.
18. Spring (2014) - 19,000
This international love story takes it’s time with the set up but when you finally get to the desired destination, it totally pays off.
17. Under the Shadow (2016) - 16,526
This is one of the coolest ghost stories seen in recent memory. It’s an intimate horror that feeds on the fears of shame and inadequacy, set up against an interesting backdrop and layered with strong performances and deep social commentary.
16. The Devil’s Candy (2017) 12,000
It’s a short and stylish homage to occult films and adds another strong entry to Sean Byrne’s resume.
15. Behind The Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006) - 19,000
Filled with wit and charm, Behind the Mask perfectly deconstructs the slasher genre which the creators clearly love. It is incredibly intelligent and has plenty of horror elements that will make genre fans pleased.
14. Peeping Tom (1960) - 25,000
If you are wondering where the cliche of watching victims from the killer’s point of view comes from, look no further. Peeping Tom barely beats out Psycho as the first slasher movie ever and it totally warrants the watch.
13. A Horrible Way To Die (2010) - 3,000
Here is a stripped-down thriller that relies on storytelling rather than effects and it flat out delivers. Adam Wingard knows what he is doing behind the camera and when he pairs up with writer, Simon Barrett, it tends to go well.
12. Mandy (2018) - 12,000
Mandy starts itself at a slow pace but after 45 minutes of gorgeous scenery chewing, Nicolas Cage gets let off the leash leaving us with a bloody, acid-laced, tale of revenge. It’s over the top in the best way possible and though it will be polarizing, I believe that it’s totally worth the watch.
11. Eyes Without A Face (1960) - 20,000
This chilling fairy tale of guilt and obsession, that made audiences faint when it was first released, still holds up almost 60 years later and is poetically horrific.
10. Lake Mungo (2008) - 12,000
Another strong story that uses the framing of a documentary to help shape a creepy movie-going experience that is guaranteed to satisfy those who are patient.
9. A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night (2014) - 25,000 ratings
This unique genre-bending vampire film is equal parts romantic, emotional, and creepy as all of the elements come together to create something wonderful. Ana Lily Amirpour creates a must see Vampire flick with her directorial debut.
8. Goodnight Mommy (2014) - 33,000
When two kids can’t decide if their mother is who she says she is, they make it their mission to find out in this dark and twisted tale that makes us question our own reality. This movie is shrouded in a cloud of ominous tension and when the ending hits, you are left with your jaw on the floor.
7. Black Christmas (1974) - 25,000
When you think of incredible slasher movies, very rarely does this movie get mentioned along with the other greats. That is a travesty as this could very well be the best the genre has to offer. The imagery is downright terrifying and it set the stage for all those that came after.
6. The Loved Ones (2009) - 32,600
Sean Byrne has made two movies and they are both on this list. The Loved Ones is horrifically mesmerizing and filled with so many WTF moments that you will wonder why you are still watching but won’t want to turn away.
5. Honeymoon (2014) - 22,000
This incredibly uncomfortable film will have your skin tingling by the end of it and its stars (Rose Leslie and Harry Treadaway) give two all-out performances that make the horror feel so real because of its roots in real life fears and anxieties.
4. Thirst (2009) - 36,000
This unique story adds a refreshing breath of life into the Vampire film that has been poorly done so many times before. Add Chan-Wook Park’s insane ability to make every frame breathtakingly beautiful and you have a movie that shouldn’t be missed.
3. Murder Party (2007) - 5,381
The Horror/Comedy sub-genre is one filled with incredible films but Murder Party may very well be the best! The first outing from Jeremy Saulnier is top notch, filled with incredible banter, and sports a gnarly finale that is unlike any other.
2. Raw (2016) - 43,000
This film is slathered with terrifying imagery that might be best viewed on an empty stomach. It is deliciously unsettling with strong performances that will stick with you long after the movie is over.
1. The House of the Devil (2009) - 35,158
A nostalgic homage to 70’s horror that is downright perfect! In a cinematic age that relies on jump scares and gore with very little story, The House of The Devil is a beacon of everything that horror movies can, and should be!
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