ARKTOBER ARTICLE - SUNSHINE's Top 20 Horror Movies You Probably Haven't Seen (UPDATED, 2019)
Another year has come and gone and we are back to ARKTOBER, so bring on the horror movies! Every year I like to shout out some of my favorite genre’s hidden gems, so below is my 2017/18 article, updated with some New Quality Flicks. Enjoy 2019’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. Luz (2018) - 611
Clocking in at a brisk 70-minute runtime, Luz gives us a stylized possession film that is likely to please some and confuse others. Debut Director Tilman Singer, gives us a sweet little fever dream of a flick that was delightful as hell.
19. Apostle (2018) - 32,815
Slow burn, Folk-horror, with a side of cultish surrealism. Gareth Evans gives us a twisted and bizarre fairy tale with a splash of gore. Let us not forget the wonderful performances of Dan Stevens and Michael Sheen. This Netflix Original is certainly worth your attention.
18. Under the Shadow (2016) - 19,460
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.
17. The Devil’s Candy (2015) 14,803
After making its way around some festivals, the latest outing from Sean Byrne finally got released in early 2017. It’s a short and stylish homage to occult films and adds another strong film to Byrne’s resume.
16. Behind The Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006) - 20,078
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.
15. Peeping Tom (1960) - 27,533
This flick catches the fear of the characters in a way that hadn’t previously been done. Peeping Tom barely beats out Psycho as the first slasher movie ever and it totally warrants the watch.
14. A Horrible Way To Die (2010) - 3,195
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.
13. Eyes Without A Face (1960) - 23,426
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.
12. Lake Mungo (2008) - 13,810
Another strong story that uses the frame of a documentary to help shape a creepy movie-going experience that is guaranteed to satisfy those who are patient.
11. A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night (2014) - 27,246 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.
10. Goodnight Mommy (2014) - 37,046
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.
9. Black Christmas (1974) - 28,234
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 ever was. The imagery is downright terrifying and sets the stage for all those that came after.
8. Suspiria (2018) - 44,220
This pick might make of few of you angry but mixed reviews aside, I loved this flick. Don’t worry, the original still has a wonderful place in my heart. Regardless of your feelings on the movie as a whole, the finale is a gory masterpiece and the possession dance sequence early on might be one of the most terrifying things on film in the last 20 years.
7. The Loved Ones (2009) - 34,818
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.
6. Honeymoon (2014) - 23,194
This incredibly uncomfortable film will have your skin tingling by the end of it and it’s stars (Rose Leslie and Harry Treadaway) give two all-out performances that make the horror feel so real because it’s rooted in real-life fears and anxieties.
5. Thirst (2009) - 38,600
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.
4. Murder Party (2007) - 9,070 - nearly doubling last year
The Horror/Comedy sub-genre is one filled with incredible films but Murder Party may very well be the best! The first outing of Jeremy Saulnier is top-notch filled with incredible banter and a gnarly finale that is unlike any other.
3. Climax (2018) - 31,217
Gaspar Noé delivers uniquely visceral “entertainment” in ways few directors would dare, and Climax is one of his best. The first half of this movie is a beautifully choreographed dance number that is wonderfully constructed. Then the flick takes a complete left turn and we are left with some incredible long shots through a hellish nightmare of paranoia and anxiety.
2. Mandy (2018) - 12,000 - 48,385
Enough of you watched this over the last year that it almost didn’t make the list but here it stands in the number 2 spot! Mandy starts itself at a slow pace but after 45 minutes of gorgeous scenery, mood, and atmosphere 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.
1. The House of the Devil (2009) - 37,425
A nostalgic homage to 70’s horror that is downright perfect! In a cinematic age that relies on jump scares and gore with a very little story, The House of The Devil is a beacon of everything that horror movies should be!
….Now, if You’ve made it this far, Our Editor In Chief (Noah Blanchard) thinks You deserve a few BONUS PICKS…
Other Suggestions, Guest Writer : Noah Blanchard
Hagazussa (2017) - 2,315
It’s been called The Austrian/German answer to Robert Egger’s The Witch; and while it may not cohere or satisfy in the same way, Hagazussa: A Heathen’s Curse has quite a lot going for it. Writer/Director Lukas Feigelfeld and his Cinematographer Mariel Baqueiro have crafted a film that is as visually sumptuous, hypnotic, and atmospheric as it is off-putting, unsettling, and at times repellent. It’s a film i’m not eager to revisit for quite some time, but that’s really a testament to how effectively it sets you in a time and place you immediately wish you could escape. It also features a harrowing, committed performance from Aleksandra Cwen. All in all a pretty stunning debut feature, I look forward to the next projects from all involved. (Note AVAILABLE NOW : AMAZON PRIME)
The Alchemists Cookbook (2016) - 939
Not a horror film in the traditional sense, The Alchemists Cookbook defies easy categorization. For as much tension as the film rings out of its protagonist’s (Ty Hickson) slow descent into isolation and possible full-blown madness; it’s also content to spend plenty of time basking in the easy banter and sometimes comedic gold provided by said protagonists one friend, played with scene stealing brilliance by Amari Cheatom. Again if you’re looking for traditional scares, this is not your movie, if you’re looking to mess with your head a bit, Welcome To The Wonderful World of Joel Potrykus :)
(Note AVAILABLE NOW : AMAZON PRIME)
Digging Up The Marrow (2014) - 4,172
I found this little gem in the midst of ARKTOBER 2018 while my cousins Matt & Patrick (The Brothers Blanchard) were working on their Hatchet Franchise Podcast (Honey Island Swamp Tours). Truth be told their podcast never quite won me over as far as Hatchet was concerned, BUT it did tip me off to a fresh-ish take on the found footage genre from that franchise’s main creative force, Director Adam Green. Admittedly some of the more meta-textual aspects of Digging Up the Marrow may have been lost on me; what absolutely was not lost on me was a fantastically enjoyable performance from the legendary Ray Wise, and some incredible art direction from Alex Pardee. (Note AVAILABLE NOW : AMAZON PRIME)
Angst (1983) - 7,073
Another ARKTOBER 2018 Discovery, this time Thanks to Shudder. Angst is simply put, one of the most visually compelling and structurally interesting films about a killer I’ve ever seen/endured. The subject matter is bleak, and the tone and perspective offer even less comfort; but there is, dare I say it, some art to this. Angst has stuck with me; and just now, about a year later, it might be time for me to take another look… (Note AVAILABLE NOW : AMAZON PRIME)
Meshes of the Afternoon (1943) - 9,749
Just Watch This…