13 Great Underappreciated Horror Movies
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009
We all were scared by watching Exorcist, Psycho, Halloween and other well known masterpieces of horror. But, there are often forgotten underrated and underappreciated gems that deals decent amount of shock and scare as much as famous horror titles.
Here is the compiled list of 13 underappreciated scary movies.
The Sentinel (1977)
The main problem with The Sentinel was its release date. If audience saw it before Exorcist, released in 1973, this movie about beautiful model and strange occurrences in her wonderful new apartment in Brooklyn Heights, would probably be one of the best horror movies ever. But, released 4 years later, it was just another movie that was recycling the same subject, and that was probably the reason it was underrated. Besides being extra creepy, The Sentinel is also prominent because of its great cast even in small roles: Ava Gardner, Martin Balsam, Jerry Orbach, Christopher Walken, Tom Berenger, Jeff Goldblum, etc.
Clip below consists of two scenes from the movie (not the scariest one – we left that one to you)
Exorcist III (1990)
Sequel to probably the scariest movie ever – Exorcist – got mostly negative reviews from the critics, inducing a 13-year hiatus. In 1990, William Peter Blatty, the writer of Exorcist, made a movie based on his novel “Legion”. Exorcist III couldn’t repeat the success of the original movie, but it provided generally creepy atmosphere, including one of the scariest scenes ever seen in horror movies (see the clip below).
Exorcist III - Nurse Station scene
The Changeling (1980)
Another movie that starred George Scott but 10 years earlier was “The Changeling”. For today’s standards (gore and blood) this movie probably wouldn’t be scary so much. But, with its spooky atmosphere, The Changeling is one of the best ghost stories ever told.
Suspiria (1977)
Called the one of the top 25 scariest movies of all time by Entertainment Weekly, this movie cannot be underrated. But besides truly horror literate fans, how many new ‘horror freaks’ actually know anything about Suspiria and Dario Argento?
Plot is quite simple: a young American dancer travels to Europe to join a famous ballet school, only to discover the school is merely a front for a much more sinister organization. Add vivid colors, atmospheric music and some of the most brutal killings seen on screen to that and you have a winner.
In The Mouth of Madness (1994)
John Carpenter made some of the most popular horror movies such as “Halloween”, “The Thing” or “Fog”, but In the Mouth of Madness, based on H.P. Lovecraft work is one of his underrated gems.
In the Mouth of Madness trailer
Visiting Hours (1980)
Michael Ironside was really creepy in Scanners. In this Canadian slasher he’s even creepier. Critics bashed Visiting Hours, but this story about journalist stalked by the killer in the hospital is one of the most underrated horror movies in 80’s.
Session 9 (2001)
Situated in abandoned Danvers hospital, this unjustly overlooked movie, starring David Caruso and Peter Mullan, is one of the best atmospheric horrors in this decade. Asbestos abatement crew takes the job at abandoned hospital, but the things went wrong from the first day.
Dog Soldiers (2002)
Neil Marshall is better known for his “Descent” movie, but prior to that, he made one of the best werewolf movies. Dog Soldiers is scary, entertaining, gory and funny, but went underappreciated.
Candyman (1992)
With great cast, script and some nice cinematography, it is real wonder how this movie didn’t get attention it deserved. Clive Barker’s story based on urban legend about Candyman, was a box-office hit at the time, but has since fallen off fans’ radar somehow.
Death Line AKA Raw Meat (US release) (1972)
Back in 1892, an unfinished tunnel collapsed, cutting off a clutch of men and women laborers. Survivors were left to die, but somehow they didn’t. After years of underground dwelling, the last descendants of the tribe have come up for food.
This forgotten UK classic, starred Donald Pleasance and Christopher Lee is one of the best horror movies, and personally one of my favorites.
Black Christmas (1974)
Yes, Halloween is classic and probably my favorite horror movie, but considering the fact that Black Christmas was released 4 years before John Carpenter’s masterpiece, and it was first horror that introduced ‘killer view’, makes this flick a granddad of slasher movies. Extremely creepy and scary.
Not the whole movie, but…
The best beginning:
When A Stranger Calls (1979)
The first 20 minutes of this movie, where babysitter finds where phone calls are coming from, is probably the most chilling opening ever that outshines the rest of the movie.
The best ending:
Sleepaway Camp (1980)
Sleepaway Camp had cheesy acting, bad script and probably the best ending in horror movies history. Image and sound when the killer is revealed will chill you to the bone and cut in your memory long after watching (see the clip).