Top 10 Horror Movies You Forgot Were Awesome

There aren’t too many Australian entries in the classic horror canon, but one film that should definitely be considered is “Wolf Creek.” Helping to revitalize the grindhouse aesthetic that had been in the midst of a resurgence upon its release, “Wolf Creek” stands out from many of its torture-porn contemporaries as a genuinely frightening piece of modern slasher cinema. The plot is razor-thin, focusing on 3 backpackers exploring the Australian outback who are captured and menaced by a psychopathic killer named Mick. While basic, the power of the film lies in its commitment to the grotesque, as it unsparingly details each of the tourist’s experiences, switching perspectives as their individual plights become increasingly horrific. It ain’t pretty, but it’s an extremely effective potential future classic.

With the incredible setting of Paris’s underground catacombs, “As Above, So Below” should have been a surefire horror hit. However, despite making a sizable splash upon its release, most people don’t talk about this ambitious found-footage journey through the seven layers of Hell. With a much larger scope than many found footage films, and with a more deep and thoughtful plot, “As Above, So Below” is able to be both genuinely thought-provoking and utterly terrifying. While many horror movies would do the bare minimum with such a great set-up, likely just having characters run away from humanoid zombie-esque monsters beneath the streets of Paris, “As Above, So Below” goes the extra mile, making it truly stand out.

In the wake of all of the found-footage horror films to come out following the release of “The Blair Witch Project,” “Session 9” tastefully incorporated aspects of the sub-genre into an extremely tense psychological thriller. While not technically a found footage movie, “Session 9” uses recordings of its characters in order to help tell its story, which follows an asbestos abatement crew working in an abandoned asylum. The film uses the recordings extremely well, as each revelation taken from the audio adds to the growing sense of dread that seems to permeate from every inch of the spooky asylum. Add in some believable performances and some inspired directing, and you’ve got a flick that’s begging to be revisited.

Wes Craven is a legendary horror director whose filmography is filled with both classic horror staples and obscure hidden gems in equal measure. One of Craven’s seemingly forgotten movies is “The People Under the Stairs.” Craven showcases his fascination with traps, his interest in American social dynamics, and his outlandish breed of horror, in this bizarre genre mashup. “The People Under the Stairs” follows a young boy as his involvement in a break in leads to the discovery that his family’s landlords are completely insane, and have a basement filled with mistreated cannibal children. It’s offbeat, it’s ghoulish, and it’s totally absurd, but “The People Under the Stairs” is definitely worth revisiting.

Canadian horror icon David Cronenberg often aims to shock with his specific brand of body horror. In this respect, “Scanners” was very successful, horrifying audiences with this macabre sci-fi story about telepathic super-people able to kill with merely a thought. At least one moment from “Scanners” is well remembered, as the practical effect head explosion scene is infamous amongst horror fans, but despite this and a small but loud cult following, “Scanners” is criminally absent from many horror discussions. Similar to Cronenberg’s “Videodrome,” (Xref) “Scanners” explores human beings’ often horrific relationship to our own bodies and the bodies of others. It also features some fantastic performances and visual effects, and showcases a legendary director in top form.

Bill Paxton’s directorial debut, “Frailty,” is one of many horror movies to come out in the early 2000s that seems to have been mostly forgotten. Despite receiving positive reviews upon its release, and starring Matthew McConaughey, many people are unaware of this thoughtful psychological thriller about a religious fanatic killer and his two sons. The smaller budget of “Frailty” and the energetic direction of Paxton gives the film an indie movie feel that works well with its charmingly amateurish vibe. All in all, “Frailty” is a harrowing chiller with some weighty themes, and a pretty shocking twist, that holds up incredibly well upon rewatch.

We all have memories of seeing “1408” at movie rental stores and in DVD sale piles, but few people seem to ever actually talk about this underrated psychological thriller. John Cusack plays a paranormal skeptic who spends the night in a haunted hotel room, only to find out that the stories surrounding the room might not be a hoax after all. “1408” is filled with both ghost shenanigans and mind bending existential horror, with a touch of personal tragedy thrown in. Cusack’s performance is incredible, and the way that the film gradually shifts its focus from paranormal fear to fear based in the nature of reality itself makes it stand out from those other forgotten DVD rentals.

As Japanese horror movies rose to prominence in the early 2000s, American audiences were entranced. One j-horror chiller that often gets overlooked and forgotten however, is “Pulse.” “Pulse,” or “Kairo” as it’s known in Japanese, takes many of the tropes and themes that J-horror was known for, and dials everything up to 100. In “Pulse,” it’s revealed that the afterlife has reached its capacity, and so ghosts are starting to spill out into our world, entering through the internet. The story is difficult to follow when observed literally, operating with dream logic and focusing more on themes and moments than an overarching plot, but watching “Pulse” is a lonely, haunting, and beautiful experience that demands your attention.

It’s unfortunate that “The Lost Boys” came out the same year as “Near Dark,” because while both are classics in their own right, the success of “Lost Boys” sealed “Near Dark’s” fate as the other punk rock vampire movie. It’s a real shame, because “Near Dark” is an incredible blood-sucking horror action romp that people would undoubtedly love if they gave it another chance. With a neo-western vibe and an edgy late ‘80s rock aesthetic, “Near Dark” has a great unique energy and an impressively realized world that pulls you in instantly. Balancing a handful of tones and styles, “Near Dark” is one forgotten classic that you just gotta sink your teeth into.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Bug” (2006)
This Claustrophobic Horror Drama Is Relatively Unknown

“The Blob” (1988)
Remake Couldn’t Step Out From the Original’s Shadow

“The Loved Ones” (2009)
Equal Parts Absurd and Macabre

“The Midnight Meat Train” (2008)
Menacing Thriller Starring a Pre-Fame Bradley Cooper

“The Faculty” (1998)
Missing This Cult Classic Should Be a Crime Punishable by Detention.

When discussing a filmography as impressive as director John Carpenter’s, it’s unsurprising that some of his movies will be left out of the conversation. Similar to “Prince of Darkness,” “In the Mouth of Madness” came out a few years after Carpenter’s initial ‘80s boom period, and it’s egregiously overlooked. One of Carpenter's most bizarre and entrancing efforts, the film follows an insurance investigator as he tries to locate a missing author, whose work seems to be causing madness in his readers and may be re-writing the fabric of reality itself. Inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft and Stephen King, “In the Mouth of Madness” is a contorted, surreal work of horror cinema that doesn’t come close to getting the praise it deserves.