So you’re a horror movie fan who respects the classics, but are looking for some great, forgotten, under the radar scary flicks to watch around Halloween?
Well, you’ve come to right place.
Here’s Part 2 in my list of the most underrated, obscure and unfairly forgotten horror movies. If you’d like to buy any of these of Amazon, just click on the movie box image. I’ll also note which films are on Netflix Streaming.
Be sure to check out PART ONE to see what I’ve already covered.
29.’The Changeling’ (1980) /’The Exorcist III’ (1990)
The late George C. Scott starred in 2 obscure horror gems. In ‘The Changeling‘ , he plays Dr. John Russell, a composer who has relocated into a new home after the tragic death of his wife and daughter. But he begins to realize he’s not alone in the house. As Russell puts the pieces together he discovers a haunting with a dark secret.
In ‘The Exorcist III’ (directed by ‘The Exorcist’ author William Peter Blatty) Scott plays Lieutenant Kinderman, looking into another case of demonic possession which involves a serial killer’s spirit. The film’s slow burn pace builds great tension, punctuated with great jolts of terror, including one of the Scariest Film Scenes Of All Time.
28. ‘Death Dream’ (1972)
The late Bob Clark is the most versatile film director ever. Between ‘Porky’s’,’A Christmas Story’, and ‘Black Christmas‘ he did it all. This lesser known movie, is about a family that receives a letter claiming their son Andy died in the Vietnam War. But shortly afterwards he shows up on their door step and they assume the letter was a clerical error.
But Andy is unwell, and it’s more than PTSD. He’s become a type of vampire who needs human blood to keep himself from decomposing. It speaks to the American psyche damaged by Vietnam (even if it was shot in Canada).
27.’The Leopard Man’ (1943)
Producer Val Lewton and Director Jacques Tourneur were a powerful duo who made horror that relied on evocative lighting and cinematography to chilling effect on films like ‘Cat People’ and ‘I Walked With A Zombie’. This more obscure effort focuses on Jerry Manning, who buys a leopard for use in his wife’s nightclub act. It escapes and a girl is found mauled to death. When a second person dies, Jerry suspects a human murderer made it look like an animal slaying. Confusion and paranoia wash over the small town until the truth is revealed.
26.‘Race With The Devil’ (1975)
This film combines the ‘Satanic Panic’ and 70’s Road movie genres. Two couples are traveling through Texas in their RV. One night they see what appears to be an orgy. But they panic when then they see a young woman sacrificed in a satanic ceremony. The Satanic Cult become alerted to their presence and pursue them relentlessly. And every time they think they’ve given them the slip, they come out of the woodwork. A very enjoyable if slightly silly cult classic. Check out the trailer.
25.’Targets’ (1968)
This film directed by Peter Bogdanovich, is about Bobby Thompson, a Vietnam vet suffering from extreme headaches and violent rage, leading him to plan mass shootings in the L.A. area (it was loosely based on the UT sniper Charles Whitman).
He targets a drive-in theater where aging horror actor Bryon Orlock (Boris Karloff), is making one last appearance before retirement. But Orlock is forced to take action to stop the carnage. This movie feels sadly prophetic given the ‘Dark Knight Rises’ theater shooting in Aurora.
24. ‘Burnt Offerings’ (1976)
Available On Netflix Streaming
This creepy haunted house movie concerns The Rolf family who are on vacation, staying in a Victorian Era mansion. The owners of the home have one odd request. The Rolf’s are to feed their elderly mother, who will live upstairs. They needn’t go in the room, as she is reclusive, but to leave the food by the door. This tasks falls to the wife, who becomes obsessed with the home. When accidents begin happening, the husband suspects something is wrong with the home, but his wife refuses to leave. Things get scarier as the true nature of the house and the woman are revealed.
23. ‘The Chaser’ (2008)
Available On Netflix Streaming
This South Korean cat and mouse thriller is about a pimp searching for his missing prostitute. But he’s also an ex-cop who uses his detective skills to find her captor, a serial killer who enjoys torturing his prey. Akin to another South Korean film (‘I Saw The Devil‘), it’s disturbingly violent and at times unbearably cruel. But for the brave of heart, you’ll be glued to your seat.
22. ‘The Sadist’ (1963)
This movie stars weird-faced B-Movie actor Arch Hall Jr., as Charlie, a deranged killer traveling with his girlfriend Judy. They’ve been on a murderous road trip, but need a new car. They attack 3 people at a service station, and Charlie demands they fix their car so he can escape in it. But he’s more interested in tormenting the 3 victims. The film clearly influenced films like ‘The Hitcher‘ and ‘The Devil’s Rejects’ (it’s one of Rob Zombie’s favorite films).
21. ‘Drag Me To Hell’ (2009)
This Sam Raimi horror comedy is surprisingly under the radar. The plot concerns Christine, a bank loan officer who puts a repossession on an elderly Gypsy woman’s home. The woman rips a button off Christine’s jacket, and puts a curse on Christine, where she’ll be tortured for 3 days by a demon before being damned to hell. She seeks out a medium who tells her she must pass the button to a new victim to escape damnation. But,can she do it in time to avoid her fate?
20. ‘Let Sleeping Corpses Lie’ (1974)
This movie is the best zombie film you’ve never seen. Two hippies are attacked by Zombies in the British countryside. They discover there’s a machine nearby that kills insects using radiation. They think there’s a connection, but the local police chief think they’re a bunch of insane drug addicts. Being attacked by both sides leads to a chilling finale.
So that concludes 40 Great But Forgotten Horror Movies Part 2. Now check out PART 3.