10 Must See Horror Films You Might Have Missed

Severance (2006):

Christopher Smith’s import from the United Kingdom is a comedic-slasher romp that takes place when a office bonding trip headed for a Hungarian luxury lodge mistakenly winds up camped on an abandoned mental institution that was bombed with nerve gas in the early 1900’s after the inmates seized control.

Problems develop when the corporate minions realize that these nutbags might have not been completely killed off.

If you like British wit, accents, and gore then this movie is right up your alley.

Some of the kills in this movie are downright disgusting and extremely original compared to most of the teenager-marketed slasher flicks produced in America.

Far more disturbing then the films content, is the media coverage that SEVERANCE received a few years following its release, when a British teenager was murdered by a gang of young adults mimicking a specific scene from the film.

Fido (2006):

Andrew Currie helms this Canadian horror comedy offering from 2006 that successfully tweaks the zombie apocalypse storyline.

In FIDO, The Zombie revolution proved to be a benefit for a fictional 1950’s “Leave it to Beaver” type of suburban society, thanks to the major corporations (ZOMBIE CORP) who successfully domesticated zombies with inexpensive, hi-tech collars, that remove a zombies desire to eat flesh.

Whether giving stay-at- home housewives that extra hand for domestic needs or opening doors for shoppers at the local mini-mall, these collars have provided zombies the opportunity to make themselves useful, productive members of American society.

The story follows Tommy, a bullied young whipper-snapper whose best friend happens to be his family’s zombie, Fido. When Fido’s collar accidentally comes off one summer day while they are playing fetch, Tommy’s neighbor is eaten and as a result, the pair is forced to cope with the consequences of this incident.

The film is hilarious and savagely attacks the stereotypical social normalities of the 1950’s American middle-class. The Cold War era when different=dangerous.

A solid entry into the zombie genre of horror films. Highly Entertaining.

Bug (2006):

Billed as William Friedkin’s return to horror (his first horror film since THE EXORCIST—the most critically acclaimed horror film in the history of cinema), BUG did not disappoint me in the slightest.

Ashley Judd, Harry Connick Jr., and Michael Shannon turn in amazing performances in this horror/thriller that is both heart breaking and disturbing to watch. The overwhelming sense of dread in this film never slows down. This film is the equivalent of watching two trains headed for a “no one will live” type of collision where you have found your senses glued to the impending disaster.

This movie brilliantly exhibits the descent into madness and highlights the “perfect storm” clash of personality—comparable to when one introduces mutual friends only to realize later, “Oh Shit, that was probably a bad idea to introduce those two to each other.”

BUG is more character study then splatterfest, but when the blood comes, its hard to watch. This movie tackles themes of sanity/insanity, reality/fantasy, government surveillance, Gulf War syndrome, and isolationism.

The resulting film is a powerful warning about how fragile the mind truly is and the tragedies within the films running time will leave you thinking about the characters long after it is over, a true sign of a meaningful film experience.

The Signal (2007):

THE SIGNAL follows three separate narratives, spinning from events that take place when microwaves from our overly relied upon devices of technology (cell phones, televisions, etc) accidentally turn massive populations of people into zombie-like creatures with no rationale or concern for safety.

The result is a highly satirical and effective attack on technology and its ridiculous submersion into the quilt of our society. As I’m writing this I’m checking my email on my iPod touch, streaming a movie wirelessly over my Xbox 360, updating my twitter account….

Funny Games (2007):

Michael Haneke’s shot by shot remake of its German predecessor, FUNNY GAMES, is ironically the opposite of anything funny. In fact, I think this movie left me with a feeling that no other horror movie has ever given me: pure disgust. I am not squeamish or sensitive to the sight of gore, but FUNNY GAMES does not operate by showing you relentless scenes of torture or blood a la HOSTEL or SAW.

There is absolutely NO visible gore in this film and the most horrible things that take place happen off screen where they become mere sound FX. The true horrors of this film are shown through the cameras which remain focused on the reactions of those witnessing the atrocities.

Tim Roth and Naomi Watts take the brunt of abuse in this home invasion style horror film that does something fairly novel in its exploitation of violence and mental abuse: it attacks the viewer (you) for allowing the events to happen because of American lust for entertainment.

The film essentially makes the case that if you had never watched the movie in the first place, the events might not have occurred. Interesting and highly disturbing, this film is one that I watched once and haven’t dared to touch again.

It made me want to take a cold shower immediately following my viewing. For that, I think it’s worth a watch for anyone who doesn’t have social activities planned after the movie reaches its soul-crushing conclusion.

Let the Right One in (2008):

This is one of two movies on my list that I actually have yet to see. I included it here because everything that I have heard/read suggests that this was one of the best horror movies from 2008 and therefore, I MUST see this film. From what I gather, this movie is TWILIGHT on methamphetamines: a young, bullied tween with no friends falls in love with a mysterious, pale-skinned girl in his village…what follows is a blood filled vampire tale of how far one will go for their true love.

I can’t wait to see it. If it’s as good as it has been hyped in my mind I will certainly write a full blog with my thoughts/analysis. Either way, check out this film.

Inside (2007):

Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury got their French horror film A L’INTERIEUR distributed in America under the Dimension: Extreme brand name. I picked it up from a local movie store not knowing anything about it and Holy Shit, this movie is insane!

I can’t even explain how nasty this movie is. While I already defined how FUNNY GAMES destroyed my will to get out of bed because of how tragic it was, INSIDE is a balls to the wall (no pun intended) gore fest that has one of the most vile villains ever portrayed in horror cinema.

Béatrice Dalle’s performance as “La Femme” is thrilling and memorable on so many levels. I am convinced that “La Femme” could handle herself in a room filled with Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees, and Freddy Krueger. Now that I mention it, Dalle’s performance has that Mrs. Voorhees vibe to it.

The plot is simple.

Four months before Christmas, Sarah and Matthieu Scarangelo are in a car crash, of which Sarah and her unborn baby were the only survivors.  On Christmas Eve, Sarah stays home alone, where she grieves for her husband and prepares to go to the hospital the next morning for the delivery. As night falls, a woman knocks on Sarah's door asking to use the phone. When she refuses, the woman reveals that she is on a mission to take Sarah's unborn child. What begins as a formulaic entry into the standard home invasion horror film quickly shifts into an epically disgusting voyage into carnage as “La Femme” reaches a body count of epic proportions on her quest.

This movie is unforgiving and cruel. Even the most seasoned gore-hounds will find segments of this movie unwatchable. Either way, this is a must see for horror enthusiasts.

Dead Girl (2009):

The second of two movies on this list that I have yet to see, DEAD GIRL, is apparently appalling, wretched, and disturbing on every level imaginable. The movie JUST received a release date on DVD now that a company has decided to distribute it—even though it was made over two years ago.

From what I’ve read, this movie is bat-shit insane and goes places that even the most despicable horror films of our generation stray from.

The film follows events that unfold when two teenage social “rejects” stumble upon the body of a dead girl in an abandoned factory deep within the woods of their local town….only to realize that she is still alive, barely. At the end of the trailer one of the guys asks his friend “What do we do?” His response?

“Let’s keep her.”

Sounds absolutely twisted, vile, and disgusting, and for those reasons, it must be worth a viewing if you consider yourself a horror film aficionado. I’m going to heavily recommend watching this film exclusively with the non-squeamish.

This is the type of movie that will cause a break-up if you suggest watching it with your girl.

Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Hatchet (2006):

Adam Green’s (SPIRAL) debut feature is a fucking masterpiece of American slasher cinema.

With cameo’s from Robert Englund (Freddy Krueger) Tony Todd (Candyman) and Kane Hodder (of Jason Voorhees fame) playing the role of Victor Crowley, HATCHET is a remarkably entertaining horror film that is a must see for anyone who has ever laughed their way through a FRIDAY THE 13TH flick.

The tagline alone is badass:

“It’s not a remake, it’s not a sequel, and it’s not based on a Japanese one. HATCHET, Old school American horror.”

I can’t say much more about this film other then go watch it ASAP!

Brilliant.

Bravo.

Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006):

I am known to speak in epithets of hyperbole.

I frequently walk out of a theater making monumental claims like

“that was one of the best…..I’ve ever seen”

I have frequently stated that the Big Mac combo is the best meal I have ingested up to that point in my life.

Are these claims true? Probably not, that’s just the weed talking.

Regardless, I stand by my claim after my first viewing of BEHIND THE MASK that this is my FAVORITE horror film of all time.

I don’t think everyone will enjoy this film as much as I do, and that’s ok with me.

It has been a lifelong dream of mine to direct/write/produce an indie horror film and if I could pick just one to insert my credentials into, it would be BEHIND THE MASK.

This film was clearly made by a horror movie nerd who has studied the conventions and structure of the horror genre to an absurd level. This film is the MYTHBUSTERS of horror films.

The movie uses a mockumentry-style expose to realistically explain HOW the killers like Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees, and Freddy Krueger do what they do in order to achieve legendary statuses as mass murdering monsters to fear and live good Christian lives in order to avoid meeting them.

A group of fictional graduate students are commissioned by serial killer Leslie Vernon to document the careful planning and luck involved when attempting to build your legend.

The film is hilarious.

One scene shows Leslie working out on a punching bag, panting as he asserts,

“you have NO idea how much cardio it takes to do this.”

I don’t want to give out too many details on this movie, but seriously, this IS the best horror movie ever made.