10 Tacky Horror Movies That Are Secretly Brilliant

Lying somewhere between utter trash and artistic genius is a unique horror movie genre niche. The statuses of the horror films as cult classics or examples of sticky excellence hinges on several factors; Often overlooked by casual viewers who can fail to see the bigger picture. They fail to recognize the brilliance of some horror films that have transcended their seemingly sticky foundations.

Of all the many genres of cinema, perhaps the most forgiving is horror. Its often ludicrous settings, locales, characters and lore can be, on the surface, totally ridiculous. But audiences return repeatedly, drawn by the genre’s ability to surprise and innovate. The key lies in the filmmakers’ ability to reinvent familiar tropes and have the audience wonder what’s new and exciting about the filmmakers’ approach to demonic possession, alien abduction, and the shark movie. This leaves plenty of room for perfectly absurd horror movies that are actually brilliant in their execution.

10

deep blue sea

Genetically enhanced sharks outsmart expectations

while watching deep blue sea For the first time, the viewer may think that this is a campy shark horror movie that has a lot of blood and jump scares, but not much to say. However, if the viewer is willing to look a little deeper to see the clever subversion of expectation, that the sharks are not your average Bruce, and are instead genetically enhanced with heightened intelligence that can open doors, then perhaps the film’s brilliance shines a little. Brighter.

The take on the famous man vs. nature theme, with characters having to outsmart their monsters instead of just trying to outwit them, is somewhat original and holds up despite the film being over 20 years old. Additionally, a great performance by Samuel L. Jackson, with his own unexpected twist, highlights how daring the filmmakers of deep blue sea were to make a movie that was beyond what the audience expected. Special mention should be made to LL Cool J’s surprisingly solid performance.

9

Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County

A year before the famous found footage classic and game changer The Blair Witch Project was released, a TV movie called Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County is broadcast on the now-shutdown UPN network. Although often overlooked, this found footage film effectively captures something special in a story that the McPherson family caught in the middle of an alien encounter.

From wonderfully camp red lights (used to indicate the aliens are close) to fantastic costumes, the film created a sense of authenticity so strong that many at the time believed it was a true story, and they were watching a real alien abduction on their televisions Sets. Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County may not have grabbed the mainstream attention and acclaim of The Blair Witch Project, But it still highlights how effective and timeless found footage can be as a horror medium.

8

Orphan

Elevating the evil child trope with psychological depth

The evil child trope isn’t new in 2009 when Orphan hit theaters. However, there is an argument to be made that this movie’s take on the evil child elevated the horror medium to a new level because Orphan is based on a true story. Its combination of psychological depth and a spine-tingling performance by Isabelle Fuhrman, as the aforementioned orphan, gives the audience something more than just a quick scare.

Orphan Delves into the complexities of what it means to be a family and the consequences of keeping secrets, as a result, creating a story that actually resonates on an emotional level but still leaves the viewer scared about what will happen next. Esther, the evil Russian child, is both disturbing and captivating, and proves that even though a horror trope may seem overused, there are still underappreciated gems that deserve a chance to shine.

7

The Haunting in Connecticut

A haunted house tale with deeper themes

While The Haunting in Connecticut History May be the standard based on a true haunted house story, this movie distinguishes itself through its exploration of life and death. The protagonist of the film suffers from cancer and when his family moved into a large house near the hospital, he soon discovered that the house was a funeral home. Furthermore, the “based on a true story” trope may be what gives the movie a sticky edge yet, the exploration of maintaining one’s faith in the face of adversity suggests that there is more than just a ghost story here.

The Haunting in Connecticut It also makes good use of its setting, with the funeral home and use of practical effects creating an invisible atmosphere in an already upsetting story. With each new stage of Matt’s disease comes a new level of supernatural threat that the family must fight in an attempt to not only save the soul of their son, but the souls of all those trapped within the walls of The house.

6

infestation

Balancing comedy and horror in an insect apocalypse

A world overrun by large insects does not always make a horror film that will be taken seriously, and this is the case with infestation Because people shouldn’t take it seriously. It’s ridiculous, but it’s fantastic. His comic approach to body horror and an apocalyptic world, led by the underrated Chris Marquette, is exactly the tone that viewers love to watch when they tune into a horror movie of this type.

By not taking itself too seriously but still delivering some genuine moments of horror, infestation Allows the audience to enjoy the story and fear the world it has created. From hard-to-watch sequences of metamorphosis to slapstick humor, infestation is a diamond in the rough that was released in 2009 to little fanfare but is still worth watching now.

5

The devil inside

When science and religion are used to cast out evil spirits

Possession movies are always fun and The devil inside is no different. Despite receiving mixed reviews when it was released, it deserves some credit and a second look because of its somewhat innovative approach to the found footage horror medium. With a story that follows multiple scary demonic exorcisms, it takes viewers to Rome in a blurring of the lines between fact and fiction.

The investigation of science and religion is also something new for the property movie, like the majority before and after The devil inside Focused much more on a religion-based approach instead of a blend of the two. This highlights a subtle level of depth to the exploration of exorcism that filmmakers took. Despite the previously mentioned bad reviews, the movie was still able to take 100 million dollars at the box office, which is even more impressive because the cost of production was only 250,000 dollars.

4

Chernobyl Diary

Radioactive thrills in a real-world disaster zone

Chernobyl will never be interesting, and when you add found footage, radioactive mutants and dumb American tourists looking for a dangerous thrill, you’re in for a win. All of these reasons can be found in the criminally underappreciated Chernobyl Diary. It’s a film filled with familiar horror tropes and styles, but it doesn’t matter because the scares are genuine, and the story is compelling.

With each new piece of media that comes out about the Chernobyl disaster, more of the mystery of what happened is revealed, but the Chernobyl Diary is everyone’s most sadistic speculation about what might have happened in the years since. The film also doesn’t have to try so hard to create an unusual atmosphere, because its real setting unlocks the imagination of all who watch in horror as the hidden, albeit sticky, secrets of this version of Chernobyl unfold.

3

Task

A podcast-inspired body horror

Kevin Smith is his own kind of filmmaker and that’s never more evident than in TaskHis incomprehensible horror masterpiece. A film that started as a funny episode on the director’s podcast, where Smith read a hilariously messed up list on the website Gumtree, it turned out to be something even freakier. What followed was a story of a man who was surgically transformed into a walrus.

Featuring an eccentric villain, delivering some of Smith’s famous dialogue, in Michael Parks, an underrated performance by Justin Long, and a sensational cameo in Johnny Depp, Task Delivers on its promise to take a quirky idea and make something special. It also manages to balance a surprisingly poignant exploration of what it means to be human with some terrific body horror. Task Is a film Kevin Smith was so excited to make and his story of how the movie was made is as compelling as the final product. Even if Kevin Smith Task 2 Sequel will not happen, Task Should be appreciated on its own merits.

2

Lights out

From a viral short film to an underrated horror classic

Beginning as a terrifying viral short horror film on YouTube, Lights out Was a fantastic theatrical follow-up that doesn’t get enough love. It’s a movie that takes the simple, primal fear of darkness and crafts an effective horror film around that central fear. What is scarier than a monster that can only attack you in the dark? Well, probably a lot of things, but that’s not the point.

While the script may be less than perfect, it’s the direction of Swedish director David F. Sandberg that sets the film apart as a great piece of horror. His maximization of limited locations and a fun concept allowed him to be creative in the use of different light sources to create tension. From mobile screens to lights, the film is set in our world and will leave audiences rushing to turn on the lights in every part of their homes.

1

The dead do not die

A deadpan zombie apocalypse

No one asked famed indie director James Jarmusch to make a zombie movie, but he did, and it’s a subtle gem. In a genre where over-the-top performances and action sequences abound, Jarmusch’s Deadpan The dead do not die is a unique take on zombies. Audiences tuned in to see a horror movie where Selena Gomez is saved by an unsuspecting nerdy hero, Caleb Landry Jones, may be disappointed when the two only awkwardly flirt about impressive film knowledge.

It’s a James Jarmusch movie first and a horror film second, and that’s what makes it special. Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray and Adam Driver deliver performances in Jarmusch’s droll tone of irony and monotony with a deliberate pacing that defies the expectations of those unfamiliar with the director’s work. However, if the audience allows themselves to buy into the self-referential humor and its commentary on consumerism, this is a universally rewarding watch for those who love Jarmusch’s unique sensibility and those who are watching his work for the first time.