This discussion is about listing our favourite lesser known horror films, If like me you are a fan of the genre, you will likely have sat through a large amount of crappy or cheesy horror flicks, but every once in a while you can come across a film that makes you ask yourself, Why Have I Never Seen This Film Until Now?
So please feel free to mention any film that you feel to be a real find, you can also give a brief description of it (even if its just an IMDb Synopsis) but please try and avoid mentioning spoilers on the film as that will make people less inclined to watch it.
George Kennedy utterly sleepwalks through his role as the Forest Ranger who is keeping his eye on a bunch of crazy 'kids' (they all look 30) who want to RV their way onto a spooky mountainside
There's a fun twist and the final kill is a scream!
I saw a really weird movie recently called Top Line (1988) and there was George Kennedy in another sleep walking role. Lol. That guy turns up in the strangest movies.
I thought it was great! , but then I'm a sucker for post apocalyptic type films.
It has 3 "sections" , and is pretty long , which is good if you're enjoying it!
I have seen Just Before Dawn a few times but it's been a while (long enough for me to forget what happens at the end) so I will probably re-watch it again soon also.
A groundhog day type, low budget, indy horror. Has some pacing issues, but it pays off.
The Shrine (2010)
2 journalists and a photographer go to small village in Poland to find missing girl. There is a twist and it's given away if you speak Polish, but even knowing the twist it is still interesting.
Absentia (2011)
A woman and her sister begin to link a mysterious tunnel to a series of disappearances, including that of her own husband.
I know it was filmed in Ontario, but that doesn't mean that the characters don't go to Poland in the fictional movie silly. 😉🤣 Just like to save money, Star Wars filmed in Tunisia. Could you imagine how much it would have cost to film on Tatooine. I hear they don't even have tax breaks.
I get a kick out of movies and TV shows that are suppose to be from elsewhere and are filmed right here in Toronto and Ontario. I always look for the signs. The TV show The Strain took me five minutes to realize it wasn't filmed in New York.
Get a lot of that here as well. Fort Edmonton Park has quite a few movies filmed there as well as just the Rockies. The number of "small towns" that are unmistakably Banff, amuses me, but I do understand budgets.
A widower takes an offer to screen girls at a special audition, arranged for him by a friend to find him a new wife. The one he fancies is not who she appears to be after all.
It's a Japanese horror film. It's a slow burn but it does payoff at the end.
Oh wow, my favorite topic. I'm a massive obscure 70s horror buff (gialli included) So here goes the BEST most peeps have never seen:
Who Can Kill a Child? (Spanish, 1976) A couple unwittingly goes on vacation to a remote island where there are no adults. And the kids acts strange, to say the least.
The Tenant (1976) Roman Polanski directs and stars in this oddity of a man who rents an apartment in Paris while his neighbors are out to get him. Or are they?
See No Evil- (1971) Mia Farrow tormented again, but this time she's blind and the tormenter isn't a devil worshipper. But a complete nutcase.
Don't Look Now (1973)- Grieving couple go to an ominous Venice to try and heal. Good luck with that. A masterpiece.
Blood and Black Lace (1965) Mario Bava, models, murder, mayhem.
Deep Red (1975) The granddaddy Giallo by Argento. David Hemmings searches for a killer in Rome.
What have you done to Solange? (1972, Italian) What a title. Young women are being butchered whilst Solange remains mute. Slightly sleazy but well done.
I’ve seen all of those but Don’t Look Now and I’m an Obscure horror film junkie. I feel like I’ve only just started hearing about that title recently. I’m going to have to hunt that one down.
You've seen them all, wow? Guess I better get more obscure:) Don't Look Now is truly spectacular (Nicholas Roeg, who also did The Man who fell to earth and Performance.) But this one is his Magnum opus.
How bout Short Night of Glass Dolls, Don't Torture a Duckling, Bay of Blood, The Psychic, Cat O Nine Tails, The Bloodstained Butterfly, The Fifth Cord, Who Saw her die? All above average 70s gialli!
American obscure: The Shout ('79), Maniac ('80) The Haunting of Julia ('77), Picnic at Hanging Rick ('75)
I just watched Picnic at Hanging Rock and I found it both mystical and beautiful. I feel like it’s full of clues that I must have missed on my first viewing so I’m excited about a second. Thanks to everyone who has recommended this special film. 👍
Wasn't it? Glad you loved it. And that score! Yes, other things come up on repeat viewings. One of the theories it's an allegory on sexual repression at the turn of the century.
I’ve seen all of the Giallo films. I love all the Italian Horror, Poliziotteschi, Giallo, western and every sub genre in between mostly from the 60’s - 80’s.
Of the US films I have not seen The Haunting of Julia or Picnic at Hanging Rock.
I also have never seen LA Residencia so I will be looking up these. 👍
I would start with Street Law (1974) starring Franco Nero and Barbara Bach. It’s an everyday man turned vigilante film with a damn good soundtrack directed by
Castellari. Nero is so convincing in this role because of the realism he brings.
There is a trilogy of films by Fernando Di Leo that are favorites of mine:
Caliber 9 (1972)
The Italian Connection (1972)
Il Boss (1973)
My favorite of the three is The Italian Connection about a hit placed on a pimp played by Mario Adorf. Henry Silva, with his stone face, is made to play roles like one of the hit men here. If you like Quentin Tarantino it’s obvious he drew heavily from Di Leo’s films.
Almost Human (1974) starring Henry Silva and Thomas Milian about a degenerate criminal on the loose is another of my favorites. Umberto Lenzi directs so how can you go wrong? :)
The poliziotteschi films, which I have grown to love, can be almost like a acquired taste. Most are brutal and gritty with a lot of ugly guys and beautiful women, crazy plots, mega car chase scenes, gratuitous nudity, great soundtracks and at least one bottle of J&B spotted in each film.
If you get to see any of them let me know what you think. I’ve really fallen in love with the genre but they were pumping them out in the 70’s so there are as many stinkers as good ones.
Hiya, Mojo. Did you see The Lady with the perfume in black? (W/ Mimsy Farmer) I'd love to know your interpretation. Hallucinations? Actual cannibalism?!!!
I don’t think I’ve seen it but I’ll add it to my list if you recommend it. I did watch Picnic at Hanging Rock, that several recommended here, and I enjoyed it so much I watched it again the next day.
I just watched it. I was not expecting that ending! My take is they some how poisoned her or used magic to make her hallucinate until she fell and died. I thought the ending was real. Strange movie! Lol
Your quite right. I kept thinking as I was watching how it felt more so like straight horror or maybe gialli horror hybrid. Let me know if you ever check out those euro crime titles. 👍
It's pretty good! I think it's worth it. They don't have everything you'd expect, but a solid selection of just the right otherwise hard to find and exclusive things, and it's not too 'spensive. I was initially sucked in by the complete Tales from the Darkside series.