13 Great Modern “Retro” Horror Flicks
4) Fear(s) of the Dark (2007)
As horror fans, it takes a lot to genuinely disturb us. Directors will always pile on more grotesque and shocking scenes to try to make us squirm. After the third impromptu amputation or forced C-section, it loses its weight. What really gets you is when you least expect it. When I first saw Fear(s) of the Dark in high school, I was not prepared. As a pretentious young lad, I frequently perused the foreign section of my local Blockbuster under the misguided assumption that things non-American were “better.” It’s a practice I have since abandoned, but it did a good job of expanding my purview. If anything, it introduced me to Fear(s) of the Dark. Directed by comic book creators and graphic designers, the film has a classic graphic novel feel. Entirely in black and white, the varied visuals all evoke an “on paper” aesthetic unique to the artists.
3) The Sleeper (2012)
I’ll let the words of Steve “Uncle Creepy” Barton speak for me here: “If I didn’t know that The Sleeper had come out recently, I would have assumed it was something I just missed.” From the filming to the filthy comedy, The Sleeper is a sorority massacre movie in the vein of Black Christmas. It’s a knock off for sure, and I struggle to call this film “great,” but it’s a guilty pleasure. Sometimes, you just need to watch some sorority sisters get their faces torn off with a hammer.
2) The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra (2001)
Everyone has their favorite “it’s so bad it’s good” movie. It’s become trendy to like bad things, as countless screenings of The Room or Trolls 2 can attest to. It’s the kind of ironic enjoyment that usually puts me off, but even I can’t deny the charm of Plan 9 from Outer Space. The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra is a film dedicated to this lost era of truly ridiculous filmmaking. Usually when a film tries to be stupid, it falls flat, but this is the exception that proves the rule. Riding the perfect line between reverent and sarcastic, it’s a movie made by fans for fans. If you like to get together with your buddies to watch Manos: The Hands of Fate, The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra should be next on your list.
1) WNUF Halloween Special (2013)
When you start WNUF Halloween Special, don’t be surprised if you think you accidentally dusted off your VHS player and popped in a bootleg recording of your local news broadcast. This is a film so authentic, they actually marketed it by leaving bootleg copies on random tables at conventions. Complete with commercials, static, and fast forwards, this is how I would watch Halloween before my parents let me watch “grown-up movies.” It’s so realistic, it’s actually distracting. It’s something that would normally bother me, but it all adds to the fun. What’s more, it actually delivers an interesting story, with some decent twists and scares to boot. Of all the films on this list, this is the one I’d say is impossible to watch without a smile on your face.
Never Open the Door (2014):
With a retro feel and a score reminiscent of “The Twilight Zone,” The Other Side of the Door drops this Tuesday on VOD, DVD, and Blu-ray. Check out the trailer, and see if this one tickles your fancy. If it does, you can get it online on Amazon Instant Video and Google Play. Check back soon for my full Blu-ray review, and let me know what you think of this list below!
Categorized:Editorials
