10 Obscure Horror Movies

Okay, so you’ve watched all the classics over and over and over and over again. You’ve watched the poverty-level offerings of Netflix. You’ve asked for recommendations and get the same answers time and again. Where-oh-where do you turn now? Have you really seen all the horror genre has to offer?

Well, no. Not by a long shot. See, there are many great horror flicks that go unnoticed/unheard of by an astounding number of people. You just gotta know which rocks to look under and which darkened corners to explore. Granted, many turds will wind up sticking to your shoe, but I, your trusty guide, have decided to give you a helping hand and compiled this handy list to get you started on your journey. Here are 10 obscure horror movies you should be watching.

A group of scientists go to an island to study the effects of nuclear fallout only to discover a horny zombie is stalking them!

Okay, this flick isn’t exactly what you’d call a good one. However, it’s the flick’s sheer novelty value which earns it a place on this list. Trust me, when you tell people that you’ve watched this flick, you’re gonna get plenty of strange faces and reactions. A lead actor with a legit case of genital warts having lots of unprotected sex? Check. A zombie with a huge zombie dong pillaging the goods of the ladies in the cast? Check? The most absurd death for any horror villain in the history of horror cinema? Check. You seriously cannot lose with this flick! Hunt this puppy down for your next bad movie night.

Kai contracts the Ebola virus after raping a woman. However, he is immune to the virus and becomes a carrier instead. The hunt is on to stop the man before he infects all of Hong Kong.

I expected this flick to be deadly serious. Oh, how little I knew about Category III cinema! Coal-black humor stands firmly alongside the sex and violence. Kai (Category III regular Anthony Wong) is such a sleazebag that you can’t help but like him. You’ll even find yourself cheering him on as he infects everyone he comes into contact with. Be warned: many versions that purport to be the uncut version are actually cut. The only true uncut version is the Austrian DVD from Illusions Unlimited. Still worth watching even in its cut form though.

Ann, a social worker, investigates Mrs. Wadsworth and her mentally disabled son, Baby. Ann claims she only wants what’s best for Baby. But is she really as innocent as she seems?

It’s rare that films live up to their reputation. This is one that does. The films starts off skewed, goes more out of its gourd as it goes on, then concludes in a manner so off its rocker that it’ll leave you unnerved and probably wanting to take a long, hot shower. This is one of the few films that got me to raise my eyebrow a few times and left my jaw hanging open. Seriously, just watch it.

Adam Chaplin sets out to avenge his wife who was killed by mob boss Denny Richards. A demon is here to help Adam – provided Adam does whatever the demon asks.

This Italian splatter flick is proof that Italian horror isn’t dead, just dormant. Plenty of violence graces the screen and the beautiful red stuff is more plentiful than pasta at an Italian buffet. And – bonus! – most of it is practical. Snapping limbs, disembowelments, decapitations, head smashes, and so on are certain to keep any and all glued to the screen and cheering. Not to mention that the flick just kicks major ass. An extended edition was recently released. Translation: more red stuff and chunky innards! Buy it now and do whatever it tells you.

A group of people stop off at a house and a killer pops up to off them one by one.

Sure, the synopsis sounds generic, but there is nothing generic about this Japanese “splatter-eros” flick as there are enough perversions in the 68-minutes comprising this flick as there are in films twice the length. You get plenty of graphic violence and even a bit of monster sex. Yes, you read that right. This film was followed by Entrails of a Beautiful Woman which, while it ups the ante on twistedness in the final ten minutes, takes a whole hour to get there. Watch ‘em both. You won’t be sorry.

Premutos was the first fallen angel. A young German man, Premutos’ son, finds a book and yellow potion which transform him into a monster and raises an army of the dead!

Olaf Ittenbach is known in Germany for his splatter flicks. This is no exception. To get an idea of it, picture Dead Alive with half the budget and laughable dubbing. Sound entertaining? Trust me, it is. Not only will the dubbing bust your gut, the glorious red stuff will bust your mind. The ending provides insane fun. The DVD is out of print and will cost you a pretty penny. Trust me though, it’s worth it.

John Lucker escapes from a mental institution and proceeds to hunt down the sole survivor of his previous killing spree.

There are only a handful of flicks that have nearly made me vomit. This is one of them. Once again, a generic plot. What holds the film together is Nick Van Suyt’s turn as John Lucker. The man just oozes crazy. Not to mention the effects are pretty good for something made for less than the cost of a Happy Meal. Upon release, this film shocked Belgium and was one of the goriest and most disturbing films ever released in that country. Not to mention it was pretty controversial. A bit tame by today’s standards, it is still worth checking out.

Gorgeous and six of her friends go to the house of Gorgeous’ aunt for a vacation. While there, strange things begin to happen.

“Strange things” is about the best way to describe everything in this Japanese flick from director Nobuhiko Obayashi. It is overflowing with surreal imagery, purposefully bad special effects, and violent shifts in tone – all of which left this viewer thinking “What the fuck?” after it was finished. It also contains, bar none, the most bizarre death ever to grace the world of cinema. And for those wondering, no, the 1986 film of the same name is not a remake.

A murderer is released from prison after ten years. First order of business: find more people to terrorize and kill – which he does in the form of a mother, daughter, and disabled son.

Angst was one of the most sought-after bootlegs until it recently received a legitimate release thanks to the folks at Cult Epics. It is one of those films that will stay with you long after viewing it, partially because of the excellent cinematography and lead performance on the part of Erwin Leder. The film is based on the true story of Austrian murderer Werner Kniesek. Kniesek, who was to become a priest, first ran afoul of the law by stabbing his mother ten times (she survived); then, he shot an elderly woman on her doorstep just after announcing “I’m shooting now.” If your only exposure to serial killer cinema has been through Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, then you are in dire need of exposure to Angst, which blows Henry away on all levels.

Terry Hawkins, a pornographer, is released from prison and decides to start making snuff movies.

I’ll let Bill Landis open with his write-up of the film in Sleazoid Express: “[I]n the entire blood horror universe of madness, murder, and mayhem…one film stands out for forcing the grizzled Deuce audience to clutch their stomachs and chairs in disbelief, nausea, and shock.” Originally released as The Funhouse in 1974, it came out under its more commonly-known name in 1977 before disappearing. Long regarded as a lost film, it resurfaced in 2002 via Barrel Entertainment’s 2-disc special edition (now out of print and going for a hefty sum through online vendors). The film is pretty brutal, especially for its time; the grainy and amateurish cinematography lends the film a genuine snuff film look. Roger Watkins (who wrote, produced, directed and starred in the film under various pseudonyms) created one of the best 70s horror flicks to come out of America. After watching, I think you’ll agree.