Every year around this time, I try to watch exclusively horror films, in order to get myself into the Halloween spirit. This year, I wanted to try something different, and give some credit to the brilliant independent filmmakers behind some classic horror hits. In fact, the horror genre is one in which many independent productions have found great success and developed cult followings. Each of the films on this list is independently produced, with far smaller budgets and fewer resources available to them. But make no mistake–these films are some of the best examples of technicolor terror.
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD - GEORGE A. ROMERO - 1968
Night of the Living Dead is a legendary film that needs little introduction, George A. Romero’s classic Night of the Living Dead is a staple of independent horror. Following the story of a group of survivors trapped in a farmhouse as an undead invasion closes in on them, the film expertly weaves in subtle yet profound commentary about racism and prejudice. Made on a budget of around $114,000, the lowest budget film on this list, Night of the Living Dead was made with passion and creativity, even if it meant having to find creative methods to depict the undead properly. Blood was actually made with chocolate syrup and food coloring, and the film was shot in black and white, not for style, but because monochromatic film was significantly cheaper to shoot with. This film is important not just for horror and independent film but for movies in general, featuring a Black lead, played by Duane Jones. The film is still studied across the nation today, and with good reason, so find out for yourself.
HALLOWEEN - JOHN CARPENTER - 1978
It may surprise some to see that the original Halloween is an independent film, but lo and behold. Not only is the film monumental for the slasher genre as we know it today, but also stood the test of time, iconic for the content of the film itself as well as its impact, having one of the first “scream queens” in Jamie Lee Curtis, and really kickstarting the slasher subgenre. Michael Myers and his relentless pursuit of Laurie Strode (Curtis) in the town of Haddonfield, Illinois, has become famous, spawning a franchise that has continued today. The film is still tense and terrifying, helped in large part by the scoring done by Carpenter himself. If you need any more reason to watch (or re-watch), Halloween is in the National Film Registry in the Library of Congress, one of the most successful independent horror films to this day.
POSSESSION - ANDRZEJ ŻULAWSKI - 1981
The first European-made film featured here, Possession follows an international spy who returns home to find that his wife, who has asked for a divorce, is beginning to show increasingly disturbing behavior. Working with a budget of $2 million, this film leans more towards the psychological and supernatural horror rather than a masked killer, emphasizing themes of heartbreak, marital crises, and change. This film has earned its place in the Criterion Collection, and was listed by Sight and Sound magazine as one of the greatest films of all time in 2021.
TENEBRAE - DARIO ARGENTO - 1982
Another European horror, this time the giallo slasher from horror legend Dario Argento. Though maybe better known for his horror films Suspiria or The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, I chose Tenebrae in order to highlight a less frequently discussed gem of his. The plot follows an American writer who travels to Europe to promote his murder mystery novel, only to encounter killings inspired by his work. Tenebrae incorporates elements of mystery, thriller, and slashers, and has a unique visual style, using contrasting blacks and whites with deep, sharp reds.
VIDEODROME - DAVID CRONENBERG - 1983
Although distributed by Universal, Cronenberg's Videodrome was produced independently in Canada, on a budget of $5.9 million. Videodrome tells of a trashy TV channel president who discovers a program that consists of torture and violence, and after choosing to capitalize off it, discovers it might be more than fiction. This film is gory. It's violent. But it's also deeply fascinating and still relevant today, as more and more odd things appear in our media. There is no film quite like Videodrome.
RE-ANIMATOR - STUART GORDON - 1985
Re-Animator tells of a medical student who discovers a formula to bring the dead back to life by "re-animating" their tissue. Based on an H.P. Lovecraft story, the film is a science fiction/horror, though it has comedic elements throughout. There is also a fair share of queer subtext, though perhaps that deserves its own article. Re-Animator excels at dipping into campiness without marinating in it, giving it a healthy dose of comedy.
EVIL DEAD II - SAM RAIMI - 1987
Don't be fooled by the number, the first Evil Dead is not required viewing at all before viewing the cult classic Evil Dead II. Funded primarily by Raimi himself and leading actor Bruce Campbell, the film essentially remakes the first from the ground up, experimenting considerably more. This film is campy in all the best ways, and is one of the most entertaining horrors I've seen. Definitely check it out if you're a fan of Raimi, Campbell, horror/comedy, or even the modern Evil Dead films.
HELLRAISER - CLIVE BARKER - 1987
Later achieving a deal with studios for future installments, the first two Hellraiser films were independently produced, with the first having a budget of $1 million. The film is about a man who releases the terrifying sadomasochist Cenobites via a mysterious puzzle box, and his niece who must face the deadly consequences. The film, directed by Clive Barker, is based on a novel written by Barker, who was not pleased with prior adaptations of his works. With stunning costume design by Jane Wildgoose and special effects by Bob Keen, Hellraiser is shockingly good and refreshingly unique.
KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE - STEPHEN CHIODO - 1988
Possibly the most visually unique of any of the films featured, Killer Klowns was created with a budget of $1.8 million by the Chiodo brothers, who wrote, directed, produced, and designed the film themselves. All of the costumes, special effects, and makeup were designed by the brothers too. The title pretty much tells you everything you need to know, and on that front, it delivers, and it's a great mix of horror, sci-fi, and comedy. There are really fun props, such as the cotton-candy cocoons or the circus tent UFO.
SANTA SANGRE - ALEJANDRO JODOROWSKY - 1989
Another circus related film, Santa Sangre tells the story of a boy who grows up in a torturous circus raised by his knife-throwing father and aerialist mother. The film moves into psychedelia and surrealism at points, and at its core, is really about childhood trauma. The budget was just under $1 million, and was filmed in Mexico City, Mexico. Tolita Figuero, the costume designer for the film, also designed the circus itself, giving the film a large part of its dazzlingly unique visuals.
FRANKENHOOKER - FRANK HENENLOTTER - 1990
Frankenhooker loosely follows the ideas established in Mary Shelley's original Frankenstein novel, playing with both parody and homage. It's about a young man who brings his girlfriend back to life, harvesting the bodies of New York sex workers. It's raunchy and edgy, but made with passion, setting it out among other standard horror films. Frankenhooker is brave enough to use sex with intentionality in a horror film, and well worth your time.
CUBE - VINCENZO NATALI - 1997
Cube is about a group of strangers who awake to find themselves in a mysterious, futuristic cube that's loaded with death traps, and seemingly no way out. As they try to escape, they must survive the deadly cube - and each other. In some ways, it sounds similar to Saw (2004), but Cube actually came out first. Each of the characters in the film is named after a prison, and the dynamics of the characters are reminiscent of Carpenter's The Thing, or Ridley Scott's Alien. An unusual and deeply tense science fiction horror, Cube is a great unconventional watch.
THE HOST - BONG JOON HO - 2006
Inspired, or rather, moved, by the McFarland incident in 2000, Bong Joon Ho's The Host is about a mutant monster appearing in the Han River in South Korea after a toxic chemical spill. The monster abducts a young girl, causing her family to fight to get her home. The Host is another one of those films that can feel almost too relevant at times, and Bong Joon Ho addresses environmentalism and pollution in a deeply mature and expressive way. It also stars Song Kang Ho, one of the most famous Korean actors of all time, and a longtime collaborator with Bong.
INLAND EMPIRE - DAVID LYNCH - 2006
It can be difficult to categorize Inland Empire as a horror film, due to the surrealism and psychological experimentation present. The movie itself experiments with structure, telling the story of an actress who begins to embody the role she plays for an unusual film. This film was shot entirely on a handheld Sony DSR-PD150 camcorder, giving it a defined visual style. Being David Lynch's final feature film, Inland Empire is a must for any Lynch fans.
IT FOLLOWS - DAVID ROBERT MITCHELL - 2014
In It Follows, a young woman becomes the recipient of a deathly curse passed through sexual intercourse, causing her to have to fight for her life while being pursued by death. The film is about sexually transmitted diseases, infections, and violence, addressing social standards and conceptions about sex. It Follows was shot entirely in Michigan, with a budget of around $1.3 million, though it would gross significantly more.
THE BABADOOK - JENNIFER KENT - 2014
The first film on this list to be female directed (and first to be Australian made), The Babadook is an incredible and chilling story about single motherhood, depression, and grief. A young boy believes a monster to be in his home after reading a mysterious pop-up book, sending his single mother spiraling into madness. If nothing else, watch The Babadook, or rather, listen, as the sound design by Frank Lipson is nothing short of incredible.
A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT - ANA LILY AMIRPOUR - 2014
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is an odd film among oddities. Taking place in a ghost town in Iran, a lonely, skateboarding female vampire preys upon men who prey upon women (yes, that's real, and yes, it's amazing). The film is in Farsi, and touches on the damage caused by addiction and sexism, and questions what justice might look like. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night takes a lot of elements from the spaghetti western, and is a film to not be missed.
THE INVITATION - KARYN KUSAMA - 2015
The Invitation, Karyn Kusama's psychological slasher, follows a man who attends a dinner party hosted by his ex-wife, only for the party to turn disturbing and sinister. This film brilliantly juggles ideas of cults and fanaticism, as well as playing greatly with the audience's expectations of what a slasher can be. If you enjoyed Midsommar, Coherence, or Get Out, check this one out.
THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT - LARS VON TRIER - 2018
The House That Jack Built looks at the mind of a serial killer, that of a failed architect and sociopath named Jack, as he relives several of his past murders, which he views as art. The film has a very dark tone and is rather brutal, which some call disturbing and some call deep. Both are true. And, it features an incredible performance from Matt Dillon.
X - TI WEST - 2022
The final film on the list, Ti West's X is about a group of young adult filmmakers who trespass in rural Texas to make a film, only to be caught by the land’s owners, resulting in a dangerous and bloody confrontation. The film has one of the highest budgets on this list, at 15 million. Produced by acclaimed studio A24, X is the first of a trilogy, all of which came out within a couple of years. It features Mia Goth playing double roles, and pays great homage to Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
