Most of the horror movies that get released these days are fairly thoughtless or formulaic. For those looking for truly unsettling horror movies, consider these four gems that are sure to induce nightmares.
Seconds
A movie starring Rock Hudson won’t be creepy, right? The usual answer would be a resounding yes, but this John Frankenheimer masterpiece is a chilling look at what a person could do if they had a redo in life. This 1966 black and white movie features an unnamed shadow organization that will give the disenfranchised a new life for those willing to pay.
Particularly creepy features are the southern-drawling head of the organization, who at once seems fatherly and sinister, as well as the butler, who is obedient but wistfully manipulative. The greatest shock of the movie comes at the end, which is possibly the most disturbing ever filmed.
Resurrected/Shatterbrain
This 1992 film is considered one of the best adaptations of horror writer H.P. Lovecraft and follows fairly closely to his story The Case of Charles Dexter Ward.
The plot revolves around the eponymous title character who discovers information about an ancestor of his who bears a striking resemblance to him. Through various occult practices gleaned from the ancestor, one Charles Curwin, Ward is able to call the ancestor back. Particularly horrifying in this film are the special effects, which include partially flayed corpses and bloody skeletons.
Lord of Illusions
Based on the short story The Last Illusion by Clive Barker, this 1995 movie revolves around a magician who is attempting to stop the unnatural resurrection of his teacher. While the blood and gore of this movie may not be like some of the classics noted at FatalDose, it is still a worthy movie.
While the bloodiness of the movie may not be terrifying, the cult led by magician Phillip Swann’s mentor, Nix, is. The psychotic devotion of Nix’s followers to evil and their commitment to their dark leader is unnerving.
The Wizard of Gore
While filmmaker Herschell Gordon Lewis claims he eventually forgot about this film, it remains a landmark achievement in realistic gore. The use of sheep parts gives the dismemberment scenes an unheard of authenticity when it was released in 1970.
Check out these forgotten gems of horror to get a terror fix that will not be forgotten. Just make sure to keep the lights on.