Best 5 Horror Films Not on Anyone Else's Horror Lists

by Debra
(Los Angeles)

5. Bunny Lake is Missing, 1965
The original of the "Where is my child?!! She never really existed?!!" movies. Cool black and white, weird relationships, atmospheric. Watch it with the lights out.

4. I Spit on Your Grave, 1978
I saw it only once, over 25 years ago and am still horrified by the thought of watching it again. On his web site, Roger Ebert calls it, "A vile bag of garbage" and "Attending it was one of the most depressing experiences of, my life." DEATH WISH for chicks, way better than the recent THE BRAVE ONE. Watch it with a group of friends. Who are pissed off at the world.

3. The Stepfather, 1987
Terry O'Quinn. Shelly Hack. Inspired by Hitchcock's SHADOW OF A DOUBT. You will enjoy this. Also look out for the remake, staring Dylan Walsh as "Stepfather" coming out either later this year or in '09.

2. Burnt Offerings, 1976
The old Southern plantation rental home in the bayou-boonies is really a vampire. Bette Davis' last film. Great over-the-top performance by Burgess Meredith. And chilling psychological nightmares from the Dad who struggles with his past. Not to give too much away or nothin', but it ain't the "everybody's gonna be okay ending" either. Years before THE SHINING, you gotta wonder if good ole Stephen K. watched the movie and/or read the book before adding that final infamous shot of Jack in the party photo... this will make sense after you watch the movie.

1. The Sadist, 1963
Don't let the cheesy pic on the video box cover fool ya'. This is based on the true story of the 1957 teen-aged couple that ran off together... after the dude killed his girlfriend's parents so they could be together. BADLANDS, KALIFORNIA, TRUE ROMANCE... This is where it started, simple but tension-filled scares. Watch it and spread the word to your friends. They'll love you for "discovering" it. Cinematography by the famous Vilmos Zsigmond! His very first feature. 'Nuf said.