Every so often, a movie comes along that lacks an appeal to broader audiences but finds a devoted following among a subsection of movie fans. When this happens, we typically refer to that film as a cult classic. A unique characteristic of the cult classic film is that it transcends genres. A cult classic can be funny, dramatic, and scary. It is thehorrorgenre that has produced some of the most famous cult classic films of all time.
The recipe for a cult classic horror movie consists of lots of blood and gore, a few laughs, and a lot of outrageousness. Some of these movies might have been hits upon release, but might have faded from the forefront of popular culture. Others may have initially disappointed critics and audiences, but they found a life of their own as audiences rediscovered them. Here are 20 cult classic horror films that have stood the test of time.
20’House' (1977)
Not the 1985 American horror movie, which does happen to have a cult following, but the Japanese unearthed gem that rocketed from obscurity into a cult favorite upon being rediscovered. Nobuhiko Obayashi’s House follows teenager Gorgeous, who decides to bring her friends to a remote village to spend the summer with her grandmother, helping around the house and getting away from the big city. Yet, as a series of supernatural events occur, including one of her friends losing her head and spending the rest of the movie floating about, the vacation becomes a battle against evil forces.
A Quirky and Macabre Haunted House Movie From Japan
Houseis a genre-defying gem from Japan that includes elements of horror, fantasy, comedy, drama, and coming of age all rolled into an awkward mess that manages to work despite its peculiar approach. This also extends to the special effects, which are equal parts macabre and whimsical and entirely nonsensical. The movie is a visual feast, a series of curious choices that result in a one-of-a-kind visual experience with no comparison. The film is equally beloved by hardcore horror fans as it is by those who appreciate bizarre international cinema.
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19’They Live' (1988)
Drifter and construction worker Nada (Roddy Piper) accidentally uncovers an alien invasion that has deeply infiltrated culture through advertising and broadcasts. Nada begins his war against the invasion, bringing in a few others to help, aiming to show the world the truth by disrupting the signal that keeps people from seeing the truth of their devious rulers.
Consume, Obey, Repeat
18’What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?' (1962)
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
Remnants of a bygone era of entertainment, sisters Jane and Blanche Hudson lived a tumultuous life, with Jane, the child star, being abusive towards her disabled sibling. As the relationship becomes more abusive, past regrets and secrets start to emerge between the two, leading to a shocking reveal that changes their relationship forever.
Some Melodrama With Your Psychological Horror
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?is beloved for its campy, over-the-top performances, withtwo screen icons, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, giving outrageous performances late in their careers. A blend of dark psychological horror, memorable dialogue, and campiness has given the film a broad appeal, revered among queer audiences and influential among many drag performers, but also among those who love well-crafted, in-your-face-with-personality horror movies. The movie would also inspire an influx of films in a lesser-known sub-genre of horror, the “psycho-biddy” genre, marking its influence in shaping the horror landscape.
17’Zombie' (1980)
Anne Bowles travels from New York to a remote Caribbean island in a bid to find her missing father. Upon arrival, she is met with a village seemingly devastated by some disease. As she meets with the last few survivors, she soon realizes she has arrived at a crucial turning point, as the dead have begun to rise and are killing and consuming everything in their path.
The Definitive Extreme Zombie Film
Italian cinema was unbeaten in the ’80s, offering up both spectacular gore pieces and stylish crime thrillers that slowly made their way to American audiences and became the subject of fascination. Before his death, the director ofZombie, Lucio Fulci, was able to see what an impact his films had made on horror fans, living most of his life unaware of how popular his work had become outside his native country.
There are many films in Fulci’s filmography deserving of mention, but Zombie strikes that perfect balance of monster madness, extremely shocking practical effects, and engaging storytelling. The zombie featured on the film’s poster, and used in promotional material, has also become an iconic image, evoking images of extreme horror for the most hardcore and dedicated fans. Of course, the movie’s infamous shark vs zombie scene would have been enough alone to earn the title infamy.
16’Ganja and Hess' (1988)
Ganja & Hess
Wealthy anthropologist Dr. Hess Green undergoes a horrifying transformation after his unstable assistant stabs him with a ceremonial dagger from an African tribe of blood drinkers that turns him into a vampire. Driven by an insatiable thirst for blood, Green first tries to satiate his needs by stealing blood, but soon starts targeting sex workers. When his estranged wife, Ganja, appears, their relationship begins to rebuild, with Ganja slowly becoming drawn to the idea of immortality and working with her husband.
Some of the best cult films are born out of creatives telling studios to “go f*** themselves.” Director Bill Gunn made a historic move by being given money to attempt to capitalize on the popularity ofBlackulaand the Blaxploitation genre. Instead, hedelivered a thoughtful movie that was vastly ahead of its time in approaching themes of race relations while also providing a poignant and visually stunning horror film. Highly influential for Jordan Peele, it is also sampled in the horror/rap track fromClipping.“Blood of the Fang,“Ganja & Hessis as culturally influential as it is a beloved cult classic.
15’An American Werewolf in London' (1981)
An American Werewolf In London
An American Werewolf in Londonfits the criteria to be considered a cult classic, but not in all aspects. Unlike most cult classic horror movies on this list, this John Landis creation mainly enjoyed favorable reviews from critics and was a box-office hit. It was also nominated for a handful of Academy Awards, albeit mainly for the incredible makeup effects done by the legendary Rick Baker.
Werewolf Film that Has Withstood the Test of Time
Yet one reason it is called a cult classic is that, apart from one mostly forgotten sequel, it did not span a massive franchise like other horror films, so it has not remained in the public zeitgeist as much and, in many ways, can be overlooked. The atmosphere of the film, the gore and violence, and the air of mystique surrounding the project make it not only one of thebest horror reimaginingsbut a solid cult classic horror movie to boot.
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Dawn of the Dead
The follow-up to his classic 1968 ghoulish original helped to set the tone for zombie films as we know them today.Dawn of the Dead,coming ten years after its predecessor, used a local mall to film mostly at night before giving way to perhaps the real zombies, early morning mall walkers. Accompanied by brilliant practical effects from makeup artist, stunt person, and actor Tom Savini, Romero helped to create one of the most entertaining cult horror films of all time.
Although the zombies take center stage in the story, it’s humanity that ultimately reveals its worst traits.Dawn of the Deadis one of the most influential horror films of all time and certainly was more profitable than its predecessor, but due to the film not having the same circulation as other horror films of the time, likeHalloween,The Omen, orThe Exorcist,it earns a bit of a cult status.
13’Slither' (2006)
Before he began writing and directing big-budget films likeGuardians of the Galaxyand becoming the President of DC Studios, James Gunn was known for directing some wildly entertaining cult classics. Perhaps none more popular than 2006’sSlither, which was his directorial debut.
Horror that Crawls Underneath Your Skin
This body horror film is chock-full of B-movie conventions and tells the tale of a parasitic alien that crash-lands on Earth attached to a meteor and proceeds to wreak havoc on a small town in South Carolina.Slitheroffers no shortage of gross-out horror, utilizing mostly practical effects to churn the stomachs of the audience. It is a fun, wild ride and lives on to this day as a cult classic despite being a box office disappointment.
Eraserhead
David Lynch has created some of the most unique and experimental movies and television shows of all time, and fans of his may never stop trying tofigure out the filmmaker’s twisted and fantastical mind. 1977’sEraserheadmay just be one of the best.
One of the Films that Started the Midnight Movie Craze
As with many cult classic movies,Eraserheadbuilt its reputation through several runs in theaters as a midnight movie, a concept that is exactly as it sounds.Complete with a dark and dreary atmosphere capable of making your skin crawl, mutant babies, and disfigured singers, this David Lynch classic is as cult horror as there is. The movie’s abstract storytelling has further made it an enduring cult classic, as it is a film that needs to be watched multiple times.
11’Event Horizon' (1990)
Event Horizon
Based on a story written by Phillip Eisner, Paul W. S. Anderson’sEvent Horizonis set in 2047, when the rescue vessel Lewis and Clark gets a distress signal from The Event Horizon, a ship thought to be lost for seven years. After a team of rescuers is onboard, they realize there’s more to this encounter, as their lives are in grave danger.
From Box Office Flop to Revered Sci-Fi Horror
The film brought together a star-studded cast, including Laurence Fishburne, Sam Neill, and Jason Isaacs, to grace the screen in this claustrophobic story filled with Lovecraftian elements. As the members of the crew go down one by one, the survivors realize the ship’s systems have gained sentience, and it’s using the drive to travel in and out of hell, each time claiming more victims.The production had a cost of $60 million, and it barely made back half its production costs, but time has elevated this film to be regarded as one of the best horror space stories ever made.
