The 30 Best Horror Movies of the 1990's.
After the fantastic masses of horror flicks the 1980's put out, quality horror suddenly seemed to stop all together in the uber-hip 90's. However, if you look hard enough, some goodness could be found during the era, some obvious, some less so. Here are my personal favorite 30 horror films from the decade in which I was born, in no particular order.
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- DirectorGary JonesStarsGunnar HansenRon AshetonSteve DixonA violent massacre caused by human-sized mosquitoes forces the lone survivors to band together in a fight for survival as the mosquitoes continue their onslaught.Pretty much your standard nature-goes-berserk thriller, but with a couple quirky differences such as OTT comic relief, juicy gore, gratuitous stop-motion monsters, and Leatherface himself, Gunnar Hansen, wielding a chainsaw once more.
- DirectorRon UnderwoodStarsKevin BaconFred WardFinn CarterNatives of a small isolated town defend themselves against strange underground creatures which are killing them one by one.A great cast, and one of the finest monster movies ever. If you haven't seen it yet, change that now! Followed by 3 STV sequels and a short-lived TV series.
- DirectorWes CravenStarsNeve CampbellCourteney CoxDavid ArquetteA year after the murder of her mother, a teenage girl is terrorized by a masked killer who targets her and her friends by using scary movies as part of a deadly game.Wes Craven single-handedly revived the long-dead (if you excuse the pun) slasher genre with this epic, loaded with genuine scares and self-aware quirkiness. Followed by 2 sequels, which failed to measure up to the intensity of this entry.
- DirectorTim BurtonStarsJohnny DeppChristina RicciMiranda RichardsonIchabod Crane is sent to Sleepy Hollow to investigate the decapitations of three people; the culprit is legendary apparition The Headless Horseman.My favorite Tim Burton movie, this beautiful, star-studded horror epic is probably the closest we'll ever get to a true throwback to classic Hammer-esque horror. I highly recommend it for its gloomy, ultra-gothic atmosphere, great cast, and grisly gore FX closer to artwork than just mere death scenes.
- DirectorWilliam Peter BlattyStarsGeorge C. ScottEd FlandersBrad DourifA police lieutenant uncovers more than he bargained for as his investigation of a series of murders, which have all the hallmarks of the deceased Gemini serial killer, leads him to question the patients of a psychiatric ward.The Exorcist 3 is one of the most underrated horror sequels ever; it maintains a genuinely chilling and disturbing atmosphere throughout, top-notch performances courtesy of George C Scott and particularly Brad Dourif, as well as one of the best jump scares ever committed to film.
- DirectorChristophe GansShûsuke KanekoBrian YuznaStarsJeffrey CombsTony AzitoJuan FernándezLovecraft visualizes 3 stories in Necronomicon: The Drowned, The Cold and Whispers, about bringing a dead wife and child back to life, extending life and aliens."Necronomicon" is some of Lovecraftian terror at it's finest. A trio of increasingly-bizzare horror tales are sewn together, mixed with a tour-de-force of disturbing and elaborate makeup/creature FX you won't see anywhere else.
- DirectorJohn CarpenterStarsSam NeillJürgen ProchnowJulie CarmenAn insurance investigator begins discovering that the impact a horror writer's books have on his fans is more than inspirational.Horror maestro John Carpenter unleashes hell itself in yet another Lovecraft-inspired epic. You too feel like going mad as the film unravels slowly and broodingly, leading to a climax blurring terror from what we know, and terror we thought unimaginable.
- DirectorAntonia BirdStarsGuy PearceRobert CarlyleDavid ArquetteIn a remote military outpost in the 19th century, Captain John Boyd and his regiment embark on a rescue mission which takes a dark turn when they are ambushed by a sadistic cannibal."Ravenous" came out in a time when the cannibal movie was practically non-existent. But then this little-seen bit of gory awesomeness showed up out of the red. Loaded with offbeat characters, pitch-black humor, super-bizarre experimental music, sharp cinematography, and a LOT of gore, this is a clever cannibal flick worth every bit of your time.
- DirectorJuan Piquer SimónStarsJack ScaliaR. Lee ErmeyRay WiseSiren II, a submarine under the command of Capt. Phillips, ventures into the deep on a mission to recover the missing Siren I. Their quest is hindered when the submarine becomes entangled in a patch of toxic seaweed.I'm kind of a sucker for this American-Spanish co-production directed by the late Juan Piquier Simon. It has a good cast, some gore, and more monsters than you can shake a severed arm at, all filmed in cheesy, low-budget glory.
- DirectorFrank HenenlotterStarsJames LorinzJoanne RitchiePatty MullenA medical student sets out to recreate his decapitated fiancée by building her a new body made of Manhattan street prostitutes."Frankenhooker" is vintage Frank Henenlotter; offbeat, unbelievable characters, cheesy gore, and sequences so bizarre you won't see them anywhere else; check out his other flims as well, ALL cult classics.
- DirectorChris WalasStarsBill PaxtonMichael IronsideMarshall BellA business man buys a house, but he has a hard time trying to get rid of its previous tenant, a dirty bum.This is a WEIRD movie, as though John Waters directed a horror film. But it's just so unforgettably weird that you can only sit back and enjoy the ride as sheer lunacy unfolds. Very underrated, and worth a check if you can get a hold of it.
- DirectorJohn McNaughtonStarsMichael RookerTracy ArnoldTom TowlesArriving in Chicago, Henry moves in with ex-con acquaintance Otis and starts schooling him in the ways of the serial killer.Although "Henry" was made in 1986, it wasn't released until 1990, so it made this list thanks to a technicality. What can I say about this classic? It's one of the most unnerving low-budget horror films ever, thanks to some scenes of genuinely shocking violence, gritty photography, creepy music, and a turntable of fantastic acting from out 3 main leads, whose first films all were this.
- DirectorTim BoxellStarsPamela GidleySimon BossellValeriy NikolaevMutant lizards attack a woman on the run hiding out in a cabin in the woods.I feel this killer lizard flick is underrated. Despite some occasionally corny acting and a few moments of bad CGI ( the monsters are usually realized through puppets), it's pretty fun, ultra-gory in a few scenes, and maintains a moody atmosphere. Worth a look despite some obvious flaws.
- DirectorTrey ParkerStarsTrey ParkerDian BacharStephen BlackpoolThe sole survivor of an ill-fated mining expedition tells how his taste for gold was replaced by that of human flesh.From the creators of "South Park", this is another cannibal flick, obviously. Despite its shortcomings budget-wise, it's ridiculously funny and instantly-quotable. Get some friends together and check it out for a hell of a good time.
- DirectorBrian YuznaStarsBilly WarlockConcetta D'AgneseBen SlackAn ordinary teenage boy discovers his family is part of a gruesome orgy cult for the social elite.Not released until '92, this one goes on here due to another technicality. From Stuart Gordon auteur Brian Yuzna, "Society" seems like your typical paranoia thriller, that is until about the last 40 minutes. These climax of this movie contains probably some of the most insane, surreal, and downright WEIRD makeup FX ever! Definitely not for the squeamish, and ever hardened horror fans won't soon forget it.
- DirectorPeter JacksonStarsTimothy BalmeDiana PeñalverElizabeth MoodyA young man's mother is bitten by a Sumatran rat-monkey. She gets sick and dies, at which time she comes back to life, killing and eating dogs, nurses, friends, and neighbors.Directed by future Academy Award-winner Peter Jackson, "Braindead" (aka Dead Alive), is a modestly-budgeted zombie epic from New Zealand. What sets it apart from other zombie movies is its gore. It has lots of gore. Lots and LOTS of gore. In fact, it is often quoted by numerous horror fans probably the goriest movie ever made. But it goes so far and over-the-top that it becomes comical, making for one of the wildest horror rides you'll surely ever experience.
- DirectorTom SaviniStarsTony ToddPatricia TallmanTom TowlesWhen the unburied dead return to life and seek human victims, seven refugees shelter in a house in the Pennsylvanian countryside.While it lacks the original films outright terror, Tom Savini's color remake of the George Romero classic makes up for it with grotesque zombie makeup, a superior ending, and arguably much better characters, including a Barbara who isn't catatonic and whiny, but a real ass-kicker!
- DirectorDario ArgentoStarsAsia ArgentoThomas KretschmannMarco LeonardiA young policewoman slowly goes insane while tracking down an elusive serial rapist/killer through Italy when she herself becomes a victim of the brutal man's obsession.From Italian horror maestro Dario Argento. After a weak attempt at a mainstream American thriller with 93's "Trauma", Argento hit gold with this underrated masterpiece. Worth a check for its dreamy, surreal yet still followable plot, grisly violence, and the usual top-notch camerawork, as well as a surprising ending.
- DirectorRobert RodriguezStarsHarvey KeitelGeorge ClooneyJuliette LewisTwo criminals and their hostages unknowingly seek temporary refuge in a truck stop populated by vampires, with chaotic results.One of the best vampire movies ever, with a blastin' cast, cool makeup fx, and a gusto of direction via the great Robert Rodriguez. Followed by a pair of inferior, though still pretty decent, sequels, both released in 1999.
- DirectorJohn HarrisonStarsDebbie HarryMatthew LawrenceChristian SlaterTo stall a witch plotting to eat him, a boy reads her horror tales dealing with a collegian's resurrection of a mummy, a murderous cat, and an artist's pact with a gargoyle.More the unofficial "Creepshow 3" than a "Tales" spinoff, this a classic anthology movie with some solid fx (though a few goofier moments shine though), as well as top-notch writing from George A Romero, Stephen King, and the legendary Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
- DirectorEric RedStarsMariel HemingwayMichael ParéMason GambleAfter being bitten by a werewolf in the jungle, Ted looks for a cure. His lawyer sister, with a son and dog, invites him to park his camper by her house in the woods and live out of her fridge.An underrated werewolf thriller courtesy of Eric "The Hitcher" Red. The plot and characters are fairly standard, but the werewolf design and FX are very good and memorable, and the monster's brutal battles with the family dog are an entertaining treat.
- DirectorJohn LafiaStarsAlex VincentJenny AgutterGerrit GrahamWhile Andy's mother is admitted to a psychiatric hospital, the young boy is placed in foster care, and Chucky, determined to claim Andy's soul, is not far behind.CP2 is one of the great sequels that outdoes the first movie. Better characters, greater thrills, a bigger bodycount, and a more memorable climax set in a toy factory. Probably the best in the series IMO, considered that it was followed by the odd, unmemorable 3rd entry, and the infamously silly 4th and 5th movies.
- DirectorDavid FincherStarsSigourney WeaverCharles S. DuttonCharles DanceReturning from LV-426, Ellen Ripley crash-lands on the maximum-security prison Fiorina 161, where she discovers that she has unwittingly brought along an unwelcome visitor.This is probably the most painfully underrated movie on this list. I don't get why it is so unjustly hated! Probably best remembered for its ballsy opening, bleak, grim and depressing atmosphere, and the fact that it's David Fincher's first movie.
- DirectorWes CravenStarsBrandon Quintin AdamsEverett McGillWendy RobieTwo adults and a juvenile break into a house occupied by a brother and sister and their stolen children. There, they must fight for their lives.There's that word again: underrated. This is easily Wes Craven's most underrated flick. While it has its fair share of creepiness, it gets pretty loony and memorable during the 2nd half of the movie, filled with fun chases and lots of memorable characters. Definatley needs to be checked out again.
- DirectorMark JonesStarsWarwick DavisJennifer AnistonKen OlandtAn evil, sadistic Leprechaun goes on a killing rampage in search of his beloved pot of gold.One of those horror movies that's so dumb, but it's also so damn fun to watch. The lep is a memorable little monster, and this is Jennifer Aniston's first movie. Ludicrously silly, but a lot of fun. Followed by FIVE increasingly lousy sequels, although I personally liked the 3rd movie.
- DirectorDario ArgentoGeorge A. RomeroStarsAdrienne BarbeauHarvey KeitelRamy ZadaA duo of Edgar Allan Poe adaptations about a greedy wife's attempt to embezzle her dying husband's fortune, and a sleazy reporter's adoption of a strange black cat.Double-directed by George Romero and Dario Argento, this is a dark, little seen two-story movie that needs to be checked out. Romero's story, while a bit slow, is still pretty creepy and managed to maintain my interest; it was fairly gory in some spots, too. Argento's story is even better, moving at a better pace, and is even more disturbing and gory that the first story. Animal-lovers beware of the Argento's story, though.
- DirectorJohn CarpenterTobe HooperLarry SulkisStarsJohn CarpenterTom ArnoldTobe HooperThree short stories in the horror genre: the first about a serial killer, the second about a hair transplant gone wrong, and the third about a baseball player.This another one of the better anthology horror flicks that popped up during the 90's. It has a great cast, including some cameos from a number of genre greats, lots of gore, and director John Carpenter as a crypt-keeper type mortician during the interludes; good fun! NOTE: Get a hold of the VHS, as the DVD version chopped to bits; everything good got cut for no good reason!
- DirectorEric RedStarsJeff FaheyLindsay DuncanKim DelaneyAfter losing his arm in a car accident, a criminal psychologist has it replaced with a limb that belonged to a serial killer.Starring Jeff Fahey, this is one of my most favorite on this list. The plot is ludicrous, but the rest of the movie is just so fun that you won't care; there's a car chase, loads of gore including Fahey blowing away severed limbs with a shotgun(!), and Brad Dourif shows up too! Very...you know...underrated.
- DirectorErnest R. DickersonStarsBilly ZaneWilliam SadlerJada Pinkett SmithHigh-level demons collect low-level demons as warriors in attempt to obtain a key containing the blood of Christ. The key is guarded by immortal warriors called Demon Knights.This movie is AWESOME! The cast rocks (including Billy Zane chewing the scenery as the devil!), there's lots of slimy monster fx and gore, and to boot, it 'Tales from the Crypt"! 90 minutes of non-stop fun!
- DirectorSam RaimiStarsBruce CampbellEmbeth DavidtzMarcus GilbertWhen Ash Williams is accidentally transported to 1300 A.D., he must retrieve the Necronomicon and battle an army of the dead in order to return home.Bruce Campbell vs The Army of Darkness. A legend in cinema. Live It. Love It. Quote It.