HORROR CULT CLASSICS

WORDS : CARMEN HERNANDEZ

Over the decades, the genre of horror has created a monumental amount of new films, some masterpieces and others, well ... let's say you would rather gouge your own eyes out before watching it again. Then there are those films that show enough of a realm of creativity to become a cult classic. Each one of these films has earned a rightful spot on this list and deserves a chance to be watched with some popcorn.

This list could go on and on, but these 10 films each have their unique qualifications as a cult classic. One thing they all have in common is the ability to tell a story you will soon not forget.

1. "Freaks" 1931 Real sideshow performers star in Tod Browning's infamous cult classic. Trapeze artist Cleopatra plans to wed and then murder the dwarf Hans for his fortune. However, when Hans’ fellow 'freaks' discover her scheme, she becomes the target of their horrifying vengeance. This is one of the most powerful films ever made about the need for humanity and solidarity in the face of cruelty and oppression.

2. "The Evil Dead" 1981 The beginning of the movie repeats the vulgar premise of an abandoned house visited by some naive young people. What it lacks in narrative weight, it compensates for with a relentless pace, disturbing atmosphere and some imaginative displays of dismemberment. It's a truly unforgettable film by Sam Raimi.

3. "Psycho" 1960 When Alfred Hitchcock released “Psycho,” he forever changed the shape and tone of the screen thriller. This film is a brilliant technical exercise, an intimate character study and the ultimate variant on the premise "boy meets girl."

4. "Rosemary's Baby" 1968 In Roman Polanski's first American film, a young wife comes to believe that her offspring is not of this world. This is a slow-burn movie that will slowly pique the curiosity of its audience and keep it in touch while throwing a tricky mystery within the characters and between Rosemary's sanity and belief.

5. "The Shining" 1980 When you sit down to watch “The Shining,” you sit down with normal expectations of being diverted, perhaps even being gripped, but not being undermined. The film undermines you in powerful, inchoate ways. Stanley Kubrick's eerie adaptation of Stephen King's horror novel reveals the truth of how complete isolation can affect an individual.

6. "A Nightmare on Elm Street" 1984 Wes Craven is known for revolutionizing horror, and this unique film changed horror in the 1980s. The movie is simple and keeps a great pace, being sure to dole out the horror sporadically to always make you feel on edge, even during the day.

7. "American Psycho" 2000 The slick satire directed by Mary Harron cleverly equates materialism, narcissism, classism and misogyny with homicide, but you may laugh so loud at the protagonist that you won't be able to hear yourself laughing with him. Christian Bale stars as a Wall Street chump named Patrick Bateman who wants only power, money and sex. He also mass murders whenever he feels fit. It’s the American dream alright.

8. "Let the Right One In" 2008 Beautifully made and exquisitely realized by all involved, this is a remarkable movie that redefines horror filmmaking and deserves to reach as wide an audience as possible. A remarkably moving horror tale, the movie follows a bullied 12-year-old boy and his first love, who happens to be a vampire. It’s a vision that Tomas Alfredson created that will surely not disappoint.

9. "Train to Busan" 2016 This is a harrowing zombie horrorthriller that follows a group of terrified passengers fighting their way through a countrywide viral outbreak (sound familiar?) while trapped on a blood-drenched bullet train ride to Busan. Director Yeon Sang-ho makes clever ideas of the cramped quarters and the hypercleanliness of South Korean life with bloody, neck-biting chaos.

10. "Get Out" 2017 Jordan Peele hands out a great lesson in creating eerie suspense and jawdropping concepts. “Get Out” isn't a great film because of its excellent pacing, strongly defined characters and mastery of tone. It's a great film because it never loses sight of its social commentary on racism.