Image credit: Warner Bros., British Lion Film, Paramount Pictures, Seda Spettacoli, Toho Company, ZDF, CFDC, Twentieth Century Fox, Eldorado Films, Red Bank Films
Just in time for Halloween, it's time to go back to some of the underrated classics.
1. "The Exorcist" (1973) "The Exorcist" isn't just a horror film; it's a phenomenon. Regan, a 12-year-old girl, starts showing some unsettling behavior. Levitating? Check. Speaking in tongues? Double check. What's a mother to do? Call in two priests for an exorcism, of course.
The clash between the demonic entity possessing Regan and the priests is nothing short of iconic. Plus, who could forget that head-spinning scene? And fun fact: despite its eerie subject matter, it was a massive hit, grossing over $232 million.
2. "The Wicker Man" (1973) Ever heard of a Scottish island filled with pagan rituals? Sergeant Howie hadn't either until he visited Summerisle to investigate a girl's disappearance. Instead of straightforward answers, he gets odd songs, seductive dances, and creepy masks. Spoiler: things don't end well for Howie.
As for the big burning question – why's it called "The Wicker Man"? Let's just say there's a giant wooden structure and a shocking twist. The cult vibes of this film have since made it a cult classic!
3. "Suspiria" (1977) Ballet and witches – an unusual mix, but man, does it work! Suzy, an American, joins a ballet academy in Germany. Instead of pirouettes and pliés, she gets a series of bizarre incidents, and students going missing. A lesson to all: always research your ballet academy for possible witch coven connections.
The vibrant colors and haunting score by Goblin makes this more than just a horror flick; it's an experience.
4. "House" (1977) If you thought your high school trip was wild, wait till you hear this. A schoolgirl and six of her classmates head to her aunt's country home. Sounds innocent, right? Wrong. The house has a taste for young women, and not in a "let's have a sleepover" kind of way. It's more of a "let's get devoured by a piano or attacked by mattresses" way. Yep, you read that right.
It's trippy, it's weird, and it's oh-so-70s. If you're thinking, "Did they really go there?", the answer is: oh, they went there.
5. "Nosferatu the Vampyre" (1979) This isn't your typical Dracula story. It's a retelling, and what a retelling it is! Count Dracula, with his rat-like teeth and eerie demeanor, moves from Transylvania to Germany, bringing a wave of death with him. Lucy, our heroine, takes it upon herself to end Dracula's reign, but not without some chilling encounters.
Remember folks, if your new neighbor has an aversion to sunlight and a thing for blood, maybe don't invite them in for tea.
6. "The Omen" (1976) Raising kids is hard. Raising the Antichrist? Even harder. When the U.S. ambassador and his wife have their son Damien, things take a dark turn. There's a mysterious nanny, freak accidents, and oh, a prophecy about Damien being the literal Antichrist. Makes teething seem like a breeze, huh? One look at Damien's creepy stare and you'll second guess that dream of having kids.
And just to throw it in there – it raked in over $60 million at the box office. Not bad for a devilish little kid.
7. "Carrie" (1976) Prom night is meant to be a magical night, right? Well, not for Carrie. After a traumatic incident involving a period and some really mean classmates, things spiral. Add to the mix an overbearing religious mother and Carrie's telekinetic powers, and you've got a recipe for disaster.
Quick advice: if your classmate looks like they're about to snap and they've got mysterious powers, maybe don't pour pig's blood on them. Just a thought.
8. "Don't Look Now" (1973) Grieving is tough, especially when you're in a foreign country with mysterious happenings. John and Laura lose their daughter in a drowning accident and head to Venice to recover. Instead of healing, John starts seeing a little girl in a red coat (eerily similar to what his daughter wore) running around the city.
Psychic sisters, eerie visions, and a shocking ending – this movie has got it all. If you're planning a trip to Venice, maybe watch this after you return.
9. "Black Christmas" (1974) Christmas: a time for joy, presents, and... mysterious phone calls? At a sorority house during Christmas break, girls start receiving strange calls and, worse, start disappearing. The festive season turns deadly as they try to figure out who's stalking them.
It's a chilling watch that'll make you double-check your locks. Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the... wait, did you hear something?
10. "Let's Scare Jessica to Death" (1971) Newly released from an institution, Jessica wants a fresh start. She moves to a farmhouse with her husband. But instead of fresh country air and peace, Jessica gets eerie visions and a mysterious girl named Emily who may or may not be a vampire. Is Jessica relapsing, or is something sinister at play?
Here's some free advice: when looking for a new home, maybe avoid places with recent unexplained deaths.
