Horror Anthologies can be really fun. Heck, most are fun even when the movie isn’t that good. We all love Creepshow, Tales from the Hood, The Twilight Zone Movie, and so on and so forth, but sometimes we can look over some lesser known anthologies. Below, isn’t necessarily a top 10, just a list of some you might have missed and need to seek out!
10: Body Bags (1993)
Body Bags is probably the most well-known film on this list. Recently released on Blu-ray by Scream Factory, this overlooked gem from the 90s was something not even I had heard of until they released it and I use to rent horror movies every weekend from the local video store for years. There are three tales here and we get stuff from John Carpenter and Tobe Hooper. If you want something fun, this is it.
09: The Basement (1989)
If are being honest about things, we could call Creepshow the top of the mountain with anthology films. If that is the top, you’d probably find The Basement somewhere near the bottom. The dollar store brand of Tales from the Crypt for sure, The Basement, is still like a cinematic version of road kill you can’t turn away from. From killer swimming pools to people getting theirs for not honoring Halloween, it is a creative mess, even if it is a mess. It is also available from Alternative Cinema in a very awesome VHS/DVD big box set that comes with some other awesomely bad movies.
08: The Perfect House (2012)
Here’s a new kid on the block! This recently anthology starring both Felissa Rose and Jonathan Tiersten from Sleepaway Camp proves to be way better than anyone might expect as see the history of a house that is up for sale. The Perfect House isn’t “perfect”, but it remains entertaining and offers up a surprisingly solid story from start to finish with blood and some laughs tossed in.
07: Campfire Tales (1991)
Gunnar Hansen pops up in the woods to scare the hell out of a group of campers in this old school and very rough looking anthology from 1991. You know where it is heading and it isn’t a bad time at all really getting to that point. SRS cinema has this one out on DVD. You’d be shocked at some of the more watchable than they realistically should be films you can find from them. This is one of those movies.
06: Night Train to Terror (1985)
Recently released on Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome, this bizarre movie shows us an even more bizarre chess game between God and the Devil, leading us to some mind-trips that decide the fate of each soul they are playing for. Actually, the movie uses other films that were cut-down and tossed in here just so they could do something with them. If you are into strange, this one will be for you. It also has Bull from Night Court… That is never a bad thing.
05: Chilling Visions: 5 Senses of Fear (2013)
A lot of people write off anything with the CHILLER TV label on it, but here me out on this one that was released last year from Scream Factory on Blu-ray. There are some creepy and fun stories in this one. We dealing with an eye doctor that steals memories from his patients to a clever take on creepy-pasta tale, I liked this one more on the second watch. It might not make your top 10 after seeing it, but it is better than you might assume it is going into it.
04: Twisted Illusions 2 (2004)
Tim Ritter is the John Carpenter of the shot on video horror world and he has managed to do what is extremely hard to do in making good shot on video horror films more than once. Twisted Illusions is Ritter on his A-game and is him making a lot of chicken salad out of what some might call chicken you-know-what. This is another one you can find from SRS Cinema.
03: 4bia (2008)
I got into the blogging game after this film’s release and after the second one came out. I’m not sure how big it is online, but if you are a more none member of the online horror community and happen to stumble across this list, this one is for you. The foreign market was kicking everything from state’s behinds in horror during this time period and this is another one of those types that easily impress horror fans, if you don’t mind subtitles.
02: All Hallows’ Eve (2013)
All Hallows’ Eve was released on DVD from Image Entertainment last year and made its way to Blu-ray this year in a combo pack with Mischief Night. I noticed a lot of hate for this one online and I have no idea why. Sure, the director molded some of his shorts into an anthology by adding in some new stuff and wrap around, but it is way more hit than miss in the quality of these stories and the wrap around. This is just the type of movie you need to watch around or on Halloween and a very underrated horror film from this past year.
01: The Burning Moon (1997)
The Burning Moon is only two stories and a wrap around, but it is also foreign, loaded with gore, and absolutely insane! It isn’t for everyone out there, but anyone who loves gore will find this one to be a very wild ride. Don’t take my word for it, seek out the Intervision DVD or VHS and get ready to be pretty confused and entertained by what you see.
