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Dark City

Dark City is a visually stunning film with a unique premise. John Murdoch is a wanted man, but the problem is, he doesn’t even remember who he is. On the run from the police and a group of mysterious individuals, the Strangers, John finds out  what the Strangers are really up to. The winner of many awards, the movie didn’t fare well at the box office, but once it was released on VHS and DVD, word of mouth gave it the dedicated following that it has today.

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Dawn of the Dead

Romero’s follow up to Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead takes place mostly in a Pennsylvania shopping mall after the zombie apocalypse has reached epidemic proportions. With civilization crumbling, a small group of survivors tries to ride it out in a mall. Another small budget film from Romero that was able to pull in hefty numbers at the box office, DOTD is highly esteemed. 

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Donnie Darko

Filmed in only 28 days, Donnie Darko has risen to cult classic status due to its philosophical themes and principle photography. Writer and director Richard Kelly’s ability to convey the mounting sense of dread and menace translate superbly to the screen. The story follows Donnie’s days as he is counting down to a possible armageddon scenario. He experiences visions and elements of spacetime, such as wormholes. Not breaking even on its budget and ticket sales in the theatres, strong DVD sales prompted the release of a director’s cut. 

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The Devil’s Rejects

A film written and directed by Rob Zombie, The Devil’s Rejects is a sequel to the 2003 Rob Zombie film, House of 1000 Corpses. Now we see the Firefly clan on the run from authorities. Zombie’s raw, vicious style manages to entertain without deterring by giving the viewers a glimpse into each character’s twisted psyche, no matter how depraved. Recouping the budget on its opening weekend, the film grossed over $19 million worldwide. 

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Dracula (1931)

Bela Lugosi in his iconic role as Dracula is still admired today. Based on the novel of the same name by Bram Stoker, the film was a wild hit in the theatres. Originally slated to have Lon Chaney in the lead role, plans were changed when Cheney lost his battle with throat cancer. After much discord behind the scenes, the film opened 

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Blade

Based on the Marvel Comics character Blade, this film cast Wesley Snipes in the lead. He is a human-vampire hybrid but he has taken the human’s side, protecting them from the vampires. A stunning visual film, Blade caught mixed reviews, yet brought in a hefty payday. The story varies a bit from the comics, probably in an attempt to up the ante and bring more action and interest. There were two sequels that followed, completing the Blade trilogy. 

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The Blair Witch Project

One of the most well-known indie horror flicks, The Blair Witch Project stirred the pot with its raw, found video footage and newcomers. Three people go into the woods near Burkittsville, Maryland, in search of a local legend, The Blair Witch. Their adventure left them missing, yet their footage was found a year later. This footage is what is presented as the movie. It was such a different premise that some people wondered if it weren’t all true, until the movie’s stars all went on the talk show circuit soon after. With a ridiculously low budget, it grossed over $240 million worldwide. Not the first of the found footage kind, it is one of the most well remembered for the style.

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The Blob

In 1958, a small indie film with humble beginnings became a sleeper hit. The Blob, a movie about a meteor, which crashes to earth, spilling out its deadly contents, which would terrorize the small town. Taking place in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, it was the debut role for Steve McQueen. McQueen settled for a payday of $3,000 due to a poor business decision, and the movie eventually grossed over $4 million. 

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Blade Runner

Directed by Ridley Scott and starring Harrison Ford, it is a film set in Los Angeles in 2019. There are humanoid robots, replicants, who have been designed to carry out specific tasks. When they defy their orders, cue someone like Harrison Ford to come and find them. A gritty, futuristic dystopian film, Blade Runner didn’t fare well at the theatres, but became a cult classic with a die-hard fan base. 

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The Birds

Set in Bodega Bay, California, Alfred Hitchcock spins an unforgettable yarn about mysterious, sudden and violent bird attacks. His ability to build the suspense and mounting terror are paramount to the effect of the film. By the end, you will be watching the skies and fearing birds. The special effects concerning the birds were fantastic, cementing this movie in its classic status.

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Bram Stoker’s Dracula

The 1992 release directed by Francis Ford Coppola was based on Bram Stoker’s novel, Dracula. Coppola’s brilliant use of setting and atmosphere were unforgettable. The costumes and sets were a visual treat. A box office success, it showed that audiences were still driven to watch films about Dracula, even though there have been many over the years. The movie also won three Academy Awards.