Black Christmas (1974)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/HorrorsHiddenGems/

'I'm going to kill you'

Directed by Bob Clark 

Starring Olivia Hussey, Kier Dullea, Margot Kidder, John Saxon 

Budget:   $620,000        Box Office: 4.50M

Concept

This Canadian cult classic takes homage to the 'babysitter and the murderer upstairs' urban legend and takes inspiration from real life murders in Montreal. This film has an unknown man clamber into the attic of a sorority house, and then begins calling the landline telephone downstairs. Our protagonist Jess, a young woman at the sorority house is increasingly disturbed by the calls, and has been naming the unknown man 'the moaner'. 

The moaner calls, and all the girls gather around the phone when Jess notifies them, as the moaner begins moaning, screaming, laughing and telling perverted things to the young women. When provoked by one of the girls he stops his act and calmly says 'I'm going to kill you'.

Soon several girls go missing, and now Jess is stuck at the frontline with an unknown enemy she doesn't know. The police try helping her and each call can become a life or death situation, seeing as the killer is so frightfully near.

Review

This became a cult classic over the years and is accredited to being an early slasher, possibly the earliest slasher film created. It is also known this film did become one of the first to have an antagonist who we the audience do not know. It is hidden by another first... as in you do not see the killer, you do not know the killer, you do not know of his motivations except for the fact he is just the bad guy murdering young women.

 Instead from POV you see everything the murderer sees, putting you into the shoes of the psycho killer, again this is before John Carpenter's classic Halloween arrived and had the infamous POV murdering opening. 

This film is nothing horror fanatics or even overly casual fans haven't seen or at least heard of, it is a cult classic after all, but nonetheless in the general public eye and horror's beginners this truly is a horror gem that needs earthing up.

Eden Lake (2008)

'I'm not going to be bullied away by a bunch of twelve-year olds'.

Directed by James Watkins

Starring: Kelly Reilly, Michael Fassbender, Jack O'Connell, Finn Atkins

Released: 28th September 2008

Box Office: 4M

Concept

A young couple Jenny and Steve go for a short break to a lake, where Steve used to go to as a child. They are enjoying themselves immensely until they find themselves being disturbed by a gang of youths nearby. They begin playing loud music and staring at Jenny. 

Feeling disgruntled, Steve politely asks the youths to behave. Which falls flat on its face. Clearly they are unsupervised and are out to do what they want. The morning after Steve finds a mark on his car, presumably by the teens. In frustration he comes across a house by the town, it has a bike outside one of the youths had...

Steve and Jenny end up finding themselves eventually being hunted, and now must find a way out of the lake and woods to escape the young psychopaths. The gangs leader, Brett is a sadistic psychopath fuelled only by his home life and his friends are too afraid to disagree or just don't care. 

Review

This is a British horror film, and has an underlying social belly to the film regarding the youth of Britain, which is still angry and unfortunately still relevant today. Whilst it would be unfair to say all teenagers in Britain are like this in the working class or lower there is a problem. 

There is a moral dilemma when watching this film, because you are watching children deliberately and enjoyfully try and cause active harm to a couple. But in society being hostile towards anyone under age is considered immoral and practically illegal. 

It makes you wonder what you yourself would do in that situation, all the more burdening if you are with your loved one. It personally made me feel angry and constantly waiting for the revenge on the youths. Watch this film at least once it is a great ride for any horror fan.

Dead Silence (2007)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/HorrorsHiddenGems/

Dead Silence (2007)

'Families found...without their tongues'.

Directed by  James Wan

Starring: Ryan Kwanten, Amber Valletta, Donnie Wahlberg. Michael Fairman 

Released: March 16th 2007

Concept

Jamie Ashen is thrown into his own personal hell from the very start when a mysterious package arrives. When he and his girlfriend open it they find a very creepy doll. There is no clue as to where it cam from except a small card that states 'my name is Billy'. James runs out for some food and when he returns his love is found murdered without her tongue.

  Convinced the doll did it somehow he then proceeds to go visit his estranged father and discovers a terrible secret. A terrible secret the townsfolk have kept for many many years. 

 Being the prime suspect hot on his trails is a detective who is certain Jamie is the murderer and is using Billy as a scapegoat. Can Jamie solve the mystery and somehow prove to police that Billy did it? An excellently tense and creepy film. There is not much I can say without spoiling the ending. Go watch it...now!

Review

I love this underrated film. It didn't score well on sites such as Rotten Tomatoes or Metacritic but forget what the critics say listen to what a fan says; this film is awesome. It's got great atmosphere with it as well as a compelling story with highly tense scenes and a thought out backstory.

It has an amazing twist ending.  Don't spoil the ending for anyone who hasn't seen it please. From the creators of the SAW franchise I beg you to seek this out and please watch it at least just the once. 

I watched this film in my teen years when friends came round for the night, we'd sit in the dark watching films and this has a great nostalgic feeling for me. if you get the opportunity to see this film I highly recommend watching it...now!

Would You Rather (2012)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/HorrorsHiddenGems/

Would You Rather 

'There'll be other people there...people who just haven't received...a fair shake in life'

Directed by David Guy Levy

Starring: Brittany Snow, Sasha Grey, Jeffrey Combs,  John Heard

Released: October 14th 2012