The 1990s was a fun decade for thehorrorgenre, with many productions turning into unintentionally hilarious films years later. The'80s saw a peak in the horror genre, and by the time the ’90s had rolled around, far less inspired films were being released. The ’90s are considereda transition period in the horror genre, allowing filmmakers to play around and experiment, which ultimately produced a lot of films that were less than innovative.
Many of these films are considered rip-offs of the decades' accomplished releases, or they were simply unable to concoct a unique and compelling story of their own. Though the critical and commercial response to these films wasn’t the best at the time of their original release, they went on to garner a cult following, beingappreciated for their unintended campy tones. Films likeTicks,The Dentist, andTroll 2have a pleasant viewing experience when audiences give in to their absurd plots and eccentric antagonists.
10Winterbeast (1992)
Directed by Christopher Thies
Combining live-action filming and stop-motion animation is the underrated horror filmWinterbeast. The film is largely overlooked, mainly due to its poor quality, but has earned a cult following over the years forits creative visuals and unintentionally humorous aspects.Winterbeastis set in New England and follows the work of two rangers who attempt to get to the bottom of a series of disappearances in the area.
Winterbeast
Cast
Winterbeast is a 1992 horror film set in a small New England town during the fall. The narrative unfolds as the town is terrorized by malevolent forces linked to possessed totem poles, prompting local law enforcement to confront the mysterious and deadly occurrences.
The film was produced on a low budget and features restrained performances in its simple setting.Winterbeastis undoubtedly scattered in almost every regard, especially in its storytelling. Yet, it’s not a horror film audiences go back to for a coherent and effectively spooky story. Instead,Winterbeastis best enjoyed for its unique creaturesterrorizing a New England town and its ambitious incorporation of stop-motion effects.
9Dolly Dearest (1991)
Directed by Maria Lease
Dolls are popular antagonists in horror movies, with the most popular examples beingAnnabelleand theChild’s Playfranchise. In the ’90s,Dolly Dearestwas viewed by many as a rip-offof the latter, earning negative critical reviews following its limited theatrical release in the United States.
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The film follows the Wade family on their move to Mexico, where the patriarch of the family obtains ownership of a doll factory. An unsettling feeling quickly takes over the family when it’s believed the family’s daughter is controlled by the possessed titular doll.
Despite being released soon afterChild’s Playand earning inevitable comparisons to the superior film,Dolly Dearestis also silly on almost every level. The performances aren’t entirely convincing and the film’s dialogue is clunky, resulting in an incredibly flawed and unintentionally hilarious film audiences can appreciate years later.
8Ticks (1993)
Directed by Tony Randel
Mutant insects are at the center of a handful of horror films, likeEight Legged Freaksand the direct-to-video filmTicks. The early ’90s film sees Seth Green lead his group of friends at a wilderness camp, where the teens are attacked by a swarm of steroid-enhanced ticks.The special effects in the film result in wonky-looking insectsthat aren’t as threatening as they are ridiculously funny.
Ticks
Ticks is a horror film where teenagers at a California retreat are attacked by mutated insects. These creatures are the result of genetic experiments conducted by unscrupulous farmers cultivating illegal marijuana, leading to horrific consequences for the unsuspecting campers.
The performances in the film too, by Green, Peter Scolari, Alfonso Ribeiro, and more, are over-the-top. This makes it difficult to take the characters seriously in their moments of angst and pure terror. Though it’s unlikelyTickswas seeking to be a revolutionary film within the horror genre, there is sincerity in each of its elements.Tickshas yet to become as beloved as other horror movie flops from the decade, but it’sstill enjoyed by audiences for its flaws.
7The Dentist (1996)
Directed by Brian Yuzna
The fear of dentists isn’t as common as that of clowns or corn fields, but the threat of the profession has come up a few times in movies likeLittle Shop of HorrorsandThe Dentist. Bothfilms are recommended to be avoided in dentist officesas their zany dentist characters abuse their power by harming their patients with the tools at their disposal. The latter was released in the mid-’90s and stars Corbin Bernsen in the titular profession.
The Dentist
The Dentist is a psychological horror film directed by Brian Yuzna. Released in 1996, it follows Dr. Feinstone, a successful dentist whose life spirals into chaos after discovering his wife’s infidelity, revealing darker aspects beneath his polished exterior.
Dr. Alan Feinstone (Bernsen) experiences hallucinations at work and consequently stabs patients, pulls out their teeth, and cuts their tongues off. As terrifying asThe Dentist’s story sounds on paper, in execution, the horrific actions are mediocre. Feinstone is never quite as eccentric as other purposefully comedic dentists, leadingaudiences to believe the humorous quality of the film wasn’t intentional.
6Troll 2 (1990)
Directed by Claudio Fragasso
Contradicting its name, the antagonists inTroll 2are not trolls, but goblins instead. According to the spirit of Joshua Waits' (Michael Stephenson) deceased grandfather, the local goblin creatures prey on humans and turn them into plant matter for consumption. Audiences and several critics agree thatTroll 2is among the worst horror movies of all time.
There’s an undeniably captivating quality to the film that’s kept audiences interested in discussing it decades later.
Yet,it’s earned a cult following in the years since its release, with appreciative fans celebratingTroll 2’s quotabilityand campy performances. Though it’s difficult at times to decipher whether the cheesy and poor quality of the film was intentional, according to the filmmakers ofTroll 2, it apparently was (viaThe Guardian).
Troll 2
Troll 2 is a 1990 horror film directed by Claudio Fragasso. It follows a family vacationing in a small town called Nilbog, where they encounter strange and malevolent creatures. Despite its title, the film has no connection to its predecessor, Troll. Troll 2 is often noted for its low budget, quirky performances, and has gained a cult following for its unintended humor and unique narrative.
Regardless,there’s an undeniably captivating quality to the filmthat’s kept audiences interested in discussing it decades later. In 2009, a documentary,Best Worst Movie, was made talking about the infamous film and its surprising popularity with audiences.
5Urban Legend (1998)
Directed by Jamie Blanks
Despite performing poorly with critics when it was first released, manyaspects ofUrban Legendhold up surprisingly wellyears later, explaining why the film is enjoyed by audiences to this day. The film is centered around a series of murders that take place on a college campus, each modeled after a well-known urban legend.
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Audiences showed up for the film in the late ’90s, butcritics viewed it as just another slasher rip-offthat followedthe success ofScream. Still,Urban Legendproduced two sequel films and has been continuously revisited and appreciated by audiences for its corny, but enjoyable concept.
Urban Legend
Urban Legend is a 1998 horror film directed by Jamie Blanks. Centered on a series of gruesome murders at a New England university, the film follows a group of students as they unravel the connection between the killings and various urban legends. The ensemble cast includes Jared Leto, Alicia Witt, and Rebecca Gayheart, weaving suspense and fear through its exploration of modern folklore.
The film has all the characteristics of a classic slashermovie, including a setting involving a group of young people, a surprise killer, and an unexpected ending.Urban Legendalso does a great job of incorporating its various timeless tales into its story. Though the results are sometimes cheesy, audiences are rarely left feeling unsatisfied.
4Deep Rising (1998)
Directed by Stephen Sommers
Critically and commercially,Deep Risingfailed in the late ’90s. However, it has since been viewed as a cult film, earning attention forits unintentionally hilarious plot pointsand fun action sequences.Deep Rising, too, is also effectively scary at several points in the film, and is seen as one of the scarierhorror movies set at sea. The film follows a group of hijackers on an ocean liner who discover they are not alone.
Deep Rising
Deep Rising is an action horror film by writer director Stephen Sommers, and follows a mercenary crew as they prepare to lay siege to a luxury liner. Led by Captain John Finnegan, the mercenary crew boards their target, the Argonautica, only to discover that someone - or something - got there first. With their boat damaged and an unseen assailant picking them off one by one, Finnegan and his crew must fight to survive and escape from a watery grave.
The crew comes face-to-face with an enormous tentacled sea monster, creating some good old-fashioned B-movie fun. Viewed negatively by critics in comparison togreat monster movieslikeAlien,Deep Risingis a film that doesn’t ask for much from audiences. Its premise is familiar, and the characters are likable, allowing audiences to sit back and revel in the delightfully cheesy ’90s action.
3Sleepwalkers (1992)
Directed by Mick Garris
Though he’s best known for his horror novels, Stephen King has also written the scripts for a handful of films as well. One of the first films written by King wasSleepwalkers, which tells the strange story of a weird mother-and-son duo who survive by feeding off of virgin women. As if this wasn’t odd enough, the duo also has the ability to shapeshift into their natural form ofcat-like creatures, resulting in an inane fight against feline antagonists.
Sleepwalkers
Tanya Robertson falls in love with the new student at school. However, she discovers too late that he and his mother are supernatural creatures who are purposely in her village hunting for a young virgin to feed on.
The first half of the film plays as a serious horror story about terrifyingly strange vampire-like creatures, but its silly turn prevents it from ever being taken seriously again.Sleepwalkers' celebrity cameos are notableand are part of the reason why the film has become a cult classic in recent years. However,the main reason forSleepwalkers' cult status is because of its absurdity.
2Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1995)
Directed by Kim Henkel
Unlike the other films mentioned,Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generationwas purposefully made as a black comedy, slasher movie.The film acts as a self-parodyand follows a group of teenagers who interact with Leatherface during the night of their prom.
Over the years, audiences have grown to appreciate the film’s use of meta-humor, Leatherface’s exaggerated characterization, and McConaughey’s chaotic performance.
However, it isn’t likely that those behind the film believed it would flop at the box office and earn largely negative reviews from critics. Critics were unimpressed by the characterization of Leatherface and were disappointed with Renée Zellweger and Matthew McConaughey’s involvement in the film.
While a few of the intentional comedic bits hit, many of these scenes fail to obtain genuine laughter from audiences at the intended moment.Over the years, audiences have grown to appreciatethe film’s use of meta-humor, Leatherface’s exaggerated characterization, and McConaughey’s chaotic performance.
1The Mangler (1995)
Directed by Tobe Hooper
Audiences are never sure what to expect fromStephen King adaptations, as the worst films and TV shows based on the author’s work prove it’s difficult to capture the essence of his writing. One of the less successful adaptations of King’s work isThe Mangler, based on his short story of the same name.
The Manglerhas a 27% rating onRotten Tomatoes.
The film follows the owner of a laundry service (Robert Englund) whose employee is a victim of a powerful ironing machine. Few people considerThe Manglerto be a great horror film, butretrospective reviews by critics and audiences have been kinder.
The Mangler
In The Mangler, a string of horrific deaths at a laundry facility leads Detective John Hunton to a chilling discovery: a demonically possessed laundry press machine. As Hunton and his friend Mark Jackson delve into the mystery, they uncover an ancient curse that has awakened the malevolent force within the machine. Together, they must find a way to exorcise the demon before it claims more victims.
The Mangleris viewed as a cult classic and has been enjoyed for its over-the-top performances, particularly the one by Englund, and its campiness that allows the film to have fun with its gory scenes. Released in the early 2000s, two direct-to-video sequels were made,The Mangler 2andThe Mangler Reborn.
