5 Great but Forgotten Horror Movies of the 1990s
The 1990s were a peculiar decade for horror, caught between the slasher revival sparked by Scream and the psychological dread of Silence of the Lambs. While mainstream hits soared at the box office, a bevy of brilliant but underappreciated films lurked in the shadows, waiting for their moment in the flickering spotlight.
Many of these previously over-looked classics have since attracted big followings of fans that enjoy the baggy jeans, floppy hair and low-tech 90s horror.
But today, we’re really going to dust off the cobwebs and delve deep into five often forgotten horror classics from the ’90s that deserve a second scream.
5 Great but Forgotten Horror Movies of the 1990s
1. Cemetery Man aka Dellamorte dellamore (1994)
In the realm of horror, few films blend existential angst with rotting corpses as stylishly as Michele Soavi’s Cemetery Man (Dellamorte Dellamore). Set in a small Italian town, the film follows Francesco Dellamorte, a cemetery caretaker who must regularly kill the reanimated dead. What unfolds is a bizarre, yet deeply philosophical tale that questions life, love, and the boundary between them. Visually striking and narratively eccentric, Cemetery Man challenges the conventions of horror with a surreal touch that’s as haunting as it is humorous.
2. In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
John Carpenter’s In the Mouth of Madness is a mind-bending journey into the abyss of insanity, inspired by the cosmic horror of H.P. Lovecraft. The story follows John Trent, an insurance investigator, who descends into the eerie world of a bestselling novelist whose books have the disturbing ability to alter reality. Carpenter weaves a terrifying tapestry of chaos and despair, masterfully exploring the blurring lines between fiction and sanity. Despite its ingenious premise and chilling execution, the film remains one of Carpenter’s lesser-acknowledged masterpieces.
3. The Dark Half (1993)
When it comes to horror, Stephen King and George A. Romero are legendary names that promise a chilling good time. The Dark Half, based on King’s novel, presents a gripping tale of a writer whose pseudonym manifests as a sinister physical entity. The film delves deep into themes of duality and the dark side of creativity, presenting a psychological battle rife with terror. Despite the star power behind it and a compelling plot, The Dark Half often gets overshadowed by other King adaptations but stands out for its introspective horror and Romero’s tense direction.
4. Ravenous (1999)
Ravenous is a deliciously twisted take on survival and human depravity, set against the backdrop of the Mexican-American War. The film mixes cannibalistic horror with black comedy, exploring the monstrous depths of human nature through a group of soldiers led into temptation by a mysterious stranger. With standout performances by Guy Pearce and Robert Carlyle, Ravenous offers an unconventional horror experience that satirizes as much as it scares. It’s a cult classic that went largely unnoticed at the time but deserves to be devoured by contemporary audiences.
5. The Reflecting Skin (1990)
Though often classified more as a thriller, The Reflecting Skin is a horror film at heart, with its haunting portrayal of childhood fears and rural isolation. This British-Canadian film follows a young boy growing up in the vast and desolate American Midwest, surrounded by a landscape as eerie as the people who inhabit it. With elements of gothic horror, vampirism, and a deep, dark look into the human psyche, The Reflecting Skin uses its horror elements subtly but effectively, creating a sense of dread that lingers long after the credits roll.
These films are each remarkable in their own right and represent the diverse potential of horror cinema beyond the mainstream successes of the 1990s. Whether you crave a philosophical zombie, cosmic terror, or a psychological doppelgänger duel, these ’90s gems offer a treasure trove of frights waiting to be rediscovered.
It’s a great reminder to us all to go back and try new, old things. After all, true horror never dies; it just waits in the dark, biding its time until the next unsuspecting viewer dares to press play.
