What’s that!?
Oh my word--it’s a giant, ravenous monster heading straight for us from the silver screen
of horror cinema.
It’s a shark--or a horde of flesh eating slugs--or a twelve story leviathan that shoots
it’s offspring off a set of strange bio-cannons on its knees.
Either way--it’s a pretty effective sandwich for a classic form of horror.
They go together hand in hand, really--terrifying monsters and all the trappings of horror that
come with them.
In many ways, creature feature horror is the very definition of the function of what truly
affects us on the screen--because when you boil it all down, all it takes is a frighteningly
effective monster to scare us witless.
Let’s find out.
Hello horror fans, what’s going on--and once again, welcome back to the scariest channel
on YouTube--Top 5 Scary Videos.
As per usual, I’ll be your horror host Jack Finch--as today, we curiously take a look
at the Top 5 Scariest Creature Feature Horror Movies.
Roll the clip.
For the curious amongst you, of course--that scene was from 1979’s Alien--the first ever
cinematic depiction of the xenomorph, and of course--that particular titan of science
fiction horror would make the top of our list every single time when it comes to horror
of the creature feature variety.
However, much like that film--as well as John Carpenter’s The Thing, we’ve covered them
time and time again on the channel, and by now--it goes without saying that they’re
worthy of note.
So yeah, honorable mention.
Also, stick 2006’s The Host on that honorable pile too, because it’s the definition of
creature feature--but yeah, we’ve covered it quite a lot.
And double also, let’s not even get started on Godzilla--because that’s a different
story entirely.
Kicking off at Number 5--The Burrowers, 2008
A surprise entry for an otherwise surprisingly effective horror movie.
And it will be even more of a shocker to fully realise that this film, is in fact--a Western.
Yeah.
Exactly.
A Western.
A Creature Feature Horror.
Who would’ve thought it?
But in fact, 2008’s The Burrowers is certainly worthy of a look-see--and when we boil down
the bones of what makes a creature feature horror worth its salt, for a relatively low
budget horror, this one has a few lessons to teach.
Written and directed by J. T Petty, the man responsible for writing the Outlast video
game series, The Burrowers tells the tale of a group of pioneers in 1879--who venture
through the Dakota Territories in their attempt to try and build a new life out in the Wild,
Wild West.
Sadly for them though, during that time, the colonists begin getting picked off one by
one--and a series of strange holes begin to appear.
Now--this film is incredibly reminiscent of the classic horror comedy creature feature,
1990s --Tremors--which is 100% worthy of making a list similar to this, but--of course, we’re
compiling this list for horror--rather than humour--and if you’ve seen Tremors you’ll
know it is damn hilarious.
You see, like Tremors, The Burrowers lives up to the promise made by any creature feature
horror movie.
The creatures--as in, you know, the most important part of the movie--are actually terrifying.
And they are.
Also, the cast to this film is stacked with 90s cinema goodness, starring William Mapother,
Sean Patrick Thomas, Doug Hutchinson--and none other than Clancy Brown himself.
Yeah, although it may not seem it--The Burrowers is a surprisingly effective movie, and well
worth a watch for any fan of creature feature horror.
Swinging in at Number 4--Mimic, 1997
Alright guys, this one may come across as being noteworthy of a little bit of nostalgia--but
if we’re being honest, I’m pretty confident that nostalgia and creature feature are a
subgenre of horror cinema that were meant to go together.
However, much like our previous entry, The Burrowers--part of what makes this movie so
good is the surprising stance it takes in subverting common tropes to prove it’s point.
In many ways, Mimic was way ahead of it’s time following its release back in 1997--and
what director better suited to deliver such a bold promise?
Of course.
Our man Guillermo del Toro.
Written and directed by del Toro, based upon the short story of the same name by Donald
A. Wollheim, Mimic tells the tale of a scientist and entomologist named Dr. Susan Tyler--played
by Mira Sorvino, who is fantastic in this movie may I add--and whose character is responsible
for developing a species of insect, known as Judas--to eradicate a deadly disease spread
by cockroaches in downtown New York.
Now, in typical late nineties science based horror--although Dr. Tyler is successful in
wiping out the disease, things very quickly and very rapidly go awry.
It’s also pretty important to note that if you’re creeped out by insects--particularly
highly intelligent insects with a knack for rapidly evolving--then there are many, many
moments in this film that will gross you out.
It’s strange, because Mimic is oddly one of del Toro’s lesser known releases--and
although it didn’t exactly shake things up at the box office--stylistically, it’s
perhaps one of his most visceral horror creations.
As you’d expect from Guillermo, the physical effects in this film are top notch for the
time--and the psychology behind the Judas insects are surprisingly horrifying.
Evolution is messed up.
Oh, and also--Josh Brolin and Norman Reedus are in this film.
So yeah.
Watch it just for that.
Next up Cloverfield, 2008
You know what?
Still to this day, this film gets quite a lot of hate, and I have no idea why.
One of the biggest criticisms of this movie is that the shaky camerawork is too much,
and watching it gives people a headache.
I mean.
Okay, that’s fine--but maybe avoid found footage horror if you’re not in the mood
for that--because the equation is simple.
Handheld Camera.
Being chased through the streets of downtown Manhattan by a giant, terrifying monstrosity--yeah,
unless you’ve got a steadicam vest--by proxy, things are gonna be a bit shaky.
And whilst we’re on the topic--creature feature aside, 2008’s Cloverfield is perhaps
one of the finest demonstrations of found footage horror--ever.
It really is--and I think it gets a bum deal, because Cloverfield is fantastic, and it’s
a much more important film than it’s given credit for.
Written by Drew Goddard, directed by Matt Reeves, and produced by the contemporary legend
of science fiction, J.J Abrams--for all intents and purposes, Cloverfield *is* the horror
amalgamation of the legendary kaiju and Godzilla series.
You see, Cloverfield was made with a reverence for those movies--which have held an important
place in both science fiction and horror, but let's not beat about the bush.
They’re anything *but* scary.
I mean, they’re awesome--but yeah, Mothra isn’t exactly the kind of visual monstrosity
known to induce nightmares.
Cloverfield, on the other hand, whilst admittedly being more thriller than horror--is genuinely
anxiety inducing.
It’s a whiteknuckle ride, mainly spurred on by it’s found footage credentials--but
it stands on its own merits as a genuinely effective horror ridden thrill ride.
Also, again--the most important facet of this list--the titular creature behind the feature
is more than worthy of note.
We know *so* little about the Cloverfield monster, that that in itself serves to propel
the horror behind this movie.
It’s Lovecraftian--or it could be, and that’s reason enough to give this movie a watch.
Yeah, the characters might be a little bit annoying--but hey, we’re watching this film
to see a firsthand account of New York being torn apart by a cosmic horror of unknown aquatic
proportions.
Coming in at Number 2--Pumpkinhead, 1988
And I’m sure that this one will raise a few smiles amongst you die-hard horror fans--and
in all reality, this film is perhaps the literal definition of the term, ‘they don’t make
movies like this anymore.’
Because really, they don’t--and sadly, gone are the days that the likes of Pumpkinhead
will make their way to the forefront of horror cinema.
In many ways, creature feature horror itself is a dated concept--and it takes films like
Cloverfield to reinvent the form and rearrange it for a new generation of horror fans.
Pumpkinhead was the last cycle of those films--released just before the 90s loomed their ugly head
and horror cinema decided how best to reinvent itself.
On the surface, Pumpkinhead is a slasher movie with one of the most inventive and memorable
horror monsters ever created.
But beneath that surface--is a highly intelligent film--an almost gothic tale of love--vengeance
and redemption that is surprisingly effective.
Written and directed by Stan Winston in his directorial debut, 1988’s Pumpkinhead was
made by a die-hard fan of physical effects.
And yeah, whilst the visuals of this film *are* indeed slightly dated, the craft poured
into this film by Winston is second to none.
It tells the tale of a man named Ed Harley--the owner of a small store in the countryside
of rural USA whose young son, during a terrible accident at the hands of a group of out-of-town
youngsters, is tragically killed.
Seeking vengeance, Ed employs the wisdom of a local witch--who instructs him to carry
out an ancient ritual that will bring a terrible monster to life to enact his revenge.
The price of that?
Well--that’s why you should watch this movie--but really, start to finish--Pumpkinhead *really*
is the definition of creature feature horror--and it’s a must see for any fan of horror, cult
horror or otherwise.
And finally, coming in at our Number 1 spot--The Descent, 2005
And whilst some of you may be a tad surprised to see this movie take our number one spot--I
hear you--*but* first and foremost, let me explain.
I thought long and hard about what a *true*--genuinely fear inducing creature feature horror could
be.
You see, in many ways--we don’t exactly watch creature feature movies for the sake
of getting scared, right?
In some ways--the sub-genre itself is similar to horror comedy, which is perhaps why films
like Tremors, Anaconda, Lake Placid and Eight Legged Freaks are so successful.
You see, we watch these movies more for their passion behind horror cinema--to visually
witness all of the tropes and styles that make them so appealing.
Gross physical effects.
Witty one liners.
A titular monstrosity of a creature feature.
But you see, Neil Marshall’s fantastic 2006 horror--The Descent--does all of those things,
and yet it’s very specific recipe--is terrifying.
The Descent is scary on many levels.
If you’re claustrophobic--this film will be stressful for you on another level.
If you’re scared of remote locations out in the wilderness.
The Descent has got something for you.
And if you’re scared by the prospect of a species of subterranean cannibals that hunt
their prey using echolocation--then I hate to break it to you, but The Descent may be
the most terrifying film that you’ve ever seen.
You see, we’ve covered this film on several occasions over here at Top 5 Scary Videos--and
the thing is, we have reason to--because it works on so many different levels.
And strangely enough, I’m not entirely sure why--because on the surface, this movie isn’t
exactly the most impressive of pedigrees.
It’s got a relatively unknown cast, and it was created on the back of Neil Marshall’s
brilliant yet otherwise unknown 2002 horror, Dog Soldiers--and yet deep within it, this
film is one of the most well crafted horror movies of the 2000s.
I almost don’t want to say anything about the films plot, or the creatures in question--because
if you haven’t yet seen it, really--you’re in for a treat.
Well, there we have it!
Our list for the Top 5 Scariest Creature Feature Horror Movies.
What do you guys think?
Do you agree?
Disagree?
Have any intriguing insights to add?
Then please, let us know your thoughts down in the comment section below, as well as any
choice picks of your own.
Before we depart from today’s video though, let’s first take a quick look at some of
your more creative comments from over the past few days.
First up, Chapter XIII says--
In the intro you uttered the name of the most terrifying, sanity-devouring, mind splintering
horror ever to manifest and it gave me nightmares.
Please, Jack--don’t mention Coldplay again.
…. --- Yeah.
I’m sorry about that man.
I promise it won’t happen again.
And next up--Kings of Horror says--
--Thank you for making this video!
It gives us a few new ones to watch--skull emoji.
--Hey!
That’s not a problem at all Kings of Horror, I’m glad that you enjoyed.
Cheers for stopping by--erm… two skull emojis.
Wel--on that note, unfortunately that’s all we’ve got time for in todays video--cheers
for sticking around all the way until the end.
If you were a fan of this video, or just Top 5 Scary Videos in general, then please--be
a dear and hit that thumbs up button, as well as that subscribe bell, and I’ll be seeing
you in the next one.
As per usual, I’ve been your horror host Jack Finch--you’ve been watching Top 5 Scary
Videos--and until next time, you take it easy.