Hello horror fans - and welcome back to the scariest channel on YouTube - Top 5 Scary
Videos - your handy compendium to the disturbing goings on in the weird and wonderful world
of horror fandom.
What’s going on guys - as per usual I’ll be your horror host Jack Finch - as we pace
the aisle in that haunted old cinema, and catch a glimpse of a shadow heading behind
the silver screen - as we take a look at the 5 Scariest Horror Movies - That You (May Have)
Missed.
Roll the clip.
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On with the show.
Notice how I didn’t do a big, elaborate preamble there?
Keeping it fresh, folks.
Keeping it fresh.
Kicking off at Number 5 - Pontypool
And really - the fact that Bruce McDonald’s horror tour-de-force isn’t heralded as one
of the greatest zombie films ever made is a bit of an injustice.
I say zombie film, because that’s the closest we’ll ever get to understanding whatever
virus plagues the unassuming town of Pontypool.
Released in 2008 - this Canadian horror film was based on the Tony Burgess novel, Pontypool
Changes Everything - the story of an Ontario based radio station that tries it’s hardest
to keep broadcasting during a viral apocalyptic event.
It follows the character of Grant Mazzy, played by the awesome Stephen McHattie, an opinionated
and brash radio jockey that tries his damndest to be as dismissive as possible when facing
down the end of the world.
While I might not have you hooked by saying this is - essentially - a horror film about
the English language, the real reason to watch this film is because Pontypool is a completely
different breed of zombie flick.
In parts it’s hilarious - in others, it’s horrifying.
If you haven’t seen it, give it a watch - you won’t be disappointed.
Coming in at Number 4 - Kill List
The term folk horror isn’t as commonplace as
it should be in horror cinema, but it’s a style that has slowly germinated in British
cinema - and is captured perfectly in the sweeping, action horror from the fantastic
Ben Wheatley - Kill List.
This film draws inspiration from some 70s horror classics, such as The Witchfinder General,
The Blood on Satan’s Claw and of course - The Wicker Man - in a period where, to be
honest, British horror cinema had hit its peak.
Now, I’ll admit that this film isn’t for everyone.
It’s intentionally ambiguous and visually misleading - but if the idea of deranged cults
flocking about in huge country manors makes your skin crawl - then you’ll find true
fear in this film.
Really, because it delivers it in spades.
Kill List features the show-stealing Neil Maskell - a disgustingly underrated actor,
who plays an ex-soldier turned contract killer, trying to make enough money to support his
family in one final job.
I don’t want to spoil anything - because Kill List really does keep you guessing all
the way to the end - but the way it takes you there is what makes this film so damn
thrilling.
Give it a watch.
Next up at Number 3 - The Poughkeepsie Tapes
An interesting film - to say the least.
Now - I’m not the biggest fan of found footage horror, and to be honest - I’m not even
the biggest fan of gore for the sake of gore and shock horror cinema.
However, there is one exception - and I also think that this film gets unjustly labelled
as torture porn - because it’s fundamentally not.
It’s a documentary about a serial killer, and a twisted insight into the mind of a fictional
mass murderer - captured over 800 neatly organized videotapes, dubbed The Poughkeepsie Tapes.
Written and directed by John Erick Dowdle, this film was pretty much shelved by MGM and
never actually made it to mass distribution - which is the reason why it went underneath
most people's rada - and has kind of been a thorn in the side of horror cinema for quite
a while, receiving scathing reviews from critics.
For fans of horror cinema though - The Poughkeepsie Tapes is worth the watch, simply because it’s
so fresh in concept - and it’s a form that we rarely get to see done correctly in the
genre.
Also, it’s - really, really messed up.
Swinging in at Number 2 - Eden Lake
As far as British horror cinema goes - from one Brit to the wider world, I really can’t
recommend this film enough.
If you haven’t seen it, go and watch it - because for a movie with an incredibly simple,
straight forward plot - Eden Lake really makes you care about the consequences of its final
outcome.
And that - in essence, is what makes it so horrifying - because the consequences are
really, really rough.
Also, it’s got a young-ish Michael Fassbender, so there’s that.
Released in 2008 - and written and directed by James Watkins, Eden Lake tells the story
of school teacher Jenny and her boyfriend Steve, played by Fassbender - as they take
a quiet little vacation into the English countryside.
Unfortunately for them, though - there’s a bunch of teenagers - and as we all know
in horror cinema, one of those kids is bound to be a sociopath.
Again - I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll leave it at that - but Eden Lake
deals with some visceral themes and the bleak level of violence creeps up on you quicker
than a rabid rottweiler.
Definitely one that every horror fan needs in their repertoire.
And finally - at our Number 1 spot - The Autopsy of Jane Doe.
Going into this film - I had zero expectations, and considering it was pretty much a direct
to Netflix feature - I was completely blown away by how damn good of a horror flick it
is.
I know I say this time and time again, but the difference between a well made, well handled,
slow supernatural horror - compared to that of a gorefest, patched together with some
cheap tricks and CGI - is massively important to the horror genre as a whole.
Well, director Andrew Ovredal definitely delivered on that benchmark - stating that he wanted
to prove he could do more than found footage style horror, after his critical success with
Trollhunter.
Which, if you haven’t seen that either - see it, it’s awesome.
Two for one.
The Autopsy of Jane Doe is the story of a mysterious corpse, and the slow unraveling
of the causes of her death by father-son mortician duo, Austin and Tommy Tilden, played by Emile
Hirsch and the awesome Brian Cox respectively.
This film also handles the paranormal in a very responsible manner - we’re never expected
to believe anything that isn’t already alluded to in the films plot.
In essence - this is a very, very smart film.
It’s claustrophobic in all the right ways, it’s disturbing and elegant - and it’s
a modern diamond in the rough for the genre.
Give it a watch.
Well unfortunately folks, that’s all we’ve got time for in today’s video - cheers for
sticking around all the way to the end.
It’s been a pleasure making this video for you all - if you were a fan of this list,
or have some suggestions of your own - let us know in the comment section down below.
If you’d like to carry on with your horror binge - please, feel free to hit that playlist
floating shortly above.
As always, I’ve been your host Jack Finch - you’ve been watching Top 5 Scary Videos
- and until next time, take it easy.