An independent film, in case you don’t know, is a film that is created mostly or entirely outside of the studio system. As such, “indies” are typically much more personal and much more daring and original than mainstream films, free from the tampering of a financially-concerned studio official. This of course pays off rather well for the horror genre, which is characteristically plagued by a lacking in originality; those studio heads only want the tits and the torture and the guts and the gore to be on display. Indeed, some of the best horrors ever made are indie films, whether they be B-movies, splatter-fests, zombie horrors or psychological chillers. So, let’s take a look at the ten best horror flicks to have ever gone through production without snobby studio heads constantly poking and nudging away at them; stay away, you money-grubbing swines!
10. “Paranormal Activity” (2009)
Budget:
$15,000
Plot:
In an attempt to capture footage of the supernatural entity they suspect is haunting their lovely suburban home, a young couple decide to film their everyday lives with a camcorder, with bloodcurdling results.
Why it’s amazing:
This super-low budget found-footage chiller from writer-director Oren Peli traumatised movie-going audiences the world over. Its deliberately slow pacing allows for a nail-bitingly tense mood as the supernatural goings-on (from doors moving to demonic possession) gradually become worse and worse. [Read more…]