With limited funds, B-movie directors were still able to weave together intriguing stories that range in genre from chilling sci-fi to comedic horror to psychological terror. These features designed for late-night viewing prove that filmmakers don't always need a ton of money to keep audiences captivated.
The Little Shop Of Horrors (1960)
While most comedy fans are familiar with the 1986 The Little Shop of Horrors starring Steven Martin and Rick Moranis, which contains a musical element, cult director Roger Corman is responsible for the original feature. This farcical film about a shy and awkward florist who grows a people-eating plant from seed was filmed for less than $35,000.
Jonathan Haze plays the florist, Seymour, who names the plant Audrey Jr. after the coworker he has a crush on. As Audrey Jr. grows in size, her hunger for fresh meat becomes too much for Seymour to handle.
Witchfinder General (1968)
British filmmaker Michael Reeves, known for his low-budget genre gems, made this Vincent Price-led historical horror movie set in 17th century England. Price plays the eponymous character, a witch hunter named Matthew Hopkins who pretends to root out sorcery and magic in order to fulfill his greedy bloodlust.
The greedy Hopkins takes advantage of superstitious locals, but a few soldiers pursue Hopkins through the English countryside in hopes of bringing his reign of terror to an end. As campy as the premise may sound, Price's performance in Witchfinder General is surprisingly serious.
Homicidal (1961)
William Castle's psychological thriller clearly owes much of its plot and characterizations to Psycho, but it still stands on its own two feet. In the film, a seductive woman named Emily pays a hotel busboy $2,000 to marry her, but she remains unclear about her intentions.
The marriage proposal and its fallout expose viewers to Emily's murderous, maniacal ways. When it was released, Castle included a "fright break" in the middle of Homicidal — giving audience members who were too scared a chance to flee.
Carnival Of Souls (1962)
The only feature film from industrial and educational director Herk Harvey, Carnival of Souls is a haunting psychodrama about a young organist reeling from a traumatic event. Harvey made this visually stunning film for just $33,000, and it took decades for him to receive the praise he deserved upon the movie's initial release.
Candace Hilligoss stars as Mary Henry, a woman who moves to Utah a week after being part of a terrible car accident. Once relocated, Mary is haunted by images of ghoulish people while being mysteriously drawn to an old carnival on the outskirts of town.
The Curse Of The Werewolf (1961)
Hammer, the British production company known for their horror fare, is behind this gothic, romanticized take on the werewolf trope. Oliver Reed, in his first starring role, plays Leon Corledo, a man cursed with lycanthropy since birth.
Set in 18th century Spain, Corledo can only be cured if he can find a woman who will love him for who he is. While not as successful as other Hammer creature features, The Curse of the Werewolf harkens back to decadent tales of love, loss, and terror.
Sins Of The Fleshapoids (1965)
A favorite film of cult director John Waters, Sins of the Fleshapoids is a campy, sci-fi gem way ahead of its time. Set in a far-off, post-apocalyptic Earth, humans have produced a race of androids called Fleshapoids to fulfill all of their desires.
The movie follows a pair of Fleshapoids who decide to rebel against their masters after finding love with each other. With its colorful set designs and over-the-top costuming, Sins of the Fleshapoids is a must-see for lovers of stagey underground movies.
Black Sunday (1960)
Italian horror icon Mario Bava accomplished a lot over his prolific career, and many fans believe Black Sunday is among his best work. What Bava achieves on a shoestring budget shows the true possibilities of horror cinema given the right vision, set design, and actors.
Barbara Steele stars in the movie as an old witch who comes back from the dead, hungry for revenge against those who killed her. The witch works to inhabit the body of one of her descendants, a young woman who looks identical to her, in order to bring her plot to life.
Strait-Jacket (1964)
Another offering by William Castle, the script for Strait-Jacket was penned by Robert Bloch, famous for writing Psycho. Joan Crawford is a tour-de-force as a mother who reunites with her daughter after spending 20 years in an asylum for killing her husband and his lover.
Crawford's character Lucy struggles to maintain her grasp on reality as her daughter Carol tries to reclaim their relationship. Bodies pile up around Lucy, whose sordid past makes her the prime suspect.
Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1966)
Russ Meyer's murderous romp remains one of the most influential B-movies of the '60s. Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! follows three go-go dancers who partake in a murder spree across the sunny California desert.
In pursuit of petty cash and cheap thrills, these killer ladies challenge gender roles without smearing their make-up. Meyer made his cult classic for around $45,000, choosing black-and-white film to save some money.
The Last Man On Earth (1964)
This low-budget, early adaptation of Richard Matheson's novel I Am Legend stars Vincent Price as the only human who isn't caught up in a plague that turns humans into undead, vampire-like creatures. Price plays Dr. Robert Morgan, who ventures out into the world every day to hunt and burn as many monsters as he can.
Equal parts melodramatic and suspenseful, The Last Man on Earth has developed a more positive reputation over time. Matheson considers this the most faithful adaptation of his book, but it still doesn't meet his standards.