Michael Myers will be making a comeback in the upcoming Halloween Ends this October. While the majority of the Halloween franchise has achieved acclaim among horror fans, some horror movies have not been so lucky. But that's not to say they aren't to be avoided. There are, in fact, a number of great horror movies that are widely loved precisely because they eschew all the qualities one normally associates with “good” horror.
Rather than trying to be something they are not and aspiring toward some nebulous definition of quality, these are the types of movies that are often regarded as so-bad-it’s good, and the users of Reddit have identified some of the best of these.
Drive-Thru (2007)
Stream On Vudu
The clown is one of the most common characters to appear in horror movies and, while some of these have become classics of the genre, others, such as Drive-Thru, really do lean into the absurdity of their own premise.
The fact that the killer clown in this movie is called Horny and is the mascot for a fast food restaurant is an indication of the silliness to ensue. In fact, all of this is what makes it so appealing to Reddit fans like GamerJes, who writes: “Bad jokes, puns, and dead bodies. Nice cheezy fun.”
Zombeavers (2014)
Stream On Tubi
There are many great creature features available, and while some try to take a serious approach to the menace of the wild animal, this is not the case with Zombeavers. As its title suggests, it focuses on the terror unleashed by a group of zombified beavers.
It is, to be sure, a movie that leans very much on its own comedic elements, and it is altogether a very glorious mess. It even has a couple of notable cameos, which are what make it appealing to KahnSoupnnoosenphone, who writes that “John Mayer and Bill Burr make that movie for me, and they are only in it for like 3 minutes.”
Prom Night (2008)
Stream On Starz
Sometimes, a horror movie remake can take something about the original movie and turn it into something fascinating. That is not the case with Prom Night, however, which is a remake of an earlier 1980s slasher. It was universally panned by critics, precisely for failing to do anything interesting with its material.
However, in its banality, there is also something for contemporary viewers to enjoy, as gf120581 writes, “The 2008 in name only "Prom Night" remake, possibly the most staggeringly banal horror movie ever. Everything generic, everything utterly predictable, every character an idiot.” Even in banality, there can often be enjoyment, which Prom Night clearly shows.
Killer Klowns From Outer Space (1988)
Stream On YouTube
Many times with so-bad-they’re good movies, the title gives away the plot, and that is precisely what happens with Killer Klowns from Outer Space. Focusing as it does on extraterrestrials that resemble clowns, it is truly an absurd movie, but it is one of those that embrace its status and acknowledges it is not meant to be a masterpiece.
Small wonder that it has become a cult classic in its own right and that it has earned the love of many of the users of Reddit. TheRadiantWindrunner calls it “The only right answer.” In badness, it seems, there is often a lot of value.
Jason X (2001)
Stream On YouTube
Few slasher movie villains have become quite as famous as Jason. Since his introduction several decades ago, he has terrorized generations of moviegoers. Unfortunately, Jason X is not so much terrifying as it is absurd, which has Jason transformed into a cyborg and awakened in the future after which, of course, he embarks on his usual murderous rampage.
It has earned the derision of several generations of moviegoers, including literlfeces, who writes: “ "Jason in Space" is so ridiculous a concept that it was a Mad TV spoof six years before Jason X came out.”
Night Of The Lepus (1972)
Stream On PLEX
Of all the animals that might appear in a horror movie, the rabbit would be one of the most incongruous as a potential danger. However, this is exactly the premise of Night of the Lepus. As one might expect, the movie struggles, unsuccessfully, to make the rabbits into something that actually seems frightening.
However, this is precisely what makes it such a pleasure for so many Reddit users. Gf120581 writes: “The amount of drugs the execs who greenlit it were taking must have been staggering.” As is so often the case, it is the type of movie it is its very badness that makes it so enjoyable for contemporary viewers.
The Driller Killer (1979)
Stream On The Roku Channel
As its title suggests, The Driller Killer is about an artist who, driven mad, goes on a murderous rampage with a drill. Though it’s not quite as gory as its title would imply, there is still much to enjoy about it, especially given that it doesn’t seem to take itself too seriously and leans into its own schlocky conceit.
Yrlowendtheory is particularly effusive in their praise of the movie, writing, “I currently really love The Driller Killer (1979). It’s terrible, but also a total gem.” With bad movies, it is clearly best to lean into the absurdity that is on offer.
Death Bed: The Bed That Eats (1977)
Stream On Prime Video
Every so often, a horror movie comes along that, even in its title, makes no attempt to disguise how ridiculous it is. As its title suggests, Death Bed is about the title object, which brings catastrophe to several generations of its owners.
With its blend of surrealism, absurd premise, and strange pacing, it seems as if, despite its artistic pretensions, it knew it was going to be regarded as a so-bad-it’s-good type of movie. Narwhalstooth had this to say: “It was so awful I could not tear myself away.”
Alice In Murderland (2010)
Stream On Tubi
Alice in Murderland is one of those movies that really does lean into the idea that to be truly good, it should be absolutely bad. In this case, everything about the movie reeks of poor construction, including the fact that many of the crew actually appear in the frame.
What’s more, the costumes, to say nothing of the acting, seem as if they were meant to be deliberately execrable. One Reddit user is particularly blunt in their assessment, writing, “ it's really s****y and one of my favorite horrors.”
Santa’s Slay (2005)
Stream On Prime Video
Though Christmas has often been the inspiration for a number of touching holiday movies, it has also inspired its fair share of horror. Most notable is Santa’s Slay, which manages to be both incredibly violent and corny all at the same time (it is definitely a naughty Santa sort of movie).
In large part, the latter stems from the casting as Bill Goldberg, a wrestler, as the murderous Santa. That’s-my-marmalade writes: “I get that it’s deliberately supposed to be stupid, but I ended up enjoying that movie WAY more than I expected to.” In this case, the movie’s own badness has elevated it to the realm of popular art.