The horror genre has one of the most loyal and passionate fans. Whether it is standing in line to see their favorite slasher's latest outing, meeting the men and women behind the masks at dedicated conventions, or even taking things into their own hands and building on the characters and stories that inspired them.
Fan films are nothing new and can be seen in practically any genre. However, with horror fan films, the filmmakers go beyond the extra mile to showcase their own unique take on their favorite horror properties. Regardless of the budget or backing, all it takes is some fake blood and some undying passion to create a love letter for the fans by the fans.
Never Hike Alone Series
Fans of the iconic Friday The 13th series have had a rough time as of late. A messy ongoing lawsuit has put a hold on anything new featuring Jason Voorhees, meaning there will likely be no new official movies in the foreseeable future. Fans always find a way, however, taking it upon themselves to keep the Voorhees legend alive, and none were as successful as Vincente DiSanti's Never Hike Alone.
The feature-length film is already seen as the gold standard of fan films. The film has love for the franchise in every frame and is so well received that many fans consider it canon to the mainline series. The movie has several sequels on the horizon, and all include a fan-favorite actor reprising their role from the official films. If anyone considers themselves a fan of Jason, these movies are must-sees and are a perfect way to get their Voorhees fix.
Krueger (Tales From Elm Street)
Freddy Krueger from A Nightmare On Elm Street is, to many, one of the most fascinating one-liner dropping figures in all of pop culture. Every horror fan knows the backstory of the Springwood Slasher, but Fred Heads have always wanted to see more of Freddy pre-dream powers, and director Chris R. Notarile is no exception.
With his short film series, the man behind the glove is examined, showing his crimes as a sadistic—but not supernatural—man, leading up to the vengeful fire that birthed the horror legend fans know and love. Everybody from the filmmakers to the actors clearly loves the franchise created by the late Wes Craven. The final chapter is even a meta retelling of Wes Craven's New Nightmare, pitting Freddy against the actor who played him in the fan series.
Georgie
Fan films casting fans of a horror property is one thing, but casting an original actor to reprise their role is something else. That is exactly what Ryan Gulrich did when he cast Tony Dakota to play the titular role in his short Georgie. Dakota played the ill-fated boy in the opening of the 1990 IT miniseries during the iconic paper boat sequence.
The film takes a look at the now-adult Georgie as he is stuck in a purgatory of sorts, haunted by that fateful rainy day. The short lives up to the title of short, clocking in at around 7 minutes, but that is more than enough time for an eerie character study.
Michael Vs. Jason: Evil Emerges
One horror crossover fans have been clamoring for is Halloween's Michael Myers going up against Friday The 13th's Jason Voorhees. Odds are this will never happen, so there are plenty of fan films depicting this legendary battle.
One that stands above the rest is short by Luke Pedder, which is as simple as it gets. Two guys wearing Jason and Michael masks pretending to fight doesn't seem like much, but, when done with the care and admiration that Pedder brought to the project, fans are treated to something truly special. The short seems like an official project, with fans singing its praise since it was released.
Happy Halloween
Happy Halloween is presented as a "lost" scene from 2018's Halloween. The filmmakers were clearly inspired by the brutality of the reboot and wanted to put their own spin on it. Vincent DiSanti plays The Shape and is just as brutal as fans of Never Hike Alone have come to expect from him.
The short does a great job at holding fans over as they wait for the next two chapters in David Gordon Green's Halloween trilogy, and showcases the talent of directors Jimmy Chamane and Courtland Gordon. The short is made with such care that it could easily be mistaken as an actual deleted scene.
Scream: Obsession
With the long-awaited fifth entry in the Scream franchise on the horizon, there is no better time to check out the fan film Scream: Obsession. With a film series that already pays tribute to horror fans, the oft-quoted Scream series seems like the most logical franchise to have fan films made of.
Writer/Director David Elijah Vigil respects the source material while adding his own twist to the story. The plot, like the official films, revolves around a group of teens being haunted by a Ghostfaced killer who taunts their prey before taking them out. With a while before the next chapter in the Scream story, this is a perfect way for fans to scratch their itch.
The Creature From The Big Mountain
A fan film based on the Predator series seems like a heavy task to undergo. Damien De Bourguignon was not only successful, but he managed to bring an incredibly unique twist to the mythos. Set before the original film during WWII, the film follows a group of soldiers who similarly encounter the Predator in the jungle.
What makes this film so unique is that it is actually shot as if it was made in the 1940s. The B movie style not only makes the film easier to shoot, but it adds the feel of the classic Universal Monster movies to it, with the film even featuring the Universal logo from the period.
It's Me, Billy
Slasher movies are known for producing countless sequels. One of the earliest slasher movies, Black Christmas, is unique in that the film's killer, known as Billy, never returned in a sequel.
This fan film by Dave McRae changes that, bringing Billy back 50 years after the original classic. The film lovingly pays tribute to one of the slasher pioneers while also telling its own unique story that adds to the admittedly bare legend of Black Christmas. With two remakes, odds are fans will never see an official sequel to the 1974 film, but, even if one was released, it will be hard to top this expertly crafted fan film.
Voorhees
The rights holders are keeping Friday The 13th fans screaming for the return of their favorite slasher. An official film will likely not be made for quite some time, but, like Jason himself, the creativity of his fans will never die.
Cody Faulk's Voorhees brings an especially brutal take on the Crystal Lake legend. The plot is exactly what fans want; a group of people ends up on Jason's turf and he isn't thrilled to have company. The brutality and high production value place this film right up with Never Hike Alone as one of the best-received versions of the character, official or otherwise.
Batman: Dead End
A Predator fighting Batman. This simple yet outlandish premise is exactly the plot of Batman: Dead End. Loosely inspired by the Batman Versus Predator comic arc from the early 90s, this short sees Batman chasing down the Joker but getting more than he bargained for.
This showdown will likely never be seen in any official capacity outside of the comics, so this 2003 fan film directed by Sandy Collora is the best alternative. The film is dark and gritty as any great Batman tale is, and it pays tribute to both the Batman and Predator series. This fan film is a fan favorite, and often held as a gold standard.