Top 10 WTF Horror Movie Ideas
#10: Deadly Produce
Top 10 Movie Vacations That Turned Deadly
"Attack of the Killer Tomatoes" (1978) The folks responsible for 1978's "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes" make no bones about being in on the joke: this is full on parody mode. The film satirizes horror films and disaster flicks and has a damn good time all the way. There's nothing deep or subtle about the idea behind "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes": we're just dealing with anthropomorphic produce that have gained sentience and are out for blood...or is that ketchup? The cast sells their tomato deaths with straight faces however, and that just makes the experience that much more of a blast...err make that "splat!"
#9: Wicked Saint Nick
Stars We Want Cast for the Wicked Movie
"Santa's Slay" (2005) The idea of a killer Santa actually dates back a long time, with some stellar examples being the 1972 ‘s"Tales From the Crypt" and 1984’s "Silent Night, Deadly Night". The latter caused public uproar and protest upon release. Those movies showcase psychotically damaged killers dressed as Santa, but 2005's "Santa's Slay" actually featured the real deal on a rampage, played by pro wrestling icon Bill Goldberg. The film is a fun mixture of horror and comedy that can be relatively entertaining, but not everyone can get down with the idea of such a wholesome Christmas personality going ham around the holidays. Speaking of which, can we also interest you in a little film called "Elves?" Wait, hey, where ya goin'?
#8: Zoo Animals on PCP
Top 20 Terrifying Horror Movie Animals
"The Wild Beasts" (1984) "Wild Beasts" is going to be our first visit to Italy during the course of this list, but trust us...it won't be the last. This 1984 film from director Franco Prosperi possesses the bonkers premise of PCP getting into the water supply of a local zoo, with predictably over-the-top results. Prosperi was already comfortable pushing boundaries at this time, having co-helmed a series of controversial documentary "mondo" films in the 70s, such as "Goodbye Uncle Tom" and "Africa: Blood and Guts." As such, Prosperi pushed working with animals to the limits in this film, which featured painted rats, stampeding elephants, and marauding tigers. All in all, it’s an exploitative movie with a very dubious premise.
#7: Short & Monstress
Top 10 Performances in Movie Musicals That Were Short But Iconic
"Ratman" (1988) Speaking of movies with a questionable moral compass, we’re going back to Italy again with "Ratman." This 1988 film co-starred Nelson de la Rosa, one of the shortest men of the modern day. De la Rosa, a native of the Dominican Republic, actually appeared in some mainstream movies, such as the infamous 1996 remake of "The Island of Dr. Moreau" alongside Marlon Brando. "Ratman," however, is pure exploitation, with Nelson's size serving as the deciding factor in casting him as a mutant rat/monkey hybrid that's murdering folks in the Caribbean. This isn't to say that the film is necessarily bad, as de la Rosa does give his all as the titular "Ratman," but today the decision might be seen as in poor taste.
#6: A Walrus Man
Top 10 Best Horror Movie Masks
"Tusk" (2014) Ok, so the idea of creating a monster from spare parts isn't exactly an original one when it comes to the world of horror. Then again, when the end result happens to be a walrus-human hybrid, and the whole thing is written and directed by Kevin Smith? Maybe you're on to something. "Tusk" has divided fans since its release back in 2014, but the finished product is certainly a different take on the "Frankenstein" slash "Island of Dr. Moreau" type of storytelling. Justin Long is the unfortunate victim of the psychotic Howard Howe and his walrus fetish, going all out for the film's bestial climax. Sure, Johnny Depp is beyond annoying in the film, but hey, you can't have everything.
#5: A Stop-Motion Twin That Lives in a Basket
Top 10 Ridiculous Horror Movie Creatures
"Basket Case" (1982) "What in the basket?" you ask? Trust us when we say that you might actually not want to know. "Basket Case" is a film filled with the spirit of old New York; the sort of flick that thrived in the grimy grindhouses of Times Square. It also possesses a premise tailor-made for that era of exploitation and ultra violence: the story of conjoined twins out for bloody revenge against the doctors who separated them all those years ago. "Basket Case" is a romp that combines charming old school effects (stop motion, anyone?) with believable sleaze. Belial the Basket Monster comes across as creepy and disgusting...yet pitiful at the same time.
#4: An Evil Elevator
Top 10 Unforgettable Horror Movie Couples
"The Lift" (1983) The trailer for this 1983 Dutch film sums it up best with its memorable tagline: "take the stairs." "The Lift" is a cult classic of sorts that does exactly what you think: present a normal, everyday elevator as a sentient machine out for blood. The thing is, "The Lift" actually sort of, well, works. The cast treats the story with a nice balance of respect and black humor, the death scenes are shot with style and suspense, and the film's killer electronic score is something straight out of the John Carpenter mold. It all just depends on how much one can suspend their disbelief and enjoy "The Lift" for what is: silly, but good horror fun.
#3: Bunnies From Hell!
"Night of the Lepus" (1972) Sometimes, all you need is a great trailer. "Night of the Lepus" presents itself as the latest and greatest monster disaster flick of the early '70s, a surefire way to deliver some animal carnage. The thing is, our titular "Lepus" are actually really cute bunnies, mutated to larger size and killing lots of townsfolk. But they’re still cute bunnies nonetheless. This is a film that's supremely of its time, a silly drive-in picture played relatively straight by a surprising number of Hollywood heavyweights, including Janet Leigh, DeForest Kelley and Stuart Whitman. In this respect, it's tons of bloody fun, but don't go in expecting any legitimate scares.
#2: Killer Vegetarian Goblins
Top 10 Killer Doll Horror Movies
"Troll 2" (1990) We're returning to Italy one last time, for the much-discussed and still totally bonkers "Troll 2." Director Claudio Fragasso was no stranger to going full WTF, such as the time he convinced shock rocker Alice Cooper to star in his werewolf film "Monster Dog" and gave him an unconvincing dub. "Troll 2" was something a bit different, as it was essentially piggybacking upon the unrelated American film "Troll," despite having nothing to do with that film's plot, or trolls in general. Instead, we get vegetarian goblins who turn their victims into plant matter and eat them; a crazy over-acting witch; and one of the most overexposed internet memes in history. In other words, it's the stuff of which bad movie dreams are made. Before we reveal our number one pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Thor vs. Beelzebub, "Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare" (1987) The BAND Thor, That Is; Still a Weird Idea! Baby Monster, "It's Alive" (1974) A Mutant Newborn on a Rampage Evil Trucks, "Maximum Overdrive" (1986) A Comet Brings Earth’s Machines to Life Cookie Monster, "The Gingerdead Man" (2005) Gary Busey as Nightmare Fuel A Murderous Snowman, "Jack Frost" (1997) Do You Want a Killer Snowman? (FL note: can we sing this to the tune of "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?)
#1: Shaman Neck Growth
"The Manitou" (1978) And you think you're having a bad day? Poor Susan Strasberg suffers the ultimate WTF horror movie plot device in the form of a malignant tumor that seems to be growing on her neck. But, wait! It's actually not a tumor, but a vengeful Native American shaman named Misquamacus, that's attempting rebirth....the hard way. As if that premise wasn't strange enough, "The Manitou" goes ALL IN with the weirdness from that point on, as the reborn Misquamacus utilizes just about every tool at his disposal to take his revenge. From lizard illusions to space battles with force lightning, "The Manitou" is psychedelic seventies horror at its most bananas.