This month’s installment of Deep Cuts Rising features a variety of horror movies. Some selections reflect a specific day or event in March, and others were chosen at random.
Regardless of how they came to be here, or what they’re about, these past movies can generally be considered overlooked, forgotten or unknown.
From dinosaurs to a killer clown, here are five hidden horror gems and deep cuts that you can check out in March 2023.
The Fantasist (1986)
Directed by Robin Hardy.
Despite her family’s mixed reaction to her decision, Moira Harris‘ sheltered but curious character moves to Dublin to be a teacher. There she becomes the next target of a serial killer who gradually escalates from phone calls to murder. The protagonist of The Fantasist eventually suspects her pushy American neighbor (Timothy Bottoms) to be the culprit.
While best known for directing The Wicker Man, and to a lesser extent The Wicker Tree, Irish filmmaker Robin Hardy also worked on two other horror films. The first being this one and the other being Forbidden Sun (a.k.a. Bulldance). However, Hardy only co-wrote the latter film, whereas he wrote and directed The Fantasist. This giallo-esque thriller is tonally confused, yet its blend of comedy, drama and horror makes for a more interesting watch.
The Fantasist is currently streaming on Tubi.
Blood & Donuts (1995)
Directed by Holly Dale.
Boya (Gordon Currie), a vampire who’s been asleep since 1969, wakes up from his slumber after a stray golf ball lands in his lair and knocks him out of bed. He doesn’t have time to be fascinated by all the technological advances or cultural changes in this new age because an ex (Fiona Reid) has sensed his return and is now coming after him. Meanwhile, Boya befriends a donut shop employee and a taxi driver (Helene Clarkson and Louis Ferreira). He protects them from two scoundrels working for a local crime boss (David Cronenberg).
Blood & Donuts was Holly Dale’s first narrative film after sticking to documentaries. This charming vampire tale isn’t the slightest bit scary, but the characters are likable and the performances are colorful. It’s a great example of low-budget Canadian filmmaking. This could have easily continued on as a television series.
Blood & Donuts is currently streaming on Roku.
The Clown at Midnight (1999)
Directed by Jean Pellerin.
Kate (Sarah Lassez), the daughter of the late opera singer Lorraine Sedgewick (Vicki Marentette), and her friends restore the opera house where Kate’s mother was supposedly murdered by her co-star. As strange things start to happen, the group wonders if maybe the place is haunted or Lorraine’s killer, who was never apprehended, has come back to make sure the opera house stays closed.
With Scream VI coming out this month, someone might want to look up all the films that tried to emulate the original. The underseen and possibly forgotten The Clown at Midnight is exactly the kind of slasher that the 1996 Scream would have parodied. This atmospheric and sometimes cheesy slasher plays everything straight, which back then was maybe seen as old-fashioned, but nowadays that lack of self-awareness can be refreshing.
The Clown at Midnight is currently streaming on Tubi.
Prey (2010)
Directed by Antoine Blossier.
With March 1st being National Pig Day, now is a good time to mention the underseen French horror film Prey (originally Proie). Here a family reunion in the countryside turns into a hunting party. The game is wild boars, but soon the tables are turned on the hunters. Son-in-law Nathan (Grégoire Colin) is already at odds with his wife’s father (François Levantal) when they realize these unpredictable and voracious boars have been mutated by this family’s claim to fortune: pesticides.
Despite the hackneyed plot, Prey is a suspenseful and fast-paced creature-feature with high production values. It may be seen as just another eco-horror film, but it takes itself seriously and doesn’t hold back on the blood.
Prey is currently streaming on AMC+.
The Dinosaur Project (2012)
Directed by Sid Bennett.
With 65 out soon, horror fans will naturally turn to the Jurassic Park/World franchise or even the Carnosaur series for their dino thrills. The Dinosaur Project is another option to consider, though. In this British found-footage film, a group of explorers searches for the legendary cryptid Mokele-mbembe in the Congo. Their expedition ultimately becomes a survival mission when the team comes across a lost world full of living dinosaurs and other prehistoric megafauna.
While it doesn’t have a complicated story, The Dinosaur Project is energetic and packed with rather impressive visual effects. The fact that there’s always a camera available and turned on might annoy some viewers, but the cliché is worth overlooking here.
The Dinosaur Project is currently streaming on Tubi.
No genre is as prolific as horror, so it’s understandable that movies fall through the cracks all the time. That is where this recurring column, Deep Cuts Rising, comes in. Each installment of this series will spotlight several unsung or obscure movies from the past — some from way back when, and others from not so long ago — that could use more attention.
The post 5 Deep Cut Horror Movies to Seek Out in March 2023 appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.