Top 10 Horror Films From After Dark Productions
A List of the Best from the Makers of the HorrorFest
Jul 1, 2008
10. Dark Ride
Dark Ride is by no means a great movie. However, Dark Ride gets props for having a victim actually being smart enough to run their car through a brick wall and into the killer (A triumph over the normal horror movie which has the character sneak back into the house with a small knife).
9. Borderland
There is nothing that sets this movie apart, other than its love for gore. The plot is a little more realistic than Hostel, but is still only a wannabe for cinema gems like Audition. Ryder Strong does a great job and is making a case for actors to take horror movies serious.
8. An American Haunting
With a cast like Donald Sutherland, Sissy Spacek and James D’Arcy, how can this movie be bad? It does deliver its promise of an American Haunting, but ends up playing out more like a clunky knock-off of The Blair Witch Project.
7. Snoop Dogg’s Hood of Horror
The thought of Snoop Dogg making a horror movie is a pretty funny concept. Nonetheless, the rappers unoriginal horror movie offers up some high quality laughs and decent deaths. The overall structure is nothing new (Tales from the Crypt, Tales from the Hood), but, it works well on delivering a film reminiscent to both Tales from the Crypt and The Twilight Zone.
6. Frontier (s)
This movie is symbolic of After Dark Films making a strong push into the horror world, as the film was slated for an individual wide release until theaters put a halt to this extreme gore fest. Not a bad film.
5. Gravedancers
The plot of this movie is nothing special, and neither is the acting. But when comparing it to other After Dark ghost films (Ian Stone, American Haunting), this movie slides into first (or fifth, in the case of this list). The film itself lacks a lot of ‘edge of the seat’ moments, but it makes up for the latter with comedy (probably not intentional).
4. Tooth and Nail
Classic, exciting post-modern, post apocalyptic thriller with a great cast (Rider Strong, Vinnie Jones, Michael Madsen, and Robert Carradine). Tooth and Nail is a great example of where After Dark wants its films to go (but cannot quiet get there). This movie has potential, and some great deaths, but the dull, repetitive nature of the genre just kills any greatness Tooth and Nail could have had. The direction and delivery of the film is just another example of what is holding After Dark back from greatness.
3. Penny Dreadful
Although the overall message of the movie is pretty unoriginal, the direction of Penny Dreadful delivers some saving grace. The film conveys paranoia and tension pretty thoroughly, and while the ending is somewhat disappointing, the overall scope of the film is worth a watch.
2. Mullberry Street
The concept of a city overrun by mutant, were-rat people is simply absurd. However, Mulberry Streetdiscovered a happy medium between the climatic modern cinema and 70’s style, escape horror. The soundtrack ties together an utter feeling of hope and despair.
1. The Hamiltons
The Hamiltons is the reason why After Dark Films exists. This movie is a prime example of what horror movies can be and offers a unique perspective on vampire mythology.
The actors capture an indie feeling and deliver heart, progression, and fear. It almost seems as if this could actually be a true story. The only draw back is the similarities between The Hamiltons and Are You Afraid of the Dark’s 1992 episode, The Tale of the Nightly Neighbors.
