The godfather, Platoon, Under the spell of the Ring trilogy, and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi — These are all undisputed classics, but what makes a film a classic? Perhaps a history of making horror movies plays a role, as each of the aforementioned classic movies was directed by a filmmaker who entered the industry making low-budget chillers. The horror genre often serves as a springboard for filmmakers’ careers, as horror films are and always have been immensely popular and can be produced for little to nothing budget-wise. While most low-budget horror debuts are easily forgotten, many talented filmmakers destined for greatness have made the most of the genre to show off their unique stylish preferences and directing abilities.
A surprising number of the most acclaimed filmmakers of the past fifty years started making horror movies on the cheap. Here are 9 of the best terrifying directorial debuts from respected filmmakers.
9/9 Seizure (1974) – Oliver Stone
Oliver Stone is world famous for directing classics like Platoon and JFKbut devoted fans know that he first got his name with the very strange horror film Heart attack. Allegedly funded as part of a mobster’s money laundering scheme, the story of how it was made is perhaps more interesting than the actual plot of the film. The film is about a horror novelist haunted by recurring visions of three evil creatures: the queen of evil, a dwarf named Spider, and a hulking brute named Jackal. The pacing is uneven and the direction rather flat for an Oliver Stone film, but the atmosphere is intoxicatingly grim and makes this a real treat for fans of moody psychotronic horror.
8/9 The Legacy (1978) – Richard Marquand
Five years before he achieved A-lister status directing one of the best sci-fi films of the ’80s, Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, Richard Markand found moderate success with its slow-burn horror The legacy. The film revolves around a couple from Los Angeles who are invited to a large mansion in England, after which they become embroiled in a satanic mystery and fight for their lives. It’s a striking gothic horror story that feels menacing from start to finish.
7/9 Duel (1971) – Steven Spielberg
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Before he drove movie buffs off the water Jaws, Stephen Spielberg warned the public about the dangers of the public road with his first feature film Duel. One of the best TV movies of all time, Duel tells the story of a businessman on his way to a client who becomes the target of an unseen and apparently murderous semi-truck driver. Science fiction author Richard Matheson’s simple yet effective script, combined with Spielberg’s adept directing, makes Duel a pulse-pounding thrill ride and a “road horror” movie for all ages.
6/9 Bad Taste (1987) – Peter Jackson
Famous for directing great epics like Under the spell of the Ring trilogy and the 2005 version of King Kong, Peter Jackson started his career with a little movie called Bad taste. The title couldn’t have been more appropriate, as the movie revolves around aliens landing in New Zealand to turn humans into intergalactic fast food. A bizarre gore-fest that is ostensibly horror, but often funnier than frightening, Bad taste embodies both the splatter-horror golden age of the 1980s and Jackson’s own early low-brow horror period.
5/9 Shaun of the Dead (2004) – Edgar Wright
The world was first introduced Edgar Wright‘s signature blend of comedy, suspense and bromance with its debut in 2004 Shaun of the dead. The movie follows a hapless electronics salesman and his wimpy best friend as they fight for survival in a zombie apocalypse. The onscreen chemistry of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost is a delight, and Wright’s whiplash and perfectly timed editing tie the film together. It’s funny, scary and heartfelt at the same time, and is considered by many to be one of the best zombie movies of all time.
4/9 Goals (1968) – Peter Bogdanovich
Peter Bogdanovich made a name for himself as one of the best ‘New Hollywood’ directors of the 1970s, directing great films like paper moon, What’s wrong, doctor?and The latest photo show. Before these classics hit the silver screen, movie fans were treated to one of the best films from the acclaimed director: Goals. The film follows two interrelated storylines, one shows a young man who is on a killing spree, and the other shows a famous horror actor, played by real-life horror icon Boris Karloff, contemplating retirement. The movie is definitely not for everyone like according to critic Roger Ebert’s assessmentin which he claims “Tweapons isn’t a very good movie, but it’s an interesting movie.” Recent reviews have been viewed Goals more favorably, and it is now regarded as a powerful and haunting cult classic.
3/9 Dementia 13 (1963) – Francis Ford Coppola
Before becoming a Hollywood legend with The godfather, Francis Ford Coppola directed an interesting and unnerving little horror movie called Dementia 13. Produced by Roger Corman and financed with leftover budget of Corman’s own The young racersCoppola was given the chance to direct a movie with complete creative control, as long as it closely resembled the recently released and highly successful Psycho. The result is an intense gothic thriller full of moody atmosphere and unexpected twists.
2/9 The Evil Dead (1981) – Sam Raimi
Sam Ramicelebrated director of the Tobey Maguire Spider-Man trilogy, started his career with the quintessential splatter masterpiece The evil death. Raimi’s debut tells of the horror that befalls a group of friends who awaken a demonic presence in a remote cabin in the woods. It’s a grueling experience in terror and shocking gore that still has to do with censorship to this day. Here we see the director developing his signature style in real time; the unique, expressionist style of shooting and visual flair seen in The evil death would become a staple in the director’s future career.
1/9 Stranger 3 (1992) – David Fincher
No list of great horror debuts is complete without it David Fincher‘s directorial debut: The Unjustly Maligned Stranger 3. Plagued by a troubled production and a rushed schedule, Stranger 3 was not well received upon release. The film, which depicts an alien infestation in a prison colony, has undergone several rewrites, according to Den of Geek, which contributed to the troubled production. It has since been positively re-evaluated by fans of the sci-fi horror franchise, with fans noticing the first signs of Fincher’s genius, which he would later tap into with films like Seven. Despite unfavorable reviews, Stranger 3 is an iconic item in the Alien franchise, and features many of the most memorable scenes in the series.