So what’s a “slow burn” flick? Glad you asked. I consider a movie a ‘slow-burn’ when it doesn’t immediately hit you just how good and/or disturbing a movie it is, but does after some time passes. I put my picks here below as a list, and there’s some flicks on the list that I must admit that I didn’t even like after I saw it for the first time!! For example, after I first watched 2004’s CALVAIRE I didn’t like it at all. I turned it off, returned the DVD to Netflix and thought that was that. But the next day I found myself thinking about Calvaire…. a lot. Then 2 days later I was still thinking about it!! Something about that movie got deep under my skin and I couldn’t get it outta my head. So I got it and watched it again and when it was over I immediately watched it a third time. CALVAIRE, it turns out, is a deeply disturbing and unsettling movie. It’s also one of those flicks that defies a label (although I put it firmly in the horror genre) and it requires at least 2-3 viewings. I know; that’s a lot to ask for. We’re all busy and most of the time it’s difficult enough to find the time to sit down and watch a movie, yet alone watch the same one 2-3 times. But trust me; you’ll be rewarded with one of the creepiest, disturbing, get-under-your-skin films you’ve ever seen.
What’s been a “slow burn” horror movie for you? I know we all have them. Leave your thoughts!!
CALVAIRE (2004): See my above comments. Definitely check this one out.
SNUFF (2008, documentary): This is a flawed documentary that really doesn’t accomplish what it sets out to do (to examine if snuff films are real and expose them). But there are 2 interviews that I just couldn’t stop thinking about that got under my skin in the days after I watched this one. One is an interview with an ex-FBI agent as he talks about a Russian man who filmed the actual sexual assault and slaughter of young boys, and the other is towards the end and is an interview with a b-movie director. Those 2 interviews are fucking disturbing!!
BROKEN (2006): After watching this I just wrote it off as another “torture-porn” flick and thought that was that. But the days following my first viewing had me thinking about the ending a lot. This is NOT your typical torture-porn; this is so disturbing and bleak (and just wait for that ending) that you’ll be depressed for days after watching it. I love this flick!!
THE LAST HORROR MOVIE (2003): Not a perfect film by any means. I just kinda wrote it off after I first saw it. But then I kept thinking about the ending where the killer breaks the 4th wall and talks directly to the viewer. I’m getting chills up and down my spine right now as I think about it!! I double checked to make sure my doors were locked for days after I saw this.
SESSION 9 (2001): I loved this movie after my first viewing. Creepy and unsettling. But the final “reveal” where we learn who the actual killer is and his motivations for the killings just stuck with me. I didn’t have any kids when I first saw this one, but watching it over again after my first was born elevated this one to a whole new level. The killer’s motivations are so realistic I couldn’t shake this one for a long time.
THE GIRL NEXT DOOR (2007): As the movie ends you are definitely horrified by the treatment of Megan at the hands of the next door neighbor, but the days following my watching this one I just couldn’t get it outta my head that this was based on true events. It makes you never wanna meet your neighbors.
LET THE RIGHT ONE IN (2008): Like most of the flicks on this list I didn’t really care for this one at first. Yes I thought the performances were great, but I didn’t really care for the story. But I couldn’t get that goddamn final scene of Oskar riding on the train, obviously Eli’s new “keeper.” This is a great creepy film that gets to ya!!
VINYAN (2008): Same director as Calvaire. This guy has a way of making a movie that just doesn’t seem to be much at first but somehow creeps into your subconscious and fucks you up days after you watch it. After I saw this one I was very “meh” about it. But then that night I had a VERY fucked up nightmare about this movie and watched it again. Creepy, disturbing, and sad folks.
JOSHUA (2006): WARNING: Make sure you get the 2006 Joshua directed by Travis Betz. This is an indie horror flick that doesn’t seem like much after a first viewing but it really stayed with me. The treatment and torture of the baby by a group of adolescents was fucking disturbing!! I bought this one and still can’t get myself to watch it again.
What are your favorite slow burn films?
Stay Bloody!!!
Filed under: Blog Special, Horror Lists, New Posting
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