We often underestimate the value of lesser-known films that have developed a cult following because there’s generally an idea that, if they were good, they would be more popular. However, that’s exactly where the value of cult films lies: They are good, but they’re probably not good for everyone. And that’s why they can become beloved by only a small fraction of the audience whose tastes move between the ugly, the bad, and the weird.
When talking about the cult classics, it’s the same movies that always seem to come up. Plan 9 from Outer Space, Eraserhead, Rocky Horror, Blade Runner, etc. Outstanding works of art with legions of devoted fans who love them for what they are and not for what they tried to be, as most of them failed at the box office. However, in the following list you won’t find these. Instead, you will find some of the obscure cult classics that probably fell under your radar and deserve more following.
9 Freaked (1993)
Freaked is the story of Rick and Ernie, a former child star and his friend, who take a trip to South America in order to promote fertilizer. They’re joined by Julie, an activist who doesn’t know about the real purpose of their trip. The problem is that they end up in a mutant farm run by a mad scientist who turns them into disgusting freaks.
A Clever Gross-Out Comedy That’s Virtually Impossible to Find
Alex Winter and Tom Stern executed one of the most original and grossest comedies of the 1990s with Freaked, the last film Winter made during his streak after the Bill & Ted franchise put him in the spotlight. However, the film was released during a tumultuous time at 20th Century Fox, and it only played in two theaters in the United States. The home media releases are very rare and are considered collector’s items.
8 The People Under the Stairs (1991)
The People Under the Stairs follows Fool Williams, a young boy whose family is being evicted by the Robesons, a couple who greedily buys properties and resells them at a higher price. Fool’s mother is ill, so he’s convinced by a couple of criminals to break into the Robesons to steal some cash and help her get surgery. The problem is that the Robesons hide a very dark secret beneath the walls of their home.
Wes Craven’s Most Underrated Film
When people talk about Wes Craven’s films, The People Under the Stairs doesn’t always get mentioned. The social commentary, along with a terrific balance between comedy and horror, make it a unique presentation of Craven’s storytelling techniques. The film wasn’t a box office flop, but it is time that has proven its worth, with many critics praising the film’s commentary on gentrification and social issues.
7 Phantom of the Paradise (1974)
In Phantom of the Paradise, a singer and songwriter named Winslow Leach is forced to face his nemesis, a music producer called Swan, who intends to use Winslow’s music to open his new club. When Winslow is imprisoned and disfigured, he finds his way inside The Paradise in a whole new persona, and causes terror so that the right singer gets to do his music.
A Fascinating Rock Musical Like No Other
One of Brian De Palma’s first major Hollywood films, Phantom of the Paradise is a 1970s musical with the right amount of horror and comedy to make your day. It’s extremely original, with catchy tunes, and an unforgettable title character. While it earned a single Oscar nomination (for Original Song Score and Adaptation), Phantom of the Paradise remains an obscure classic of the genre that feels a lot like a horror film. Not that anything’s wrong with that.
6 Sorcerer (1977)
Sorcerer follows four strangers coming from different backgrounds who have gathered in Porvenir (which could be translated to Future), a South American village. Their only chance at escaping a life of absolute poverty is to transport dynamite through the jungle in trucks that are barely holding themselves together.
One of Cinema’s Greatest “Disappointments”
After making The Exorcist, everyone expected Friedkin to tackle another horror film. However, four years passed and, in 1977, Friedkin released this bizarre dramatic thriller instead. Yes, it has a spooky title, but it is anything but horror. Nevertheless, the thrills are intense, but most people were furious because it wasn’t another film like The Exorcist.
The film was a box office bomb, but Friedkin would often mention it as his favorite film, regardless of the toll it took on him. To this day, it remains an underrated masterpiece.
5 Serial Mom (1994)
In Serial Mom, suburban housewife Beverly Sutphin is living a perfect life. Her teenage sons are having the usual adolescent problems but she’s able to help them. Her husband is a very successful dentist, and she’s seemingly happy in her everyday chores. Also, Beverly is secretly a serial killer who slices and dices every opportunity she gets.
John Waters’ Attack on Americana
Starring Kathleen Turner as the title character along with Sam Waterston, Ricki Lake, Matthew Lillard, Suzanne Somers, and Joan Rivers, among others, Serial Mom is a unique dark comedy that doesn’t pull any punches and delivers the violence that only a John Waters film about a serial killer can provide. The film flopped at the box office, and it failed to capture the attention of many critics. But in retrospect, it’s actually a hilarious attack on the remains of the Reagan era.
4 On the Silver Globe (1988)
On the Silver Globe follows a civilization on a planet that doesn’t look like Earth. After some researchers find a mysterious device, viewers are taken to the past, a dystopian time when astronauts have crash-landed on another planet, and they form a new human race from scratch. On the Silver Globe is a film that had such a cultural impact that whenever the film is shown, it’s often accompanied by voice-over descriptions of the script.
The One That’s Literally Impossible to Watch
“Made” by Andrzej Żuławski (known for the unique horror film Possession) in 1988, On the Silver Globe is a cinema masterpiece that many people don’t know about. Genre fans will probably get a treat from the film’s visuals, given how it resembles major hard science fiction works like Star Wars, Dune, and Interstellar. There are some shots that you will have trouble figuring out how they accomplished back in the 1980s.
3 The Fall (2006)
The Fall follows a stuntman named Roy Walker who meets a young child when he’s bedridden after having an accident. Alexandria is infatuated with his stories, and with her fueled imagination, viewers are treated to how she sees the stories and characters. In cinema, there has never been such a profound depiction of the imagination.
A Visual Spectacle That’s Literally Difficult to Find
Created by visionary director Tarsem, The Fall is unlike anything you have ever seen. And even if the film is as valuable and ambitious as any other Hollywood production, it’s unavailable to stream and copies are hard to find.
The film was shot in many locations in multiple countries, and most of the budget came from Tarsem’s own funds. You would think this would be visible in the film, but The Fall looks anything but cheap. The Cell, Tarsem’s previous film, is also a visual gem that was overlooked.
2 The Warriors (1979)
The Warriors takes viewers to an alternate version of New York City, one in which street gangs have absolute control. When a gang leader gets killed in the middle of a gathering, the Warriors get accused of the murder and become the prey of every other gang as they try to get back to their turf across town.
The Perfect Action Epic That Had an Impact on Society
The 1979 action thriller by Walter Hill is based on Sol Yurick’s novel of the same name. Upon release, it was met with controversy after many reports of vandalism and street violence were associated with the film. The shows were halted for some time, but even when Paramount decided to start exhibiting the film, reviews by critics were terrible.
Today, its cult status puts it at an 88% score on Rotten Tomatoes, but it still remains rather obscure to some viewers who don’t know of its existence, even though it has influenced modern action films like John Wick: Chapter 4.
1 The Crying Game (1992)
In The Crying Game, an IRA soldier named Fergus meets a British prisoner, Jody, and they unexpectedly bond. Jody begs Fergus to seek his girlfriend Dil so that he can take care of her if something happens to him. Eventually, Fergus finds Dil and falls in love with the woman, but her secret ultimately comes out and puts the former IRA soldier at a crossroads.
A Very Successful, Yet Overlooked Thriller
When people speak about The Crying Game, they mostly just remember its twist: Dil’s character is revealed as trans. However, the film is a harrowing, dramatic journey that easily transcends its twist when Fergus is forced to make his most important decision. It’s this list’s most successful film, and the most acclaimed: it won one Oscar for Best Original Screenplay out of its six nominations. Regardless, few people seem to remember the existence of one of the best Irish films ever made.
