The debate on the best decade for horror is still out, on account of there being no right answer. And although saying “every decade is good” is respectful and true enough, there is something to be said about the 1970s. It was a time when horror had yet to make those great advances in makeup […]
The debate on the best decade for horror is still out, on account of there being no right answer. And although saying “every decade is good” is respectful and true enough, there is something to be said about the 1970s. It was a time when horror had yet to make those great advances in makeup and special effects, was not as commercial, and it was before specific subgenres became more defined and noticeable.
The ’70s produced horror staples such as The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, The Exorcist, Jaws, Dawn of the Dead and Halloween; they are as iconic as they are influential and enduring. Needless to say, though, the same decade gave way to a number of other titles that, while not as renowned, widely acclaimed or popular, are well worth your time.
So, if you’re on the hunt for some overlooked and under-the-radar ’70s horror, then consider these 10 movies.
The Possession of Joel Delaney (1972)
Image: The Possession of Joel Delaney (1972).
One component of ’70s horror’s success is how “wrong” it might feel through a modern lens. More often than not, movies like Waris Hussein’sThe Possession of Joel Delaneyare so unlike anything coming out today. This adaptation of Ramona Stewart’s novel, one about a man possessed by a serial killer’s spirit, is raw and uncomfortable. Shirley MacLaine and Perry King are fantastic here, and dissecting their characters’ peculiar sibling relationship is as engrossing as the overall mystery.
Tales That Witness Madness (1973)
Image: Tales That Witness Madness (1973)
Anthologies surged in the ’70s, and studios like Hammer and Amicus were responsible for most of them. And although Freddie Francis’ Tales That Witness Madness is often mistaken for an Amicus production, it was, in fact, done by World Film Services. The movie’s wraparound features Donald Pleasence as another maddened shrink; he illustrates the grisly details of four particular psychiatric cases. These include a child and his imaginary pet tiger, an antique penny-farthing bicycle capable of time travel, a wife (Joan Collins) who’s become jealous of a bizarre tree stump, and a literary agent (Kim Novak) whose ploy to win over a new client ends gruesomely. It’s a tetralogy of eccentric stories, and while nothing here is ever the least bit scary, the entertainment value is high.
The Bride (1973)
Image: The Bride (1973)
Before Bryanston Distributing Company scored big with The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, it picked up Jean-Marie Pélissié’s Connecticut-shot, matrimonial horror movieThe Bride (also known as The House That Cried Murder or Last House on Massacre Street). To call this “nutty” would be an understatement, and Robin Strasser is rather unforgettable as the incensed, scissors-wielding and vengeful newlywed. Strasser played opposite Arthur Roberts, whose role as the chronically unfaithful husband is not as one-note as first anticipated. And together the two leads, along with John Beal as the unusual father-in-law, delivered an affair to remember.
The Killing Kind (1973)
Image: The Killing Kind (1973)
Curtis Harrington, of Night Tide and Who Slew Auntie Roo? fame, appreciatingly stepped outside the box with his scant of horror offerings. And it’s his sort of work that exemplifies why the ’70s is such an appealing decade for dark narratives; the taboo and oft-unapologetic executions yield plenty of shock moments that can’t be easily wiped from memory once the movie’s over. As for The Killing Kind, it seems to get the worst of its story out of the way, after subjecting audiences to a heinous sex crime, but there is nothing remotely pleasant or cathartic in the remaining acts. John Savage’s psychological torment is both constant and impressive, and Ann Sothern plays toxic beautifully. So, if Psycho wasn’t somehow disturbing enough for you, then The Killing Kind should hit the spot. An interesting note about this movie, by the way, is how certain characters would resurface—with different actors—in an unrelated but equally worthwhile midnighter called The Attic (1980).
The Severed Arm (1973)
Image: The Severed Arm (1973).
As you can tell, 1973 was a strong year for horror. And Thomas S. Alderman’s The Severed Arm, a title that has only recently come back into the conversation, feels the most timeless. Well, at least in terms of story. This movie is obviously dated by its fashion sense and whatnot, yet the core idea of a killer taking revenge on a guilty party sounds familiar. This underseen and nearly forgotten proto-slasher goes through the steps of a standard whodunnit before capping off the madness with a rather poetically mean conclusion.
House of Mortal Sin (1976)
Image: House of Mortal Sin/The Confessional (1976).
Catholicism’s presence was hard to miss in ’70s horror. Pete Walker’s (The Comeback) own brush with the religion led to House of Mortal Sin(also known as The Confessional), a movie that likely pushed people’s buttons. This genre satire of organized religion saw Anthony Sharp portraying the horrible holy man who dealt in his own kind of divine law; his obsession with an attractive and young confessor (Susan Penhaligon) leads to a series of brutal murders.
Death Weekend (1976)
Image: Death Weekend (1976)
With exploitation cinema on the rise back then, Canada throwing its hat into the ring was inevitable. And William Fruet’s Death Weekend(also known as The House by the Lake) is a commendable grindhouse effort that actually predates the similar I Spit on Your Grave by two years. Stage actor Brenda Vaccaro showed off her chops here as the victim-turned-aggressor, one who’s easy to root for in her quarrel with Don Stroud’s character.
The Haunting of Julia (1978)
Image: The Haunting of Julia/Full Circle (1978).
The Mia Farrow-starring Full Circle(or The Haunting of Julia) has its fans, yet it’s still not mentioned enough in talks about haunted house movies. This adaptation of Peter Straub’s novel Julia is both a tale of grief and a ghost story. The two elements complement each other well, although the latter is more ambiguous than some might expect or like. Colin Towns’ score is also gorgeous and as haunting as the movie itself.
Jennifer (1978)
Image: Jennifer (1978)
Psychokinetic abilities and phenomenon were all the rage in the ’70s, and Brian De Palma’s Carrieset off a small burst of “knockoff” movies. On television was The Spell (1977), and a year later on the big screen was Brice Mack’sJennifer. This era’s fascination with (or aversion to) snakes was also utilized here, in this story of a bullied student who can control serpents with her mind. You’re never once unclear as to what prior movie Jennifer is inspired by or channeling, but star Lisa Pelikan makes the initial sense of unoriginality forgivable.
The Butterfly Murders (1979)
Image: The Butterfly Murders (1979)
Leaving the West in the late ’70s would eventually bring you to the Hong Kong New Wave, a cinematic movement that includes the mixed-genre yet fully arresting The Butterfly Murders. Some might argue this wuxia movie is what actually triggered the New Wave. In his directorial debut, Tsui Hark challenged martial arts filmmaking without going too off course; elaborate and dynamically edited choreography remains intact even as killer butterflies and a disguised murderer in black also crop up. And while the movie has yet to receive a substantial upgrade in the physical media department, it’s been added to Tubi. Enjoy it while you still can.
