Not necessarily new releases of 2023 (sorry, M3GAN), but just any monster movie I came across in 2023. Nor are these necessarily established classics (i.e. The Day the Earth Stood Still, RoboCop, The Rocky Horror Picture Show), but perhaps diamonds-in-the-rough or otherwise underrated gems. For fans of horror, sci-fi, or fantasy, I can’t recommend the following movies enough. You may be pleasantly surprised!
by Vincent S. Hannam
Lilo & Stitch (2002)
dir. Chris Sanders, Dean DeBlois; USA
If it’s been a while since you’ve seen this animated feature, do yourself a favor. It is a surprisingly moving story about family and loneliness, nestled within familiar sci-fi tropes that are executed with care and precision; plus, allusions to 1950s science-fiction (creature features and alien invaders) permeate the film in a manner not distracting from the stakes. This was the last big hit for Disney Animation and it ranks among their best (and weirdest!)
The Brother from Another Planet (1984)
dir. John Sayles; USA
Another film featuring a visitor from another planet, exploring themes of exclusion; granted, The Brother from Another Planet tackles the theme through the lens of the African American experience. Joe Morton delivers a show-stopping performance as “The Brother”, a mute alien who crash lands in 1980s Harlem. The Brother – who happens to have black skin – must navigate the unexpected challenges of American prejudice and racial inequalities. Low-key but dynamic, The Brother from Another Planet is essential viewing for fans of the genre.
Orca: The Killer Whale (1977)
dir. Michael Anderson; USA
A Jaws-inspired creature feature that is so much more, blending Shakespearean tragedy with high-seas adventure. Richard Harris plays a fisherman who kills a mother orca and her calf, only to now be hunted by the vengeful father. What elevates this seemingly predictable story is the religious overtones of the script; Harris spirals deeper into a metaphorical hell as he combats his nemesis, culminating in a frozen wasteland of damnation. Parts Moby Dick, Dante’s Inferno, and Jaws, this film is completely over-the-top in all the best ways.
Porco Rosso (1992)
dir. Hayao Miyazaki; Japan
From Studio Ghibli, Porco Rosso‘s strength lies in its understated story. Porco is an ex-World War I fighter pilot who was turned into a pig by a mysterious curse; now, he is a famed bounty hunter chasing “sky pirates” off the Italian coast. Miyazaki’s movie is high fantasy, oozing with whimsy and charm, but this belies the stark drama at its core. Porco never asked for his transformation and as such, is forever haunted by the ghosts of his past. It’s a powerfully sober turn for an ostensible family film; it leaves a lasting impression.
The Uninvited (1944)
dir. Lewis Allen; USA
Recognized as the first movie to take ghosts seriously, Lewis Allen’s direction offers plenty of humor along the way; it’s the way light-comedy and high-stakes work in tandem that keeps viewers on their toes. It’s a balancing act played to perfection by actors Ray Milland, Ruth Hussey, and Gail Russell. Milland and Hussey are siblings who unwittingly purchase a haunted house; and their relationship is a refreshing break from the expected romantic melodrama. Russell, meanwhile, plays a tragic figure haunted by a vengeful spirit. The Uninvited stands the test of time thanks to its 1940s aesthetic and ahead-of-its-time storytelling.
Chopping Mall (1986)
dir. Jim Wynorski; USA
A cult classic, Chopping Mall is if John Hughes made The Terminator. A group of teenage friends wind up trapped in a shopping mall overnight where they must survive a trio of malfunctioning security robots out for blood. The film is short, cheap, and seemingly dumb, but therein lies the charm; these choices seem deliberate, harking back to the Roger Corman quickies of the 1950s. Reinforcing this notion is producer Julie Corman, Easter egg footage of the 1957 Corman flick, Attack of the Crab Monsters, and none other than Dick Miller himself. So while Chopping Mall certainly amps up the gore and nudity, don’t be fooled: this movie knows exactly what it’s doing.
The Monolith Monsters (1957)
dir. John Sherwood; USA
Since the 1920s, Universal Pictures was noted for its output of horror films; however, by the late 1950s, the studio was struggling for inspiration. One seemingly bonkers effort from this period is The Monolith Monsters, about a cluster of space rocks that multiply when wet. You may be laughing, but the characters in the film are not; it soon grows clear that humanity is doomed unless the mountain-sized rocks are contained. It’s a diamond-in-the-rough thanks to John Sherwood’s ability to convey the danger in a screenplay by Robert Fresco, Norman Jolley, and Jack Arnold. Arnold, it should be noted, was the driving force behind other landmark sci-fi films of the era: Creature from the Black Lagoon, Tarantula, and The Incredible Shrinking Man.
The Monster That Challenged the World (1957)
dir. Arnold Laven; USA
This drive-in movie about mutated mollusks wreaking havoc on unsuspecting townspeople doesn’t seem like inspired fare; but the violence portrayed in this film is what makes it worth viewing. The self-restrained Hayes Code was still in effect in 1957, but The Monster That Challenged the World somehow got passed the censors with young beachcombers meeting grisly fates at the end of oozing mandibles. I mean, this thing is gross! Campy, nasty, and memorable, this underrated gem is either a throwback to Pre-Code pictures or a foreshadowing of 1980s horror effects.
Robot Jox (1989)
dir. Stuart Gordon; USA
In a post-apocalyptic future, countries no longer wage war; instead, they turn to their best “robot jocks” to helm giant mechs and duke it out in front of the hoi poloi. Post-production studio woes doomed Robot Jox to initial obscurity; however, its now cult status is well-deserved. Director Stuart Gordon (Re-Animator, From Beyond) elevates the Saturday morning cartoon to epic proportions, filling the screen with giant robots, muscle-bound heroes, mustache-twirling villains, and plenty of stylized martial arts. It’s Top Gun meets Pacific Rim and a helluva good time.
Mad Love (1935)
dir. Karl Freund; USA
A loose adaptation of Maurice Renard’s 1920 horror story, Les Mains d’Orlac (a.k.a. The Hands of Orlac), this MGM thriller stars Peter Lorre as a mad surgeon obsessed with an actress (Frances Drake) who is married to the world famous pianist Stephen Orlac (Colin Clive). After Orlac suffers irreparable damage to his hands, he seeks a transplant from the surgeon; naturally, he is given the hands of a knife-wielding murderer, whose spirit now controls Orlac’s hands. Mad Love is an early example of weird body horror and it challenges viewers with its depiction of murder, mayhem, and evocative cinematography.
Honorable Mention: Teenage Caveman (1958)
dir. Roger Corman; USA
Roger Corman directed dozens of films aimed at the burgeoning teenage demographic of the 1950s; many of those movies were later featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000 for their camp and generally “not good” reputations. Teenage Caveman is one of those films; however, for those willing to look, there is a surprisingly tender strain running through the story. Future star Robert Vaughn (The Young Philadelphians, The Magnificent Seven, TV’s The Man from U.N.C.L.E.) makes his film debut as… well, a teenage caveman who must navigate parental and societal expectations of manhood; meanwhile, he resolves to solve the mystery of the “Forbidden Zone” beyond the borders of the tribe. Ernest yet goofy, this Roger Corman picture is well-worth the 65 minute runtime.
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