Why this blog?

This blog began as an effort to index the huge number of independent horror films we've seen over the years. Most of these films have seen only a limited release, and some have been panned by lay-audience and critics alike. However, each film listed here has either:
a) scared us stiff,
b) made us think afresh of life and the human condition, or
c) done something unique with cinematic form
d) re-interpreted and renewed age-old myths such as aliens, cryptids etc.

We haven't rated the films, because we find a 1 to 10 rating stupid and insulting when talking about a work that has involved several years, money worth several lifetimes' savings, sometimes even life-risks. We hope, if nothing else, that you'll watch some of the films linked here, and perhaps find something new.

- Sukhaloka and Arijit/Owlwing.

The Sighting (2015)

When a mentally disturbed young man becomes the only one to have sighted murderous monsters along the highway, who will believe him? And what would they - monsters and humans alike - do to him?
This film remains one of my favourite creature-films in recent memory.. for its formal restraint as well as its sensitivity. It's a tragedy as well as spine-chilling horror, but the genre-bending is what makes films great, isn't it?

Directors: David Blair, Adam Pitman

Cassadaga (2011)

Director: Anthony DiBlasi

"Cassadaga" tells the story of Lily, a young deaf art teacher who leaves the city to recover from the death of her sole surviving relation, her younger sister Michelle. Lily obtains a teaching job in the idyllic town of Cassadaga, alongwith a scholarship at Cassadaga University which includes residence at the mansion of Claire, who offers the scholarship but only limited access to the mansion premises. Lily begins dating a student's divorced father and makes a few friends, until her life is thrown off course once more by a medium who conjures up the spirit of her dead sister, which delivers a deadly warning... .

Clown Town (2016)

If you love good old-fashioned horror - suspense, screams, slashing and some boob-jiggle - then this film was made for you. Two young couples take a detour to reach a music concert, and then get stuck in the town of Clinton when one of them realizes she has forgotten her phone. Little do they know that Clinton is the very town where, to quote one of the characters, "all those girls went missing some years ago..." .

Given that the actors could have done a little bit better, the superb lighting (especially the blue moonlight effects), tight editing and a compelling script leave us waiting eagerly for first-time director Tom Nagel's further work.

If you love good old-fashioned horror - suspense, screams, slashing and some boob-jiggle - then this film was made for you. Two young couples take a detour to reach a music concert, and then get stuck in the town of Clinton when one of them realizes she has forgotten her phone. Little do they know that Clinton is the very town where, to quote one of the characters, "all those girls went missing some years ago..." . 

Given that the actors could have done a little bit better, the superb lighting (especially the blue moonlight effects), tight editing and a compelling script leave us waiting eagerly for first-time director Tom Nagel's further work.
This film hasn't found a US or international release yet, so we hope that anyone reading this will pay to watch this film and support the filmmakers, who have evidently given their all under very tight budgetary restrictions.

And since we know you'll look up IMDb in spite of everything we tell you about their rating systems, we'll make this redundant statement anyway - this film is worth so much more than a 4.1!

Bridgend (2015)

This film tells the story of the  real-life unsolved suicides of 79 teenagers in the Bridgend County Borough in South Wales, through the eyes of a young girl who has just returned to the village after leaving it in early childhood. The quiet, meditative air pervading the film enhances the sense of all-pervading doom throughout, leaving the viewer wondering... how does one explain this tragedy?

Director: Jeppe Rønde

Dust Devil (1992)

Director: Richard Stanley

The Happening (2008)

While this film has been panned by many, we here feel that the greatest thing about it is how inexplicable the events are. Perhaps it was a bit ahead of its time, perhaps its obviously low budget prejudiced the audience against it, we don't really know. But it's been nearly ten years since its release at the time of writing this, and Shyamalan is back with a bang with "The Visit" and "Wayward Pines", so we'll ask you again - is it that easy to dismiss The Happening?

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Curve (2015)

Director: Iain Softley

Devil (2010)

Director: John Erick Dowdle

No Smoking (2007)

In our humble opinion, this is the strangest and most wonderful love-letter to cigarettes ever written.

Director: Anurag Kashyap

Isolation (2005)

When cows on an isolated ranch somewhere in Ireland start giving birth to strange and deadly creatures, the consequences take place on both metaphysical and political levels: especially when you remember that Ireland is known as the Magical Cow.

Director: Billy O'Brien

The Wyrd team was pleasantly surprised to find this film uploaded in its entirety on YouTube, and here's the link!

Mystery Road (2013)

Director: Ivan Sen

A sequel to Mystery Road called "Goldstone" has been released on June 6, 2016, and was nominated for Best Film at the Sydney Film Festival. Unfortunately we haven't been able to get our hands on it yet. Here's the trailer, which looks promising!

Feed the Gods (2014)

Director: Braden Croft

Baskin (2015, Turkey)

This is the only Turkish horror film we've seen so far, and it's nothing like anything else.

The Invitation (2015)

Director: Karyn Kusama