The 1990s was a fun decade for the horror genre, with many productions turning into unintentionally hilarious films years later. The ’80s saw a peak in the horror genre, and by the time the ’90s had rolled around, far less inspired films were being released. The ’90s are considered a transition period in the horror genre, allowing filmmakers to play around and experiment, which ultimately produced a lot of films that were less than innovative.

Many of these films are considered rip-offs of the decades’ accomplished releases, or they were simply unable to concoct a unique and compelling story of their own. Though the critical and commercial response to these films wasn’t the best at the time of their original release, they went on to garner a cult following, being appreciated for their unintended campy tones. Films like Ticks, The Dentist, and Troll 2 have a pleasant viewing experience when audiences give in to their absurd plots and eccentric antagonists.

10

Winterbeast (1992)

Directed by Christopher Thies

Combining live-action filming and stop-motion animation is the underrated horror film Winterbeast. The film is largely overlooked, mainly due to its poor quality, but has earned a cult following over the years for its creative visuals and unintentionally humorous aspects. Winterbeast is set in New England and follows the work of two rangers who attempt to get to the bottom of a series of disappearances in the area.

The film was produced on a low budget and features restrained performances in its simple setting. Winterbeast is undoubtedly scattered in almost every regard, especially in its storytelling. Yet, it’s not a horror film audiences go back to for a coherent and effectively spooky story. Instead, Winterbeast is best enjoyed for its unique creatures terrorizing a New England town and its ambitious incorporation of stop-motion effects.

9

Dolly Dearest (1991)

Directed by Maria Lease

Dolls are popular antagonists in horror movies, with the most popular examples being Annabelle and the Child’s Play franchise. In the ’90s, Dolly Dearest was viewed by many as a rip-off of the latter, earning negative critical reviews following its limited theatrical release in the United States. The film follows the Wade family on their move to Mexico, where the patriarch of the family obtains ownership of a doll factory.

An unsettling feeling quickly takes over the family when it’s believed the family’s daughter is controlled by the possessed тιтular doll. Despite being released soon after Child’s Play and earning inevitable comparisons to the superior film, Dolly Dearest is also silly on almost every level. The performances aren’t entirely convincing and the film’s dialogue is clunky, resulting in an incredibly flawed and unintentionally hilarious film audiences can appreciate years later.

8

Ticks (1993)

Directed by Tony Randel

Mutant insects are at the center of a handful of horror films, like Eight Legged Freaks and the direct-to-video film Ticks. The early ’90s film sees Seth Green lead his group of friends at a wilderness camp, where the teens are attacked by a swarm of steroid-enhanced ticks. The special effects in the film result in wonky-looking insects that aren’t as threatening as they are ridiculously funny.

The performances in the film too, by Green, Peter Scolari, Alfonso Ribeiro, and more, are over-the-top. This makes it difficult to take the characters seriously in their moments of angst and pure terror. Though it’s unlikely Ticks was seeking to be a revolutionary film within the horror genre, there is sincerity in each of its elements. Ticks has yet to become as beloved as other horror movie flops from the decade, but it’s still enjoyed by audiences for its flaws.

7

The Dentist (1996)

Directed by Brian Yuzna

The fear of dentists isn’t as common as that of clowns or corn fields, but the threat of the profession has come up a few times in movies like Little Shop of Horrors and The Dentist. Both films are recommended to be avoided in dentist offices as their zany dentist characters abuse their power by harming their patients with the tools at their disposal. The latter was released in the mid-’90s and stars Corbin Bernsen in the тιтular profession.

Dr. Alan Feinstone (Bernsen) experiences hallucinations at work and consequently stabs patients, pulls out their teeth, and cuts their tongues off. As terrifying as The Dentist‘s story sounds on paper, in execution, the horrific actions are mediocre. Feinstone is never quite as eccentric as other purposefully comedic dentists, leading audiences to believe the humorous quality of the film wasn’t intentional.

6

Troll 2 (1990)

Directed by Claudio Fragᴀsso

Contradicting its name, the antagonists in Troll 2 are not trolls, but goblins instead. According to the spirit of Joshua Waits’ (Michael Stephenson) deceased grandfather, the local goblin creatures prey on humans and turn them into plant matter for consumption. Audiences and several critics agree that Troll 2 is among the worst horror movies of all time. Yet, it’s earned a cult following in the years since its release, with appreciative fans celebrating Troll 2‘s quotability and campy performances.

Though it’s difficult at times to decipher whether the cheesy and poor quality of the film was intentional, according to the filmmakers of Troll 2, it apparently was (via The Guardian). Regardless, there’s an undeniably captivating quality to the film that’s kept audiences interested in discussing it decades later. In 2009, a documentary, Best Worst Movie, was made talking about the infamous film and its surprising popularity with audiences.

5

Urban Legend (1998)

Directed by Jamie Blanks

Despite performing poorly with critics when it was first released, many aspects of Urban Legend hold up surprisingly well years later, explaining why the film is enjoyed by audiences to this day. The film is centered around a series of murders that take place on a college campus, each modeled after a well-known urban legend. Audiences showed up for the film in the late ’90s, but critics viewed it as just another slasher rip-off that followed the success of Scream.

Still, Urban Legend produced two sequel films and has been continuously revisited and appreciated by audiences for its corny, but enjoyable concept. The film has all the characteristics of a classic slasher movie, including a setting involving a group of young people, a surprise killer, and an unexpected ending. Urban Legend also does a great job of incorporating its various timeless tales into its story. Though the results are sometimes cheesy, audiences are rarely left feeling unsatisfied.

4

Deep Rising (1998)

Directed by Stephen Sommers

Critically and commercially, Deep Rising failed in the late ’90s. However, it has since been viewed as a cult film, earning attention for its unintentionally hilarious plot points and fun action sequences. Deep Rising, too, is also effectively scary at several points in the film, and is seen as one of the scarier horror movies set at sea. The film follows a group of hijackers on an ocean liner who discover they are not alone.

The crew comes face-to-face with an enormous tentacled sea monster, creating some good old-fashioned B-movie fun. Viewed negatively by critics in comparison to great monster movies like Alien, Deep Rising is a film that doesn’t ask for much from audiences. Its premise is familiar, and the characters are likable, allowing audiences to sit back and revel in the delightfully cheesy ’90s action.

3

Sleepwalkers (1992)

Directed by Mick Garris

Though he’s best known for his horror novels, Stephen King has also written the scripts for a handful of films as well. One of the first films written by King was Sleepwalkers, which tells the strange story of a weird mother-and-son duo who survive by feeding off of virgin women. As if this wasn’t odd enough, the duo also has the ability to shapeshift into their natural form of cat-like creatures, resulting in an inane fight against feline antagonists.

The first half of the film plays as a serious horror story about terrifyingly strange vampire-like creatures, but its silly turn prevents it from ever being taken seriously again. Sleepwalkers‘ celebrity cameos are notable and are part of the reason why the film has become a cult classic in recent years. However, the main reason for Sleepwalkers‘ cult status is because of its absurdity.

2

Texas Chainsaw Mᴀssacre: The Next Generation (1995)

Directed by Kim Henkel

Unlike the other films mentioned, Texas Chainsaw Mᴀssacre: The Next Generation was purposefully made as a black comedy, slasher movie. The film acts as a self-parody and follows a group of teenagers who interact with Leatherface during the night of their prom. However, it isn’t likely that those behind the film believed it would flop at the box office and earn largely negative reviews from critics.

Critics were unimpressed by the characterization of Leatherface and were disappointed with Renée Zellweger and Matthew McConaughey’s involvement in the film. While a few of the intentional comedic bits hit, many of these scenes fail to obtain genuine laughter from audiences at the intended moment. Over the years, audiences have grown to appreciate the film’s use of meta-humor, Leatherface’s exaggerated characterization, and McConaughey’s chaotic performance.

1

The Mangler (1995)

Directed by Tobe Hooper

Audiences are never sure what to expect from Stephen King adaptations, as the worst films and TV shows based on the author’s work prove it’s difficult to capture the essence of his writing. One of the less successful adaptations of King’s work is The Mangler, based on his short story of the same name. The film follows the owner of a laundry service (Robert Englund) whose employee is a victim of a powerful ironing machine.

Few people consider The Mangler to be a great horror film, but retrospective reviews by critics and audiences have been kinder. The Mangler is viewed as a cult classic and has been enjoyed for its over-the-top performances, particularly the one by Englund, and its campiness that allows the film to have fun with its gory scenes. Released in the early 2000s, two direct-to-video sequels were made, The Mangler 2 and The Mangler Reborn.