The Witch (2016)

When it comes to cult classics, the horror genre has always had an overwhelming number of B-movies. Horror B-movies refer to the low-budget feature films as compared to major feature films. One might call them “low-grade” cinema as opposed to the more artistic endeavours, but I’d refrain from saying that. The horror B-movie is a source of unbridled entertainment and for the fans of spooky business, it’s the perfect way to round out Halloween night or any night in which they’re in the mood for horror. Usually characterized by a somewhat loose storyline, sometimes some quite silly characters, a little over-the-top acting and a bunch of practical effects, horror B-movies used to rule the world of horror during the ’70s and ’80s with franchises like Friday the 13, Slumber Party Massacre and Halloween.

But since the late '90s, with big-budget horror films like End of Days and Hollow Man, the focus has shifted from the horror B-movie. We now have major horror features like It and Midsommar and every year, there are almost ceremonial releases from the studio A24 which gave us The Witch and Hereditary. This year itself, Ti West's X and Jordan Peele’s Nope came out, which are far from being horror B-movies. But that being said, it’s only the focus that has shifted because we still have horror B-movies being made. If you enjoy the bizarre, less refined and entertaining world of the horror B-movies and want a break from the nuanced and poignant big-budget horror releases, I have a list of gore-fests from the last ten years to enjoy this October. Here are fifteen films for the fifteen days that remain till the auspicious date of Halloween!

The biggest subcategory of horror B-movies by percentage is the slasher film. Almost overdone violence and heavy reliance on practical effects as opposed to CGI characterize the slasher. And of course, the heavily criticized but also equally loved trope of the final girl is a slasher staple. Some of the most gruesome on-screen deaths have been courtesy of the slasher horror B-movie and I’m here to offer you some more horrible killings. If gore makes you queasy, you may consider skipping this segment.

Witch trials were a widespread phenomenon in Europe and North America between the XVI and XIX centuries. Despite how ridiculous it may sound, a lot of people were condemned to death accused of witchery, especially women. The Holy Inquisition had opened a total of 125,000 processes during those years, and at least 59 people were burned trying to expel the devil from within them.

This barbarism affected Spain too; one of the most famous trials is the Zugarramundi one, a small village in Navarra where, in 1610, the Inquisition processed 53 people and executed 11 of them. The action in Coven of Sisters is set one year earlier, in 1609, and it depicts a trial made to five young girls, who were living in a small fisher’s village.

In this artistic masterpiece directed by Pablo Agüero, he tells us the story of those girls, who do what teenagers were supposed to do. They work (the XVII century was not idyllic from the point of view of labor or children’s rights), but also play, laugh, and have fun. One night they decide to go into the woods to dance, drink some cider, smoke, and sing; in short, to have a good time. Nonetheless, by performing such naïve actions, they signed their own death sentences.

Rose Glass’ directorial debut, Saint Maud, explores the term “god complex” to an extreme. The film follows Maud(Morfydd Clark), a young nurse who has recently been “saved” by God (through Catholicism) and believes she has a bigger purpose for it. She tries to implement her “good-willed” faith on her new patient — a harsh and pessimistic former dance teacher, Amanda(Jennifer Ehle), who is dying of cancer.

The film, while not always perfect with its semi-predictable ending and lack of true scares, is a strong freshman film and solidifies Glass as a rising star to watch. Her command of screen, story, and character is a marvel to behold — making me excited for what comes next. A fellow A24 film it heavily parallels is The Witch, one of the company's best horror films and even gives it a hidden similarity between the two worlds. Possibly even hinting at an A24 cinematic universe. Who wouldn't love a series of interconnected movies about animal deities conspiring with young women? Though not shining as bright as the latter, which is in part due to misrepresented expectations of the film, Saint Maud is the perfect follow-up to watch if you enjoy unhinged women unraveling in supernatural ways.