For every wildly successful horror film, there are a multitude of hidden gems that deserve to be uncovered; here are a few of our favorites.
In this month-long series, Donna introduces listeners to a few horror films she considers sleeper gems—films that don’t get talked about enough and deserve far more praise and attention. From essential genre classics to newer releases that flew too far under the radar, this series will introduce you to some killer horror you may have missed and may even help you discover a new favorite or two.
Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006)
Follow a documentary crew as they follow slasher icon-in-training Leslie Vernon before his big day. This horror comedy mockumentary gives us a wonderful peek behind the curtain of slasher films. We also get a ton of horror easter eggs, cameos, and playful looks at the horror tropes we all know and love.
THE EMPTY MAN (2020)
This horror thriller has some neo-noir facets to it, and cult themes are aplenty. Join the frightful fun as we follow an ex-detective trying to locate a missing girl and getting a little too close to a local legend in the little-talked-about The Empty Man.
HUMANE (2024)
In this episode, Donna gives some love to the recently released Caitlin Cronenberg-directed film Humane (2024). This horror thriller has us visiting the affluent York family on the night of a family dinner during a global crisis. It seems Dad and his wife are volunteering for a government euthanasia program to help with population control, but when their stepmom goes missing, which of the siblings will take her place? This is a darkly funny family slasher free-for-all. This episode is spoiler-free and savage-filled.
THE AUTOPSY OF JANE DOE (2016)
A father and son duo coroners try to unravel the mystery behind a Jane Doe who has no apparent cause of death but lots of dark secrets. You’ll never hear a ringing bell the same after this one. See what’s on the slab when Donna dissects The Autopsy of Jane Doe.
MURDER PARTY (2007)
This underrated horror comedy is the directorial debut of Jeremy Saulnier (Blue Ruin, Green Room, Rebel Ridge). It centers on a lonely guy attending a Halloween murder party—but unbeknownst to him, he is the intended murder victim for real. Full of gore and laughs, Murder Party should be considered essential viewing at Halloween or whenever you want to invoke spooky season vibes.
ABOUT THE SHOW:
Donna Tha Dead is a podcast for lovers of horror, cult classics, and other genres of cinemas. Your host, Donna, is a confirmed ghost story and horror film addict. To those that can hear Donna’s voice, she invites you to come hold her hand in the darkness and listen.
New episodes typically post every other week, and you can listen right here on morbidlybeautiful.com or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.
You can connect with Donna on Instagram and Twitter @donna_tha_dead.
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