Five Underrated Horror Films By Dante Tomaselli Director of Torture Chamber

The Night of the Devils (1972)

This is one of my favorite horror movies. Growing up, I don't know how I ever missed out on it. Definitely triggers the same feeling I got when I finally experienced Suspiria for the first time in my late twenties. A magical feeling. A sweet horror rush. It aligns with my taste buds perfectly. Very moody, Night of the Devils is a beautifully constructed tale of madness. Simplicity is its greatest strength with the woods as its main backdrop. It's the kind of film that unfolds like a disturbing nightmare. The mirage hints at the same vampire-like entity featured in one of the segments of Mario Bava's Black Sabbath. This is a criminally underrated psychological horror shocker. Definitely worth seeking out for all horror fans.

A Reflection of Fear (1973)

Wow, what a genuinely strange film. I remember a friend loaning this to me around 2000 and it's still wadding around my subconscious. The less said about the plot the better but it involves a rich, isolated girl reuniting with her Dad (Robert Shaw of Jaws). There's something peculiar about this child who talks to a doll that seems to be alive. Or is it a projection of her off-kilter self? St. Michael, the warrior icon is chillingly conjured. This slow-burn film is so well made and not surprisingly it was directed by the cinematographer of Polanki's lush Rosemary's Baby. I can see that very clearly! Dreamlike imagery galore. Any adventurous horror fan should appreciate this odd unsettling chiller.

This Night I'll Possess Your Corpse (1967)

Here's a true independent horror film with the stamp of its creator all over. It's such a macabre and bizarre concoction that it just needs to be seen to be believed. I can only imagine how shocked and mystified audiences were back in the late '60s. I like to watch it through their eyes. The sequence where our anti-hero is sucked into a multi-colored hell is creative and outrageously eye-popping. Imagine a hazy nightmare that unfolds while you're lying on your back in a coffin with a black cloth over your eyes and a tarantula approaching.

Frightmare (1974)

This fascinating '70s low budget classic features a cannibalistic mother played by one of my favorite performers, Sheila Keith. I love every scene she's in and would have given anything to work with her. Rest in Peace. As the enigmatic, flesh-eating Dorothy, she's truly bloodcurdling. In the film, her daughter Jackie is trying to help her get better. Dorothy's days in the insane asylum are behind her. So we hope. But lately she's been reading tarot cards again and there are corpses in a room off to the side

The Visitor (1979)

I remember being 9 years old and seeing the black and white newspaper ad and staring at it endlessly. I cut it out and taped it on the refrigerator. This was around the same time The Godsend was being advertised too. I didn't see The Visitor in theatres but experienced it a year later on cable TV. I was 10 years old. I really had no idea what to expect and was startled by its strong imagery. The pictures presented on screen were bold and stylish. It's a sci-fi/fantasy horror mutation. The Visitor is confusing, crazy and a lot of fun…Visually, it's a sensation. This film is a completely unique viewing experience and for that it's gold.

UNK SEZ: Thanks Dante! It's always an honor and a pleasure when you stop by Kindertrauma! I love your taste in movies and what an excellent list! You mentioned a couple of my favorites and even better, a couple I can look forward to seeing for the first time.

Folks, get ready because pretty soon we'll all be able to check out the new film from one of the most original imaginations in horror! I'm talking about DANTE TOMASELLI's TORTURE CHAMBER! Make sure you stop by the official website HERE and prepare yourself for the trailer below! I can't wait!