The 1970s represented a transition in the horror genre. The big three horror movie villains, Frankenstein’s Monster, Dracula, and the Mummy, had begun to be seen as cliché. Fans had also moved on from the “nuclear threat” movies, disguised as mutant insects jacked up on radiation and the “Russian attack” movies disguised as alien invaders.
On the big screen, Jaws dominated the summer of 1975 and kept people out of the ocean. The Exorcist (1973) and The Omen (1976) introduced audiences to a new level of terror in the form of demons. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) and Halloween (1978) ushered in a new breed of horror film: the slasher.
Films like Duel (1971) and The Night Stalker (1972) were broadcast on network television and American viewers were there for it. Both movies were well-received and Nielsen ratings were high. Richard Matheson wrote both screenplays, and Steven Spielberg directed Duel.
Amid those blockbusters and trendsetting films, the decade was littered with low-budget horror films, copy-cat movies, and a smorgasbord of horror that flew mostly under the radar. Many of these grew cult followings during the video store era, but the recent availability of streaming services, most notably Shudder, has given new life to these largely forgotten films. Without further ado, here are seven forgotten classics you need to watch.
Squirm
When a storm knocks down power lines in the small town of Fly Creek, Georgia, 300,000 volts of electricity are pumped into the muddy ground, sending worms on a killing rampage.
I first saw this one at the theater as part of a double feature with Food of the Gods. The ‘70s were rampant with nature gone wild movies Squirm left a lasting impression on me, more so than any of the other “nature rebelling” films of the era. Anyone not horrified by the sheer number of worms should have themselves checked for a pulse.
If you’ve ever gone deep-sea fishing and had to bait a hook with one of the Glycera worms, also known as “bloodworms,” you know why this movie is scary. The worms are venomous, their bite feels like a bee sting and leaves a nasty welt.
According to several articles, an estimated two to three million worms were imported from Maine, causing a shortage of bait for the New England fishing community.
I haven’t been able to find this one streaming anywhere. I may need to purchase the DVD for a rewatch.
Race with the Devil
This is my favorite horror movie on the list. Two couples vacationing in an RV stumble upon a human sacrifice performed by a Satanic cult. They report the murder to a small-town sheriff but he brushes them off, telling them what they probably saw was a bunch of hippies killing an animal.
The cultists harass the two couples for the rest of the movie, but they escape several confrontations. The ending is a horror movie masterpiece, which I will not spoil here because I’m sure many of you missed this one!
The stars are Peter Fonda, Warren Oates, Loretta Swit and Lara Parker. I met Loretta Swit at a convention last year, and while everyone was getting signed pictures of her as “Hot Lips” in MASH, I had her sign a picture from this movie.
Tourist Trap
A group of friends stop at a roadside attraction and are hunted by a mysterious killer with telekinetic powers.
Unlike many of the films on this list, I watched Tourist Trap for the first time a couple of years ago. You’ve got your lost/stranded college kids, Chuck Conners (rocking his denim overalls HARD) as the lonely dude who offers help, a scantily-clad Tanya Roberts, and—wait for it—mannequins. Lots and lots of creepy mannequins.
This is an eerie offering that has never quite gotten the recognition it deserves. If you haven’t seen Tourist Trap, it is well worth a look. The flick is atmospheric and downright bizarre. A very surreal experience, indeed.
Count Yorga, Vampire
I first caught this one on a late-night broadcast in the mid-seventies and it scared the hell out of me. Although this is definitely still required viewing for hardcore horror fans, I will say that a recent rewatch did not have the same effect as it once did.
It takes the vampire out of both Europe and “the olden days” and transports him to modern-day Southern California. Much of the mythology remains the same, and Yorga has his bevy of brides. Some decent twists and a very unexpected ending.
This one did have a sequel, The Return of Count Yorga, and a third movie in the series was rumored but never filmed. One interesting piece of trivia: according to IMDB, this was originally planned as a softcore porn movie with the title, The Loves of Count Iorga, Vampire. It was reshot as a straight horror movie and there are no known copies of the original pornographic scenes.
It’s Alive
A young couple’s second child is born a mutant and goes on a vicious killing spree.
Full disclosure, I saw this horror movie in the theater when it came out…which means I was eleven-years-old. Explains a lot, right?
A recent rewatch gives me new perspective. This movie has some of the most iconic ‘70s fashion and behavior you’ll ever see:
- plaid sports coats
- polyester pants
- silk shirts
- go-go boots
- psychedelic wallpaper
- men smoking cigarettes and playing poker in the hospital waiting room while the wives deliver babies
- kids not wearing seat belts
Ahhh, the ‘70s. Now, on to the movie. This one holds up pretty well, to my surprise. Assuming you can suspend disbelief that the killer is a newborn baby, it’s a very solid flick. There’s a discussion on Frankenstein vs. Frankenstein’s monster that plays well in the father’s struggle to acknowledge he “created” this monster. The character study of both parents is fascinating. The climax is smart, and the sequel set-up unforgettable. I hadn’t seen this one since that long-ago night in the Granada Theater in Malden, and I could have quoted the final line almost word-for-word.
Willard
Willard Stiles (Bruce Davidson) is bullied at work by his boss (Ernest Borgnine) and berated at home by his mother (Elsa Lanchester). Things change when he befriends and trains an army of rats. Sondra Locke also stars in this forgotten gem.
While the special effects aren’t great, there is something unsettling about that many rats. The acting is great, and the end is satisfying. This one even had a sequel, Ben, including the title song by Michael Jackson. Well worth a watch.
The Devil’s Rain
For me, this is a pure, guilty-pleasure. First, just look at the cast; it’s a who’s who of 70s television:
- Ernest Borgnine
- Eddie Albert
- William Shatner
- Ida Lupino
- Keenan Wynn
- Tom Skerritt
- Joan Prather
The plot is a little suspect, but there are some genuinely creepy moments. Full disclosure: people, okay, devil worshippers, in robes, carrying torches, and chanting scare the crap out of me. Probably because I watched a lot of these movies when I was too young. There’s a too-long scene at the end where some of the cult members are…melting…but I guess they had to show off those high-tech special effects. And how often do you get to see William Shatner rocking a straw cowboy hat and a Flava-Flav-like amulet?
Some interesting trivia about this one:
- It was John Travolta’s first film…and yes, you do get to watch his face melt!
- The founder of the Church of Satan, Anton LeVay, was a technical advisor for the film, and played a minor role.
It’s probably not for everybody but I enjoy the hell out of it.
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Willard (1971)
The Devil’s Rain (1975)
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