The Void (2016)

The Void (2016)

[4] A motley group of townsfolk fall under siege at a nearly-abandoned hospital surrounded by mysterious, hooded cult figures brandishing knives. Before they can figure out who the cultists are or what they want, strange creatures start popping out of…
It: Chapter One (2017)

It: Chapter One (2017)

[7] If ever there was something ripe for a remake, I think Stephen King's It would be near the top of my list. The original 1990 TV mini-series is good, but it begins to fall apart in its second half,…
20 Million Miles to Earth (1957)

20 Million Miles to Earth (1957)

[6] An army rocket returning from Venus crash lands in the Mediterranean, releasing a Venusian creature that wreaks havoc in Italy. This matinee monster movie is better than most of its kind. The first thirty minutes are surprisingly strong, building…
The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953)

The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953)

[5] This monster romp was the first solo effort by effects wizard Ray Harryhausen. All the stop-motion animation has the usual Harryhausen charm, including a famous scene where the dinosaur rages down Wall Street and chomps on a policeman. Unfortunately,…
King Kong (1933)

King Kong (1933)

[8] King Kong, the grandfather of all monster movies, is an ambitious visual effects extravaganza servicing a fast-paced adventure story. The film's action set-pieces have inspired generations, whether its Kong's clashes with prehistoric creatures on spooky Skull Island or his…
The Relic (1997)

The Relic (1997)

[7] If you love creature features as much as I do, you'll enjoy Peter Hyams' The Relic. Penelope Ann Miller stars as an anthropologist who teams with a cop (Tom Sizemore) to stop a supernatural creature after it wreaks havoc…
Dog Soldiers (2002)

Dog Soldiers (2002)

[7] Soldiers fight werewolves in rural Scotland in Dog Soldiers. Neil Marshall's (The Descent, Doomsday) directorial debut is a worthwhile, claustrophobic werewolf movie featuring a sophisticated group of personalities and some of the best on-set werewolf effects I've ever seen.…
The Gate (1987)

The Gate (1987)

[6] Two boys accidentally uncover a portal to hell and then have to fend off the demons that emerge from it. Probably for budgetary reasons, The Gate takes place almost entirely in one house, but the menace really needed to…
Clash of the Titans (1981)

Clash of the Titans (1981)

[8] Special effects maestro Ray Harryhausen brings Greek myths to life in Clash of the Titans. The story centers on heroic Perseus, favored son of Zeus, who must accomplish several deadly chores in order to save his beloved Andromeda from…
Troll (1986)

Troll (1986)

[6] Troll is a dark fantasy confined to an apartment building where an evil Troll is sacrificing the tenants to open the doors to another dimension. The makeup effects are a bit hit and miss, with the main troll character…