With the return to college right around the corner for many
students and the release of this fall's Happy Death Day getting an
increasing amount of buzz, the college-horror subgenre is one that can't be
ignored. While many of these movies have felt thinly scripted and acted, often
exasperated by one note girls in bikini's and jocks getting butchered, the fact
is that these movies are pure, cheap entertainment. They're some of the most
over-the-top films around, but are fun through and through. And, when one is
released that is actually scary, the results are bone-chilling. This week's
list looks at the best horror movies set on a college campus.
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| (imdb.com) |
The release of Friend Request has been tumultuous. And,
for all of the distributors’ troubles, the payoff probably won't be great.
Filled with problematic displays of mental illness, mediocre acting and some
odd plot choices, Friend Request isn't the most impressive movie. But
with a collection of really great tense moments and scares, Friend Request deserves
a spot on this list. For those who haven't even heard of this film, but have
more than likely seen "coming soon" trailers at different points over
its near-yearlong struggle to find a wide release, Friend Request follows
a college student who gets entangled with a disturbed student with some truly
dark spirits within.
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| (imdb.com) |
During the late-2000s and the beginning of the 2010s, a slew of
trashy, lowbrow horror movies came out. Capturing the attention of a young
audience, films like 2011's The Roommate glistened with teen spirit and
young adult flavor. Despite their flaws, these movies are insane romps. The
Roommate was such an unsettling endeavor that, while ridiculous in every
way, could be devoured easily. Whether shoving a cat in a dryer or getting
matching tattoos Leighton Meesters ' Rebecca was the type of character
viewers could love to hate.
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| (imdb.com) |
Despite its cheese and all of its late-1990s glory, Urban
Legend has plenty of cheap jump scares and despicably amusing characters to
make it worth watching. Not even its marred execution can overcome its
relatively strong concept and while it'll continue to age terribly, fans of
simple slasher will find plenty to love. Despite not being ancient, it
definitely feels like nostalgia; from its dated furnishings and awkward
haircuts, to iconic stars of the era like Tara Reid, Rebecca
Gayheart and Jared Leto starring in the film, Urban Legends is a
movie best viewed surrounded by friends who probably won't take it very
seriously, but will appreciate it as a great throwback.
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| (imdb.com) |
It's fair to point out that Cry_Wolf doesn’t
actually take place on a college campus or even feature college-age students.
However, with a preparatory school setting that's far more akin to a university than say, a community college of commuters, it practically qualifies. At some
point, Cry_Wolf became widely forgotten. Often left off of slasher lists
and mid-2000s horror iconography, Cry_Wolf is a thrilling and dark film
following a group of students who play a game similar to Mafia, except when one
night, their game takes a sharp turn toward real life.
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| (imdb.com) |
6. Girl House
In terms of lesser known horror films, you'd be hard-pressed to
not include 2014's Girl House. Seldom seen, but ultimately great, this
horror-thriller follows a woman in desperate need of money for college. She
joins a house that provides X-rated content for the internet in exchange for
money, but when a crazed fan attempts to find her, things get out of hand. A sleek
and surprisingly terrifying film, Girl House is obsession-stalker film
that'll scare you away from the internet. It's a dark and twisted movie that
slowly builds before completely destroying everything in its path. If you're in
college wondering what you'd do for free tuition, Girl House may make
you think twice about your options.
