EJ Moreno looks at a selection of good horror films from the 1990s and 2000s that critics hated…

As film critics, we don’t always “get it right” when we watch movies. There have been many times when I disliked a movie the first time I watched it and then grew to love it over time. It seems like no other genre gets this treatment and an overall weird critical reception than horror movies.

Throughout the history of the genre, far too many horror classics have not enjoyed critical acclaim. While many have earned cult classic status, that doesn’t detract from that pesky Rotten Tomatoes score. We’ve all ventured onto the site to watch one of our favorite movies and been shocked by its low score. That’s what this list is all about.

We’re going to look at seven horror movies with negative Rotten Tomatoes scores that are way too good for that reaction. While no one should care about scores on a review aggregator website, we have movies that deserve love…

Honorable Mentions:

• Saw (50%)
• Return of the Living Dead Part II (5%)
• Dead Silence (20%)

Nightbreed (51%)

Most of the films included would be labeled at least a cult classic, but none captures that title more than Nightbreed. Director and horror icon Clive Barker brings you into his nightmarish world and creates one of the most unique films of the 90s.

To quote another Barker classic, there are such sights to see here. From the monstrously good special effects to its gothic aesthetic, you quickly get lost in Aaron Boone’s adventure in Midian with the titular Nightbreed. The acting is a bit all over the place, as is the plot, which was a significant criticism at the time, but adds to the overall dream/nightmare quality.

Unfortunately, Clive Barker had mixed feelings about the film, some of which have been rectified by a recent director’s cut. That cut of the film also helped the reception of the cult classic, giving Nightbreed her long-deserved praise.

Event Horizon (33%)

Thinking of Paul WS Anderson The event horizonall i can think of is a Back to the future quote. This is pure “you’re not ready for this, but your kids will love it” because sci-fi horror has aged so well.

The brutality on display was in the wrong era, as the 90s tried to clean up the blood, but it works perfectly post-torture porn. The same goes for the bizarre narrative choices, which don’t bother so many people now; it’s basically the motto for A24. The recent critical reappraisal is refreshing, and you can see his imprint everywhere in modern space horror.

You can slot this movie into the current fall movie lineup and it would be good for Alex Garland and Brandon Cronenberg eaters. It would still achieve cult status, but we’d see audiences and critics finally “get it”.

Tales From The Hood (58%)

Throughout the history of film, some critics have struggled to connect with films “not made for them”. Specifically, black cinema has often been mistreated by critics, and this goes double for the oft-maligned but rare black horror film. Case in point: the 1995s Stories from the hood.

Before Jordan Peele made it seemingly okay for critics to venture into a gruesome world outside their own, Rusty Cundieff’s horror anthology gave us a perfect picture. Each segment in this anthology sheds light on a struggle, effortlessly blending satire and terror. The short “Boys Do Get Bruised” is significant, but they all work well.

Don’t even get us started on the Clarence Williams III segment; pure genius. The acting may be a bit too ’90s’ for modern audiences, but that doesn’t excuse the misfire this film received upon release.

Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (54%)

The only sequel to appear on this list and quite a few could have been placed but Halloween H20 it has its time to shine for a few reasons. Given Blumhouse’s recent requel trilogy and the power of hindsight, we were all too hard on this trending film.

Everything we’ve seen in modern Halloween movies was formulated in this installment. Whether it’s ignoring the sequels or the “Laurie is a provident mom” gimmick, it’s all in Halloween H20 but done much better. The main thing this movie does right is give Jamie Lee Curtis a lot more to do and make her showdown with Michael more exciting.

Sure, it smells like that post-Scream meta humor, but at least it gives the film charm. Unfortunately, fans of the franchise didn’t like it then, but time has helped Halloween H20 something. It has aged well, even if it smells like the 90s.

Final destination (36%)

For as many sequels as we have received from this film and its general place in pop culture, Final destination to be so low is shocking. Most likely because the film has 97 reviews, but reviews at the time were not kind to this, with some even calling it a “waste of a decent premise”.

That seems like an unfair analysis, especially considering how other entries go for porn-torture-style shocks instead of focusing on the characters. Final destination really gets it right, giving us a group to care about, led by the great Devon Sawa, and doesn’t let the kills overshadow the story. It’s not a Hitchcock plot, but it’s a tight thriller.

With a new installment looming, it’s the perfect time to revisit this 2000 classic. It’s not just a gentle spoof of Screamand blends a supernatural plot with such strong horror tropes; you can’t go wrong with this. For a solid double feature, its 2003 sequel is also underrated.

Hostel (59%)

If Final destination and opening the airport gives you a glimpse of the pre-9/11 world, Hostel it’s the harsh reality of what the tragic event did to everyone. The film is a dark look at America’s relationship with foreign countries that also lends itself to elegant commentary on exploitation.

You’d be surprised how clever Eli Roth’s second film could be once you look past the breasts and brutality. Unsurprisingly, not all critics were a big fan of the film; even hardcore horror fans were shocked at how far the film could go. Hostel it puts so much in front of you and asks you to accept it, which many of us have done.

It’s surprising to see this as the highest-rated film on the list, but it’s also a testament to the film’s lasting impression. If you watched it then or took a trip back to this world now, you’ll know just how much Hostel it balances the line between shock and art well.

Foreigners (48%)

You should have seen the shock at the discovery Foreigners was scored Rotten. Again, hindsight is powerful, but this film seems to have taken the horror community and mainstream audiences by storm when it dropped in 2008. But unfortunately, it wasn’t the critical darling you’d expect.

What seemed shocking was how low the score was, with almost 200 reviews, showing that most critics didn’t get it then. You’d think that a film that traded insane violence for atmosphere and tension would have won over those tired of things like Saw & Hostelbut it was not what people expected. That reception has changed over time.

Now, many of us see Foreigners as was the quiet and tense horror film, something that is all the rage now. It didn’t take everyone that long to get it as experts in the year after praising it for its scares and even labeling it a “modern slasher classic.”

SEE ALSO: Underrated 00s cult classics worth revisiting

What horror movie shocked you with its negative critical reception? Is there a horror movie I missed that needs a re-evaluation? Hit us up on social media @FlickeringMyth and share your thoughts…

EJ Moreno