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Must Watch Horror Anthologies You've Probably Never Seen

Horror is good, but there's only so many times you can see Psycho before you get sick of it. Here are some must-watch horror anthologies you've probably never seen, but absolutely should.

By Skunk UzekiPublished 6 years ago 5 min read
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If there's one thing that the horror movie genre has become infamous for, it's massive horror movie anthologies. It's never just an original and a sequel, either. This genre is known for having as many as nine or more stories per anthology.

Anthologies can be campy or big budget endeavors, but regardless of which form they take, they can be massive. The funny thing about horror anthologies, though, is that many of the best ones out there tend to fly under the radar.

If you love horror anthologies, check out this list of must-watch horror anthologies you've probably never seen.

Of all the must-watch horror anthologies on this list, Tale of Tales might just be one of the most unique. This anthology takes a good look at what would happen if everyone's favorite fairy tales became a little bit more Grimm than what they show on Disney. (See what I did there?)

Tale of Tales is dark, surreal, and just a bit spooky in its own gruesome way. If you are looking for something that makes fairy tales turn into something pretty hideous, Tale of Tales will be the coolest anthology you've seen in a while.

Showtime originally was hoping to release the three stories in Body Bags as a series of specials, however, the executives changed at the very last moment and released it as a video-only endeavor. It seems, though, that not releasing them as a series may have been a mistake.

Body Bags has become a major cult favorite in the anthology world, primarily due to its awesome writing and acting. If you like serious plot twists and suspense, it's a great anthology to check out.

According to horror movie critics, Body Bags was one of the top must-watch horror anthologies of its time, despite being relatively obscure. Horror masters like John Carpenter and Toby Hooper helped make this anthology possible — so you know you're in for a bloody good time!

It's scary how many of the best, must-watch horror anthologies come out of Japan. This might be one of the best.

J-horror is terrifying on a number of levels, many of which have absolutely nothing even remotely comparable in mainstream American horror movies. That's why it's one of the best horror subgenres in the world.

J-Horror Anthology: Legends takes the cream of the crop from the Japanese horror industry and presents it to American audiences in all of its full glory. Cutting suspense, eerie monsters, and unusual plot lines that really stand out, make these way more terrifying than any of the horror movies on Netflix you may have seen.

Another one of the must-see horror anthologies that hails from Japan is Tales of Terror, a collection of over 60 different stories written by masters of horror in Japan. If you aren't sure whether this anthology is a good match for you, it's best to think of it like the Japanese version of Tales from the Dark Side.

The special effects aren't always the best, there's a bit of campiness, but the truth is that the anthology is chock-full of great scenes that will spook you — if you let it get to you.

Deadtime Stories is a hilariously campy B-movie kind of anthology that isn't quite terrifying, but does work well as a trip down memory lane. It's considered to be one of the most awesomely must-see horror anthologies out there for its classic 80s style.

The entire anthology of Deadtime Stories takes place with a creepy uncle who's telling his nephew terrifying horror stories right before bed — because, what else is a creepy uncle supposed to do?

The stories are exactly what you'd expect from a horror anthology from the 80s, and that's what makes this such a great anthology to watch. It's nostalgia and 80s cheese at its best.

Tales from the Hood is a cult classic horror anthology, and tops most lists of must-see horror anthologies you've probably never watched. The reason why it's not higher on this one is because it's borderline mainstream at this point — which means you might have seen it before.

As the name suggests, this spoof film shows what would happen if horror movies happened in the hood. It's well-acted, hilarious, and at times, actually legitimately scary. What's not to love?

Lately, it seems like horror is taking over again — and the diehard horror fan in me can't help but think that part of that phenomenon is due to the old school legends of horror. Vincent Price, for example, made horror what it is today.

That's why one of the must-see horror anthologies you need to check out is The Monster Club, starring Vincent Price himself. This anthology is the definition of old school horror and campiness, which is why it's such a great anthology to sink your teeth into.

Price charms, and so do all six monster stories in the film. But, then again, what else could you expect from a master of horror like Price?

Remember when I said that J-horror is often seen as one of the most terrifying subgenres of horror? Well, if the other J-horror anthologies haven't proven that point, then one of the must-see horror anthologies diehard horror fans need to check out is Three Extremes.

This is not a horror anthology for the faint of heart. This is an anthology featuring some of East Asia's most famous horror directors, and yes, writers were given free reign on this one.

Many of the stories are disturbing to the point of triggering — so don't say you weren't warned. Once again, Three Extremes is one of the few horror anthologies that lives up to its name.

While it's not an anthology in the truest sense of the word, the many different "snippets" used in this documentary series could give the scariest true crime documentaries a run for their money in the terror department. Thus, we're including it on our list of must-see horror anthologies.

When this anthology first came out in the late 70s, it was considered to be obscene and too disturbing for mainstream audiences. Times may have changed, but what makes this such a creepy anthology is that it's really hard to figure out what's real and what's not at times.

Some of the shots are legitimately real dead bodies, making this the closest thing to a real snuff anthology you could get on the market. Be forewarned, this is gory and will make you sick to your stomach if you aren't good with blood.

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About the Creator

Skunk Uzeki

Skunk Uzeki is an androgynous pothead and a hard partier. When they aren't drinking and causing trouble, they're writing articles about the fun times they have.

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