Although the label “B-Movie” is sometimes derided, there is no denying that these films are frequently among the most entertaining. The B-movies have a high concept but a cheap budget, therefore they don’t score well in terms of filmmaking craft, but they make up for it with a compelling movie.
While we have appreciated some classics from the past, we have also enjoyed some good B-movies from the present. We’ve gathered some of the best modern B-movie treasures in this video, which encapsulate the creative brilliance of B-cinema while remaining faithful to the righteous spirit.
Feast (2005)
A newcomer comes into a secluded tavern where people are having a good time and tells the patrons to close the place down. He claims that lethal monsters are on the loose, and that they are all ready to strike. The people inside must think of a strategy to defend themselves in the face of this sudden danger. Can they survive the attack of the hungry monsters?
Project Greenlight, a reality show hosted by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, produced an intriguing consequence in the form of this enjoyable film. The plot is interesting and original, and you won’t feel like you’re seeing yet another monster movie.
he fact that the characters don’t have names but are referred to by their roles is an intriguing component of the film. So, you have a Hero, Honey Pie, and Bozo, but as you wouldn’t expect, they kill off the hero quickly enough! The budget allotted was only about a million bucks, but the makers cleverly saved money by making sure that most of the film takes place within the bar itself.
There is enough blood and gore to please the gorehounds, and overall, you are sure to have a wonderful time! The guest-performance of Jason Mewes, who plays himself in the film, is a cherry on the cake. Feast had two sequels to follow-up, but they could not match up to the brilliance of the original!
Bitch Slap (2009)
Three sizzling hot girls fly to a distant desert hideout to rob an underworld lord of a trove of diamonds worth $200 million. Their purpose, however, is jeopardised when things quickly spiral out of control. As more truths are revealed, allegiances change, and characters are unmasked. Nothing is constant in this nail-biting thrill ride as the femme Fatales fight it out in the middle of nowhere.
The ladies are the focus of this hilariously contrived plot, with frequent erotic fights involving them ripping each other’s clothes off! It’s a trashy exploitation film, complete with action, cleavage, and slow-motion women exiting cars. The picture is, however, tremendously entertaining, and the female stars’ efforts are not overlooked. There are some unexpected twists and turns, while the plot is kept pretty simple.
It is influenced by the schlock classics like Roger Corman and Russ Meyer back in the day and is handled by none other than Rick Jacobson, a man who has done some good work in the B-territory with works like episodes of Hercules, Xena: Warrior Princess, Baywatch, etc. This movie is too much fun to ignore and features some talented B-list legends like Zoe Bell, Kevin Sorbo, and Lucy Lawless in minor roles.
Hell Ride (2008)
Pistolero is the boss of a Southern California biker gang. The Deuce and Billy Wings, opposing gang leaders, assassinated his girlfriend in order to send a message to Pistolero. Now that the Deuce has moved on from his biker gang to large-scale business, Pistolero will have his chance for vengeance when he returns to settle some unfinished business.
He plans for a takeover, and with his trusted companions, launch a scathing attack on the Deuce and his gang. It becomes a hardcore battle between the two forces, and anyone can emerge victorious!
The critics have been harsh on this film, although it is more of a tribute to 1970s biker films. Larry Bishop writes, directs, and stars in this film, which has a mediocre script and direction. It appears to be tacky and over-the-top at moments, and Hell Ride at times attempts too hard to imitate classic films.
However, this is a film that will grow on you with time, and you can suffer through the light amusement on offer unless you are comparing it to Oscar-winning efforts. The cast of Vinnie Jones, Julia Jones, and David Carradine provide good support to the efforts of Larry Bishop. It is believed that Quentin Tarantino was supposed to play a role in the movie, but he eventually couldn’t.
However, he has some role to play in terms of the idea because he watched The Savage Seven with Larry Bishop and planned to make the best biker movie ever. That may not have materialized, but if you are looking for a gritty, rough, and around the edges exploitation flick, this is just the one for you!
Psycho Goreman (2020)
A little girl and her brother discover a stone that allows an old alien overlord to resurrect. Their magical necklace amuses them, and they utilise it to make the terrible thing fulfil their infantile whims and fantasies.
It is all fun and games until they accidentally attract hordes of intergalactic assassins to their small town. As the action gets ugly, it becomes a massacre the likes of which you have never seen!
To begin, we must state that this film is not for the faint of heart or those who are easily offended by strange, dark comedy. Another thing to keep in mind regarding the movie is that, while the tale and logic are geared toward children, it is not intended for them. It’s a clever script with a few laughs thrown in for good measure.
The acting is good, and the small kid is entertaining to see on the screen. It is equally engaging to watch the bloodthirsty alien in action. There is a lot of gore, but the intention is not to shock you out of your wits. You might find this strange, considering this is a B-movie, but the image of gore, in this case, is strategically induced for the laughs. The weird costumes added to the goofy nature of the movie, and we particularly marveled at the walking bucket of corpses!
Bounty Killer (2013)
Corporations took control the world governments in a futuristic planet, resulting in severe worldwide warfare that devastated society. In these gloomy times, a force known as the Council of Nine emerges, and it threatens all white-collar criminals with execution.
The bounty hunters from the organization compete against each other for the body count and keep adding to their fat stack of cash after eliminating their targets. These heroes are offering retribution for the survivors of the apocalypse and exterminating those responsible for such a condition!
The film is based on a Kickstarter Comics graphic novel and has furious comic book style sci-fi action that will keep you entertained. This is apocalyptic action in its finest form, with unmistakable influences from Mad Max. The bursting skulls and violent scenes are simply fantastic, and there is enough violence and action to keep the adrenaline rush continuing.
The cast consisting of Matthew Marsden and the gorgeous Christian Pitre are appropriate in their respective roles. The plot isn’t the strongest asset of this movie, but it manages to make up for such shortcomings with plenty of jaw-dropping action sequences.
The camera-work is nice, and some interesting angles make for an interesting view. Overall, this is one surprisingly successful post-apocalyptic action-comedy that you wouldn’t want to miss out on!
Wolves (2014)
Cayden Richards is a young adolescent who experiences nightmares that are shockingly violent. He starts out on his own without a plan when his parents are slain. However, he soon encounters a strange man named Wild Joe and discovers his true identity.
In order to find out more about his history, he sets off into the ominous town of Lupine Ridge. But is Cayden the one searching for his heritage, or is someone searching for him?
This is one of the more recent adaptations of the well-known werewolf mythos, and the filmmakers take their work very seriously. You’ll find it to be similar to an R-rated Teen Wolf episode. The appealing characters add to the entertainment, even though the plot is rather predictable.
When it comes to acting performances, the relationship between Meritt Patterson and Lucas Till is quite endearing. There are some exciting fight scenes that will keep you on edge. The only shortcomings are in the form of the effects that obviously cannot match up to big-budget flicks. However, the prosthetic werewolf makeup isn’t exactly disappointing and is enough to get the job done!
This film was the directorial debut for David Hayter, and he does a great job coupled with a powerful cast, including the likes of Jason Momoa and Lucas Till. You could find out several flaws with this movie, but it is still better than the likes of Twilight!
Hobo with a Shotgun (2011)
A scruffy, destitute vagabond arrives in a new city and is disgusted by the criminal justice system. He transforms into a vigilante and attempts to overthrow the crime leader. The Hobo knows only one way to justice, which is to take his 20-gauge shotgun and shatter the crooked cops and pedophiles in the city along with all other scumbags. In order to make things better for the future, street justice is the need of the hour in this chaotic city!
The concept is intriguing, with a man from the streets rising up to confront the criminals! There’s a lot of gratuitous violence in this movie, which makes it look like a parody of the movies it’s supposed to be a tribute to.
You might think this is simply another shoot-em-up exploitation film as skulls burst and guts fly all over the place. However, the movie is more than what the title suggests! Backed by an amazing performance by Rutger Hauer, who is eerily convincing in the titular role, the film has more to the plot than random action sequences.
The oddball tone of the movie and the random bursts of violence leave this unpredictable air around the film. Even with the low budget, this movie is vibrant, colorful, and has enough creativity to surprise the skeptics who start judging before watching a movie!
Kung Fury (2015)
The Miami Police Detective King Fury has achieved remarkable martial arts talents as a result of a series of incidents involving chance and divine intervention. Adolf Hitler assassinates one of his pals, despite being the undisputed monarch of Kung Fu and a master criminal of all time.
Kung Fury goes back in time to take on the Kung Fuhrer, a.k.a. Hitler and his fearsome Nazi forces! What will happen when the mighty forces are challenged by the fearless Kung Fury?
David Sandberg, the film’s director and lead actor, may be new to the industry, but he understands how to make a great first impression. The innovative concept of a cop from the future battling Hitler is sure to make you laugh.
This film never takes itself too seriously and is continuously trying to come up with new and entertaining gags. It’s a salute to vintage action movies from the VHS era as well as a nod to retro games and electronics. The fast-paced movie never allows a dull moment to creep in, and the soundtrack is just perfectly suited for the theme.
There is no dearth of entertaining content as you have laser shooting dinosaurs, kung fu, Vikings with guns, and pretty much anything bizarre that you can imagine! Power-packed action sequences and over-the-top gore effects make things all the more exciting. This movie is available on Youtube for free, just in case, you might want to check it out!
The Bad Batch (2016)
Arlen is abandoned in the middle of nowhere in a Texas wilderness cut off from the rest of the world. She is kidnapped by a band of cannibals headed by a mysterious man as she tries to navigate the difficult terrain.
In a desperate attempt to survive, she makes her way to The Dream, and learns some important aspects of life. She discovers that being good or bad is fairly relative and depends largely on the person standing next to you! Can her new-found knowledge help her to escape unhurt from the situation?
You would expect nothing less than a huge hit from a cast that includes Jim Carey and Keanu Reeves. While The Bad Batch falls short in this sense, it remains an entertaining dystopian film. The plot is exciting, and there are some intriguing characters thrown in for good measure.
With a female protagonist in trouble, cannibals making life tough, and some surreal moments, this film was set to be a rollicking hit. The only hindrance came from the unnecessarily slow pacing of the movie that makes things a tad boring. There are times when the film tries a bit too hard to be thought-provoking, but other than that it is an entertaining watch.
Death Race (2008)
A legendary prison warden forces a convict to participate in a death race in a post-industrial society. There’s a lot on the line in this race, as the winner must brutalise and kill his opponents.
The convict, Jensen Ames, is promised freedom if he can come out a winner. However, as he begins the race he realizes that it might be a setup! Can he still emerge victorious and earn his freedom?
If you just want to enjoy this film, don’t worry about the harsh critics’ opinions. The plot is a little thin, but the film promises plenty of heart-stopping action, as its title suggests. You quickly root for the criminal who was wrongly framed for his wife’s murder. Even in the middle of exciting, adrenaline-pumping action the director spares time for character development of the individuals.
The film is set in an “Escape From New York” style dystopic prison-culture, and there is nothing much original about the content. The execution will, however, leave you pleasantly surprised and this film can lighten up your boring evening.
Eight Legged Freaks (2002)
A truck driver inadvertently dumps a barrel of dangerous trash into a reservoir due to a rare accident. An exotic spider farmer collects crickets from the site to feed his spiders, which grow in size and hunger after absorbing the poisons. As the spiders grow to monstrous proportions, the inhabitants of the town are threatened.
All that can stop the disgusting eight-legged freaks from destroying the town is a group of people, including the sheriff, Chris, and a few others who battle against these bloodthirsty beats.
This film is an homage to classic monster movies from the past! The special effects, on the other hand, are unquestionably better, even if they don’t look to be as enticing as those seen in movies released in 2020.
The concept is based totally on 1950s creature films, and there are plenty of ridiculous jokes and other campy moments to keep the spirits alive. Killer spiders are well-built, and their behaviour is frequently perplexing. In the same scene, you will see them behave like a mutant monster and a cartoonish creature!
There are some crazy scenes, such as the battle between the spider-hordes and the townsmen at the mall. The acting is pretty impressive, with a young Scarlett Johansson lighting up the screen and a powerful performance from David Arquette. You could classify this as a movie from the exploitation genre, but there is no denying the rollicking good time that is on offer!
BIG ASS SPIDER! (2013)
A massive, deadly spider escapes from a military research facility and causes havoc in Los Angeles. All attempts to eliminate the spider, including a mighty military strike, fail, and now the only hope lies with a few scientists and a smart exterminator. Unless they manage to kill the creature, the entire city is set to be destroyed!
We’ve all appreciated films that explored the concept of a massive monster wreaking havoc on cities. While Big Ass Spider is undoubtedly a humorous film in and of itself, it is a step above the typical straight-to-video fare that preceded it.
This film not only has a unique concept, but it also features strong performances from Lombardo Boyar, Ray Wise, and Greg Grunberg. The special effects in use might not be up to the standards of the Hollywood blockbusters, but they are still better than you would expect from a low-budget outing.
The spider is shown to be like a deadly predator, and its scary growl could make your blood run cold! The movie also takes a dig at the clichés that you would find in every creature flick. Most faults in the movie are compensated by the hilarious exterminator duo and their witty dialogues. You might anticipate this to be fairly ordinary, but we can assure you that it is much better than you would expect!