Everybody needs to start somewhere right? Well, for these talented directors, they started off with a bang! Check out some of the staff’s recommendations for films featuring debut directors.
Last House on the Left
Wes Craven always serves up unnerving images and storylines, but “Last House on the Left,” his first film, takes the cake, and then feeds that cake, which happens to be poisoned, to a group of unsuspecting children. This flick is a must-watch for the horror fan who likes mean characters who flourish.
-Abbie Stutzer
Luz
When it comes to directorial debuts in horror, it would be easy to talk about some all-time greats, big names, and people who really left a mark on the genre. But I want to highlight an up-and-coming filmmaker, who only has one film under their belt; Tilman Singer. Tilman Singer is a German filmmaker who made Luz in 2018 (and got its world premiere in 2019). Technically the film was his thesis project for film school, but it was so good he took it to the festival circuit and it was picked up for distribution… and for good reason. Luz is amazing. A “retro” style film that’s an homage to 80’s European horror, you would never guess this was his debut. While some movies wanting to be “retro” or “throwback” feel gimmicky, this feels more 80’s than it does 2010’s. Everything from the performances, cinematography, writing, and no-nonsense pace screams “veteran” to me. It was one of my favorite movies of 2019, and I absolutely cannot wait to see what else Tilman Singer will bring to the horror table.
-Jacob Sever
The Wicker Man (1973)
For some, Ari Aster and his 2019 film Midsommar was an introduction to Pagan cults and sacrificial rights on celluloid. But nearly 50 years earlier, Robin Hardy set the film world ablaze with The Wicker Man. Making his directorial debut, Hardy’s twisty tale is regarded as one of the best films in the horror genre and also a top British film of all time. I won’t give too much away, but Christopher Lee plays Lord Summerisle and it is amazing. Cults, masks, virgins, fire…this film does not disappoint. If you loved Midsommar, you need to check out The Wicker Man!
-Danny West
Hellraiser
Clive Barker took the helm of adapting his novella The Hellbound Heart to film and made a stunning debut in the process. Hellraiser mixes visceral gore with themes of hedonism and human limit into a shocking and effective piece of art. Clive Barker’s work here established him as a bold new name in horror, and gave the world a new horror franchise to love.
–Alex Paterno
