Horror by Year: Reviewing 1996’s Horror Movies

1996 was a pretty crazy year! There was a lot of hoopla about space exploration (talks of going to the moon again, sending bots to Mars, and capturing the first surface photos of Pluto), the first sheep (Dolly) was successfully cloned, there were plenty of health concerns (Mad Cow Disease and E.coli were especially prominent), we had several earthquakes and other natural disasters, there were also many unnatural disasters, tons of political news (like Osama bin Laden declaring war on the USA), elections (Bill Clinton was elected for a second term here; Boris Yeltsin won in Russia), Tupac’s murder, the premiere of Cats on Broadway…

There were also some pretty cool things like the first flip phone sold to the public (the Motorola StarTAC), the release of the Nintendo 64, the first Resident Evil game changed horror video games forever, the original Tamagotchi became everyone’s favorite pet, the 26th summer Olympic Games were held in Georgia (the modern Olympics began in 1896 so this was also the 100th anniversary of the tradition!), the first Game of Thrones book was released, The Spice Girls formed, Internet Explorer debuted (it’s mocked now, but we appreciated it at the time!), we experienced the introduction of DVDs, gorilla Binti Jua rescued a three-year-old who fell into her enclosure (unlike Harambe’s fate only 20 years later, I’m happy to report that Binti Jua is STILL alive and well today!), and absolutely EVERYONE was dancing the Macarena.

And, of course, we horror fans had a lot to celebrate! We didn’t have a ton of horror movies released in 1996, but we got some all-time FAVES introduced to us that year. There were also some historic misfires. It was a year of strong/polarized opinions, and the 1996 horror movies I’m covering fit the pattern.

As always, I watched or rewatched the horror films I’m covering. Though, to mix it up a little bit, I’m going to share them in alphabetical order. I usually write my Year in Horror roundups in the order I viewed them, but I thought I’d try something new. Let me know which style you prefer in the comments!

So, put on your slip dress or oversized jeans, grab your cutest platforms or oddly comfortable combat boots, slap on a choker or a temporary tattoo, and let’s gab about the theatrically-released horror movies from 1996…

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Bad Moon

Is Bad Moon the BEST werewolf movie ever made? Nah. Does it have one of my all-time favorite werewolf designs? Absolutely.

Bad Moon is the film adaptation of the novel Thor by Wayne Smith and the protagonist is a German shepherd. Thor (the dog), his owner, her young son, and werewolf Uncle Ted are the only characters. There are a couple of “fodder” characters who wander into scenes solely to be (quickly!) killed off, but we all know they don’t count.

I love Bad Moon. My husband loved the last 15 minutes of it (where Uncle Ted the werewolf is fully transformed and in rampage mode) but thought everything leading up to the climax was ridiculous. And he’s not wrong! The difference is, I see the ridiculousness as a Feature rather than a Flaw. It makes me smile!

Bad Moon is a werewolf story with three human characters told through the eyes of a dog (a very normal, non-speaking, everyday dog), and it’s incredibly obvious to Thor AND the audience that Uncle Ted is a werewolf but no one else can figure it out. It’s a cartoon plotline played completely straight! If it had an overly long runtime, I’d be far less charmed; but at 80 minutes, I can’t help but grin. You’re telling me I’m supposed to take a scene of an adult man urinating on a dog house to assert his dominance seriously? Not gonna happen. Does the fact that the malicious intent of the scene is acted with complete seriousness make it even more unintentionally hilarious? I guess that depends on your personal sense of whimsy, but I sure think it does!

I can understand why audiences of the time (and my husband) didn’t take to Bad Moon. It truly doesn’t live up to expectations. It’s meant to be a suspenseful, scary werewolf film, but Bad Moon makes me giggle more than many horror comedies. It has a few moments of heavy gore (mostly severed limbs with some bloody chunks not dissimilar to what you’d see on display in the “gross out” section of a Halloween store), a few shaky CGI moments, and that awesome werewolf suit. If you can gather some of your sillier pals together with some salty/greasy snacks, Bad Moon could be a VERY fun movie watch. Lovingly roast it together MST3K-style! They didn’t know it in 1996, but that’s what Bad Moon was MADE for!! It’s one of my favorite FUN bad movies.

Where to watch Bad Moon:

Bad Moon | Rated R | Runtime 1h 20m | Released November 1, 1996

The Craft

If you’re a Fairuza Balk, Neve Campbell, or Skeet Ulrich fan, then 1996 was a great year for you! The Craft is Fairuza’s winner for the year and Neve and Skeet have their moment to shine further down my alphabetical list.

The Craft is one of Christi Bandy‘s faves. I didn’t see it until I was in my 20s, but I was well-aware of it growing up. It’s about the formation of a teenage coven of witches.

Sarah (Robin Tunney) is the new girl at her school and she’s quickly adopted by the resident “Weirdos,” Nancy (Fairuza Balk), Rochelle (Rachel True), and Bonnie (Neve Campbell). Together, they represent the Four Corners/Elements and fully unlock their potential as witches.

The Craft is essentially a “be careful what you wish for” horror tale. For better or worse, each of the girls learn the “with great power comes great responsibility” lesson.

It almost plays like a horror anthology film, because each girl is so distinct in both personality, backstory, powers, and consequences. The four leads carry the film, and The Craft is an interesting look at how witchcraft can go wrong when used selfishly.

Mostly, The Craft helped propel “light as a feather, stiff as a board” into the public consciousness as an awesome game to play at sleepovers. I’m grateful for that! But, speaking from experience, be sure to put some pillows on the ground to catch you when your friends freak out about their “powers” and send your “stiff as a board” body crashing onto the floor. (Maybe that’s why I have back pain now?!).

Where to watch The Craft:

The Craft | Rated R | Runtime 1h 41m | Released May 3, 1996

Fear

The trailer for Fear was included on my VHS tape of The Frighteners, and the Marky Mark chest thumping scene has since been parodied, but I was otherwise unfamiliar with Fear. I watched it for the first time this year to cover it in this article!

It was marketed by the producer as “Fatal Attraction for teens” and I guess that’s a decent enough comparison. Fear is 90% uncomfortably realistic family drama with poor Reese Witherspoon getting mixed up with no good stalker boyfriend Mark Wahlberg and then 10% absolutely insane home invasion horror (very similar to the first Purge film) toward the end. There’s also a lot of sex scenes in this one (I was blushing more during Fear than Bordello of Blood!).

Pro Tip for parents: If you’re a jerk to your teenage daughter when she isn’t causing trouble, she’s going to keep it quiet when she actually is in trouble. Pro Tip for teen girls: Don’t ignore the Red Flags, he isn’t “just misunderstood,” and your love won’t change him. Pro Tip for those wishing to watch Fear: Don’t get attached to the family’s dog.

Where to watch Fear:

Fear | Rated R | Runtime 1h 37m | Released April 12, 1996

The Frighteners

Other 1996 horror movies got more attention at the time (and now, with one particular debut turning into a mega franchise!) but, to me, The Frighteners is THE best horror film on this list. It’s one of my all-time favorite movies, in any genre, and has been for 30 years. I’d watched the theatrical cut so many times that when I finally got my special edition “Director’s Cut” DVD in 2005 (with 14 additional minutes of film), I could tell you exactly which scene snippets had been added. I’ve watched The Frighteners so many times, I can now close my eyes and hit “play” with my mind and watch it. I absolutely LOVE The Frighteners!

I don’t want to get into spoiler territory but, basically, Michael J. Fox can see ghosts and has ghost friends. He earns his living by having his ghost buddies cause trouble in people’s homes and then gets himself hired as a ghost “exterminator” to clear his pals out of the clients’ homes. He’s a con man!

But, when the non-friendly ghost of a SERIAL KILLER (Jake Busey) shows up and starts causing major problems, Michael J. Fox and his ghost pals are the only ones who can stop him from continuing his murder spree! It’s awesome. It has wonderful characters, it’s suspenseful, and it’s just a touch silly.

The Frighteners is directed by Peter Jackson (Dead Alive). The stellar cast also includes Trini Alvarado, Dee Wallace (The Howling), Chi McBride (Pushing Daisies), John Astin (The Addams Family 1964), Jim Fyfe (Dark Shadows 1991), Troy Evans (Near Dark), and an absolutely STANDOUT performance from Jeffrey Combs (Re-Animator).

If I magically obtained the power to insist that you HAD to watch one of the 1996 horror movies on my list, The Frighteners would be The One. Check it out!!

Where to watch The Frighteners:

The Frighteners | Rated R | Runtime 1h 50m | Released July 19, 1996

From Dusk Till Dawn

Adam Page and I discussed how From Dusk Till Dawn is a lot of fun if you go into it absolutely COLD with no idea what you’re in for. So, I’m going to keep this extremely short…

Directed by Robert Rodriguez, From Dusk Till Dawn is a Quentin Tarantino-written film, so expect it to be EXTREMELY rowdy in terms of violence and language and at least one character you’ll find impossible to like. Keep your finger on the volume button so you don’t scandalize your neighbors, steel yourself for some horrendous sex moments (Tarantino’s character is a serial rapist and, yes, there’s a prominent foot fetish scene), and then have FUN once you get to the 40-minute mark and the REAL horror film starts 😉

Where to watch From Dusk Till Dawn:

From Dusk Till Dawn | Rated R | Runtime 1h 48m | Released January 19, 1996

Hellraiser IV: Bloodline

Hellraiser: Bloodline was the fourth and, as of now, last Hellraiser film to be released to theaters. Growing up, I would hear Hellraiser: Bloodline referred to as “Hellraiser in space” or “Pinhead goes to space.” Even the original trailer heavily focused on the space scenes. So, I figured the fourth Hellraiser film was going to be akin to the fourth Leprechaun film! Imagine my surprise when the “space” scenes (taking place in 2126 – exactly 100 years from now!) were barely one-third of the film.

I have intensely mixed feelings about Hellraiser: Bloodline! As it stands, as a movie, I can’t in good conscious say that it’s great… But it has so much POTENTIAL! I found myself oddly entranced by it. It’s an absolute mess, but there’s just enough cool that comes through that it set my mind ablaze with what it COULD be if someone had the time, money, and will to see it through.

Hellraiser: Bloodline doesn’t feel like a real movie. It feels like a YouTuber sat down and made an 85-minute video of their favorite scenes from a Hellraiser TV show. “Starting with Season One, I love the episode where we get to go back to 1796 and see the Lament Configuration puzzle cube being built. At Number Two, the scene where Angelique gets her revenge. At Number Three…” It felt like I was watching a disjointed clip show/recap episode of what could’ve been a really awesome TV show or mini-series!

The space scenes are essentially the wrap-around story. Hellraiser: Bloodline is a prequel AND a sequel. It takes place in 1796, 1996, and 2126 and follows Phillip LeMarchand (the “toymaker” who invents the franchise’s sinister puzzle box), John Merchant (his “present day” 1996 ancestor), and Dr. Paul Merchant (Philip’s ancestor in the future who’s determined to end all of the cenobite/demon shenanigans once and for all). I think that’s a super cool idea! If they’d filmed it as a three-part mini-series, similar to Netflix’s Fear Street trilogy, with each episode taking place in a separate decade, I think it would have been absolutely amazing! Unfortunately, in its current format, there’s both too much and too little. There’s scene after scene after scene of STUFF happening (sex, kills, gore, etc.) and yet NOTHING happening at the same time.

Characters who seem intriguing appear and disappear so quickly you don’t have time to actually care about them! And that’s such a shame. The thing I love most about Clive Barker is how deeply he makes you care about his characters before he either shreds them to pieces or makes them gloriously triumph. But Hellraiser: Bloodline just didn’t have that kind of time. It’s SO much SO fast!

I guess the fact that I wanted it to be longer means they did some things right! Haha. I’m usually griping about the opposite with films overstaying their welcome. For better or worse, Hellraiser: Bloodline held my attention. It was also a surprise to see a very young Adam Scott (Krampus, Hokum) doing the horizontal Devil’s Tango with a demon in 1796. And I thought the ending was EPIC, even if it lacked the impact it could’ve had if there had been more build-up to it.

Hellraiser: Bloodline was directed by “Alan Smithee” (the fake name filmmakers used when they want to disown a film), and was riddled with issues during its production. By the time it hit theaters, even those who made and starred in the film had given up on it. From what I’ve heard, everyone was genuinely excited by what they originally set out to make and then things went horribly awry once the “suits” got involved. Dad said that he heard stories from his FX colleagues of the era and read stories in Fangoria about what an absolute mess Hellraiser: Bloodline was behind-the-scenes and that essence of defeat/frustration and corporate meddling with creativity shows in the finished film. But there’s also something underneath that comes through as well, and that’s the part that kept me watching.

Where to watch Hellraiser IV: Bloodline:

Hellraiser Bloodline | Rated R | Runtime 1h 25m | Released March 8, 1996

Independence Day

Independence Day might be THE most patriotic film ever made. The President’s rallying speech near the end is only one minute and 22 seconds long but it’ll bubble up the urge to do the “USA! USA! USA!” chant in ya, no matter what the current state of the Nation is. I’ve seen Independence Day many times (starting with when we had our butts in the theater opening day!), in good times and bad, and I still get sucked into its fictionalized Feel Good vibes.

I also still get sweaty palms! Yes, Independence Day has aliens in it; however, it’s predominantly a disaster film. And the Disaster subgenre of horror is the one that REALLY freaks me out. The aliens themselves cause me little worry, but the sheer amount of DAMAGE they do spikes my anxiety to the point I have tears in my eyes. But, because the disaster is being caused by a killable force (unlike earthquakes, wild fires, and other natural threats), it’s awesome and deeply cathartic to see the heroes band together and wipe ’em out.

If you haven’t seen it, Independence Day is about hostile aliens showing up on Earth and blowing stuff up in spectacular fashion (it won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects!). Then, the President (Bill Pullman), a Marine Captain (Will Smith), a tech genius (Jeff Goldblum), an alcoholic Vietnam war veteran (Randy Quaid), and their families/friends/co-workers along with ALL of America – and all of the WORLD – come together to put a stop to the destruction.

It’s really sweet to see humans put aside their differences and come together to save themselves from annihilation. I really like it! Your modern brain with greater knowledge of technology may question some of the plot points, but I encourage you to just squash that logic down for the duration of the film and let Independence Day’s optimistic spirit wash over you. You deserve a break! After your 145 minutes of escapism comes to an end, you’ll still have 1,295 minutes left of your day to engage in negativity if you choose to. For now, have some fun! 

Where to watch Independence Day:

Independence Day | Rated PG-13 | Runtime 2h 25m | Released July 3, 1996

The Island of Dr. Moreau

This was another first-time watch for me. I remember all the drama it caused back in the day, with its nightmarish production and the absolutely scathing reviews (including six Razzie nominations) after its release. I even watched the 2014 documentary Lost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley’s Island of Dr. Moreau before seeing the actual film! Somehow, I still thought, “Pssh. It can’t be that bad!”

It’s that bad. Mostly because of its pacing. It’s only an hour and 36 minutes long, but it feels like it has a runtime of at least four hours. Everyone…talks…like…this… and stretches the most minimal of dialogue to the absolute maximum of time consumption. Barely anything happens and the nothing takes for friggin’ ever.

It’s an interesting bit of horror film history though! It has so many stars – Marlon Brando, Val Kilmer, David Thewlis, Fairuza Balk, Ron Perlman – all gathered together for their worst roles. And they’re all mesmerizing in their portrayals! I was gritting my teeth from how painfully dull The Island of Dr. Moreau was and yet I couldn’t look away!! It’s hypnotic.

Also, the makeup effects are AMAZING! Are you kidding me?! I was dazzled by the chimp FX in Primate (2026) and The Island of Dr. Moreau achieved that level of WOW (and sometimes more) 30 years earlier. Stan Winston and his team absolutely knocked it out of the park. I’m not saying The Nutty Professor crew didn’t deserve their Oscar win, but the fact that The Island of Dr. Moreau wasn’t even NOMINATED for a 1996 Best Makeup Academy Award is downright criminal. For shame!

Anyway, The Island of Dr. Moreau isn’t a great horror movie, but I don’t regret finally watching it. I’ll likely never watch it again, but it was nice to finally earn that “cred” of having viewed this historically infamous mess. If you’ve always been curious, take the plunge and watch it to earn your “I Survived The Island of Dr. Moreau” horror badge. Share it and tag me with @LoveHorrorFam (Instagram, X, Bluesky, Threads, Facebook) if you do!

Where to watch The Island of Dr. Moreau:

The Island of Doctor Moreau | Rated PG-13 | Runtime 1h 36m | Released August 23, 1996

Mars Attacks!

Plot-wise, Tim Burton’s Mars Attacks shares a lot of DNA with Independence Day but it’s much more cynical. It was written long before Independence Day, so the similarities are likely coincidental, but if you decide to binge-watch all of the 1996 horror movies on my list you will notice the parallels.

Mars Attacks is a black comedy that relies heavily on political digs for its jokes. That kind of humor wears thin for me pretty quickly, but I appreciate when a film plays “fair” and pokes fun at all sides (I discussed that in my newsletter-exclusive review of 2024’s Ick). Mars Attacks does, indeed, rip into all sides literally and figuratively.

The rules are simple: Anyone with any power – whether it be from politics, wealth, or media-given – is a complete idiot. Everyone else (the working class and children) are naively ignorant with notable flaws but mostly redeemable. I’m not sure if it’s the film itself, my being the same age that Danny Glover was “too old for this sh*t,” or the fact that I spend too much time online immersed in social media madness, but the humor in Mars Attacks left me feeling tired. By the time the Feel Good ending played, I was too worn out from the darkness to enjoy it!

Even with Mars Attacks being a parody of 1950’s B-movies and having an intentionally silly look, the CGI special effects didn’t age well, especially when viewed on a modern HD television. But, while on the topic of age, it was really fun to see SO MANY stars of the era looking so incredibly young! Mars Attacks is absolutely STACKED cast-wise. Jack Nicholson plays the President AND a Vegas casino owner (dual roles, both ridiculous), Glenn Close is his First Lady, and Natalie Portman is the First Daughter. Then there’s Martin Short as the Press Secretary, Rod Steiger and Paul Winfield as military Generals, Michael J. Fox and Sarah Jessica Parker as news reporters, Pierce Brosnan as a Professor. Plus Pam Grier, Lukas Haas, Jack Black (as a fresh-faced 25-year-old and not playing himself!), Danny DeVito, Sylvia Sidney, Joe Don Baker, Tom Jones, and SO MANY more actors, models, and musicians. It was downright dizzying trying to keep up with how many recognizable genre stars were packed into Mars Attacks!  

Where to watch Mars Attacks:

Mars Attacks! | Rated PG-13 | Runtime 1h 46m | Released December 13, 1996

Scream

Scream was my first slasher movie! I was twelve. I was familiar with the subgenre through discussions with my dad, literature of the time (curious flips through Fangoria magazines left within reach), the lore of the Big Name characters (like Jason Voorhees), and the general themes/tropes that were prevalent… But I never actually watched a slasher film until Scream.

I stand by Scream as a great introduction to slashers! If your older (11-12yo) tween is a hardcore horror-lover like I was, they’ll probably be able to handle it. It has a fair bit of swearing/language, there’s a short sex scene but only bare shoulders are shown, and the most graphic of the violence happens within the first 10 minutes. If you can handle the tension, scares, and gore of the intro… you’re golden! You can easily handle watching Scream.

Even with my better-than-average horror knowledge for a kid, I didn’t understand all of the satire and references throughout Scream on my first viewing, but that only made rewatches as an adult (with even more of a horror background) more enjoyable. Scream was a perfect introduction to slashers because it has lovable characters that are easy to root for, consistent humor that diffuses the tension of even the scariest moments, and an engaging mystery at its heart.

Scream stars The Craft’s Neve Campbell and Skeet Ulrich along with Matthew Lillard (Scooby-Doo), David Arquette (Eight-Legged Freaks), Rose McGowan (Phantoms), Jamie Kennedy (Tremors 5), Drew Barrymore (Cat’s Eye), and Courtney Cox. It was directed by Wes Craven (Nightmare on Elm Street) and written by Kevin Williamson (I Know What You Did Last Summer). It also introduced the horror world to Ghostface and spawned a successful franchise that’s still pumping out sequels to this day!

This is my second favorite of the horror movies that came out in 1996, and it’s by far the most enduring 1996 horror film in terms of pop culture relevance. Everyone should watch Scream at least once.

Where to watch Scream:

Scream | Rated R | Runtime 1h 51m | Released December 20, 1996

Tales from the Crypt: Bordello of Blood

Tales from the Crypt: Bordello of Blood was another first-time watch for me. I’d seen the trailer for it quite a few times (it was also included on my VHS tape of The Frighteners), but beyond those 90-ish seconds I knew nothing. My tweenage self’s impression was that Bordello of Blood was supposed to be a naughty horror-comedy for “older” teens… And, I guess I was kind of right?

The film stars Dennis Miller (I had zero clue who he was but I’ve since been told that he’s a former comedian and sports-political guy and for whatever reason I’ve never caught his old standup acts and sports/politics aren’t in my Special Interests sphere), and he seems like he’s having a great time. He stands out in a very strange way, and I’ll get to that in a moment. The cast also includes Chris Sarandon (Fright Night), Corey Feldman (The Lost Boys), Erika Eleniak (Dracula 3000), Aubrey Morris (A Clockwork Orange), Phil Fondacaro (Nature of the Beast), and Angie Everhart.

The plot of Bordello of Blood is very simple: A woman’s younger brother (Corey Feldman) goes missing after he visits a brothel run by vampires and she hires a detective (Dennis Miller) to track him down. Antics and effects ensue!

There are a LOT of bare lady boobs in this one, but I feel like that’s to be expected. As someone with boobs, I’m generally pretty neutral to seeing them on screen (some films have nudity for no reason other than to have nudity and I find that immersion-breaking in terms of storytelling), and considering the bulk of Bordello of Blood takes place in a brothel the bare-chested ladies made sense and blended into the overall set dressing. Compared to many of today’s films (like the hordes of FULLY nude zombies of all sexes in 28 Years Later), Bordello of Blood‘s gals-only toplessness was delightfully restrained! There aren’t even any on-screen sex scenes in the film and acts are only illuded to or talked about (incredibly surprising for a film set in a brothel!). I still wouldn’t choose it as a family-friendly Movie Night pick, but from the title and whatnot I thought it was going to be a LOT racier and was pleasantly surprised. I spent 30 years avoiding Bordello of Blood because I assumed it was going to be too “hardcore” in terms of sexual content for me to handle and it was relatively tame!

This is going to sound a little weird, but Bordello of Blood didn’t really feel like a movie to me. It felt like watching someone’s playthrough of a mid-1990’s point-and-click adventure game. Specifically, it felt like the FMV horror adventure games made for older teens, like Harvester or Phantasmagoria with a bit of LucasArts-style puns dabbled in here and there. Dennis Miller didn’t fit in with the rest of the cast – he was the only one cracking jokes (and his one-liners were very reminiscent of the comments an adventure game protagonist makes when using Look at Object/Inspect Item), his look stood out (everyone else had distinct color/wardrobe choices that blended in but his was different), he had wacky weapons, he seemed self-aware of the environment… For better or worse, there was zero doubt that he was the Main Character/Protagonist of the story!

Even the timing, story beats, and camera work of Bordello of Blood had old FMV Sierra horror game vibes. It was weird! I started to have that feeling about 20 minutes in and it got stronger the more it went on, becoming especially noticeable to me towards the finale. There were scenes that played exactly like timed events (your love interest is in trouble and you have 10 seconds to Move, Pull Lever, Push Button, and Use Laser or you’ll get the Bad Ending!!) and once I noticed the adventure game quirks in Bordello of Blood I couldn’t unsee them – to the point that when the credits rolled I caught myself wondering what the other Endings of the game were. I know that sounds ridiculous, but if you’re a fellow pattern-noticing weirdo who’s a fan of old school point-and-click adventure games and have watched Bordello of Blood, PLEASE let me know in the comments if you felt the same way!

Anyway, Bordello of Blood didn’t make me laugh beyond the occasional nose huff (“quit while you’re aHEAD” got me), but the practical effects were fun. They’re very obviously effects, but they’re charming in their obviousness and it made the kill scenes enjoyable. Other than the intro and outro with the Crypt Keeper, Bordello of Blood doesn’t really feel like it belongs in the Tales from the Crypt universe (the ending sort of tries for an EC Comics-style “twist” but it whiffs). It’s not great, it’s not terrible, it’s just kind of there. My observations of its resemblance to old Sierra FMV horror games entertained me more while watching than the film itself and I’ll likely forget I watched at all by its 40th anniversary. However, if you’ve always been curious about Tales from the Crypt: Bordello of Blood but avoided it because you were afraid it would be TOO racy… I think you’ll be okay!  

Where to watch Bordello of Blood:

Bordello of Blood | Rated R | Runtime 1h 27m | Released August 16, 1996

Thinner

Would it be a Year in Horror without at least one Stephen King film adaptation? Of course not!

Whew. Boy. I’m just gonna say it: Thinner wasn’t for me. It felt like a 20-minute premise that was stretched impossibly THIN by the 92-minute mark. I found it extremely irritating.

Thinner is one of those films where every character is unlikable and/or unbearably stupid. And where every perceived problem could be resolved within seconds if they just talked to each other instead of making idiotic decisions based on assumptions.

The original novel was published in 1984 and I imagine Stephen King came up with the plotline much earlier. Compared to the other 1996 horror movies on my list, I’d argue that Thinner feels the MOST dated. And not “dated” like it looks/feels like 1996 – dated like it was made decades earlier.

So, basically, a seedy overweight lawyer named Billy who’s known for defending hardcore criminals and Mafia members, gets “distracted” by this wife while he’s driving and he accidentally runs over a lady named Suzanne and kills her. Because of his connections, Billy dodges any legal repercussions for the manslaughter. Suzanne’s father, rightfully upset, curses Billy to become “thinner.” The curse of rapid weight loss becomes The Problem that Billy needs to get rid of for the next hour.

In terms of nice things to say about Thinner, I’ll point to the impressive fat suit worn by Robert John Burke as the lead. Since so much of Thinner’s story relies on everyone harping on how “huge” Billy is, I wish they’d made the fat suit even BIGGER for the opening scenes, but I still thought it was really well done and held up as an effect decades later. It’s a good piece of prosthetics work! The photos I’ve included showcase Billy at his largest versus one of his thinner (but not thinnest) stages. So, kudos to Greg Cannom and the other makeup effects artists who worked on Thinner! That said, I won’t take it personally if you skip this one.

Where to watch Thinner:

Thinner | Rated R | Runtime 1h 32m | Released October 25, 1996

Tremors 2: Aftershocks

Tremors 2 had an extremely limited (one theater) theatrical release and then was released on VHS the same day!

Here’s the thing… I often put off watching or never watch the sequels to my absolute favorite films. When I get attached to a film and it’s perfect as is, I prefer to just keep it that way for as long as possible. Tremors is one of my all-time faves, and I’ve written about it on HorrorFam.com more than once!

I have watched most of the Tremors sequels (I’m currently up to part five) the past year or so, and they’re all a good time! But it’s impossible for me to judge the Tremors sequels in an unbiased, fair way. My viewings with Frank, my husband, had to have pause breaks for me to process/grumble about things – not necessarily because they were bad, just because they were different and my brain doesn’t handle “different” well when it comes to Faves.

That said, Frank doesn’t have the EXTREME emotional attachment to the original that I have and he absolutely LOVES Tremors 2: Aftershocks and deemed it a horror sequel that’s just as good as the original!

Frank loves how Burt Gummer (the survivalist character from the first film) has a much more prominent role, which transitions him into being the MAIN character for every sequel that follows. He also loves how the worm-like graboids terrorizing the town folk EVOLVE into something even crazier.

Tremors 2 doesn’t have as many of the carefully-crafted character moments from the original, but it maintains all of the humor and the action. I can’t deny that it’s a fun creature feature! In addition to Frank, my friend Amy from high school absolutely LOVES Tremors 2 and deems it a Must Watch. And Frank and Amy are two of the coolest horror fans I know! You already know Frank from his HorrorFam.com articles and Amy is an amazing marine biologist (basically an IRL water-type Pokémon trainer!), so I feel confident that you can trust their judgement call on this one and have a blast watching Tremors 2: Aftershocks!

Where to watch Tremors 2:

Tremors II: Aftershocks | Rated PG-13 | Runtime 1h 40m | Released April 9, 1996

Bonus!! Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie

Okay. Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie isn’t exactly a horror movie. But it’s fun and it failed because it received almost ZERO marketing back in 1996. I can’t change the past, but I’m making you aware of it now.

The MST3K gang riff on This Island Earth and it’s the most enjoyable way to view that particular 1955 sci-fi/horror film.

Where to watch Mystery Science Theater 3000 The Movie:

MST3K: The Movie | Rated PG-13 | Runtime 1h 13m | Released April 19, 1996

Some Notable TV and Direct-to-Video 1996 Horror Movies

1996 also had some notable TV and direct-to-video (VHS or DVD) horror releases. Most of these were unavailable for me to watch since they’re not streaming, and were left off because I don’t review films I haven’t watched. Or, for some, I have watched them and didn’t have much to say. However, in the spirit of thoroughness, here they are:

Amityville Dollhouse – The 8th film in the Amityville Horror franchise. A couple finds a dollhouse version of the famous Amityville house stashed away in their new home. It’s haunted.

Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering – Did you think Thinner was the only Stephen King adaptation in 1996? Nope!

The Dentist – The Dentist is a Brian Yuzna slasher film that premiered on HBO. It’s about an insane killer dentist and it got a sequel in 1998.

Head of the Family – It’s the Full Moon movie with the (literally) big-headed character and his mutated family being blackmailed by a couple of criminals. You may have seen it on season four of The Last Drive-in with Joe Bob Briggs. 

Leprechaun 4: In Space – I’m not 100% sure if Leprechaun 4: In Space counts as a 1996 horror film. I think it does! It was released on Halloween of 1996 in Russia, but it didn’t make it to the USA until February of 1997. Anyway, it’s the fourth film in the Leprechaun franchise. It’s got some fun special FX (like the flat-faced guy and the fellow who essentially turns into the Cronenberg version of The Fly). Though, while I’m talking about Leprechaun 4: In Space, I’d love to recommend this YouTube video essay I watched a few months ago by Brandon Hardesty. It came up in my Recommended Videos feed and I thought it was lovely. He goes really in-depth about Warwick Davis’ role as the title character and how passionate Warwick is about portraying the Leprechaun, even in the lesser films of the franchise.

Pinnochio’s Revenge – Trimark Pictures sent Pinocchio’s Revenge straight to video. It’s about a lawyer who decides to bring home a wooden doll, buried with a murderous little boy, and the doll starts to cause problems for the lawyer’s young daughter.

Trilogy of Terror II – My dad worked on this one as an FX painter for the Zuni fetish doll segment, continuing his streak on painting horror characters with a lot of sharp teeth (nothing tops the Krites from the Critters movies, but still!). Dad says he won’t be offended if you skip this one and, as Dan Rafter once said, “the reviews aren’t glowing.”

The Uninvited – Also known as Victim of the Haunt, The House at the End of the Street, and The Haunting of Patricia Johnson, The Uninvited is a CBS “based on a true story” horror movie about a couple living in a haunted house.

Vampirella – Part of the “Roger Corman Presents” series of films for Showtime, Vampirella is the adaptation of Forry Ackerman and Trina Robbins’ vampire superheroine and is one of the rare horror superhero films. Unfortunately, it’s not great and the director (Jim Wynorski, Chopping Mall) has gone on record as saying it’s the only film he regrets making.

What are YOUR favorite 1996 horror movies?

I tried to be as thorough as I possibly could be, but I know there are a few I missed. I covered all (or nearly all) of the 1996 horror movies released in the USA, but foreign films like Japan’s Don’t Look Up and Spain’s Licántropo are among those I missed. I also wasn’t able to watch Diabolique, the theatrically-released 1996 remake of Les Diaboliques (1955).

I also considered adding Twister (hurricane disaster film!) and The Cable Guy (unsettling stalker wreaking havoc!), but I was worried I’d be pushing it. Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame was also released in 1996 (and many consider the Hunchback to be a classic horror character) as well as Joe’s Apartment (it’s a straight-up comedy, but I’M afraid of cockroaches). My dad also said that Matilda should count because he thinks Miss Trunchbull is super scary. What do YOU think…? Should I have included any of those on my list?

Also, let me know which 1996 horror movies are your favorites from the ones I did cover! I’d love to know. Leave me a comment!

Images for this review were purchased via CineMaterial (posters) and MovieStillsDB (stills).