10 Creepy Horror Movies Set In A Hospital
7. Don't Look In The Basement! (1973)
A young nurse is excited to begin her tenure at a private and "experimental" psychiatric clinic. However, the doctor in charge doesn't seem to want her there, and soon the patients begin to meet grisly ends.
Don't Look in the Basement is the debut horror feature from cult director S.F. Brownrigg. In later years he would produce a slew of similar movies with Texas based actors and crew members exclusively. Basement is certainly the roughest of his offerings, but is still an intriguing watch.
Here we have an interesting and... somewhat unsettling time capsule of a movie from a period where mental illness was not taken as seriously as it is today. This leads to many of the characters seeming acting like overblown stereotypes of "disturbed" people that could be offensive to some.
The movie also makes an attempt at a slasher movie "twist" ending, this being quite effective as said twist is masked surprisingly well throughout this odd-ball ride and is genuinely unexpected. However the script, cheesy effects and clunky performances can make the film seem like a chore at times.
Brownrigg would most definitely improve with time and experience, but Basement is still an interesting look at a time when well-being wasn't quite so "well" understood.