6. Excision
Richard Bates Jr's grimly funny horror comedy may not have attained much of an audience during its exceptionally limited theatrical run in the UK, but those who saw it generally distinguished it as an uncommonly intelligent horror that confronted themes of female sexual empowerment alongside a thrilling suburban satire much like the classic Ginger Snaps. AnneLynne McCord, usually an extremely attractive young woman, is "uglied up" to play Pauline, a drab-looking, unkempt, awkward teenager who has delusions that she can become a fantastic doctor one day in order to gain the approval of her overbearing mother. Pauline is meanwhile eager to lose her virginity, resulting in an awkward sexual encounter with a classmate, making this one of the most hilariously offbeat movies of any kind to come down the pipe in some time. Still, it's a film that in spite of its humour - black though it is - never loses sight of the horror at its heart, leading to a truly dark, disturbing ending that surrenders the demented nature of Pauline's mind-state. The final shot sticks with viewers long past the credits, and reminds us that original, intelligent horror is still out there.