30 Best Hidden Gem Horror Movies Perfect For Halloween
19. Dead & Buried
The writing team of Dan O’Bannon and Ron Shusett is best known for genre-defining titles like Alien and Total Recall (1990), but Dead & Buried marks their third and most overlooked collaboration - a grim and unsettling take on the undead.
Set in the small, picturesque coastal town of Potter’s Bluff, Sheriff Dan Gillis (James Farentino) investigates a series of grisly murders. The twist here is that the supposed victims begin reappearing as normal townspeople. As Gillis digs deeper, those closest to him, including his wife Janet (Melody Anderson), begin to behave increasingly strangely, leading to a disturbing revelation about the town’s dark secret.
From its shocking opening scene, where a tourist is brutally murdered in broad daylight, Dead & Buried establishes itself as far from a typical murder mystery. Director Gary Sherman (Death Line) sets out to tell a strange, off-kilter story unlike other horror films of its time. Though the final cut was compromised, much of his vision remains intact, with a slow-burn atmosphere punctuated by terrifying set pieces and a killer final twist.
A box office flop upon release, audiences struggled to categorize Dead & Buried, but that ambiguity is part of its strength. The tone doesn’t always land, and the pace can slack, but it’s a fascinating watch, anchored by a solid lead performance from Farentino and standout practical effects by special effects legend Stan Winston.