Since the beginning of film, there have always been low-budget, nonsensical movies that have made names for themselves in the world of pulp art. What a lot of people don\u2019t realize is that there is an art to creating a \u201cB\u201d movie. What arguably started out as the armpit of cinema, has turned into a genre of its own, one that is mocked yet highly regarded. From the acting to the plots, from the set design to the music, here are some of the \u201cB\u201d movies that help define this genre.<\/p>\n
Plan 9 From Outer Space (1959)<\/p>\n
One of the most famous \u201cB \u201cfilms of all time, there\u2019s nothing quite like Plan 9 From Outer Space. Directed by the eccentric Ed Wood (who was later portrayed by Jonny Depp in Tim Burton\u2019s biopic), this film features all the staples of a \u201cB\u201d movie. Actors are replaced midway through the movie without explanation, special effects are mediocre, and the plot is completely non sequitur. But perhaps the ingredient that has made this film survive over five decades is the genuine passion put into the film by the director. No one sets out to make the worst movie ever, but its got to take some talent somewhere to have it recognized fifty years after its release.<\/p>\n
Hard Ticket to Hawaii (1987)<\/p>\n
This movie\u2019s got it all: babes, beaches, and bazookas. It\u2019s about cops (or something or other) layin\u2019 down the law in beautiful Hawaii. It\u2019s like if Dog the Bounty Hunter and his family were really beautiful and they didn\u2019t just arrest people but blew them up. This ain\u2019t no hula, this is a Hard Ticket to Hawaii.<\/p>\n
The Room (2003)<\/p>\n
Since it\u2019s release seven years ago, Tommy Wiseau\u2019s The Room has developed quite the cult following. Tommy spent several years of his life making this movie, supposedly using all his funds to write, star, edit, and direct in this independent drama. After its release, however, people couldn\u2019t believe what they were seeing, and now Mr. Wisaeu tends to dub The Room as a \u201cblack comedy\u201d (but we\u2019re not buyin\u2019 that). If you live in LA, there are some movie theaters that screen the film every week with special appearances by the cast and the director\/star\/editor\/writer himself! The trailer doesn\u2019t do it justice, but here is a quick scene that accurately represents the quality of The Room.<\/p>\n
Troll 2 (1990)<\/p>\n
Three words: \u201cOH MY GODDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD\u201d.<\/p>\n
Black Dynamite (2009)<\/p>\n
Released last year, Black Dynamite is a comedy\/action adventure which pays homage to the \u201cB\u201d movie sub-genre, blaxsploitation. In the vein of Shaft or Superfly, this film nails all the blaxploitation musts: karate (everywhere and all the time), smooth suits, pimps, low riders, afros, and a score that Isaac Hayes probably listens to in heaven. Black Dynamite is a highly underrated new release that is honestly a must see.<\/p>\n
Surf Nazis Must Die (1987)<\/p>\n
It\u2019s The Warriors meets a Tyler Perry movie in this action film set in a post-apocalyptic California. The coasts are ruled by the evil Surf Nazis, who in case you missed it, must die. There\u2019s only one person who can stop them\u2026I\u2019ll let you watch the preview.<\/p>\n
Gojira (1954)<\/p>\n
Nearly a decade after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, creator Tomoyuki Tanaka had taken post-war fears and anxiety of the Japanese and created a monster that we\u2019ve all come to know as Godzilla. Since it\u2019s first film in 1954, this monster who once terrorized the Japanese shoreline, has been featured in nearly 30 sequels as a protector who defends the earth from other monsters such as Megalon, King Ghidora, Mothra, and who could forget, Space Godzilla. Even after fifty years, Godzilla remains and mostly like will remain a classic in monster cinema.<\/p>\n
Cannibal Holocaust (1980)<\/p>\n
One of the most controversial and shocking horror films of all time, Cannibal Holocaust boasts its status of being \u201cbanned in over 50 countries.\u201d This Italian made film follows a documentary crew as they adventure deep into the depths of an unknown rainforest, only to meet their gruesome doom by the hands of indigenous tribe members. This film was so graphic and so disturbing that director Ruggero Deodato had to prove to a Milanese courtroom that his actors were still alive. This one takes some guts to watch.<\/p>\n
Grindhouse (2007)<\/p>\n
Quentin Tarantino is regarded as one of the genius directors of this generation, but what many people don\u2019t realize is that his work is inspired heavily by exploitation \u201cB\u201d cinema. In 2007, however, he made it known when he and Robert Rodriguez released their film Grindhouse, which featured two films, one directed by each director that paid homage to the exploitation films of the 70s and 80s. Planet Terror is a synth-filled zombie film and Deathproof features an insane Kurt Russell who kills people with his car. Grindhouse even included several fake trailers, one of which was actually made into a movie (Machete directed by Robert Rodriguez will be released in September).<\/p>\n
Hausu (1977)<\/p>\n
This one is hard to explain but I\u2019ll give you a brief explanation. It\u2019s about a young Japanese schoolgirl who invites a group of close girlfriends to her aunt\u2019s house for some summer fun. All the girls are unaware, however, that her aunt is actually dead and the house is actually haunted. The girls then begin to slowly disappear in a very gruesome fashion. Don\u2019t bother trying to keep this explanation in the back of your mind when watching this film because overall, it just doesn\u2019t make any sense. Regardless, this Japanese export is quite bone chilling, and it\u2019s got a fantastic psychedelic soundtrack.<\/p>\n
A \u201cB\u201d Movie Gone Wrong: Snakes on a Plane (2006)<\/p>\n
Remember all the hype about this movie? It was Samuel L. Jackson on a plane, with some snakes. Simple, fun, exciting, the expectation for this movie was incredibly high. When it was released, however, it failed to deliver and it\u2019s not because people were expecting it to be Oscar worthy. The problem was, Snakes on a Plane was trying to be a \u201cB\u201d movie, and perhaps trying way to hard. There was no heart or genuineness in its execution and it is for that reason that people hated it. The misconception about \u201cB\u201d movies is that because they\u2019re bad they\u2019re easy to make. I would suggest watching the movies on this list. Keep an open mind and you\u2019ll see what makes these films so special.