Everyone knows about the rise of indie horror in the last couple of years. Not only have we gotten some of the acclaimed movies annually from indie filmmakers but more and more were seeing films that built up a lot of hype and buzz with their critical reviews to defy expectations at the box office. It Follows, The Witch, Hereditary, Annihilation, are just a few example of movies that built hype and WOM to success even with their original concepts and unsettling tones. Not every indie horror movie is a big success but they don't need to be given their budgets and would still have made far less without the buzz around them. And with it now now getting easier for indie horror movies to actually debut in wide release with The Substance and Late Night with the Devil, the reign of indie horror isn't going away anytime soon.
Yet despite this indie boom, there are still movies that didn't get wide releases even for one week that would've done well with one. What are some examples that come to mind? Note: you may also include movies that were svreened at festivals and acquired by streaming services like Fresh or Hush.
Firstly I think I Saw the TV Glow had enough buzz around it to get at least a quick one week boost. I know it's far from a conventional horror movie, and some night not even call it horror, but there is a mysterious vibe that spread through WOM plus the great reviews that it would've done well with a big push, even for a week.
I was utterly shocked at finding out The Autopsy of Jane Doe doesn't even have data on how many theaters played it and only made $10K??? Given how easy it is to sell possession movies, you'd think iFC would at least try for a bigger push for this and I'm shocked it didn't when it was first released.
And finally Green Room I think would've played well to a crowd. Especially given how thrillers tend to leg it out, this deserved a wide release.
by dremolus
4 Comments
I Saw The TV Glow coulda done well in the UK had they gave it a wider release (not to mention closer to the US release date.)
Unfortunately it came out in late July here and only got a release in a handful of independents and iirc a one-night only release at Odeon.
Autopsy of Jane Doe is an absolute banger of a movie. It had me on the edge of my seat for the entire runtime. André Øvredal is an interesting director- I loved Trollhunter as well, but Umma and Last Voyage of the Demeter sucked all the balls.
Trick R Treat but it was straight to video
Orphan: First Kill. It was released day and date on Paramount+ and the theaters it opened in were very little.