One of the better horror movies in the last few years. If you liked WKUK the writing style translates really well into horror.

Though not exactly a horror movie, I think Johnny Got His Gun could fit here. Conceptually it's probably the scariest thing I can think of. It's about a soldier in WW1 that gets all his limbs blown off, as well as his jaw, ears, nose, and eyes, making him unable to communicate with the world in almost any way. The entire movie is him losing track of reality and fading in and out of a dream state; it explores a lot of different ideas. The whole movie is up on Youtube. I watched it there a couple years ago and I still think about it.

    Fantasy
    I think Carpenter's best work after The Thing is his Elvis biopic. But that one is definitely not a horror.
    Also, my friend absolutely loves the ending of In The Mouth Of Madness.

    SteadmanSlick
    I've yet to see any movie directed by Trumbo, but the description of the movie itself somewhat reminds me of Jacob's Ladder, even though in the end of the day they are vastly different.

        a month later

        Fantasy
        It was probably Carpenter's last good horror flick. The pacing feels wrong, the supporting cast aren't that great and prone to overact and the script lacks the polish to be high quality but isn't grimy enough for 80s budget horror. Despite that, it's really enjoyable. It's truly tragic that scenes featuring the special FX were left out of the final cut too.

        Isn't it funny how great horror directors suddenly decline? Carpenter had a great run but hasn't made a good horror film in decades. Even the great Dario Argento hasn't made anything worth watching in decades.

            Naziri
            I do not feel any kind of decline in Carpenter. In fact, I just feel he is not sticking to his one genre, does not polish one line of approach, and instead does whatever he wants (and, hopefully, whatever he likes). Just about a month ago I've had a conversation with my friend about how versatile Carpenter is as a director. There's Tarantino or Guy Ritchie, who have their own style, but as a result their movies feel less or more the same. When you watch a Tarantino movie, you know you are watching a Tarantino movie.
            When you are watching a Carpenter movie, it can be anything. He started with stuff like Assault On Precint 13, which is an action movie (though sometimes gangers were indeed zombies), or Dark Star, which is... something. He did a biopic about Elvis, then he did some horrors, and even though he is famous mostly for them, he never went to be a horror-only director. There are also movies from the same period like Escape From New York and Black Moon Rising, which are nothing but action, and then there's even a comedy film Big Trouble In Little China (which I still have to watch, by the way). They Live is another famous movie, which is hardly a horror and pretty much just an awesome and honest B-movie. I've liked Ghosts Of Mars as well - I feel like that was Carpenter's personal 90's action, even though it was released in early 2000's, and that's probably why not much people liked it back in the days - it was simply outdated by the time of the release.
            I didn't watch the last movie he directed in 2010, but up to Ghosts Of Mars I've liked pretty much everything I've watched so far, though I have to admit pretty much the only horrors I've watched were The Thing and Christine. So, I guess, cannot really say how great of a horror director Carpenter is, but my point is that he is barely a horror director in the first place - he is just a director, and he is so versatile I really can't resist but call him great just for that. I hardly can name another director of so many genres.

              a month later

              Bumping this thread with a question. As someone who likes grotesque and macabre things, doesn't like jumpscares very much, and appreciates a good monster design, what movies would you recommend?

              For a bit more additional context, I've only watched these horror-ish things in the past few years:

              1. Annihilation (2018)
                This is what prompted this question, I recently read this and mentioned it in the book thread. I watched it maybe 3 years ago, and I wasn't spooked but I did appreciate the horror that the characters were going through. Got very surreal and un-horror-like in the second half though.
              2. The Babadook (2014)
                Quite liked this one! Though I was very mad at the child, which is half the point of the show... Ending was a bit weh though.
              3. Get Out (2017)
                This is technically horror-comedy, but I did enjoy the horror parts in the first half before it went full retard with the reveal. Us (2019) was nowhere as good as this though.
              4. A Quiet Place (2018)
                Pretty decent, very tense with all the sound stuff. The visual counterpart Bird Box (2018) seemed a little weaker but was still reasonably spoopy.
              5. Blair Witch Project (1999)
                I was very unspooped and kinda let-down. I thought it would be good because I enjoyed Cloverfield. But I think I only really enjoyed Cloverfield for the monster.
              6. Colour Out of Space (2019)
                Liked it very much, though I'm biased because that's my favourite Lovecraft story and I like Nicholas Cage's mania. It would have benefitted from being about 20-30 mins shorter though.

                agoraoptera
                Out of all your list I've only watched Get Out and Colour Out Of Space. And, well, A Quiet Place, but I wish I didn't. The whole premise is so dumb, ugh. But whatever.

                Anyway, here's what I have for your grotesque and macabre, no jumpscares stuff.

                David Cronenberg
                His works are crazy. Barely can be called horror, but those designs, man, those designs! If you haven't tried it, just look through his filmography on wiki and pick something for your tastes. I haven't watched his full filmography yet, but every movie I've watched so far were top-of-the-line body horror, even if the movies hasn't been labeled as horror.
                Also, most of his famous movies are completely surreal by the end of them, and I do not know about you, but I could barely understand what's going on and what is the point of it all. Pretty much the only one that gave you a direct answer to a pretty obvious idea was eXistenZ. And, well, Scanners, but Scanners in general is kind of... shallow in terms of a plotline. Scanners is more like an action movie with... kind of a magic in urban setting. Next to none of the body horror as well. I've still enjoyed it a lot though.

                Brandon Cronenberg
                I've watched two movies out of the three he has at the moment, and, IMO. so far he is definitely his father's son. I mean, I don't know, maybe it's not everyman's horror, but for me simply the world that Brandon manages to show is quite unnerving. Like, the world in Virus where people actually pay for infecting themselves with viruses that pop-stars and media icons are infected with. Among other things. There are also people eating pop-stars' cloned meat, corporations who control it all by making viruses inert, et cetera... That was one of a hellscape in my eyes.

                The Thing
                Carpenter's masterpiece, just needed to be here in case you haven't watched it somehow. Top of the line body horror. The second Thing that was not made by Carpenter - I've actually quite enjoyed it as well, despite all the letdowns and the fact that the publisher, for whatever reason, decided to switch from animatronics to SFX after animatronics were complete. Still, 2011's movie is also quite enjoyable, or so I think.

                Society
                You want grotesque and macabre - this is the piece you want. Pretty much unique movie from 1989, all but forgotten - or so it seems - but oh so good. Haven't looked at the other works from this director yet, but they say the first Reanimator is good (and much more famous).

                And, I'm not sure how grotesque they are, but... maybe The Void, The Whisperer In Darkness and Glorious from my first post would be the pieces you should take a look at as well. Unfortunately, Cronenbergs are quite unique in their style, and there are few things that rival them. But I hope the list above will be able to set you up with a good movie for quite a while.

                    Ross_R
                    Thanks for the recommendations! I've actually watched Virus, I'd forgotten about that. It was superbly disturbing, and so very striking about how the madness of celebrity culture.
                    I actually can't remember whether I've watched The Thing, I'll have that on my list.
                    Very much obliged~!

                      Horror films have never hit me the way war films have. I guess when I know I'm supposed to be scared I can't seem to turn by brain off.
                      But films like Come and See, The Winter War and Stalingrad have a special, dreadful feeling of hopelessness over them which does manage to depress me.

                        Fimm
                        But depression and fright is not the same thing.
                        I mean, I understand the notion. Movies like Cargo 200 and The Man Behind The Sun hit me much harder than any horror will ever will, and yet, horrors are just... not for that.

                          Ross_R
                          I watched Cronenberg's movie Videodrome a couple of months ago and wow it sure is something. As you said, it's not fully a horror film but it is quite horrific. It's pretty profound in how it predicts our relationship with media.

                          The Thing is one of my favorite horror movies.

                              15 days later

                              SteadmanSlick
                              The nest logical step would be to watch eXistenZ, as it is about videogames.
                              Also, I think I should add that first... five or so of Cronenberg's movies are way too... I dunno. Low-budget? Amateur? Experimental? Not sure, but in most of them, few things happen as actors just... walk around. I've watched a 1970's Crimes Of The Future and did not like it one bit, and a friend of mine said the all Cronenberg's early movies are pretty much like that.
                              His son definitely had a more solid start. Maybe he just didn't release his actual first works - I can see that happening, and, I'd say, there's a good cause if an artist decides to keep his first works locked away.

                                19 days later
                                6 months later

                                Actually, I watched 1986's From Beyond back in may and, boy, am I glad I saw at least a dozen of similar movies before getting to this one. Because in this one, they really turn it all out to 11 in the end. Out of all the body horrors I saw - all the Cronenbergs' stuff, The Thing, Society, whatever else I've mentioned above and whatever else is out there - From Beyond really hits the spot. It has... something special. Or so I think.
                                What I want to say is... if I'd stumbled upon From Beyond during some night watching the TV back when I was 15, I'd probably grew up way more damaged than I am.

                                24 days later

                                Its horror in the vaguer sense.. so it counts (maybe)

                                I watched the new Beetlejuice Beetlejuice film the other day.
                                I had watched the original film probably about 10 years ago so wasnt super familiar with it. I ended up rewatching it the day before to get a refresher.
                                For my personal opinions on the original film:
                                Not a bad film or anything, was an enjoyable watch but I don't see the insane fandom that some people have. I'll happily have a DVD of it on the shelf but unless someone else wants to watch it I wont be reaching for it anytime soon.
                                That said, the characters were compelling, I thought the sets were great and it was nice to just watch a pleasant self contained film.

                                with that in mind, seeing the sequel:
                                It wasn't like a lot of the "its been 30 years, time for a new film in the series" films that have been out lately that have obsessions with the old props and characters as if they are saints. This was much more treated I think as a sequel to the original.
                                I enjoyed seeing all the sets again and just the general Tim Burton vibe he's so known for shine through for a change. That said, plot wise it was a bit meandering and contrived, with a lot of plot points that did not resolve great and was generally just rushed. it'd have been better to have given them more time to get characters where they should be more naturally or split some of the plot into another film if needed.
                                My girlfriend described it best I think after, she said she enjoyed it but would probably only watch it maybe in like 5-10 years time. If someone wants to go see it then it might be worth going with them and you should have a good time.

                                That said, it was cool to see willem dafoe hamming it up and I wish they developed his character more or gave him more to do

                                I think the film is going to have done well and generally line pockets, especially all the merch i've been seeing. If anything its made me want to see Tim Burton given some more time and money (maybe not loads of money so he has to be clever)to make something he wants to. Assuming he's still got it anyway.

                                If you saw the film, i'd be interested to see if my thoughts on it are pretty much the same or whether i've been too nice/harsh etc.

                                  Lumeinshin
                                  Wow, Dafoe and Burton? I almost missed that one.
                                  Not sure when I'll actually see it, but when I'll do, I'll post back.

                                      a month later

                                      Lumeinshin
                                      Saw it recently myself with a friend of mine! I think the film delivered as a solid continuation to the story and finally a solid Burton film. I agree some things were kinda rushed and it was a little all over the place but I was just really happy I got to see it, and that it wasn't another cash cow sequel. It actually stood on its own merits and I respect the hell out of it.

                                        5 days later

                                        Ross_R
                                        And so here I am. Just finished watching Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
                                        I gotta say, the original was much more... well, "serious" is not really the right word, but... I mean, in this new movie, there are plot holes, and scenes that has clearly been done only because why not, and the moments that make you scratch your head - but then I'm still going to say that it is the best Tim Burton movie in the last 15 years or so.
                                        It really feels like Tim finally got money and an absolute freedom to do whatever he wanted. He didn't have to create a Wonderland or a Chocolate Factory, didn't have to deal with Disney, and I'm not sure what the problem was with Miss Peregrine's, but it just barely feels like Burton's movie at all.
                                        So yeah, it feels like Burton was free to do everything this time, and so Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is filled to the brim with Tim's stylish, signature decorations, costumes, animatronics, puppets and whatever else that does not attempt to create someone's else vision Burton-styled, but just create Burton's own vision, thus creating 100% Burton movie.
                                        And I might be wrong, but it really feels like all the actors on the screen were just having fun with it, just as - most likely - Burton himself. So I really cannot nag much about the new movie not following the rules of the world established in the first movie - I just do not want to do it when I see that people pour their heart, soul and joy in their work.
                                        Yeah, it's definitely not great. I'm not on board with idea "probably only watch it maybe in like 5-10 years time" - I do not like re-watch movies at all, if possible, and only really great ones, 1 out of 500 or so, deserve a second watch. Rather, when I watch a movie, I ask myself: would I recommend this movie to anyone, and why? And, well, with Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, I'd recommend it to checkout Burton's unique vision, done with awesome decorations and abundance of a thing that is otherwise pretty non-existant in 2024 - practical effects. Much like Wes Anderson, Burton is a director whose movies can be recommended not for the plot or the idea, but solely for the picture itself.
                                        Therefore in my opinion, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is definitely a work of art and absolutely the best Burton movie since Sweeney Todd (which is quite a good horror on its own, do recommend).
                                        Kind of interesting why Johnny Depp didn't appear in this one. Though Dafoe did, even though he usually sticks with aforementioned Wes Anderson. Was Dafoe in any other Burton's movie? I really think not, though I might be wrong.
                                        Well, at least Danny Elfman is still there. Good to see him still being part of Burton's works.

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