Iconic Horror Films With Super Low Budgets

Filmmaking is an expensive venture. Some films require millions of dollars to be produced; however, there have been several low-budget fright flicks that have captured the attention of audiences. Horror movies have a reputation for making excellent use of little resources. Low-budget doesn’t equate to poor quality in some cases. The following horror films stand as examples of thrifty inventiveness that exceeded the expectations of audiences and brought in millions.\r \r 1. Night of the Living Dead (1968)\r \r Night of the Living Dead is a film about a group of individuals trying to survive a zombie apocalypse. On a $114,000 budget, the director, George Romero, finished the movie, which after a decade of re-releases brought in about $12 million domestically and $30 million overseas. It had a great impact on future horror films as it paved the way for the genre. Everything had to be made on a budget, including the set and props. The team utilized either red ink or chocolate syrup. The crew didn't have to worry about the color of the blood because the movie was shot in black and white.\r \r 2. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)\r \r This movie is centered on a group of individuals who are attacked one by one by a chainsaw-wielding lunatic. This masterpiece was inspired by filmmakers who tried to make the best use of their $60,000 budget. The movie was a success and brought in $30.9 million at the box office, which sparked a large number of sequels and spinoffs. Filming of this movie only lasted thirty-two days and by all accounts it was a miserable experience. Working conditions were terrible and due to a limited budget, the actors had to dress in the same soiled clothing every day for continuity, and malfunctioning props caused many real-life injuries on set. \r \r 3. Paranormal Activity (2007)\r \r The young couple at the core of this supernatural horror thriller are plagued by a supernatural presence in their house. Paranormal Activity is regarded as one of the most financially successful movies of all time in terms of return on investment. The producer, Peli, had a budget of only $15,000 and filmed most of the movie in his own home. This independent feature had few effects and this helped in creating a realistic and unnerving feeling. The movie was later acquired by Paramount and an additional $200,000 was invested for improvements and an alternate ending. The movie earned $193 million at the global box office.  \r \r 4. Halloween (1978)\r \r Halloween continues to be one of the most iconic slasher movies in horror history. In this low-budget independent film, the silent and faceless Michael Meyers terrorized a suburb. With a budget of only $325,000, it earned a whopping $47 million. The Steadicam, a camera stabilization system that allowed them to shoot the frightful opening sequence of the movie in a single day, is attributed by cinematographer Dean Cundey as the source of the expensive-looking images in Halloween. This also helped cut on cost and allowed them to remain within budget. \r \r 5. The Blair Witch Project (1999)\r \r The Blair Witch Project was a low-budget Indie masterpiece that had an incredible impact on the horror genre with a remake and video game adaptation. In the movie, three aspiring documentarians are producing a documentary on the Blair Witch when they become lost in the woods. The film was shot for about $60,000 but this figure increased post production to about $200,000. This movie had little gore and gruesome effects. Rather, it featured much suspense and realism. In 1999, the movie made approximately $249 million globally.  \r \r  \r \r