The 10 Best "ZeroBudget" Horror Films Of All Time

Without spending at least some money, it would be impossible to make a movie . But that certainly hasn't stopped people from trying. Typically, the average movie costs tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars, and horror films are certainly no exception to this principle. Or at least that's the case with most major horror films.

However, every now and then a horror movie comes along that is not only incredibly high quality, but also doesn't cost more than a million dollars, even after adjusting for inflation. It's actually quite an achievement because it forces the filmmakers to make do with what they have. While very few films are truly "zero budget", some can easily be compared to traditional films.

10 Monsters (2010)

Budget: $500,000

Monsters was well received in 2010. In fact, it's surprising that the budget was so small given its premise. The story revolves around aliens that crashed in Central America and gradually started infecting and taking over Earth. This forces the US and Mexican authorities to quarantine half of Mexico.

The main reason for its low budget was the number of production staff. Only six people worked behind the scenes. Also, most of the extras didn't get a phone call or anything, they were people who just happened to be there at the time. They obviously gave permission to be in the movie, but it's not like people are stepping up to be extras, which is what usually happens. There have also been reports of several sites being used without permission. If this is true, it would explain the low budget, as filming permits are expensive.

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9 Open Water (2003)

Budget: $500,000

“Open Water” is a film not about the supernatural, but about natural human fears. Wandering out to sea without a boat in sight is a scary thought, but add sharks and you've got the recipe for a good horror movie. The film takes place mostly at sea without any real build-up, so the budget was very low.

But the beginning of the film was controversial, as, according to the director, all the film festivals he applied to were rejected. It's funny considering the movie got great reviews. This is largely due to the fact that its premise is completely valid and, as mentioned, it addresses the general public's concerns about the sea. Of course, the budget isn't exactly zero, but it feels like it.

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8 Through My Mother's Eyes (2016)

Budget: $300,000

My Mother's Eyes is a film that makes the unconventional choice to be entirely in black and white. Needless to say, this is not a very common occurrence in the 21st century when the film was released. The low budget of $300,000 is due to the fact that the film's events only take place on the farm and do not change the environment . It also has a relatively small configuration .

Unfortunately, although the film was well received, it did not make enough money from home video sales or the box office to break even . At least not at first. It's a shame because it has an interesting premise about family feuds and serial killers. Overall, this is a very underrated and very low budget film that probably deserves a second chance.

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7 “Eraserhead ” (1977)

Budget: $100,000

The eraser head may have a silly name, but it's terrifying nonetheless. Directed by David Lynch (who made his debut with this film), the film focuses on surreal and experimental body horror. Experimental films are always risky, but this is a man doing his job. It's one of those movies that will make you question what you're looking at in the world, and will have you squirming uncomfortably in your seat as you ponder the answer.

Although there are many estimates of a film's cost, the average is around $100,000 . Surprisingly, the film managed to collect more than seven million dollars at the box office. Talk about making a profit . Today it is considered a culturally important film and is preserved in the US Library of Congress.

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6 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

Budget: 60,000 US dollars

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a horror film that was released 50 years ago and ended up becoming one of the most iconic horror films in the history of cinema. It was later expanded into several parts that are still in production, with the final part scheduled to be released in 2022. The story focuses on a fictional serial killer, Leatherface, who prefers to use a chainsaw to kill his victims. But what most people don't know is how cheaply the original film was made.

Filming the film cost only about $60,000. At the time, found footage films were not a big deal, which meant that filmmakers had to be very creative with how they spent their money. But it might have been worse because the actors suffered a lot during filming due to this small budget.

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5 The Blair Witch Project (1999)

Budget: 60,000 US dollars

The Blair Witch Project was one of the first films ever released and was a pioneer of the genre. Most of the film's events take place in the forest, with only three people . The only other people shown in the film are a group of bystanders who tell stories about the witch. It turns out that one of those people was actually a random woman walking down the street, and she was cast in the role . He presented his story without a script, on the spot.

Also, the titular witch is never seen, not even once, which means no CGI. The only real props used were hiking equipment and sticks tied together to create the images. The total cost of filming was about 60 thousand dollars . Although the movie is not very scary, it is still of high quality.

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4 "Terrible" (2016)

Budget: $35,000

Terrifier is about a strange clown named Art ( David Howard Thornton ), who at first glance seems like an ordinary serial killer. However, society is beginning to understand that art is actually a kind of demonic entity. The creators have created several sequels, and the third will be released later in 2024. But this venerable series comes from humble beginnings, with the first film costing only $35,000.

While the first part of the film received above average reviews, the second part was better received. Of course, this figure was probably more expensive. Either way, it's a great movie to watch if you like new horror movies . Coolphobes should avoid it though.

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3 Paranormal Activity (2007)

Budget: $15,000

Paranormal Activity is a series that releases sequel after sequel. Unfortunately, none of these sequels live up to the original. This groundbreaking film is another first found footage horror film that was filmed almost entirely in the director's home . The film's budget was only $15,000 . This is because director Oren Peli wrote the film to follow a couple who set up a camera to document ghosts occurring in their home. This meant that there was no need for a film crew , because the fixed camera made it more realistic.

Another reason it was so cheap is because Billy shot the entire film in seven days and did not use a fancy camera . He also hired actors who were at the beginning of their careers and edited the film himself . The original film's budget was eventually increased by another $200,000 after it was acquired by Paramount Pictures, which added a new ending . Even so, it's just pennies compared to the hundreds of millions of other movies you could consume.

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2 “Found” (2012)

Budget: $8,000

Found is a film based on the original novel by Todd Rigney . While book-to-film adaptations can usually be huge projects requiring millions upon millions of dollars in investment, Found took the cheaper route. Ironically, it was just as effective. After a young man discovers that his brother is a serial killer, Found had a meager budget of $8,000. This small budget was entirely funded by Kickstarter backers. Isn't the Internet wonderful?

Although purchasing home theater equipment is not always the best idea, this idea worked because the reviews were generally positive. Not only is it a tribute to classic slasher films, but it's also a coming-of-age story. It even made enough money for a 2014 sequel.

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1 Crawl (2014)

Budget: 0 USD

Creep is one of the few truly zero budget films . That's right, according to actor Mark Duplass , " Crawl doesn't cost anything." This is because it used the found footage format, meaning they didn't need a high-tech camera to play it . In fact, the more average the better. He also used a crew of only three people, which also doubled the cast .

The film was filmed at the home of a crew member . The movie lives up to its name as it will definitely scare you. This is not because it contains ghosts or zombies, but because the people who love the main character, Joseph, are very real. Joseph is a serial killer who preys on unsuspecting victims. He pretends to be a good guy with a tragic backstory and offers jobs to then kill his victims. It explores the most dangerous parts of the human psyche that most people don't dare delve into, and that's what makes it so effective .

WATCH ON NETFLIX Continue reading: Ranking the 10 scariest movie monsters

Project: Playtime: Zero Budget, Behind the Scenes