Slasher films, monster movies, and gross-out cult classics — these are the five outdoor B-movies you need to see.
There’s something cozy about a bad movie. Like a warm campfire or a meal around the grill, they’re an experience best shared with friends. Even if the firewood is wet and the chicken’s been burned to a crisp, you’re experiencing that badness together. That gave me an idea.
See, a lot of terrible films are set in the woods. Why? Because shooting there is cheap. But for every tongue-in-cheek gem of the small screen, there are 20 hopeless slogs with as much charm as a half-dried puddle.
So to help you steer clear of these cinematic pitfalls, I’ve assembled a list of five outdoors-themed films that fall into the more charming category of “So bad, they’re good.”
A word of caution before proceeding: Three of the movies are R-rated, and one lacks any MPAA stamp at all. I’ve avoided listing anything that I felt was genuinely mean-spirited or in poor taste. But if you grew up on franchises like “Friday the 13th” or late-’90s films like “Scream,” know that most of these are in the same vein.
Anyway, on to the movies.
The Best B-Movies Set in the Outdoors
The Crater Lake Monster (1977)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jv4cNQOSQs
Despite evidence to the contrary, someone on this film knew what they were doing. The basic story is this: A meteor strikes a lake in rural California, heating the water to almost 90 degrees.
This wakes up an ancient plesiosaur, who proceeds to terrify the locals. It’s a wonderful blend of bad acting, worse special effects, and all the ’70s style you can handle.
But like I said, there’s a curious self-awareness here. The stilted dialog is played to the hilt, to the point of being comical. And some of the camera cuts and scene choices are (I believe) intentionally hilarious.
Yeah, there are some dead spots between monster attacks. But the scenery around Susanville’s less-famous Crater Lake is actually pretty neat.
Gear Takeaways: If you want to keep an eye out for giant lizards that go bump in the night, check out our recommendations on the best headlamps and flashlights.
How to Watch: Like a lot of films on the old 50-Movies packs, I’m pretty sure “Crater Lake Monster” is in the public domain. The whole thing is available on YouTube, or pony up for the Blu-ray, and get “Galaxina” in the bargain.
Running time: 86 min.
Rating: PG