Kevin's Watch

These days its all about the special effects and how much money can be spent making a film look the best it can. Or at least thats how it seems at times!

A discussion at work came up about great 'low budget' films that have been seen and enjoyed.

One that came to mind for me was Dog Soldiers:
uk.youtube.com/watch?v=R_0Ej5N-hFQ (trailer)

Any others?

The Blair Witch Project. According to IMDB, that film's estimated budget was a measley $60,000. Of course, the film then went on to make a killing at the box office (over $140 million). Yep, a whole lotta people saw it and enjoyed it, and I was one of them.

I can't say I was a huge fan of the Blair Witch Project...I really should re watch it and see if that makes it better.
I liked the concept but something was lacking for me.

Im with MM... wish i had shares in that particular project.

No kidding, Infelice! The phenomenal success of Blair Witch must have had every independent "guerrilla" filmmaker out there feeling jealous or vindicated or both.

Another worthwhile low budget flick I just thought of is Eraserhead (1977). Its estimated cost was $100,000. It's one of the strangest movies I've ever seen, but it has grown on me. I first saw it just last year, though its reputation had preceded it. Definitely an acquired taste, but then, so is Blair Witch.

gotta put Reservoir Dogs on this list

Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter.

Dog Soldiers is a good one, particularly since it comes complete with non-more-British Sean Pertwee.

Not a great fan of the Blair Witch Project. Not a bad film, just not worth all the fuss.

Eraserhead...now that's a strange and unique film. One of only two films (to date) that have actually come anywhere near scaring me (the other being the original version of The Wicker Man). Incomprehensible and disturbing.

As for suggestions of my own...nothing comes to mind.

I can't think of any more myself...all that comes to mind are silly horror flicks, but the kind without the ingenuity of Blair Witch.

I've never seen Dog Soldiers. Nor Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter - though I'd like to.

Good pick, jelerak. Reservoir Dogs stunned me when I saw it in the theatre. What an audacious debut by Quentin Tarantino.

At this point, we may have to start agreeing on some baseline number that constitutes a legitimate "low" budget.

Under $500,000? Under $1 million? Because the budget for Reservoir Dogs was an estimated $1.2 million. You have to admit, it's a pretty professional, polished looking film for a "low-budget" production. But I'd still agree that it's a low-budget affair, because $1.2 mil is still peanuts compared to the many gargantuan movie budgets today.

I'd say around the $1 million mark or rather films that where made on a low budget compared to the really high cost ones.
For example - Event Horizan wouldn't have cost as much as the new Star Wars type of thing.

Jesus Christ Vampire Slayer-not heard of that one but it certainly sounds like it would appeal to my sense of humour.

The low budget horror can be some of the best.
eg: Evil Dead ($350.000)
*side note-the last in the trilogy, Army of Darkness, apparently cost about $11 million so quite a step up!
Saw ($1.2 million)

Pi was also pretty low budget was it not?

I believe Pi was as well as the cool little film Luci turned me on to, Primer.

Rocky was fairly low budget, a total gamble with a total unknown and has paid for itself over 100 times...

Good call on Rocky, danlo.

I have not seen Pi or Primer, but they would definitely qualify as low-budget flicks. In fact, Primer is the "lowest" budget film of all the ones we've mentioned so far. IMDB says it was made for around just $7,000! That may be some kind of record. I think that would just barely cover the cost of the camera equipment. Did the filmmakers shoot the whole thing in a day and pay the actors in coffee and donuts?

To be clear, I'm not being mocking. I think it's great that a legitimate movie could be made for seven grand! It gives hope to anyone with a camera and ambition.

Coffee and doughnuts would be a good start certainly!

I shall be adding Primer to my list of films to watch. Hadn't come across it before.

Rocky was a good call! I still can't believe Stallone did another one and is now doing another Rambo too.

Another that sprung to mind was The Rocky Horror Picture Show - this took about $1.2 mil.
Total cult classic too.

Clerks also seems to fit the 'low budget' theme as well as El Mariachi which preceeded Desperado.

While searching for more I came across this:
Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead ( $500k)
www.poultrygeistmovie.com/

"The chicken...the chicken has declared jihad on us all!"



I may have to check out Poultrygeist.

Clerks and El Mariachi are good picks!

Rocky Horror Picture Show is another good one. I love the songs! Never mind Disney, Rocky Horror is my idea of a sing-along movie.

You're on a roll, Chrysalis.

Oh sure, Luci mentions Primer and gets people interested. I pointed it out the week before it hit video, and get nothin'.

Clerks has already been mentioned, so I'll just mention Evil Dead.

Jim Jarmusch also deserves some credit, since Dead Man was his most expensive film at 9 mil.

Duly noted, Syl.

It's amusing that the review on IMDB declines to give a synopsis of Primer. I might still check it out, but I will not be plunking down $30 for it like Luci did.

well i plunked down 30 bucks at the time cause that was the best price i could find and i WANTED it.

its definitely not that price now, MM.

and i heartily concur on Evil Dead...i just liked Evil Dead 2 much better.

i'm also a jarmusch fan. Stranger Than Paradise is one of my alltime favorite films!!

and i loved Down By Law! roberto and tom!! "its a sad and beautiful world"

Matrixman wrote:
Rocky Horror Picture Show is another good one. I love the songs! Never mind Disney, Rocky Horror is my idea of a sing-along movie.

I most certainly agree! I was pretty much brought up watching Rocky Horror and also Hair which followed the 'musical' theme!

That Poultrygeist is just...well I can't even find the words..
The trailer was certainly...enlightening!

Lucimay - Evil Dead 2 is great. I'm a big fan of the 3rd part- Army of Darkness.


Not forgetting Napoleon Dynamite which was estimated at $400k
I was taken to see that while vacationing in New Zealand - bizarre film!

Reminds me: this youtube clip shows just how much you can do with a limited budget, crew, and schedule.

Y'all know it's coming...

Billy Jack