Whether you’re familiar with the term or not, mumblegore as a sub genre seems like it’s here to stay. If you’re not familiar with mumblegore, think of the micro-budgeting, naturalistic dialog of the mumblecore movement in the last few years, and mix in the chills and thrills of the current indie horror uprising we’ve been enjoying. Filmmakers like Jacob Gentry, and E. L. Katz have been proving that a good scare is still worth more than a big budget Hollywood production. While James Wan was making Dead Silence for $20 million, Director Adam Wingard pushed out Pop Skull for just $2,000 that same year, and guess which movie turned out more interesting? You get my point. Movies like The Signal, You’re Next, and V/H/S put mumblegore on the map, so if you’ve missed those be sure to check them out. But if you’re all caught up and still hungry for some shoestring budget scares (which of course you are), you might want to give these a shot:

Pop Skull

A semi- autobiographical film about a heartbroken guy that pops pills and starts to see ghost. Seriously, that’s all that you need to know. Oh and one more detail, according to director Adam Wingard, when his first shoot didn’t impress his friends, he spent the next two months drinking cough syrup and re-editing the film over and over again to match what he was experiencing. What resulted is a psychedelic fever dream that earns its seizure warning at the beginning.

The House of the Devil

Samantha needed cash, and she needed it fast. So she did the most logical thing possible in the 80’s. She got a babysitting job. What she finds when she arrives is a lot more than she bargained for. This slow burner takes its time, trusts that its audience will follow along, and rewards the viewer with a gripping ending that both shocks and satisfies.

A Horrible Way to Die

A moody story about Garrick Turrell, a serial killer that escapes police custody to try and reunite with his ex-girlfriend by taking many innocent lives along the way. Sarah, having just checked herself into rehab for alcoholism, is trying to get her life back on track, and even meets a new love interest in a fellow AA member. It’s a strong story filled with dread from the opening shot to the closing credits.

Cheap Thrills

How far would you go to make a buck? In Cheap Thrills E. L. Katz explores this very question when recently laid off Craig Daniels and his old buddy Vince meet a couple out on the town. Throughout the night the couple dare Vince and the cash strapped Craig to doing daring and humiliating stunts to make some money. Then things get weird. Very weird.

The Sacrament

When Vice reporter Sam Turner receives a letter from his sister about a new community she’s joined, his cameraman suggest that visiting may be a good story opportunity. What they see when they get there is a commune not unlike the Jonestown cult of 1978. While The House of the Devil is probably Ti West’s most well regarded film, I feel like The Sacrament is his most even work to date. Filled with tension throughout, The Sacrament is a creepy experience.