U.K. NETFLIX

20. Pontypool (2008)

What if a virus could spread through words? Get caught in a verbal loop, or hear the wrong thing and madness locks in. When the only option is to ‘shut up or die’ that’s a problem for one mouthy local DJ and his staff, holed up in the radio station as chaos erupts outside. It’s a fascinating concept that’s hard to imagine but really smartly done. Just don’t ask me to explain the last 10 minutes…

19. The Woman In Black (2012)

Daniel ‘Potter’ Radcliffe plays a lawyer who’s ordered to travel to a remote village and sort out a recently deceased client’s papers. As he works alone in the client’s isolated house, he begins to uncover tragic secrets, and glimpses a mysterious woman dressed only in black. My favourite play, and TV movie, turned into a theatrical movie. While it’s watchable and eerie in places, it’s always workmanlike rather than inspired.

18. Hollow Man (2000)

As directed by Paul Verhoeven, that doyen of Epicurean cinema, that Archduke of the Bad Taste Blockbuster, this update of H.G. Wells’ The Invisible Man finds Kevin Bacon’s boffin losing his visible presence, and then promptly losing his marbles. Elizabeth Shue co-stars with Bacon, grabbing more screen-time than the oft-invisible K-Man – although in truth, all the cast are playing second fiddle to the Oscar-nominated special effects. Guilty pleasure entry here.

17. From Dusk Til Dawn (1996) [US/UK]

A first paid screenwriting job for Quentin Tarantino (the fee was a reputed $1,500), From Dusk Till Dawn languished till its scriptwriter became the hottest thing in cinema since François, Jean-Luc and co. decided to quit their scribbling gigs and direct. The Robert Rodriguez-helmed result is puddle-deep but delivers fulsome fun and gore galore – while genre fans are able to delight in showings from such semi-forgotten idols as John Saxon, Tom Savini and Fred “The Hammer” Williamson.

16. Cabin In The Woods (2012)

Five college students take a vacation at a remote cabin, but when they unwittingly unleash horrifying dangers they soon start to suspect there is some form of puppet-master pulling the strings. Postmodern horror co-written and produced by Joss Whedon. Puts you behind the scenes of a truly warped creative process, setting up cliches then smashing them with great curveballs. Not quite the game-changer it was made out to be (‘Scream’ did it better and first, with more engaging characters) but it’s an entertaining watch with clever ideas.

15. Zombieland (2010)

Imagine a young neurotic Woody Allen in a zombie crisis. That’s effectively who Jesse Eisenberg is playing in this horror-comedy road trip, keeping alive by following his carefully formulated rules. Zombieland doesn’t explore the origins of the zombie outbreak or have a particularly interesting plot (Woody Harrelson is trying to find a twinkie), but wins over through the sheer chemistry of its leads, witty writing and an entertaining mystery cameo.

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