Even the biggest movie buff might only be limited to familiarity with the most common movie genre types, like drama, comedy, horror, sci-fi, dark comedy, and others.
But throughout the decades, ever since film was invented, there have been some seriously obscure movie genres. Some have fallen by the wayside as time has passed, likely only found in back shelves of historical collections, never to be made again. Others have been reinvented or are fairly new.
You might even be familiar with some of the films that fall into these generally unknown and, in some cases, totally weird, movie genres, but had no idea the genre even existed. Here’s a look at 10 of the best movie genres you probably never heard of.
Necrorealism
OK, this genre isn’t exactly for the faint of heart but if you’re totally into morbid themes, you might like this one. The post-revolutionary genre, inspired by the Russian art movement of the ’80s and established by a group led by filmmaker Yevgeny Yufit, follows themes of death and decay.
It focuses on black humor and often absurd topics. But if you’re into the world of serial killers, horror movies, and mysteries, this might be a genre worth exploring. Just don’t watch a film while having dinner! Some films of this genre include Werewolf-Orderlies from 1984 and Suicide Warthogs from 1988.
Bizarro
There are cult films and then there are Bizarro films. If a movie doesn’t quite make the cut to be classified as cult, that means it’s too weird and delves into the territory covered by this genre.
Films like 1977’s Eraserhead and 1989’s The Iron Man are perfect examples of this genre, which, as the name suggests, covers, well, super weird topics. The idea is that they are surreal and grotesque but also thought-provoking and puzzling. So it might be worth checking out if you want to be intrigued and horrified at the same time.
Psycho-biddy
Taking the concept of a horror or thriller and amping it up a few notches, these films typically center around an older woman who was once elegant and glamorous but has become mentally unstable and has gone on a spree of terror. Yes, there’s an entire genre to describe this type of movie. The genre has also been called Grande Dame Guignol, hagsploitation, and hag horror.
If you’re tired of the same old, same old horrors, consider a film in this genre like Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? from 1962 or Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte from 1964.
Parkour
You might be familiar with parkour, which is a training discipline born from military obstacle course training. The idea is to get from one place to another using no equipment and as quickly and efficiently as possible. It’s all about free running.
In terms of movie genres, films that are classified under this genre are generally influenced by computer games. You’ll see a lot of concentrated movements and action where the protagonist doesn’t necessarily do a lot of fighting but it more skilled at being able to effortlessly escape from difficult situations. Some movies that could be considered Parkour include Prince of Persia from 2010 and 2004’s District 13.
Sea Life Sports Films
If you’re really into the obscure, you might want to check out films like Crust (2003) and The Calamari Wrestler (2004), which fall into this weird genre. As the name suggests, Sea Life Sports films are about, well, sports and sea life combined.
Hailing from Japan, the concept is so weird that you just can’t stop watching. The Calamari Wrestler, for example, is about a pro wrestler who turns into a giant squid-like creature after developing a terminal illness. Naturally, his new form gives him a great advantage in the ring, what with all those tentacles.
Neo Noir
This film genre has become more popular of late, and simply describes films with a dark and shadowy theme. They typically involve crimes and drama and use atypical cinematography to draw you into the sinister and disturbing plots.
As a reinvention of the film noir genre, which was made popular in the ’50s, it literally translates to dark movie. The darkness references both the plot, including themes of revenge, paranoia, and alienation, as well as the style of cinematography, with shots that include tilted camera angles, creative use of lights and shadows, and unbalanced framing. Some popular Neo Noir films include Mulholland Drive and LA Confidential.
Body Horror
You have probably seen a lot of horror movies that showcase tons of horrifying things with one’s body. That 360-degree head twist in The Exorcist probably immediately comes to mind. But films of this genre focus specifically on how the human body can be presented in a really disturbing way.
It usually involves things like mutilation, disease, cannibalism, and, like The Exorcist, body parts moving in ways they really shouldn’t. Some popular examples of body horror movies include SAW, Final Destination, and Wrong Turn.
Ostern
This is essentially the Eastern European version of a Western whereby the main character is often a Soviet hero. Once popular in the Soviet Union, including Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia, it was developed out of the Russian Revolution.
Most Ostern films were made in the ’60s and were heavily influenced by Soviet propaganda. But the plots were usually quite similar to an American western where a strange hero comes to defend a small village from enemies. A good example of an Ostern film is 1964’s Lemonade Joe or White Sun of the Desert (1969).
Bollywood Horror
When you think Bollywood films, you probably think of upbeat themes, lots of colors and amazing dancing. And when you think of horror, you think of dark, mysterious, and brooding.
Put these two genres together, and you have Bollywood Horror, which is, indeed, a thing. Bollywood combines with Western influences to create these types of films that still include the musical numbers that are typical to Bollywood films but with horrifying plots. It actually dates all the way back to the ’40s, with the first film known to be Mahal from 1949. A more recent Bollywood Horror film is 1992’s Raat.
Tech Noir
Similar to Neo Noir films, Tech Noir films, as you might have guessed, take the same concepts but add an element of futuristic technology to it. The ideal examples include 2002’s Minority Report and 1982’s Blade Runner, as well as The Terminator films.
First breaking onto the scene in the ’80s thanks to the growth in computer technology at that time, Tech Noir films today really have to up their game considering that technology that was once considered futuristic is now reality. But it’s a great genre to immerse yourself in if you want to move beyond the basic sci-fi flick.
