Rituals
1977 · Canada/USA · 95m
Obscurity: obscure. watchable legallyThe Canadian Deliverance, and grimmer than the nickname promises.
Exploitation films from Canada
reelscum catalogues 17 exploitation films credited to Canada. They were released between 1974 and 2008. The subgenres that appear most often are Slasher (7 films), Body horror (5 films) and Women in prison (2 films).
The busiest decades in the catalogue are the 1980s (9), 1970s (7) and 2000s (1). Directors with more than one entry include David Cronenberg (5) and Don Edmonds (2).
Entries include Rituals (1977), Ilsa, Harem Keeper of the Oil Sheiks (1976) and Terror Train (1980). Each links to its own page with a verdict, rating axes and where to watch.
Ilsa, Harem Keeper of the Oil Sheiks
1976 · Canada · 93m
Obscurity: cult. watchable legallySame Ilsa, new empire. The harem keeps the whip, loses the swastika.
Terror Train
1980 · Canada · 97m
Obscurity: known. watchable legallyA costume party on a moving train, a killer swapping disguises, and Jamie Lee Curtis again.
Class of 1984
1982 · Canada/USA · 98m
Obscurity: known. watchable legallyDeath Wish enrols at high school and the faculty loses.
Rabid
1977 · Canada/USA · 87m
Obscurity: known. watchable legally. banned somewhereCronenberg gives Marilyn Chambers a blood-feeding stinger. Montreal falls apart around her.
Happy Birthday to Me
1981 · Canada · 110m
Obscurity: known. watchable legallyA prestige director slumming in the glut, and a poster more famous than the film.
My Bloody Valentine
1981 · Canada · 87m
Obscurity: known. watchable legallyCanadian, mine-set, unusually well shot. The censored cut ruined it for decades.
The Burning
1981 · Canada/USA · 91m
Obscurity: known. watchable legally. banned somewhereThe raft scene is the best kill in any slasher. The rest is fine.
Shivers
1975 · Canada · 87m
Obscurity: known. watchable legallyCronenberg's debut. A phallic parasite turns a luxury apartment tower into an orgy of the infected.
The Brood
1979 · Canada · 92m
Obscurity: known. watchable legallyCronenberg turns a divorce into monsters. Rage made flesh, and it is about his own custody battle.
Prom Night
1980 · Canada · 91m
Obscurity: known. watchable legally. banned somewhereJamie Lee Curtis, a masked killer, and a decade-old secret. Halloween cashes in, disco included.
Ilsa, She-Wolf of the SS
1975 · USA/Canada · 96m
Obscurity: known. watchable legally. banned somewhereShot on the leftover Hogan's Heroes set. Nothing here is defensible; it's catalogued, not recommended.
The Changeling
1980 · Canada · 107m
Obscurity: known. watchable legallyGeorge C. Scott versus a bouncing red ball. The best serious ghost film of its decade.
Scanners
1981 · Canada · 103m
Obscurity: known. watchable legally. banned somewhereThe exploding head made Cronenberg bankable. The film around it is smarter than that scene.
Martyrs
2008 · Canada/France · 95m
Obscurity: canon. watchable legallyThe New French Extremity's defining title, and the one that empties the room.
Black Christmas
1974 · Canada · 98m
Obscurity: canon. watchable legallyPredates Halloween and is scarier. The phone calls still work.
Videodrome
1983 · Canada/USA · 89m
Obscurity: canon. watchable legallyLong live the new flesh. Cronenberg's prophecy about media, the body, and a chest that opens.