5. Blow Out (1981)
Movie-Within-A-Movie: Coed Frenzy (Fictional Film)
Jack Terry (John Travolta), a movie sound technician working on a B-grade slasher film called Coed Frenzy, records what he believes is a car accident. However, he soon realizes he might have captured the assassination of a politician. De Palma masterfully juxtaposes the terrifying sounds of the film world with the horror of political intrigue.
Where to Watch:
4. Grindhouse (2007)
Movie-Within-A-Movie: Machete, Werewolf Women of the SS, Don’t, Thanksgiving, Hobo with a Shotgun (Fictional Film Trailers)
A double-feature presentation, Grindhouse delivers two full-length horror films, Planet Terror (directed by Robert Rodriguez) and Death Proof (directed by Quentin Tarantino). But it’s the faux trailers for non-existent exploitation films that steal the show. These over-the-top previews, from the vengeful Machete to the absurd Werewolf Women of the SS (directed by Rob Zombie), capture the essence of grindhouse cinema, offering both nostalgia and dark humor. They went over so well, most of them aren’t fictional anymore and have become their own spin-off feature films.
Where to Watch:
3. Scream 3 (2000)
Movie-Within-A-Movie: Stab 3 (Fictional Film)
Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), tormented by the Ghostface killer in the past, finds herself drawn back into the nightmare when the cast of Stab 3, a slasher film based on her life, start getting murdered. The blurred lines between the Stab film series and the real-life terror faced by Sidney make for a thrilling meta-commentary on the horror genre itself. Plus, it’s fun to see the characters we know and love running around with Hollywood-ized doppelgangers of themselves.
Where to Watch:
2. Berberian Sound Studio (2012)
Movie-Within-A-Movie: The Equestrian Vortex (Fictional Film)
Gilderoy (Toby Jones), a British sound engineer, is hired to work on an Italian horror film, The Equestrian Vortex. As he becomes engrossed in creating its visceral soundscapes, the line between the film’s gruesome narrative and his reality begins to blur. This atmospheric horror delves into the unsettling power of sound, making for a deeply immersive experience.
Where to Watch:
1. Matinee (1993)
Movie-Within-A-Movie: Mant! (Fictional Film)
Set against the backdrop of the Cuban Missile Crisis, film promoter Lawrence Woolsey (John Goodman) premieres his new atomic-age monster movie, Mant! – a tale of a man turned ant after radiation exposure. While the world outside grapples with real fears of nuclear annihilation, the movie theater offers escapism, capturing the magic of 50s B-movies and the communal experience of cinema.
Where to Watch:
The world of horror is vast and varied, but there’s something uniquely thrilling about a movie-within-a-movie. It’s a nod to us, the audience, where the characters can live in a universe even closer than we might have initially thought. Whether it’s a subtle background detail or a central plot point, these films remind us of the magic of cinema and the thin line between fiction and reality. So next time you’re watching a horror flick, keep an eye out – you never know when you might stumble upon a hidden world within.
Do you have another fictional movie to recommend? Or perhaps you can list out the 300 times Night of The Living Dead has been watched by characters in a horror movie? Sound off over in the Nightmare on Film Street Discord!
