List "Self-aware" horror movies

[Rev. Powell]

Rev, have you seen Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon?

I really wasn't expecting much from the movie, but it ended up being way better than I expected it to. Not sure if it fits you "weird movie" criteria, but it was a really good film.

No, but I've heard of it.  Might make a good review someday.

[Rev. Powell]

There's also the spin-off of this subject applied to the topic of this site. I really don't like self-aware bad movies much. It's like going "Hey, we know this is sh*t, so that makes it awesome, right?"

Obviously, Toxic Avenger is an exception though, because it's so awesome.

I agree with the first part.  With DEAD SNOW, I became so annoyed with all the horror movie references (mainly because they kept reminding me of better, original movies!)  When the filmmakers are doing that, winking at the audience, it's like they're saying, "We know we're making a crappy film, it's a joke, see?  Please, please don't think we're incompetents."

Disagree on TOXIC AVENGER though.  Not because it was deliberately campy, it was a trailblazer in that respect.  I just don't think it's that great a movie.  And it has a lot to answer for, because basically Troma studios has been remaking THE TOXIC AVENGER for over 20 years now, never trying anything new or original.

[vukxfiles]

Off-topic a bit, but Dark Ride, the Horrorfest 8 Films to Die For one, has a character that is a movie geek, and he ends up being the killer.

[voltron]

Evil Laugh is kinda "self aware", and so is Return Of The Living Dead, i think.

[Joe the Destroyer]

The Dead Hate the Living.  The whole movie revolves around a crew making a horror movie with a director and actor that spend a large chunk of the movie BSing about b-movies.

It gets downright annoying in that movie, too.  I like a good horror movie reference as much as the next guy, but dammit, I don't need the characters to spell it out for me.  They make so many blatant references, it's dizzying. 

[vukxfiles]

Troma's The Last Horror Film (aka Fanatic). It revolves around a horror fanatic travelling to Cannes to stalk his favourite scream queen to ask her if she will star in his film, while people around her are being killed.

[Allhallowsday]

Kind of along the lines of Raffine's post about THE APE MAN, the 1959 version of THE HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL is rich with forshadowing, spooky atmosphere, and great perfomances by Vincent Price and Elisha Cook JR.
Vincent Price is perfect as the party host, Frederick Loren.  He invites the guests and the game begins.  
But to me it is Watson Prichard (Elisha Cook JR) who steals the movie.  He is the owner of the haunted house in question.  Twitchy and fearful,  throughout the entire movie he is talking about ghosts ... and  how all the house guests are doomed.  The dark shadows, the creepy caretakers, a screamng woman, infidelity and murder.  
Just love this one!

I think HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL is lame (like most WILLIAM CASTLE films).  I mean I loved it as a kid, but having rewatched it after buying it on VHS I was bored!  And I've seen it on TCM since, and it's still corny.  There sure is a lot of walking up and down that corridor with all the doorways that is in no way inside FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT's ENNIS-BROWN House (used for exteriors).   Let's not forget the blind housekeeper on roller skates, the hanging rope with a mind of it's own (a neat trick if you can pull it off - eh, yer neck) and a conveniently placed pit of acid in the cellar.    It's bad and I'm making it sound good!  

[ulthar]

PANDEMONIUM (1982) is "self aware" in the horror spoof sub-genre, like an earlier SCARY MOVIE (and not as 'edgy').  Some the in-jokes are subtle (but to me VERY funny) like the music when the chick is taking the milk bath.