"B" movies. You may be familiar with the term, for its generally used to categorize movies that have slim budgets, unknown actors, and new directors. They are generally seen as the antithesis to big budget blockbusters.

But not all of these descriptions are true anymore. With the rise of computer aided graphics, cheaper camera units, and the ubiquity of the internet creating a "B" movie today has lost most of its dire connotations and ill-repute.

Even big stars can be seen in many of these "B" films, which are in general better labeled "independent."  Some indie films are horrible, so horrible you'll never want to watch another movie again.

Others are utterly confounding, getting lost in the translation from director to audience. But many today hit the mark, spot on. They deliver a pleasureble viewing experience for both layman and film buff alike.

In this article I will show you several "B" movie films that despite their lack of backing from major studios have done well to be added to the Hollywood walk of fame.

It is true that some people are masochists. They'll watch a movie that is so profoundly horrible, you wonder how anyone wasn't jailed for filming and releasing it.

That said, many of our pioneering technical effects have their roots in "B" movie schlock. At one point, you must understand, people didn't know how to pull off a lot of what is done. Sometimes they got it right, other times they didn't care.

Plan 9 from Outer Space is often given the title "worst movie ever made." The special effects were not particularly well done, and many obvious errors can be seen throughout the film. For example, in one scene you can see a boom mic shadow come across the actors. The flying saucers have strings. You get the idea.

But, I'm not going to be so hard on the film, actually. Because it is not the worst movie ever made. Nope, that title is given to the 2002 midget vampire flick entitled Ankle Biters.

Ankle Biters is so bad, I vowed at one point never to rent a B-movie again. But of course, I came to my senses after I awoke from the trauma induced coma. The plot of Ankle Biters is novel, and goes like this:

There used to be a race of tall vampires, but some how down the line they got turned into midgets or something. The main point of the movie is to find some sword that can be used to ressurect the first vampire and turn a league of midgets into tall people. Thats the general outline, I believe, because I've repressed my memories of seeing it so well.

The plot sounds servicable, but its not. Coupled with too much of a quirky story line, bad editing (in one scene the main character jumps and lands at a completely different angle, the audience can easily tell its an editing mistake because of the lack of talent from the producer), too small of a budget (the ending scene with an army of vampires is lacking, for they couldn't afford false fangs for everyone), and reprehensible acting throw it all down the tubes.

So the next time someone tells you Plan 9 is the worst movie ever made, don't believe them. All you have to do is show them the trailer. Be aware its probably now a crime to show this movie in several countries.

Having mentioned these two movies, indie films have from the very start portrayed a great level of quality. At one point, early on in the silver screen era, the technical capabilities between a studio with a lot of money and an indepenent project were not dramatically different. The technology to pull off major stunts, no matter how much money you had, just was not invented yet.

I love being a film buff. I love many movies, whether they be silent, or filmed in Cantoneese. And one of the greatest cinematic achievements of all times is considered to be Buster Keaton's "Steam Boat Bill Jr," which came out in 1928.

It was well written, full of comedy, and had great special effects. Indeed, in a time where there were no stunt man and no effects department Buster Keaton in this movie risked his life in a shot to have a part of a house fall on him. This movie was ground breaking, and produced indepdently. In fact, it was Buster Keaton's last independent film before he was signed to a major studio.

Still not impressed yet? If you're a horror fan, or in general, a movie fan, and if you've never seen Night of the Living Dead (the original 1968 version) than I suggest you see it as early as possible. Its actually even freely downloadable, for its largest progenitor George A. Romero has decided to allow it to enter public domain.

And yes, it was independent. As is George A Romero's latest "of the Dead" films.

Having shown you this brief retrospective, I will now list off several movies I have personally in my own collection. At times many of these movies can seemingly have some faults, but in general, these movies are the best of the best. They can generally match a big budget feature point-for-point.

Indie films, however, you must understand have a long lineage in the horror genre. This has probably something to do with the success of Night of the Living Dead, but also we must remember that during the 50s and 60s when theater goers took their dates to the picture show they wanted some reason to hold and coddle their beau.

Previously mentioning the ties to horror flicks, there's several in this category that I personally own and cherish.

Chiefly, I am enthralled by a very recent edition to zombie horror entitled "Diary of the Dead." Yes, again, its written and directed indepedently by George A. Romero, but this film expands on the genre in countless ways. The plot is to follow a group of college students who make their way out of a rural area where they were filming a student production as the country becomes gripped in zombie madness.

Unlike the previous outing in the series, Land of the Dead, this piece is contemporary and hits a lot of popular culture nerves. If anything can be said of this film, its the devotion to the "indie" film maker. One of the main characters of the movie carries around his camcorder and records all that he can, often times putting himself in peril.

The characters met along the way are often memorable, themes of religion and understanding are sprinkled through out, and its not at all light on the gore.

I feel its much better than the much hyped (and bigger budgeted) Sony Pictures movie called "Quarantine," which although its technically not about zombies, it follows the premise of filming an outbreak of crazies much the same through a camera lens.

A second film I've recently added to my zombie collection would be "Zombie Honeymoon." I know, it sounds horrible. But it truly is not. While their may be some defect in the fresh scab (aka: blood) used in the film, generally, the plot is well written and nicely acted.

It involves a newly wed couple who retreat to a seaside cottage for their honeymoon. The wife, while drawing a prophetic piece as her husband slumbers near her is spooked when she sees a man slowly emerge from the ocean. As he inches closer, she realizes something is very wrong. She tries to wake up her hubby, who does indeed come to but not before he gets a mouthful of zombie spit.

Hubby dies in the hospital, but mysteriously comes back to. And oddly enough, the really annoying a-hole that hubby shares a room with disappears. In fact, many people around the wife and husband start disappearing. The wife soon figures out what has exactly become of her husband, and while he is not quite a walking corpse bent on renting the living kind into yub yub chibbits she has to come to terms with this new situation. Til death us do part?

Vampires are classic Hollywood fodder, the first one filmed all the way back in 1922 as a silent filmed entitled Nosferatu. Vampire movies have enjoyed a lot of screen time, from Vampire in Brooklyn to the much beloved Interview with a Vampire.

But, The Breed is in a class all its own. Part detective story, part alternative history sci-fi, with much action, this movie really sets it's self apart from others in the genre. And thats one of, but not its most, redeeming qualities.

If the Will Smith headlined movie version of Wild Wild West can be argued as the poster for "steampunk" than you can call this movie the poster for "analogpunk" or maybe "sovietpunk." The sets are fantastic and look like a real version of the cartoon Batman or even Batman Beyond. Keyboards to computer screens are type writers. Everything looks like it needs a vacuum tube. Its as if Texas Instruments never existed to make the first single-chip processor that makes the tiniest of digital devices possible today.

So where do the vampires come in? From the start of the movie, actually. Two NSA detectives are tracking down a rogue element who seems to be a sadistic madman. The main character, played by Adrian Paul has his partner killed before him. He shortly realizes he is not dealing with a normal person.

In this movie, vampires exist. They have for centuries. But now they are tired of being feared, and wish to join the rest of humanity. They have developed a synthetic blood that allows them to co-exist without the need to raid the Red Cross. However, not all is well in Vamp Land, for a number of constituents would rather stay in the shadows and not enter the foray of being accepted as humans. They fear us, for we fear them. And hell hath no fury than fear from fighting.

The acting at times can seem a bit overcooked, but in general its not a hinderance to the movie in any way. The plot is solid, the sets are absolutely obscenely intricate and well planned, and there's some really fun fight scenes.

I'm a fan of werewolf movies. I don't particularly know why, but I've been attracted to them since I can remember. There's something innate about the need to fight an urge to turn into animal form and eviscerate strangers and loved ones alike.

And much like vampires, they've had many movies made for them. Besides the most excellent Ginger Snaps and its sequel Ginger Snaps: Unleashed, my favorite entry in the series is the third (and last?) film entitled Ginger Snaps Back.

The plot is uncovered slowly throughout the film, and its made to be a period piece existing in the 19th century Canadian wilderness. The two sisters who have shared different roles throughout the previous two films are finally brought together in a cohesive back story.

While I care not to divulge too much, there are no cheese holes to be found in it. The movie largely occurs in a fur trading station and fort whereupon over time many of the people who once formed a thriving community are gone. Where have they gone? Howling at the moon.

I cannot find faults to this movie, as much as I try. I'm sure I'm overlooking something, but the plot is well written. The acting has become phenomenal, and not just for Ginger and Bridget but it also goes for the whole cast. The clothing is period, and the makeup hits an all time technical beauty. It truly is a shame that this remarkable movie never made it to theaters in the States. That I know of, anyway.

And another, equally well done Werewolf flick that breaks off from the pack (are puns a crime?) is Dog Soldiers. The premise is that a group outing for a military excercise goes horribly awry when a deployed team comes up against a hungry pack of giant wolf creatures who happen to walk on two legs. By the end of the movie, the plot uncovers a conventional twist but this in no way encumbers the final scenes at all.

The acting, much like the afore mentioned movie, is superb. There are no faults to be found here. The dialogue is also cleverly written, too. In fact, it features the best dialogue ever spoken towards a werewolf as one of the cast members is about to be turned into Dog Chow; as he finds himself being penned down by a rather tall werewolf he leans in slightly and with confidence he says to it "I hope I give you the shits!"

A+

The next horror entry in this article is Teenage Caveman. And I'll be honest, this film has a lot of detractors because of its rampant sexuality. But if you go beyond this film, you find a cleverly portrayed version of technology versus religion, as well as other notable common themes.

The setting is again a post apocalyptic world wherein most of humanity has died in some giant scientific messup, and those left are clinging to a new version of tribalism and devout worship. After the main character decides he doesn't want his girl to be taken from him, and killing the priest that tried to take her from him, he is tied up and left to rot.

His friends find him and they begin their journey into an unknown world, where civilization once existed. Except they find two people still very much alive, living in a warehouse full of electronics, toys, clothing, and anything else your heart may desire. It sounds like the garden of eden, at first. But as the gang begins to get sick or end up mauled by animals, we quickly uncover a hidden truth.

All and all, if you've an open mind, and aren't a prude, you'll enjoy this film. The acting is on par with other "teen" flicks like Scream or I Know What You Did Last Summer. Yes, there is sexual content in it, but no, its not an "X" rated picture. Really, I have to ask, what exactly do tribal people do for fun? If you think playing the Nintendo Wii, you're sorely mistaken.

The final horror entry is Tamara. This gem came my way via a friend of mine, who insisted we at least watch it once. And I loved it.

It centers around Tamara, who lives with an abusive father. With a crush on her dreamy teacher, she manuevers through social circles as if swimming with sharks. Because no one likes her.

Her mother left her a book of spells, and she casts one to have previously mentioned (married) teacher to fall in love with her. Unknowingly playing into this idea, some social enemies devise a humilating stunt and lure Tamara to a hotel in which she gets ready to be bedded by her titillating teacher.

She uncovers the ruse, goes to the adjacent motel room, and has it out with the group of kids who devised the plot against her. In the process of fighting, she falls into a table corner and suffers head trauma. She is buried, believed to be dead.

Yet she shows up the next day back at school, and hotter than a supernova. Overtime, every person that was present in the motel room where her fall took place comes across revenge in the form of allure.

Her Dad eats a twelve pack of glass bottled beer, one skinny woman decides her flesh is inviting enough for her to eat, and her first victim kills himself on live closed circuit television in the school.

The acting has no faults, the plot is just unusual enough to keep it from being lost in the dozens of horror flicks produced every year, and the ending has a tragic twist.

I highly recommend it.

The next two movies break from the horror genre in total, although, some of the ideas presented in them may prove to be more terrifying.

If you've ever been forced to read the book The Giver, which entails a world where people are just fine and dandy and exibiting little emotions, you'll be familure with Equilibrium. If you've seen the Matrix trilogy, or even more closely linked in ideaology, V for Vendetta, you'll like this movie.

Christian Bale exists in a world where all of the old conventions of society have been white washed by society as they take a substance called "Prozium" that leaves you in a very zombie-like state, almost Keanu Reeves-like.

Our boy Christian is a high ranking officer in the fascists police and is charged to track down records, books, movies, and literally anything thats fun. For, if you're having fun, you're not on Prozium. And if you're not on Prozium, you're not with the program.

This film is excellent, and I think has more redeeming value (in my personal opinion, anyway) than V. I'm not trashing V, I'm merely more happy with how Equilibrium so well pulled off the themes presented in the two movies. Did I mention gunfu? Ever seen a sword fight with guns? (Besides 1996's DiCaprio + Danes?) Its amazing. Highly unlikely, yes, but amazing.

The sets are well designed, sparse and utilitarian, and should be found beautiful for ex-Soviets. And much like V, by the end of the movie, the world is forever changed.

Another neat slightly sci fi adventure is 1995's Strange Days, which was well recieved until it dated it's self for it takes place at the turn of the century. Black on white warfare is ever present, and rascism can be seen as a central theme. They just got it wrong by making it white on black, instead of hispanic on black.

The main character is an ex-detective who sells "clips," which are basically stored memories that are recorded onto a minidisc for later use. Lenny Nero is a likeable, if albeit, amoral character, who is trying to make biz the only way he knows how to.

Unfortuantely, someone is going around and doing some not very nice things to women. And worse yet, these women are made to experience their horrible demise through the eyes of their killer because said killer uses the technology previously mentioned to not only record and playback for later, but also splicing it up so the women see and feel everything that he is doing to them.

In the end, this is a slightly off murder mystery which briefly touches on technology, while being mostly about social issues. Produced and co-written by James Cameron, while it may be a "B" movie in some sense, the plot alone is worth a watch. The acting isn't  bad at all, and because its more set in contemporary times, there's nothing outlandish for you to have to believe in.

The last two movies that round up the list are by no means my least favorite. In fact, one stars one of my top two favorite actors, Samuel L. Jackson.

The first is Caveman's Valentine, which is nothing more than a murder mystery. However, Romulus Ledbetter, aka, Caveman (who is played by Jackson) is the film's unlikely plot unraveler. Romulus is an ingenious pioanist who can perform as well as the greats, but he has one slight problem. He's skitzo.

After finding a dead body in a tree outside his "cave," he vows to find the killer. His daughter, conveniently a police detective, doesn't believe him at first. But throughout the movie, Romulus stumbles through the plot at times seemingly normal, and at other times, intrinsically surreal. While most films fail at showing the mind of a psychotic nature, with the intense performance by Sammy and dancing moth cherubs, the theme is finally pulled off probably better than anyone has ever done.

Damn green rays!

And finally, we have Crazy as Hell, which is again another psychological mind bender. The main character, Ty Adams, is an unconventional psychologist. He approaches the use of medication for mental patience with disdain, and fancies that he himself can rid the world of brain disturbances just by treating people on an individual basis. A lofty goal, for sure.

We follow Ty to a mental hospital where he is to work his magic and be filmed while doing so for a documentry. However, we quickly realize that the character with the most mental health issues may just well be our good doctor.

By the end of the movie, the title ambigiously lives up to its name, in a rather gruesome way. While you can consider it horrific, I don't feel it deserves to be bunched up with horror as its not really particularly suspenseful in the monsters and mayhem kind of sense. Just like Caveman's Valentine, this continues to be one of the most well written movies I've seen, and I highly encourage you to take a peak and perhaps add it to your own collection.

All of these movies have common threads of artistic passion and commitment. I'm in no way trying to detract attention from the barrage of more traditional big budget fare, but by limiting yourself to such things you're missing out on some of the better movies to come out in recent years.

With fiber optics quickly becoming the dominant medium things are transferred on, and with the inevitable recoil that will be brought by our economic woes, the lines that once divided big budget studio features and smaller independent ones will intermingle more and more. As technology was once uncommon in the earliest of silent films, today technology is proving to become so ubiquitious that public schools are teaching editing and technical skills that would make Bela Lugosi's head spin.

I only hope we can continue producing enough artiste`s to exploit this new found power.