'Watch' Out, It's a Small-Town Monster Invasion!

By Andrew Paulsen

In honor of The Watch's July 27 release, we've compiled a list of 10 memorable, modern era monster films to spread terror, one small town at a time. Watch out!
Tremors (1990)

Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward star as handymen in desolate Perfection, Nevada. After multiple disappearances of livestock and citizens on the edge of Perfection, Bacon and Ward find the culprits -- gigantic man-eating grubs!
Village of the Damned (1995)

In this John Carpenter remake of the 1960 Village of the Damned film, a group of women in Midwich, California coincidentally become pregnant and later give birth on the same day nine months later. The newborns grow rapidly and begin to display terrifying characteristics like orange, glowing eyes and telepathic abilities. Even more terrifying is the mind control they use to manipulate and kill people they don't like.
The Thing (1982)

One of Carpenter's earlier horror remakes, based on 1951's The Thing from Another World, follows a group of scientists in one of Antarctica's few research colonies. After taking in a certain stray dog, various members of the crew begin to take on a different "shape."
Signs (2002)

M. Night Shyamalan's sci-fi thriller Signs pits a former preacher and his family in rural Pennsylvania against alien forces. The aliens in this film have a negative reaction to water, unlike the next invaders on our list . . .
The Faculty (1998)

In Robert Rodriguez's The Faculty, our suspicions about the teachers we hated in high school is true -- they're all monsters! Well, not all of them, but most of them. Aliens are slowly taking over the fictional town of Herrington, Ohio and it's up to teenagers to stop an alien race from taking over their high school and city.
Slither (2006)

In James Gunn's sci-fi horror flick Slither, a small farming community takes on a swarm of slithering, alien slugs. As it turns out, the slugs might be the least of their worries after townspeople begin mutating into horrible monsters.
Fright Night (2011)

In this remake of the 1985 cult-classic Fright Night, Anton Yelchin stars as high schooler Charlie Brewster. After his new neighbor Jerry (Colin Farrell) moves in next door, Charlie notices suspicious activity and discovers that Jerry is in fact a vampire. As Jerry feeds on more and more people in the neighborhood, Charlie becomes the last man standing to fight off the bloodsucker.
Bad Taste (1987)

Peter Jackson's dark comedy Bad Taste is a slightly different take on the alien-invasion genre. Rather than typical deep-space monsters plotting to conquer earth, this film's aliens are interested in harvesting humans for an intergalactic fast-food restaurant.
Critters (1986)

In Critters, a small race of cuddly, Furby-like creatures crash-lands in a small farming town with similar intentions to Bad Taste,'s invaders. Only rather than serve humans for intergalactic cuisine, the Critters would much rather eat their humans raw.
30 Days of Night (2007)

Picture Fright Night in a remote Alaskan town during polar night and you get 30 Days of Night. Except rather than facing vampires in hiding, the film's protagonists must hide themselves and survive for 30 days until sunlight returns.

Offers

By Andrew Paulsen

Tremors (1990)

Village of the Damned (1995)

The Thing (1982)

Signs (2002)

The Faculty (1998)

Slither (2006)

Fright Night (2011)

Bad Taste (1987)

Critters (1986)

30 Days of Night (2007)