Genre Films: The Raw, Real, and Rule-Breaking Movies That Build Communities

When we talk about genre films, movies grouped by style, tone, or theme to create shared expectations between filmmakers and audiences. Also known as category films, they’re not just labels—they’re promises. A horror film promises chills. A cult film promises weirdness that sticks. And indie genre films? They promise something real, even when the story is wild. These aren’t the polished blockbusters you see on billboards. These are the films that live in basements, film societies, and midnight screenings—where audiences don’t just watch, they chant, clap, and come back year after year.

Take cult films, movies that gain devoted followings despite poor reviews, low budgets, or initial box office failure. Also known as underground cinema, they thrive because people refuse to let them fade. Think of camp cinema, films embraced for their over-the-top style, ironic charm, or unintentional absurdity. Also known as aesthetic irony, it turns "bad" into something sacred. And then there’s horror movies, genre films built to unsettle, scare, and sometimes reveal deeper truths about fear and society. Also known as emotional thrillers, they’ve evolved from jump scares to psychological unraveling. These aren’t separate boxes—they’re overlapping worlds. A film can be horror and camp. It can be indie and cult. It can be a 90s slasher that still gets packed houses today.

What ties them all together? The people. Genre films survive because audiences care enough to keep them alive. They don’t need critical praise. They need repeat viewings, quote-a-thons, and fans who’ll drive across town to see them on a dusty projector. That’s what Scruffy City Film Fest celebrates—not the biggest budgets, but the boldest voices. Below, you’ll find real reviews, deep dives, and honest takes on the movies that don’t fit the mold. Whether you’re here for the blood-soaked classics, the weirdly beautiful oddities, or the films that made you laugh when you weren’t supposed to—you’ll find them. No fluff. No filler. Just the movies that stick.