Welcome to Day 7 of Spooky Season!! Today, I’m naming my top 5 episodes from the widely underrated show, Masters Of Horror. Lasting only 2 seasons, Masters Of Horror brought together a variety of legendary horror directors and they brought us a collection of fascinating short films. Today, I wanted to share the 5 films that stuck with me the most. I hope you enjoy and let me know your favorite Masters Of Horror episode!!

5. Pick Me Up

Directed By: Larry Cohen (The Stuff)

(Synopsis provided by IMDb.com): In the middle of nowhere, a recently divorced traveler, who is a passenger on a bus that has broken down, gets caught in a violent and bizarre turf war between serial killers.

With so many great episodes to choose for this list, Pick Me Up was chosen for its intriguing concept. In one corner, you have a hitchhiker who kills anyone who gives him a ride. In the other corner, you have a man who kills every hitchhiker he picks up. It was a great cat-and-mouse kind of situation with a poor soul caught in the middle. Plus the fact that their names were Walker (Warren Kole) and Wheeler (Michael Moriarty) just made it even better. Then, it brought an ending that definitely caught me off guard. Pick Me Up is such an enjoyable and thrilling episode.

4. Sounds Like

Directed By: Brad Anderson (Session 9)

Synopsis (provided by IMDb.com): Deeply affected by a personal tragedy, an office drone comes to realize his sense of hearing has taken on extraordinary capabilities that could drive him insane.

I’ll admit, Sounds Like was nowhere near my top 5 when I first saw it. However, out of all of the episodes I watched, this one stuck with me the most over the years. The story is so tragic yet so intriguing. To be plagued by loss and cursed with a power that will drive anyone insane is a very good concept. Seeing the slow downfall of this character was so well executed and I think it ended perfectly. I wasn’t expecting to love it so much the second time I watched it, but it definitely earned its place on this list!

3. The Black Cat

Directed By: Stuart Gordon (Re-Animator)

Synopsis (provided by IMDb.com): Great writer Edgar Allen Poe (Jeffery Combs) is struggling with alcoholism, writer’s block, and lack of funds. With his wife, Virginia’s (Elyse Levesque) black cat tormenting him, Edgar will either find inspiration for his most famous tale, or let his insanity destroy him.

There have been many adaptations of Poe’s stories and of Poe himself. This short film is under-appreciated and artistic. It was a unique take on the poet’s life and is full of twists and turns that make you question what is real and what’s in his head. Jeffery Combs’ portrayal of Poe is impressive and, in my opinion, even though it really pushes some boundaries, the entire short film deserves a wider audience.

2. Family

Directed By: John Landis (An American Werewolf In London)

Synopsis (provided by IMDb.com): Harold (George Wendt) is a seemingly peaceful neighbor, but underneath, he’s a murderous psychopath who has set his eyes on a young couple who have moved in across the street.

Family was a very memorable episode for me. I love that we get to see George Wendt in a completely different kind of role than we’re used to. What I love most about this episode is the ending. It completely turns the situation around and shows us what happens when a violent psychopath meets something worse. It’s one of those stories that brings a different perspective when you watch it a second time.

1. Cigarette Burns

Directed By: John Carpenter (Halloween)

Synopsis (provided by IMDb.com): With a horrid past that haunts him, Kirby (Norman Reedus) is hired to search for the only existing print of a film. The film is so notorious that its single screening caused its viewers to become homicidally insane.

Cigarette Burns will always be my number 1 choice! It was such a unique story with one hell of an execution. The film is a perplexing masterpiece that plays with the thought of what would actually happen if a film could make a person kill. The film also brings together a great cast along with that classic Carpenter style. Not only is this my top choice for this list, I’d probably say it’s my all-time favorite John Carpenter film!

Honorable Mentions:

Imprint directed by Takashi Miike

Incident On And Off A Mountain Road directed by Don Soscarelli