3. Basket Case (1982)
Another cult classic with a truly weird premise is Basket Case, a 1982 horror movie about a man and his brother exacting revenge on those who have wronged them. Basket Case carries its bizarre premise to an equally strange climax through a number of developments so odd that it should truly be considered one of the weirdest horror movies ever made. Though Basket Case may be a relatively straightforward revenge story, its premise is what truly makes it stand out.
Duane Bradley arrives in New York with little more on his person than a locked wicker basket. It turns out that the basket contains his twin brother Belial – the pair were once conjoined, and while Duane appears normal, Belial is deformed. Basket Case follows Duane and Belial as they seek revenge against the doctors who separated them. Importantly, most other significant plot points stem from the fact that Duane and Belial share a telepathic link.
Basket Case is every bit as insane as it sounds. It actually impressed a number of critics upon its release (at least, more than one might expect), and was praised for its fun shock value and being “inexplicably touching“. Still, Basket Case will always be among the most insanely-conceived horror stories ever told.