Okay, guys...  I need your help.  

Without giving out any specific information as to why, I need serious recommendations for directors that excel in the lower budget horror spectrum.  Not $500K.  More along the lines of those that work in the $3-$5M range.  

Specifically, directors that have shown a particular knack for gore and action, creature effects, and lots and lots of atmospheric suspense with a touch of dark comedy.  

Any and all recommendations would be appreciated!

Cheers,

--J

Like someone we personally know... or someone we've heard of that makes such movies and you'll search them out yourself? Just need a name.

Hey D -

Not someone that you personally know.  Just anyone in that budget range whose films you've watched - either indie or mainstream circuit - and really admire...  :)

Thanks!

Quoted from wonkavite Hey D - Not someone that you personally know.  Just anyone in that budget range whose films you've watched - either indie or mainstream circuit - and really admire...  :) Thanks!

Cool. As far as directors that work on a budget:

Ti West: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1488800/

^^ this guy is a protege of of this guy, Larry Fessenden: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0275244/

Adam Green: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1697112/

Adam Wingard: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1417392

Lucky Mckee: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1031246

Anthony DiBlasi: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1304669

Mike Flanagan: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1093039

Don Coscarelli: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0181741

Jeremy Saulnier: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1099918

Christopher Smith: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1247462

Jon Knautz: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1394062

Rob Schmidt: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0818165/

William Malone: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0540532/
..........................

Some of these guys may me harder to reach. Coscarelli, Smith, Mckee... others may be easier... quality differs... some of these people haven't made a movie in years.

You said creature effects and gore... William Malone hasn't done a movie in years but he created the mask for Halloween and a bunch of other cool stuff.

These are just names of the top of my head. If any more names pop in, I'll list them later.

Absolutely cool, D - thanks!

Stuart Gordon is a good one: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002340/

He directed a ton of horror movies and was also suppose to direct: Honey I shrunk the kids, but the movie was pulled from him last minute.

He's made some good low budget movies. Including this weird ass movie: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0328031

Frank Henenlotter is also a cult horror director still working I believe: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0376963

Don Coscarelli.....BOY!

Don Cosarelli...  :)  I have to admit, John Dies at the End was really intriguing...  though it sort of lost its way at the end.  Great comedy edge, though.

And Stuart Gordon.  Reanimator?!?  :P  Funny thing, I believe one of my colleagues actually talked to Stuart about a script of mine, Territory, some time ago.  (Though that's not why I'm asking now.)  :P

Stuart Gordon is a really good director. His Poe episode from Master of Horror with Jeffrey Combs was great. It's actually up on YT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9iB0qfvE-8

The thing with low budget movies in my opinion is that you have to get a director that knows how to shoot a movie. Along with a quality cinematographer. That's half the movie right there if the script is strong. Especially in this digital age, where you don't shoot on film. You have to have someone that knows what he is doing and knows what kind of filters to use in post production to remove that cheap digital feel.

Quoted from wonkavite Don Cosarelli...  :)  I have to admit, John Dies at the End was really intriguing...  though it sort of lost its way at the end.  Great comedy edge, though.

I haven't seen that yet, but Coscarelli has also directed Bubba Ho Tep and the classic horror franchise Phantasm.  

He also appears to be writing the 5th installment Phantasm:  Ravager, which looks badass.

Quoted from Guest I haven't seen that yet, but Coscarelli has also directed Bubba Ho Tep and the classic horror franchise Phantasm.

Bubba Ho-tep is a great little movie. I remember watching the movie back in 2003. At the time it had something like 8.3 on imdb :)

Coscarelli also did a little movie called Survival Quest, which got a decent release recently. Lance Henriksen is in that. I kind of feel he wasted too much of his career on the Phantasm movies.

Well, his debut was in 1976.  

Phantasm didn't come out until 1979, then II in 1988, III in 1994, and IV in 1998.

I wouldn't say he wasted too much of his career with the franchise ( because they were some really good/great films).

BUT, I will say he wasted his directing career in general.  

He's been in the business very close to 40 years and only has about a total of 11 movies under his belt.

Man, Demento doesn't leave much to add. I'll throw in a few other thoughts:

Richard Bates Jr. - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3160595/

Jen and Sylvia Soska - Jen at http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3609341/

Jake West - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0922115/

Brian Yuzna - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0951206/

The Soska sisters are THE AWESOMEST.

What, no mention of George Romero?  For shame, people... :p

Uh, I doubt Romero's available for hire on a $5M budget... :P
But I'll agree, classic horror director in general!

What about the director of the creature feature "Splinter". That was an awesome low budget monster flick.

~Zack~