While I'm not as much of a fanatic as some people, I do enjoy a horror movie once in a while. I tend to go on a horror binge this time of year, for obvious reasons, but I'm at loose ends for what to watch because it's so difficult to find ones that are actually good. I asked for Watch Instantly suggestions on the Netflix thread, but I figured it's worth a discussion here too. Focus: What are your favorite horror movies? Alt Focus: What are your favorite horror sub-genres? (Vampires? Zombies? Ghosts? Slasher flicks?) I'm personally not much of a torture porn fan, or things that are just all about the gore and violence. I prefer the ones that have a bit of intelligence to them, or are more psychologically scary. I'm usually most freaked out by serial killer movies, since they could actually happen. I saw the trailer for Strangers, and I knew I could never watch it because it was about one of my worst fears ever. As for the classic subgenres, though, I'm a zombie kind of girl. I find how the genre has been evolving to be really fascinating, and I love how the modern zombies are always created now by something that seems imminent. For specific movies, I do love 28 Days Later. I can't think of any horror movie that had a better plot. The only other one I'll mention is one that I doubt many people have heard of, but should definitely watch. It's called Severance. It's a British movie, which is weird because I usually don't like British culture but I loved this movie. What was so great about it was that it was a horror-comedy, and the comedy was actually really funny and the horror was actually really terrifying. It's about this group of coworkers from a weapons company going on an office retreat. Of course they get lost and wind up at the wrong cabin, and they start getting picked off one by one by these killers. It was so perfectly done. As soon as I thought I was going to start crying because I was so scared, they'd lighten the mood in just the right way with some joke (usually of the pitch black humor sort). Just trust me on this one, find it somewhere and watch it.
If I were to rank them by favourite, my list (a good reccomend for Halloween) would be: 1) Suspiria 2) Night of the Living Dead (1968) 3) Poltergeist 4) The Exorcist 5) Twitch of the Death Nerve 6) Repulsion 7) The Thing (1982) 8) Dead of Night 9) An American Werewolf in London 10) Psycho 11) Slither 12) Hellraiser 13) Cujo 14) The Changeling 15) Evil Dead 2 16) Deep Red (Profouno Russo) 17) Black Sabbath 18) Nightbreed 19) In The mOuth of Madness
1. The Shining 2. Poltergeist 3. 28 Days Later 4. Exorcist 5. Jacobs Ladder 6. Rec 7. The Ring 8. Se7en 9. The Thing 10. Ju-On
I just don't get scared when watching a horror movie, so I look for those that will make me laugh hysterically. With that in mind, my favorites are the slasher movies, the Friday the 13th series in particular. I liked Psycho, thought it was a great film in general, but I may be the only person in the world who thinks the sequel in 1983 was better. Psycho and Psycho 2 had outstanding plots. I prefer the sequel because it was about Norman Bates trying to ease his way back into a normal life in society, only to be confronted by those who didn't support his release from prison--with very good reason.
The first script I ever read was for Se7en, I was about 14. Reading the script was so terrifying that I stopped every few scenes, it took me an entire day to read it. Watching the movie was even scarier because I had such a visceral knowledge of the plot, I was immersed in the details and had imagined it all - even more grotesquely - in my mind. I still can't sit through it all.
I know this is a stupid teen movie, but I'm a huge fan of Scream. I rooted for the killer in all three, but unfortunately he just couldn't finish the bitch off. Sad. The best horror movie is by far The Shining, and nobody is a real horror fan unless they love zombie movies. Some others I like are: - Pet cemetary - The thing - Jaws (I guess this is horror) - The exorcist - Psycho (duh on all of the last 3) - Omen I (the orginal), II, and III - Dawn of the dead - Night of the living dead - An American Werewolf in London (so underrated) - Silence of the lambs, the sequels are not as good - Se7en Hopefully there's one of those you haven't seen. I love vampires, but pretty much every vampire horror movie I've ever watched was awful. The Anne Rice ones were OK, but nothing special and when those are the best it's about damn time someone made a good movie centered on them. Please don't refer me to Blade.
That's a pretty definitive statement, no? Nothing else has even come close? Especially since you chose a horror film that, despite its positives, isn't even scary. The original is rightly considered a classic. It's really good. However, you're the first person I've come across who also loves its two sequels. 2 was watchable, but far from good, let alone special. 3 was absolutely horrible; one of the crappiest "horror" films I have ever seen. I would love to hear your explanation. Anyways, I haven't seen nearly enough giallo or Asian horror to make a list that I would be happy about, but among somewhat undermentioned pictures, I recently watched Witchfinder General, which was very good. I wrote up a review, but it's a truly visceral, evil film, doing a great job of what so many horror films fail at; exposing the ugly, dark side of human nature. Plus, it's arguably the best performance of Vincent Price's long, illustrious career.
This might just be because of where I was when I saw it, but I got really into the remake of House of Wax. It was because I it was just me and my sister, in a movie theater on the Jersey Shore boardwalk, where the ticket price was negotiable, the vendor at the snack counter had a hunchback and a lazy eye, and the theater door had to be propped open slightly and was banged closed loudly. The whole atmosphere of the theater made it that much scarier. As for sub-genre, I've always been into slasher films. The original Halloween, the Scream franchise, etc. I love the three seconds of fear that comes with someone jumping out from behind something. I like it so much more than trying to scare me with gore and "bad guys."
That's called The Conqueror Worm in most parts, it has atmosphere to burn. My thing about The Shining is this: either shorten it, or add more horror scenes. Those two factors really drag it down. Kubrick's extreme wide lens is used perfectly for this gigantic hotel, but some scenes lumber on and ONE. Plus, Nicholson's character goes off the deep end BIG TIME in simply a matter of days. No time to get involved with his plight, Jack needs to ham it up for the camera. I wouldn't rate the film as bad, it is in the long run a good film with some memorable horror set pieces, but not close to being the best horror film to me.
I need to parrot Slither. Fantastic homage to the space invaders flicks of the 50s/60s. Think Invasion of the Body Snatchers meets Evil Dead II. Slick as hell. To me, the best horror is real characters in an impossible situation that allows the viewer to suspend disbelief. You don't question the reality of it. It's a drama that builds tension and fear and scares. The Exorcist is the best example. It's a fantastic movie because it's psychologically fraying. It builds tension slowly, thoughtfully, until you have no idea how you've made it to the end. That's really the only movie I've taken to bed with me. No shit, I slept with the lights on the first time I saw it. I was fucking 20. When the bitch came down the stairs I was in mid-joke and literally flew out of the seat screaming "FUCK THIS!" Stephen King flicks are awesome. I could waste a day watching them. They may not always be the best, but they're fun. Christine, Carrie, The Dark Half, Creepshow. The Shining is a work of true art and Misery is stellar, just riveting to watch. There's one that gets virtually no love: The Night Flier. It was an HBO made flick about a vampire that gets around in a Cessna. Slightly corny, but it's fun as fuck. Let me also parrot 28 Days Later. Slow zombies never really got me. Fast ones are FUCKED. I loved the hell out of the Dawn of the Dead remake too.
Most Vincent Price films probably aren't considered horror since there aren't too many that have actual scares. However, there are a few of his that rank as my favorite. The Abominable Dr Phibes Price plays the eponymous doctor who exacts revenge on the doctors that he blames for his wife's death and his own disfigurement. Each death set in the style of the Biblical plagues. One is devoured by locusts, another mauled by bats, one drained of blood, etc. It sounds hammy, and it *is* hammy. It works on every level with Price nearly at his best. Theater of Blood Probably my favorite Price film and easily one of my favorite horror films. Similar in premise to Dr Phibes, Price plays a disgraced Shakespearean actor who avenges himself by killing off each member of a group of prominent theater critics. Each murdered in the style of a death in one of Shakespeares plays. Like I said, similar to Dr Phibes, but elevated to a whole new level. Hammy as Dr. Phibes, in fact hammier even, but an absolute delight to watch. An added bonus is that the movie is essentially a giant "Fuck You" to all of Vincent Price's critics who observed him being typecast as a hammy horror villain. With Theater of Blood, he illustrates that he takes these roles because he's great at them and he loves doing them. And what else do you need really. Fall of the House of Usher Even the worst of the Poe/Corman/Price produced movies are still entertaining in their own way (Looking at you Raven) but House of Usher is probably my favorite. With a script penned by Richard Matheson (of I Am Legend/Twilight Zone fame) and as usual Price hamming it up, a great film to watch overall. Echoing Crown Royal above, Twitch of the Death Nerve deserves an additional nod. By far not the first slasher flick, but one that surely exemplifies the trope. Plenty of gore and sex, hallmarks of any slasher film, but unlike modern slasher films - Bava remembers to put the horror and suspense in. A good movie to see the roots of the slasher film, but also to see how it should be done. Kill, Baby, Kill Another Bava classic, and probably my favorite of his. A top notch gothic flick/ghost story. Set in a remote Italian village haunted by the ghost of a little girl who compels her victims to kill themselves. Honestly, very low expectations going into this, but I was so very wrong. This one creeped the ever loving hell out of me. Made on a shoe string budget but one of the most atmospheric/suspenseful horror films I think I've ever seen. Others may disagree, but this one is an underappreciated gem. Definitely worth a watch.
It's funny - the ones with human killers scare me the least because I know I could conceivably stop them. It's the supernatural/alien/monster-y shit that freaks me out. Also, the fear of being literally frightened to death is worse than any physical/visual stimuli. My list (in no particular order except the first): 1) Re-Animator 2) The Descent 3) Let the Right One In (there is the recent remake but the first one was done so perfectly) 4) The Thing 5) The Beyond 6) Evil Dead 7) The Ring (remake - that girl in the closet gave me nightmares for months) 8) Jacob's Ladder 9) The Changeling (not the Angelina Jolie flick - the ghost story starring George C. Scott) 10) Ghost Story 11) Rec (the remake was apparently shot-for-shot - I didn't see it but not much is as creepy as the final scene) 12) American Psycho
Suspiria is simply just the ultimate horror film for me. The music score is immeasurably spine-tingling, and from the very opening frame the film is a nerve racking, candy-coloured nightmare. It has the most savage murder scene you'll ever see (plus a few other goodies to boot) and it's first and last reel are untouchable. Dario Argento fashioned it after Snow White and everything is washed in light gels and symbolism. The plot's kind of dumb and the acting a little rubber-stamped (due to dubbing) but it's power to chill and shock hasn't aged a day. Another great Italian director was Mario Bava, a master of cinema light & shadow technique. He did Twitch of the Death Nerve, Black Sunday, Shock, Blood & Black Lace, Kill Baby Kill!, and Danger: Diabolik. I remember watching the "Drop Of Water" chapter of his movie Black Sabbath as a kid and it scared the living shit out of me:
I laughed more watching this movie than I was actually scared. I love it for the dialogue. The bathroom scene between Grady and Torrence gets me every time. I haven't been scared by a horror movie in a long time, so I leave it out of my criteria, which to be honest is unfair, but Nicholson's performance makes this my favorie. If I was making a serious list, as in these are objectively great horror movies, I wouldn't have Omen III on there. Like nearly all part IIIs and sequels it didn't live up to it's predecessors. I always enjoy the heaven vs hell stories, so I can like even a poorly made one. There's a lot of zombie movies I love that are also, by any real measure, terrible movies. I did accidentally leave Let The Right One in off my list when I was talking about vampire films. Forgot about that one. I'll have to check out some of the movies I got in reps. I'll never understand the praise for Dusk Til Dawn though. Now that was a real piece of a shit.
If you are a fan of zombie movies and haven't seen Dead Snow, you need to watch it. It's not really scary, but it is awesome in every other way. It's a foreign film, but you can find it with english dubbing which they actually did a respectable job of, or if you don't mind you can watch it in subtitles. It doesn't take itself to seriously, it's full of funny dialogue and well paced. There's a lot of hilarious moments, and the zombies and gore are very well done. Who wouldn't want to watch a movie about an undead platoon of Nazi zombies?
I also like bad remakes of bad 70's films. Last House on the Left, The Crazies, etc. I'm aware that they're not good, but with lines like "piss your pants or I'll shoot her in the face", how can you go wrong.
The problem with slasher movies is that most of them, when you look at them, are terrible. Friday the 13th has not one good film in its archive. Nubile campers, bloody executions, Jason dies (but not really), rinse and repeat. No suspense, no cause or motivation. Slasher movies I WOULD recommend are: Twitch Of The Death Nerve (aka Carnage, Bay of Blood) The best, and first to set the standard. Watching this you'll see how Friday, Halloweeen and others blatantly ripped this film off. However, it has a completely original style and show-off visuals, which most of the genre doesn't. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) Sometimes, genius is accidental in cinema. Tobe Hooper directed this $5.49 film from such a distance that he turned it into a frighteningly real and claustrophobic nightmare. Despite what practically EVERY idiot says about the film for the last 36 years, it has hardly ANY blood and no graphic violence whatsoever but that matters nothing. When Leatherface jumps the wheelchair-bound kid in the forest any first time viwer will wet 'em. The remake is toilet paper for this film. Halloween (1978) This is the first modern-era Hollywood slasher, a great one that has mild violence and a dynamic mood. Most of it is shot between two neighbourhood houses and counterbalances supense well with John Carpenter's classicly eerie music score.
Some of my favorites... -Halloween(1978) -Dawn of the Dead(78)*remake is pretty well done, I will say* -The Shining(can watch this over and over, great atmosphere, memorable images/dialogue, amazing camera work, and it's probably one of the first few movies that creeped me out the first time I watched it) -The Exorcist(a landmark for horror....will never lose it's luster) -A Nightmare On Elm Street(84) -Let the Right One In -The Thing(mix of horror and sci/fi) -The Texas Chainsaw Massacre(original) -Suspiria(must be seen by any horror fan. It's a visual masterpeice, balls out gory, and a phenomenal soundtrack by Goblin) -The Ring -Fright Night -The Evil Dead Trilogy -Henryortrait of a Serial Killer
Not a big fan of your typical horror flicks, but there are 3 movies that do stand out that I quite enjoyed. Serpent and the Rainbow. House of 1000 Corpses. The Devil's Rejects.