Your 10 Most Favorite Horror Films (And Why)...

[JDFP]

So, make your list (for the amazement, ridicule, and general good fun of everyone else here!) of your 10 most favorite horror films ever and why these are your 10 most favorite horror flicks.

1. George A. Romero's "Day of the Dead". This is my most favorite horror flick ever made, period. I've hit on this in other posts here before and will only give a quick blurb. I think this flick is horror perfection, the perfect mix of life/death hope/fear and all the elements that belong to a great horror flick. I can't praise it enough.

2. John Carpenter's "Christine". While others would rank "The Thing" and "Halloween" higher than "Christine", I can't ever watch "Christine" enough. From the eerie atmospheric music (Carpenter also did) to the beauty of the Autumn red '58 Plymouth Fury. If you love cars as much as I do, this is a freaking amazing car movie. Every time I see this film I want to take my Corvette (Eden) out and do a complete job on her. I love this movie. It's so simple (a boy and his car); but it's about so much more -- the feelings of love, loss, despair, the confusion of youth, I have nothing but great things to say about this film.

3. Steven Spielberg's "Schindler's List". I know alot of people would argue with placing this in the "horror" list of films as not being about traditional horror motifs, but I'd argue that some of the greatest horrors out there are the horrors that we can do to each other as a people. This film terrifies me every time I see it in realizing that as humanity we have been able to do this to ourselves, outright destroy and murder an entire culture/religion of people for their faith, their way of life. The capturing of the life in the ghetto and the concentrantion camp is horrifying. A scene that really stands out to me is when the children are hauled onto the back of open-ended trucks waving to their parents with their parents realizing they are going to their death. So yes, you're damn straight I classify this as a horror film, and a masterful one at that.

4. George A. Romero's "Dawn of the Dead" (Extended Version): While I enjoy Goblin's music more, the extended version for me is actually seeing the complete film. Any other version is like missing part of the movie -- I guess I'm spoiled on it. What needs to be said? It's great film-making.

5. "The Exorcist". As a person of faith myself, this film is extremely disturbing and yet profound (as a Roman Catholic myself) in seeing the power of Good V. Evil. Ironically, Max von Sydow is probably the only person I know of that's played both Christ ("The Greatest Story Ever Told") and Satan ("Needful Things"). I think his role here as the priest is convincing and unflinching as an exorcist empowered by the Vatican for his work. The scene with the crucifix (you know what I'm talking about) is also probably one of the most disturbing things I've ever seen in film.

6. "The Day After" (1983). I grew up as a child of the 80's (born in 1980) and through my youth and in elementary school I was always terrified (I blame my parents for letting me watch horror films and the nightly news every night, even more terrifying) when I was growing up. As a child I was always frightened of the air raid sirens (we still have some in Knoxville that they test from time to time and it always puts butterflies in my stomach) and that ultimate flash of light that would come. This film really captures the feelings of so many of us through that era -- something that people born after about 1985 or so just WON'T/CAN'T understand like us what it was like to grow up in this MAD (mutually Assured Destruction, dear Tears for Fears), world. I still remember the panic of the people in the film and knowing that unlike zombies, evil cars, etc., this film could potentially be all too real at any moment (at least in our youth). Still watching this film today, although dated, it still frightens me for the intensity and those emotions that it illicits from me.

7. "Testament" (1983). This film is quite similar to "The Day After" (it was released the same year) but instead of focusing on a nuclear war in the world at large, it's about a family living in the 'burbs in the aftermath of a nuclear war. These folks (and their town) were not lucky enough to 'go fast with the flash'. The film is about a mother and her children as she and her family (and their town as well) slowly succumbs to the radiation and the realization that the world as they have known it is over. I'd probably rank this and "The Day After" as both being equal in horror -- with "The Day After" being on a national level with this one being on a local level.

8. M. Night Shyamalan's "Signs". I freaking love Shyamalan's films. I even love his stuff that other people are not all that crazy about ("Lady in the Water", "The Happening"). This one is my favorite flick he's done and I think a great homage to "Night of the Living Dead" as well as just a spectacular movie about family / faith / and fear (the three best elements to mix together for horror, in my opinion). I think Mel Gibson was fantastic in this role, and I'd be remiss if I didn't say (as a Christian) the ending of this film did not leave me in tears -- because it did. I can't speak highly enough about this film and I am really looking forward to adding this (and all the others here) to my blu-ray collection.

9. George A. Romero's "Night of the Living Dead". Enough said, ghoul fans. The original and still the masterful. While I think he's subsequent films (in the trilogy mind you, ahem) were superior to the original, this is still one of the most frightening films I've ever seen. This was actually also the first of Romero's trilogy films that I have seen. I remember I was about 7 when I found my dad's old (not old at the time) VHS "Goodtime Video" copy (the grainy EP quality of the film just made it even more enjoyable to me) of the film and ended up not sleeping for about a week. Who would have 'thunk it that this was my introduction into the world of Romero and masterful horror?

10. Victor Salva's "Jeepers Creepers". The sequal is 'meh', but I think this original flick is just extremely well-done and a fanstastic film all together. Salva managed to bring out all the best horror elements while throwing out all the tedious and monotonous "teenager/slasher" crap so prevelant in the horrible (as opposed to horror) films made today. This really is a fantastic horror flick, I remember seeing it in the theatre thinking: "Wow, this is great." Now, after seeing it another 50 or so times, I feel the same.

Honorable Mentions (if I were to go beyond 10): "Pet Semetary" (And now I want to play with you!), "The Ring", "The Blair Witch Project", "The Thing", "Pulse" (American version), "Carrie" (the original: They're all gonna laugh at you!), "Halloween", "The Mist" (especially the ending), Spielberg's "Duel".

Alright folks, what are your thoughts? If you had to select your 10 favorite horror films what would they be (and why?); feel free to add in some honorable mentions as well.

j.p.

[DjfunkmasterG]

Not so much horror, a few drama thrown in their.

1. Dawn of the Dead - First horror and first film I ever watched and it was at a very young age. The epic scale and feel of the movie, plus the isolation and tension... not too mention being locked inside a mall having everything yu could ever want.

2. Saturday Night Fever - Second movie I have ever watched, again at a young age. Through the years when every thought it was cool to Bash the Bee Gees and JT I always stood up for this gritty flick about Brooklyn teenager trying to use dancing as a way to get himself motivated to do something else.

3. American History X - What can one say about this gritty, yet awesome drama about growing up in a home with subtle racism that changes your entire belief structure at the drop of a hat.

4. The Exorcist - To this day this movie still gives me the heebie jeebies. i don't know if it is from the atmosphere or just the overall well written story of possession and exorcism.

5. The Return of the Living Dead - BRAINS BRAINS BRAINS - At the age I watched this film i didn't catch onto the comedic aspects to me it was a different generations of zombies that i found a lot more scarier than Romero's slow moving dead.

6. Signs - Much like the OP I dig the Night of the Living Dead vibe from this film.

7. Day of the Dead - Romero's final entry into the original pittsburgh trilogy showing the world decimated by the living dead. Edgy, gritty, and atmospheric... pretty much how I would have envisioned the end of the world had it happened in the 80's.

8. A Nightmare on Elm Street - 1, 2 Freddy's coming for you. No song was ever as creepy or disturbing as that tune. The mix of horror and violence was enough to keep me awake a few nights.

9. Halloween - JC's definitive horror OPUS - Need I say more?

10. The Devil's Rejects - RZ's only good horror film, but what a great film it is, keeps you entertained from start to finish and has the single best use of free bird ever put to celluloid.

[bassman]

http://forum.homepageofthedead.com/showthread.php?t=8932&highlight=favorite+horror+films


-All of Romero's dead films
-The Thing
-Pyscho
-Alien
-Freaks
-The Shinning
-The Fly(remake)
-Close Encounters of the Third Kind(I know it's not really horror, but I bought it the other day and it still freaks me out)
-An American Werewolf in London
-The Blair Witch Project(sue me, I think it's original)

Why? Because they're good and/or scary.:shifty:

[LouCipherr]

1. A Nightmare on Elm Street - Scared the ever-living shit out of me in the theaters when I saw it (I was 13, give me a break! lol) and to this day remains the one horror movie that scared me so bad I was afraid to fall asleep for a week.

2. John Carpenter's Halloween - Something about that expressionless face and his will to keep on killing. I don't know, but it's #2.

3. Carpenter's The Thing - I like this for so many reasons, and probably too much to post here. A few things to say about it - aside from their hairstyles and the computer MacCready is using to play chess, you could believe it was made within the last few years. The Special FX were something to behold in this flick. Who needs ET when you have this kind of alien? :D

4. House on Haunted Hill (remake) - My introduction the Geoffrey Rush, and what an introduction it was. "I'M STEVEN GODDAMN PRICE!"

5. The Devil's Rejects - the one and only RZ movie that's worth a fuck. Bill Moseley steals the spotlight on this one, and rightly so. "I am the devil, and I'm here to do the devil's work." Right-the-fuck-on, Bill!

6. Aliens 2 - because A) it kicks fucking ass, and B) Paxton was THE MAN in this film! Worth it for the "Why don't you put HER in charge!?" line alone. :p

7. Dawn of the Dead - nothing need be said about this. Classic zombies, period.

8. Evil Dead 2 - One word: GROOVY.

9. Return of the Living Dead - scared me because the damn zombies couldn't be stopped by any of that "remove the head or destroy the brain" shit. BRAINS!

10. Carpenter's The Fog - why, I have no idea, I just fucking like it. :p

[bassman]

Aliens 2

Dude....seriously? I'm gonna have to go Hellsing on you with a "FAIL"..

[MinionZombie]

Selected out from my "Top 50" favourite movies of all time that I blogged about a while back ... (http://deadshed.blogspot.com/search?q=top+50) ... the highest 10 horror flicks on my Top 50 list.

Aliens

One of the best sequels ever made, and what used to be my all-time favourite movie. When I was a kid - before I'd even seen the movie - I still knew it was grade A cool, and indeed my friends and I would all fight over who got to role-play as Hicks (played brilliantly and admirably by Michael Biehn - who deserves bigger roles in my view). I'd seen Alien when I was 9 (the first horror movie - well, it's part horror movie - I ever saw), then I think I saw Alien 3, and then finally Aliens. Cameron's film is a rock-solid all-round box ticker on the list of awesomeness. An entire nest of aliens (before CGI), space marines, perfect editing, pacing and direction ... and then James Horner's blood-rushing score. The first battle with the aliens, and then the operations room siege are the two key highlights in the entire movie for me - they both leave me clutching the edge of my seat - every single time. Thrilling doesn't even describe the feeling adequately. Great action, great dialogue, great effects, great goddamned everything quite frankly.

Dawn of the Dead

One of the reasons I wanted to become a filmmaker, was Dawn of the Dead - the original and best. It was another formative film viewing experience from my formative film viewing years in my mid-teens. I remember reading an article in a 1997 issue of SFX Magazine all about the release of the "Director's Cut" (Extended Cannes Cut) of the film in the UK (which was cut by 6 seconds at the time). I re-read the article numerous times, and marvelled at the pictures from Romero's (at that time) Dead Trilogy. I'd already seen Day of the Dead at this stage, which blew me away ... but nothing like Dawn of the Dead. I remember sitting down in the evening to watch it ... then I remember sitting still in the same position utterly, 100% dumb-struck 2 hours and 20 minutes later. In between these two points I had been so utterly drawn into this superb horror classic that time disappeared. I've since watched it about 30 times, and oddly, after 20-something viewings I found myself suddenly exhausted by the sheer power of the opening 15 minutes of the film ... not sure why, but I was - and it just illustrates how much continued power this movie contains for me. So powerful was it, that it usurped Aliens from my number one slot at the time.

The Evil Dead

Again, my formative mid-teens factor in here, and it was at this time that my local post office was selling a run of cheap videos for £5 each. The Evil Dead was, if memory serves, the first one of many that I bought there (well, my Mum did technically). In the couple of weeks prior I had heard friends at school talking about it (some of the lads I now go on frequent cinema jaunts with) and all I got from them in terms of a review was "green mashed potato, and a pencil in the ankle" ... not glowing, and a bit mocking ... but I knew how their taste measured up against my own taste, and I figured this was most likely going to be right down my alley. Needless to say, it most certainly was, and it has since become one of my all-time favourite horror movies. The Evil Dead is of constant inspiration to me as an aspiring filmmaker - sometime soon I would love to be making my first real movie, and if it could be something with as much invention and adventure as this one, then I'd be a-okay with that alright!

Grindhouse

Annoyingly it was never released as Grindhouse in the UK - only as the separate releases - but regardless, I got to see the original cut - and I loved it. I have since seen the two films separately several times, and I have to consider them together rather than apart, even when they're in stand-alone mode. I had grown up watching these kind of movies, as well as those of Rodriguez and Tarantino - so, obviously, it was a match made in heaven. Planet Terror is an absolute riot (especially with the lads over for a few cans), and Death Proof is just so super cool - heck, I've written at length about Death Proof on this very blog (have a look down the Blog Tags on the right to find my musings on the flick). Am I looking forward to more Grindhouse entries? You bet your ass I am.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Again, cut to me in my formative mid-teens ... it's winter, I'm eating my dinner, and I'm watching - for the first time - the original (and best) Texas Chainsaw Massacre on a fudgy 3rd generation videotaped copy. That's how these movies should be viewed, they're too crisp and safe on DVD, but on a no-labels videotape - a generation of a generation of a generation - bleeding colours on screen, simple and slightly muffled mono audio ... oh yes, this is really how these movies should be watched by first-timers. It's feels a little bit dangerous, a little bit illicit, and it's almost like your own little secret - but one that all your friends know about - and indeed, that's how you get to see it. For years beforehand I had seen clips on horror movie documentaries (such as Clive Barker's A-Z of Horror), read about it and seen lurid stills in books, and then finally - with a background of the BBFC liberalising itself and finally unleashing Leatherface upon the UK - I got to see it. As a side note, on my bedroom wall, I have my own autographed photo - Gunner Hansen as Leatherface.

The Thing

There are very few movies which are capable of not only scaring the bejesus out of me, but capable of doing so time after time after time. The fifties version is enjoyable, nostalgic and a little bit quaint, but Carpenter's version of the source material is astounding (and it remains so to this day). The profound sense of isolation, claustrophobia and paranoia-soaked cabin fever are damn-near tangible. The gore effects of Rob Bottin are shocking (again, still to this day). Kurt Russell kicks fucking ass, and Morricone's score could even make a teddy bear's picnic sound terrifying (it was used on the Top Gear Polar Special to excellent effect). Even the videogame was terrifying ... and you know what, I'm still a little bit scared - even after seeing it countless times - to go back into the blizzard. Horror perfected.

Day of the Dead

This was my introduction to George A. Romero - well, in terms of the first GAR flick I saw - my first introduction was actually a couple of years prior (1997 to be precise) when I read an article in an issue of SFX magazine all about the release of the 'Director's Cut' (Cannes Extended Cut) to the UK. Fast forward to my mid-teens and I finally got my hands on my first Romero movie on videotape - bought for £5.99 in a local Woolworth's (a store chain that finally bit the dust in the current recession here in the UK). I remember watching it just after lunch time on a Saturday afternoon, as my Dad was cutting the grass outside, and being dumb-struck by the gore effects (Savini's career best, in my view). Not only that, but the soundtrack, Joe Pilato's Captain Rhodes, and the best zombie ever committed to the screen - Bub to name but three things which make Day of the Dead so good.

Rabid

I first saw it during my teenage years on a videotape bought from my local Post Office for a fiver, and it's my favourite Cronenberg film - so much so that I was delighted to be able to write an essay all about it, and Canada in the 1970s, during the Canadian & Quebecois Cinema course that I took during my time at university. Rabid is part of my long-standing fascination with, and love of, Canada (some day I hope to go there, perhaps even get a chance to work there). It's dark, it's indie, it's got a porn star in the leading role doing a bloody good job, and those final moments are nothing short of memorable. Indeed, it has recently (at the time of writing) inspired me while writing a new script.

The Devil's Rejects

I've always been a Rob Zombie fan, and have thoroughly enjoyed all his movies, but it is this one which has most impressed me. Unlike many of the post-millennial pretenders, this flick really feels like a down and dirty, sleazy 1970s, balls-out, punch-in-the-face horror movie. A horror movie which is really horror. The opening siege is brilliantly put together, the cast of undesirable leads are blackly-comic and instantly iconic, the horror is gritty, nasty and serious and the DVD features the best and most in-depth 'making-of' I have ever seen (at the time of writing I am still yet to see the epic four-hour doc for Zombie's Halloween). Quite possibly the best post-2000 horror flick, and undeniably one of the best horror movies of all time.

Friday 13th Part IV

Of all the big-name slasher-masters, Jason is my favourite, and of all the Friday 13th movies I would have to say that Part IV is my all-round favourite. The characters are entertaining, Tom Savini returns to deliver the splatter, it features the best non-Hodder version of Jason, and the look and style of the movie is one that takes me back to my formative years when I was first seeing a variety of horror classics at a time when here in Britain, we were on the cusp between draconian censorship and liberal viewing.

Shaun of the Dead, Tremors, Critters all came somewhere inbetween these entries, but are more 'on the cusp' and are 'horror comedies', so I tried to go for straight horror (or near enough anyway).

[Legion2213]

In no particular order...

Dawn
Day
Night 1990
Alien
Event Horizon
Jacobs Ladder
The Stand
Rec
The Thing
Star Wars Holiday Special

[fulci fan]

I will only take a few Fulci films. Not in order except Zombi 2. It is also hard cutting it down to just 10.

1. Zombi 2- The greatest film ever made. Everything is perfect. I only wish it was a 3 hour film :)
2. The Beyond- The atmosphere is great and really scary.
3. Tombstone- One of the best westerns ever made.
4. Dawn of the Dead- My favorite Romero film. I get a good feeling when I watch this too.
5. Escape from New York- One of John Carpenters best films. Snake is one of my favorite characters ever.
6. An American Werewolf in London- One of the most ground-breaking films as far as makeup effects go.
7. The Thing- Another big effects film that a lot of makeup artists love.
8. Glory- I have always loved this movie since I was really little.
9- The Wolf Man- One of the films that helped shape me when I was growing up.
10- Cannibal Holocaust- This is very touching and it inspired a lot of the documentary/home video style films.

Oh and if I were to add one more, I would put Jeepers Creepers. This is one of the best monster movies ever made and it is really creepy. The creeper is one of my favorite creatures. Too bad Victor Salva is a child molester....

[JDFP]

Oh and if I were to add one more, I would put Jeepers Creepers. This is one of the best monster movies ever made and it is really creepy. The creeper is one of my favorite creatures. Too bad Victor Salva is a child molester....

Wow, fulci, we agreed on something. I'm shocked.

True that about his own past, but it raises the question as to whether or not a man/woman's personal matters should affect their films? Examples would be Roman Polanski and Leni Riefenstahl -- I think her opening few minutes of "Olympia" is some of the most breathtaking film-making ever created (and I loved "Triumph of the Will" as a masterful film). Should a man/woman's personal life have an impact on their films?

I suppose if this is the case I should avoid at all costs anything Alec Baldwin ever does from this point forward... :)

j.p.

[SRP76]

I'm shocked I hang around you people online. Our tastes can't be any more different.:lol:

All of mine have the same reason: "they're fun to watch". Period. That's why I watch movies. So, no "mysteries of the universe revealed" here.

1. Dawn of the Dead (original) - well, I guess we do have this much in common.

2. Jaws - shark attack, fool! This movie has sold more swimming pools than every tv ad ever made combined.

3. Halloween (original) - no back from the dead or regrowing eyeballs or bullshit shenanigans. It was basically just an escaped mental patient killing people. In other words, "could happen" (in fact, has happened, just not to this extreme). So the fear is real.

4. Alien - face hugging, chest bursting, traitor androids...and Jones is one cool cat. What more do you need?

5. The Exorcist - Let Jesus FUCK YOU! Not really scary, but it's damn creepy. And cool as hell to see the girl degenerate.

6. Night of the Living Dead (original) - duh.

7. Seven - how appropriate. I guess it could be called a horror movie. It sure as hell isn't Heidi, anyway.

8. Day of the Dead (original) - again, you all know it.

9. Maximum Overdrive - Here Comes Another Load of Joy. The toy truck was just badass.

10. The Omen (original) - if some random creepy bitch shows up with a dog to "protect" your kid, shoot everyone. Immediately. Lesson learned.

[BillyRay]

What the Heck; here's my list, not necessarily in order:

1) Night of the Living Dead (Thee Original, except no substitutes or remakes, practically a cottage industry among some of us 'round here)

2) Dawn of the Dead (see above, except in a mall)

3) Day of the Dead (Not just scary and gory, but so wonderfully bleak. After the Zompocalypse, the survivors turn on each other like a Politics thread)

4) Dead Alive/Braindead (This is what Horror comedy should do.)

5) Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (Dennis Hopper's scene in the chainsaw store.)

6) Destroy All Monsters! (Now THIS is J-horror)

7) Tod Browning's Freaks (That ain't makeup or CGI, kids. Gabba Gabba Hey)

8) 28 Days Later (I know, they're infected, not zombies. Still one of the best outbreak scenarios put to film)

9) Invasion of the Body Snatchers (the 70's one with Donald Sutherland)

10) Fido. (It's not scary, but really well made imho)

[shootemindehead]

1.) Day of the Dead

The zenith of the zombie movie and bar none the absolute best horror film that has ever been out to film. One of the only horror movies that has actually scared me. It continues to do so to this day, even though I am so familiar with it that I could act in it. So serious, so grim and unrelenting. This is the way horror should be.

2.) The Thing

Not so much a remake of the frankly laughably over rated 50's sci-fi classic, but more a back to basics take on the original story 'Who Goes There'. Again, a very serious take on its chosen subject and wonderfully brought to life by Rob Bottin's incredible (still are) special effects. Bottin has never topped this work either. Horror is meant to be this way.

3.) Jaws

Not necessarilly considered a horror film by most, but by god it scared the shit out of me when I saw it as a kid and put many people off swimming for the second half of the 70's. I still find it truly incredible that this film was rated PG (Parental Guidance). It contains many more frightening and disturbing scenes than many so called horror movies. One of the few films that has retained its power to genuinely shock. Perhaps, it's been diluted by the generally awful sequels that spawned after it, but taken as a singular this is a terrific film.

4.) Cannibal Holocaust

Ruggero Deodato's "masterpiece" is another one of horror's greats. Dogged (and in many ways promoted) by the old maidish hairpulling attitude it created in many countries, this was one for the VHS gorehounds of the 80's. A notorious "video nasty" in Britain (and subsequently Ireland), I had to wait many years before I tracked down a copy to watch on my VCR in the late 80's. Often unfairly lumped together with the inferior 'Cannibal Ferox', Deodato's film is a different kettle of fish altogether. It's a far superior effort that deserves more credit than it gets. Topped off with Ritz Ortolani's very subtle, creepy score.

5.) Zombie Flesh Eaters

More Italian gore from Italy. Fulci's greatest effort was one of those movies that I was obsessed with in the 1980's. Another "video nasty" which I spent a huge amount of time trying to track down, in the days before the internet and DVD. I swear, Interpol hasn't put as much effort into their detective work. I finally tracked down a great VHS copy, but unfortunately I had built the film up to such an unreachable degree that I was surprised I wasn't more disappointed with it when I finally got to see it. However, over the years this has actually grown on me more and more, to a point where I now consider it one of my faves of all time. A brilliant spagetti horror movie, even if the ludicrous ending spoils it somewhat.

6.) The Exorcist

Another brillaint horror movie from the true golden age of the cinema, the 70's. An idiotic plot shot entirely straightfaced and acted superbly, so much so the one is taken completely into to story. It becomes believable, because the excellent cast throw themselves into the production wholeheartedly. Friedkin's best film after 'The French Connection'.

7.) 30 Days of Night

Hands down, the best horror film of the 2000's and the best vampire flick made, bar NONE. These vamps aren't your pissy knickers neo goth moody fucks, full of self absorbed poor me obsession. They are full on animalistic monsters, that have put fear back into the vampire. LONG overdue too. These vampires aren't the psudo-sexy "Mills'n'Boon" woman's vampires of Anne Rice or Charlaine Harris. There's no gentle kiss on the neck, followed by a little suck. These terrors will rip your throat out and plunge their tounge into your aesophagus as you struggle to gargle your last breath. Sod Dracula, Lestat and vampire Bill. They're rubbish compared to this bunch of blood drinkers.

8.) Silent Hill

Many people hate it, especially fans of the game (which I've never played). But I thought this was one of the better horror films of the decade. In a period where originality has trully given over to endless sub-par remakes of genre classics, it was refreshing to see someone tackle this and get a decent result. Unfortunately, the film tends to lose its way somewhat in the last third, but it still remains a sterling effort and probably the best film/game tie-in to be made.

9.) REC

Catalan horror from Barcelona. Very well done take on a "Blair Witch" / "infected" / "neo-zombie" style of things. Far superior than most of the dross that put out in the name of horror. Yet again, it's subject matter is taken on with absolute seriousness. There's no hokey comic moments here to lighten (or ruin as I call it) the mood and the setting of the single building is perfectly adapted and used by the film makers. The Catalan language means that some will be put off by the subtitles. But for those people who can read, this film is a delight. It also contains one of the most scary ending sequences I've seen in a long, long time. A sequel had been produced recently and I've heard good things about that too.

10.) Prince of Darkness

John Capenter's last truly great film and an excellent horror movie that's generally overlooked. The whole idea that the Catholic Church has been responsible for the containment of evil (on a literal level) has always been a great premise for a story. Some of the movie doesn't hold up that well any more and it can be confusing as well, but on the whole it remains a brilliant and bizarre 80's horror flick.


This list is subject to change :lol:

[fulci fan]

I just realized it is "horror" not all time. I will change Tombstone,Glory and Escape from new york.

House by the Cemetery- I get fed up with American slasher films because they are so cliche and unoriginal. If you want a slasher, go in the basement of the Freudstein house!

Cat in the Brain- Why wouldn't I think this is a classic? :D. On a serious note, this film shows Fulci's versatility. He could Direct, Write, Act, do makeup effects, etc. I truly believe Fulci was a "Renaissance Man" of film.

Jaws- I memorized this whole movie when I was about 5 or 6. This was another one of those films that was a big inspiration. The atmosphere of this film is untouchable in some ways. When ever I go to Ocean City, Md. I think of JAWS.

[krakenslayer]

3.) Jaws

Not necessarily considered a horror film by most, but by god it scared the shit out of me when I saw it as a kid and put many people off swimming for the second half of the 70's. I still find it truly incredible that this film was rated PG (Parental Guidance). It contains many more frightening and disturbing scenes than many so called horror movies.

Indeed - Jaws has a kid being eaten in a churning sea of red gore and a guy being bitten in half vomiting blood over his head. :stunned:

[blind2d]

Yeah, Jaws... fair amount of swearing too if memory serves. Good film but not in my top ten.
1. Original Romero zombie trilogy. I mean really.
2. The Exorcist. How could I not? I am a Gorillaz fan, after all. Captain Howdy.
3. Alien. Weaver is so sexy.
4. Christine. The only time I ever wanted to make love with a car.
5. Evil Dead 2. Just the best. Flying eyeball.
6. Tokyo Gore Police. Interesting story, great effects, and iconic imagery.
7. Friday the 13th. "Get her, mommy."
8. Freaks. Only seen the last half-hour of this, but that was enough.
9. The Ring. Still can't make up my mind on the best version...
10. Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Does what the tin says it does.
There are more, of course, but ten was said, and ten it is. Oh, and Carpenter's The Thing gets honorable mention.

[LouCipherr]

Dude....seriously? I'm gonna have to go Hellsing on you with a "FAIL"..

Really? I mean, really? You're gonna give me shit about Alien 2 when you have Blair Witch on your list?!

ooooooook. :lol:

I may have a "fail" but yours we're gonna have to go with "EPIC fail" :p

[bassman]

Really? I mean, really? You're gonna give me shit about Alien 2 when you have Blair Witch on your list?!

ooooooook. :lol:

I may have a "fail" but yours we're gonna have to go with "EPIC fail" :p

You did it again! It's not the film itself, but what you're calling it. For being one of your favorites you sure don't know it's correct name.

Nah...i'm just busting your balls. But seriously....it's ALIENS.:p

[LouCipherr]

Seriously? What's next, picking on my punctuation?! :rolleyes:

[bassman]

Seriously? What's next, picking on my punctuation?! :rolleyes:

Well now that you mention it. :p
I was just joshing around with you.

[LouCipherr]

I realized that, but it's monday, I haven't had my coffee, and I wasn't ready for the grammar police to kick in my door and arrest me. :lol:

[MinionZombie]

I realized that, but it's monday, I haven't had my coffee, and I wasn't ready for the grammar police to kick in my door and arrest me. :lol:
http://wesleying.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Grammar-Police.png

Hellsing's not the only one who can use Google Image Search. :p

[DjfunkmasterG]

Is the size of the badge helping you compensate in other areas that you may be lacking. :lol:

[shootemindehead]

His nightstick is tiny.

[EvilNed]

1. Day of the Dead - My alltime favourite film. So of course this one tops it. It's dark, it's terror, it's despair... Yet very human. I like that.

2. The Thing - It oozes of creepy atmosphere and occasionally bursts out into brief moments of gore and terror. The scene where they sit around figuring out who is who gets me everytime.

3. Ravenous - Real creepy atmosphere. Good story. Creepy music. Wierd flashes of total absurdity.

4. [REC] - The first film in several years to actually scare me for real. I was at the edge of my seat at the ending. Best horror film in a long, long time.

5. Alien - It's dark, creepy and atmospheric. It's also very gruesome and dirty. That spaceship is huge, and the people are so few... And that alien is horrifying.

6. Breakfast at the Manchester Morgue - A killer soundtrack and creepy atmospheric sound effects lifts this zombie classic above most others.

7. Suspiria - Dario Argento's excessive use of gothic imagery and Goblin's top notch music makes this my favourite out of his repertoire.

8. Funny Games - I saw the original first and was so damn disturbed by it. Then I saw the remake a few years later and was still just as disturbed. Pick any version, they're identical. But both are great.

9. Hellraiser - The music and sick, twisted images turns this extreme low budget film into a hit for me.

10. Return of the Living Dead - A great ride through a creepy night with running zombies.

[fulci fan]

6. Breakfast at the Manchester Morgue - A killer soundtrack and creepy atmospheric sound effects lifts this zombie classic above most others.



What made you pick that title? lol you could have just said "Living Dead" instead of "Breakfast." :rockbrow:

[DjfunkmasterG]

Maybe he watches it at breakfast???? :lol:

[EvilNed]

What made you pick that title? lol you could have just said "Living Dead" instead of "Breakfast." :rockbrow:

I could also have said Don't Open the Window. A third english title for this film. Does it bother you that I favour one alternate title over another alternate title? :p

[clanglee]

I could also have said Don't Open the Window. A third english title for this film. Does it bother you that I favour one alternate title over another alternate title? :p

I think over here it's Let Sleeping Corpses Lie. No breakfast invloved.

[fulci fan]

I could also have said Don't Open the Window. A third english title for this film. Does it bother you that I favour one alternate title over another alternate title? :p

Nah, man. I just thought it was really funny you chose the oddest title for the film. :lol:

[EvilNed]

I think it's the coolest, myself!

[LoSTBoY]

I don't have the time just yet to go through my top 10, Dawn is the obvious number one for me as it brought me into this genre so beautifully.

Just wanted to make a special mention to the movie Session 9 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0261983/), the Asylum they are hired to clear out is plain creepy, the characters are portrayed very well and the suspense is nicely done.

[Legion2213]

I enjoyed "session 9" it was pretty neat.

[Leeloo]

1.Day of the Dead- The first zombie movie I ever watched at age 9 at my slumber party. I was traumatized and deeply fascinated at the same time. Didn't sleep for a week after and cried when Bub found Logan dead. To this day, all the girls who stayed over that night, remember that sleepover because of that movie.

2.Dawn of the Dead '78- After the Day of the Dead sleepover incident, I was banned from watching any horror movies until I was 12 and this was the next one I watched. I loved it and probably rented it 30 times.

3. Aliens- My brother and I watched it at our Uncles place when we were probably 7 or 8 and we were hooked for years. We had the Alien figurines and played with them all the time. I even bought my brother replacement ones on his 21st birthday. To replace the ones we either broke or lost as kids. I know, I'm the coolest sister ever!

4&5. NOTLD- '68 and '90- Watched them both one after the other and was hooked. I loved all the news broadcasts from the original. It made it feel very real. Night '90 just scared the pants off of me. I was only about 14 or 15 then. I love them both for what they are.

6. The Stand- I read the book first at age 11 and then watched the movie when it came on t.v at age 12. I was oblivious to the cheesy-ness of it and now when I watch it, I look past that and enjoy the movie for what it is.

7. Return of the Living Dead- Loved this movie!! Tar man was epic and I would love to meat Clu, James and Don. They MADE this film what it is, IMHO.

8. Silence of the Lambs- Watched it with my best friend when we were in our teens. Scared us silly.

9. Cujo- Was very frightening to watch as a teen. My neighbour had a St. Bernard and I never looked at her the same way again.

10. Pet Sematary- Sometimes dead is better.

[Mike70]

In no particular order...


Star Wars Holiday Special[/b]

http://pumapac.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/spit-take.jpg

i just got my hands on a copy of this thing. i hadn't seen it since it was aired in 78 and wish i hadn't wasted the time to watch it again.

[Trin]

Horror Movies
-------------
(1) GAR's Day of the Dead - Great atmosphere, creepy setting, loved the research/experimentation aspect of the Dead

(2) GAR's Dawn of the Dead - A great romp through post-zombie apocalypse. Had me reliving the moments again and again wondering what I would've done.

(3) Salem's Lot - A great story perfectly adapted to screen. Edge of the seat creepiness, great characters.

(4) The Sixth Sense - The return of storytelling to horror!! What an incredibly inventive and well thought out plot.

(5) The Stand - Epic tale well adapted to screen.

(6) GAR's Night of the Living Dead - The one that started it all for zombies!!

(7) The Exorcist - Based on a true story?!? Hell yes!! And I mean HELL!!

(8) The Amityville Horror - Loved that haunted house vibe.

(9) Dracula (yep, the original) - The one that started it all for vampires!!

(10) Land of the Dead/Dawn of the Dead '04 - that's right, I lumped them together and included them in my top 10 list, but only as a duo - two movies that both have action, great characters, and zombies... and both have plot holes, irritations, and drawbacks... these two movies should be married they fight so much!! Mwwwuuhahahahaha


Movies that SHOULD be called horror
-----------------------------------
Mama Mia - romance, musical, Meryl Streep = horror. I sat through this thing in the theater, for crap sake, then had to "discuss" it.
Star Trev IV - whales, seriously?
Star Trek VI - searching for peace??


Horror/Comedy
-------------
Chopping Mall
Killer Clowns from Outer Space
Bad Taste - so unbelievably funny
Student Bodies - seriously, see this movie
Army of Darkness
Bubba Ho-Tep
Shaun of the Dead
Frighteners - probably deserves to be good old horror

[DjfunkmasterG]

(10) Land of the Dead/Dawn of the Dead '04 - that's right, I lumped them together and included them in my top 10 list, but only as a duo - two movies that both have action, great characters, and zombies... and both have plot holes, irritations, and drawbacks... these two movies should be married they fight so much!! Mwwwuuhahahahaha



I know the mods shit kittens when an old discussion is dug up from its grave like Ed and Joey grave robbing in ROTLD2, but, i just got into a reading mood tonight and when i saw that pic for #10 and the following comment I just had to chime in.

I think it is a bloody brilliant idea and they are already sort of married -

CLOSE YOUR EYES MZ - LMAO

http://www.wherehouse.com/amgcover/dvd/full/u9/80/u98071fjlbs.jpg


But since they spend their life on DVD and Blu-Ray horror packs together since 2007 I just had to chime in on the marriage comment.

Everytime I see that pack in the store I just want to buy it and send it to MZ as a present with a picture of me with the biggest shit-eating grin you have ever sene with a caption card that says...


DON'T CHA JUST LOVE THEM... Aren't they cute?

[LouCipherr]

Everytime I see that pack in the store I just want to buy it and send it to MZ as a present with a picture of me with the biggest shit-eating grin you have ever sene with a caption card


http://enderzero.net/smilies/poke.gif

[DjfunkmasterG]

http://enderzero.net/smilies/poke.gif

Yeah that pretty much sums it up :p

[Crappingbear]

Exorcist- one of my top 3 flicks of any genre

Dawn

Omen

Dracula 1931 with Lugosi. Honorable mention to the Mexican version that was filmed at night on the same set at the same time. The Dracula looks like a waiter but Mina is alot hotter.

Bride of Frankenstein- better than the original due to Elsa Lanchester.

The Legend of Hell House. Great haunted house story with very cool cinematography and creepy music.

Night Stalker- great made for tv movie that began the Carl Kolchak series.

Nosferatu- the remake by Werner Herzog. Beautiful locations and cinematography.

The Abominable Dr. Phibes- campy good fun from Vincent Price.

The 9th Gate- by Polankski. Not really that great but anytime its on tv I find myself watching all over again so something must be there. Honorable mention to Polanski's Fearless Vampire Killers done early in his career and with Sharon Tate in the movie also.

Near Dark- almost forgotten vampire flick thats like a cross of The Wild Bunch but with vampires. Nasty goodness.

[MinionZombie]

1) As long as something new/related to the thread is being added then fine - it's really only a problem if someone digs up an old-arse thread just to say "I agree" or something pointless ... whereas here new content is being added, so that's fine and dandy.

2) Haven't Land and Shaun been combined in double packs though?

As for that Yawn/Land double pack ... that's always given me the heebie jeebies ... ... just like everytime I look at my super awesome 4-disc Ultimate Dawn DVD and see the 2-disc Director's Cut Yawn04 disc stuck beside it (alphabetical organisation, natch).

If that's a marriage, it's a marriage forged in hell. :elol:

[bassman]

I don't see why the two pack thing is an issue. There are endless combinations of movies out there in two packs. These two are both Universal and both zombies. It makes since they are combined.

I once saw Zathura packed in with Ghostbusters. It all boils down to what company owns what. Doesn't mean anything about the actual content...

[LouCipherr]

True, but it gives Dj an opportunity to poke MZ with a stick.

*wads up newspaper and smacks Dj on the nose*

NO! Bad, Dj, BAD!

:lol:

[DjfunkmasterG]

I don't see why the two pack thing is an issue. There are endless combinations of movies out there in two packs. These two are both Universal and both zombies. It makes since they are combined.

I once saw Zathura packed in with Ghostbusters. It all boils down to what company owns what. Doesn't mean anything about the actual content...

But in reality they should have put Shaun and Land together. Any PR man with a brain in his head should have figured that much out since Shaun is a giant love letter to ole uncle george

---------- Post added at 09:09 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:08 AM ----------


True, but it gives Dj an opportunity to poke MZ with a stick.

*wads up newspaper and smacks Dj on the nose*

NO! Bad, Dj, BAD!

:lol:

Well back in the day we used to have sticks, but they took them away... must be the lead paint. :lol:

---------- Post added at 09:11 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:09 AM ----------




As for that Yawn/Land double pack ... that's always given me the heebie jeebies ... ... just like everytime I look at my super awesome 4-disc Ultimate Dawn DVD and see the 2-disc Director's Cut Yawn04 disc stuck beside it (alphabetical organisation, natch).

If that's a marriage, it's a marriage forged in hell. :elol:

Must have taken a cue from my marriage. :lol:

[bassman]

But in reality they should have put Shaun and Land together. Any PR man with a brain in his head should have figured that much out since Shaun is a giant love letter to ole uncle george

I agree with that, but in this case it appears they wanted a horror collection 2 pack. Shaun wouldn't fit that bill.

For a laugh....go to walmart(.com) and look for 2 pack dvds. Some of the combinations are mind boggling...

[MinionZombie]

How dare you, bassman, answer a question with such patent common sense and reasonableness! :sneaky:

That particular pairing just creeps me out *picks nose* ... :shifty:

Also, not only is Shaun a love letter to Uncle George, Land features a cameo by Pegg & Wright (with a special feature dedicated to their time on set) ... so there's a link there beyond both being under the same studio ... even though Bassman's common sense answer makes sense, the inner nerd in me goes into a grumbling Gyro Robo type freak (reference to this - http://robotchicken.wikia.com/wiki/Gyro-Robo_News_Hour).

[DjfunkmasterG]

How dare you, bassman, answer a question with such patent common sense and reasonableness! :sneaky:

That particular pairing just creeps me out *picks nose* ... :shifty:

Also, not only is Shaun a love letter to Uncle George, Land features a cameo by Pegg & Wright (with a special feature dedicated to their time on set) ... so there's a link there beyond both being under the same studio ... even though Bassman's common sense answer makes sense, the inner nerd in me goes into a grumbling Gyro Robo type freak (reference to this - http://robotchicken.wikia.com/wiki/Gyro-Robo_News_Hour).

I personally always felt Shaun and Land should have been put together. Let DAWN stand on its own.

BTW, Have you noticed the Packaging fromt he PIC i Posted.

It says 2 Movies, 1 Great Price, they don't mention 2 Great movies because we all know one of the sucks. :lol:

http://enderzero.net/smilies/poke.gif

[MinionZombie]

Yeah ... and we all know the one that sucks. :sneaky:

Naturally I mean Yawn ... if anyone didn't know that by now, then, sheesh, where've you been? :p:lol::p

Maybe one day I will do that list of 'things MZ inexplicably likes about Yawn04' ... maybe ... just to shock all y'all's boots off.

[LouCipherr]

Maybe one day I will do that list of 'things MZ inexplicably likes about Yawn04' ... maybe ... just to shock all y'all's boots off.

We need this.. besides, you owe us one since Dj & I said some nice things about Land in our commentary - as promised. :D

[DjfunkmasterG]

Yeah ... and we all know the one that sucks. :sneaky:

Naturally I mean Yawn ... if anyone didn't know that by now, then, sheesh, where've you been? :p:lol::p

Maybe one day I will do that list of 'things MZ inexplicably likes about Yawn04' ... maybe ... just to shock all y'all's boots off.


We need this.. besides, you owe us one since Dj & I said some nice things about Land in our commentary - as promised. :D

Yeah... What he said. :D

[MinionZombie]

We need this.. besides, you owe us one since Dj & I said some nice things about Land in our commentary - as promised. :D

Well, you said a couple of things, but it wasn't a full-on, sit-down-and-really-think-about-that-specifically list ... so you managed to just about placate me, and well, knowing you two it's the best concession on Land I'll ever get from youze. :D

I'll probably do that inexplicable Yawn 'like list' sometime soon...I guess I'm as interested as youze lot are about the results.

And where's that Tremors commentary? :)

[DjfunkmasterG]

Well, you said a couple of things, but it wasn't a full-on, sit-down-and-really-think-about-that-specifically list ... so you managed to just about placate me, and well, knowing you two it's the best concession on Land I'll ever get from youze. :D

"You got that right" - to quote Ben from Night 90



And where's that Tremors commentary? :)

The dog ate it. :lol:

[LouCipherr]

so you managed to just about placate me, and well, knowing you two it's the best concession on Land I'll ever get from youze. :D

You're lucky you got what you did. It was HARD to pick out something to like in that flick. :p


And where's that Tremors commentary? :)


The dog ate it. :lol:

Right after we get that list of good things from Dawn, we'll re-do the Tremors commentary. :lol:

Actually, the first one got screwed up thanks to an audio/recording problem (damn laptop!), and it's sorta difficult for us two to get together considering the distance involved and the screwy schedules we keep.

Don't worry, it'll get done. :D