Everyone always asks what my favorite horror film is. The after I say The Exorcist, they want to know why and what else. Eventually the conversation goes to what are the must see films. So here is my list of THE BEST horror films ever. I love them all for different reasons, and soon I will make another list of more specific sub-genre stuff, but here is the over all list of the best of the best. The movies you must see!! This is a pre 1990s list
1. The Exorcist
The only truly frightening film in history has to be The Exorcistwhile other movies scare me in different ways (like most romantic comedies) this holds the test of time and still delivers
2. Re Animator
When I was much younger I saw the unrated version of this film and my life changed. No longer was silly special FX going to cut it they had o blow my mind in gruesomeness now because in its day it topped them all. Add to that the wonderfully creepy and fun tone of the film, this has to be one of my most watched films! Herbert West rules!
3. Night of the Demons
What can I say naked Linnea Quiggley back in her golden days, the sexiest strip tease to Bauhaus, and a few demons molded my mind to an unnatural love for this film. It has influenced my writing and life on may levels don't miss it!
4. Return of the Living Dead
If I had a desert island pick for a film, this would defiantly be a contender for the top spot. With its over the top 80s punky music and attitude, more naked Linnea, and one of the few zombie films that has grown better with age. James Karen should have got an Oscar for his role!
5. Susperia
While it's a very dated film, you cannot top the visual style of Argento's masterpiece. This is one of those films that most people talk about as a "masterpiece" and deservedly so. It has scares, cheesy dialog, a creepy blind dude, and loads of blood. I don't really know what the hell its about (even though I have seen it countless times).
6. Friday the 13th 1 and 4
We have all seen these films but its time to dust them off and re-watch the complete effectiveness of the Jason films. I know that my horror guru counterparts all disagree on which is the best film in the series, but for me, 1 and 4 are the bestest!
7. The Entity
Not on most peoples list is this film with a young Barbara Hershey as a victim of ghostly attacks, but what is truly frightening about this one is the unrelenting viciousness of the ghost which keeps raping her and it ends with out an ounce of hope. And how could I forget that ghostly that cops a feel on her naked boobsas a young kid this really blew me away!
8. Fright Night
While the lead Charlie is about the biggest pussy you may ever meet, the Fright night film stands the test of time and still is thoroughly enjoyable today. Chris Sarandon as the coolest vampire, you don't ever want him to die, you really are rooting for him. But Roddy McDowell as the horror host has shaped my life in so many ways I cannot even describe
9. The Haunting (old version)
When it comes to creepiness this film takes the cake. Most horror hounds will agree that very few movies achieve the levels of fright that this delivers. Most people site Night Of The living Dead as the first film that got them into horror, but for some reason it never quite connected with me, the way that The Haunting has. Admittedly, the annoying psychic bitch lead grinds on my nerves with her whining, but its just adds to the momentum of the film
10. Halloween
Carpenters classic, is what I consider to be a perfect film. Even though its lack of gore is usually a deal breaker for me, the characters in this are so fucking "REAL" that it makes this gem a timeless and truly scary film When it was released on Laserdisk I though I had found the Holy grail, I even borrowed video projectors from my work (long before everyone had them) and made my friends come over to see it. That is probably why I love having a projector of my own and doing screenings in my backyard every so often, just to recapture the fun and excitement of watching films this way( I liked Robs version as well)
11. A Nightmare on Elm St 1 and 3
In everyone's teenage years we all have our idols, for some its musicians, others its actors, but for me it was Freddy. I snuck into Nightmare 3 in the theater so many times that My parents must have thought I was crazy to be seeing Goldie Hawns Overboard for the fifth time (still haven't seen it). The original came to the theaters when I was in jr high. Suddenly people allover were talking about this movie that was giving them nightmares on a regular basis. I had to see it but my parents would not let me, so as soon as it came out on VHS I rented it and secretly watched it, and scared the hell out of myself finding out who the fuck this Freddy guy was.
12. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (original)
Hooper blew everyone away, and then came back for more. I didn't actually see this film until I was older, I always wanted to but for some reason it just never happened. When I did see it I turned off all the lights and watche dit alone, the best way to watch the film. Its just terrifying and I know you will agree. The hard part was that by the time I saw the film I had practically memorized part 2, which is almost a comedy, so it was strange to see these charecters that I already knew be genuinely scary
I know that there are plenty more films that SHOULD be on this list, but for now these twelve films had better be on your netflix cue, or set in your Tivo because your life isn't as complete as it should be until you watch these movies.
Now if you will excuse me I have some knife sharpening to do before I go out on the town tonight.
Honorable mention movies that should be on this list
Evil Dead 1 and 2
Demons
Poltergeist
Ghostbusters
The Thing
Bride of Frankenstein
An American Werewolf in London
Hellraiser
Alien 1 and 2
The Amityville Horror 1 and 2
Psycho
1. The Exorcist
The only truly frightening film in history has to be The Exorcistwhile other movies scare me in different ways (like most romantic comedies) this holds the test of time and still delivers
2. Re Animator
When I was much younger I saw the unrated version of this film and my life changed. No longer was silly special FX going to cut it they had o blow my mind in gruesomeness now because in its day it topped them all. Add to that the wonderfully creepy and fun tone of the film, this has to be one of my most watched films! Herbert West rules!
3. Night of the Demons
What can I say naked Linnea Quiggley back in her golden days, the sexiest strip tease to Bauhaus, and a few demons molded my mind to an unnatural love for this film. It has influenced my writing and life on may levels don't miss it!
4. Return of the Living Dead
If I had a desert island pick for a film, this would defiantly be a contender for the top spot. With its over the top 80s punky music and attitude, more naked Linnea, and one of the few zombie films that has grown better with age. James Karen should have got an Oscar for his role!
5. Susperia
While it's a very dated film, you cannot top the visual style of Argento's masterpiece. This is one of those films that most people talk about as a "masterpiece" and deservedly so. It has scares, cheesy dialog, a creepy blind dude, and loads of blood. I don't really know what the hell its about (even though I have seen it countless times).
6. Friday the 13th 1 and 4
We have all seen these films but its time to dust them off and re-watch the complete effectiveness of the Jason films. I know that my horror guru counterparts all disagree on which is the best film in the series, but for me, 1 and 4 are the bestest!
7. The Entity
Not on most peoples list is this film with a young Barbara Hershey as a victim of ghostly attacks, but what is truly frightening about this one is the unrelenting viciousness of the ghost which keeps raping her and it ends with out an ounce of hope. And how could I forget that ghostly that cops a feel on her naked boobsas a young kid this really blew me away!
8. Fright Night
While the lead Charlie is about the biggest pussy you may ever meet, the Fright night film stands the test of time and still is thoroughly enjoyable today. Chris Sarandon as the coolest vampire, you don't ever want him to die, you really are rooting for him. But Roddy McDowell as the horror host has shaped my life in so many ways I cannot even describe
9. The Haunting (old version)
When it comes to creepiness this film takes the cake. Most horror hounds will agree that very few movies achieve the levels of fright that this delivers. Most people site Night Of The living Dead as the first film that got them into horror, but for some reason it never quite connected with me, the way that The Haunting has. Admittedly, the annoying psychic bitch lead grinds on my nerves with her whining, but its just adds to the momentum of the film
10. Halloween
Carpenters classic, is what I consider to be a perfect film. Even though its lack of gore is usually a deal breaker for me, the characters in this are so fucking "REAL" that it makes this gem a timeless and truly scary film When it was released on Laserdisk I though I had found the Holy grail, I even borrowed video projectors from my work (long before everyone had them) and made my friends come over to see it. That is probably why I love having a projector of my own and doing screenings in my backyard every so often, just to recapture the fun and excitement of watching films this way( I liked Robs version as well)
11. A Nightmare on Elm St 1 and 3
In everyone's teenage years we all have our idols, for some its musicians, others its actors, but for me it was Freddy. I snuck into Nightmare 3 in the theater so many times that My parents must have thought I was crazy to be seeing Goldie Hawns Overboard for the fifth time (still haven't seen it). The original came to the theaters when I was in jr high. Suddenly people allover were talking about this movie that was giving them nightmares on a regular basis. I had to see it but my parents would not let me, so as soon as it came out on VHS I rented it and secretly watched it, and scared the hell out of myself finding out who the fuck this Freddy guy was.
12. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (original)
Hooper blew everyone away, and then came back for more. I didn't actually see this film until I was older, I always wanted to but for some reason it just never happened. When I did see it I turned off all the lights and watche dit alone, the best way to watch the film. Its just terrifying and I know you will agree. The hard part was that by the time I saw the film I had practically memorized part 2, which is almost a comedy, so it was strange to see these charecters that I already knew be genuinely scary
I know that there are plenty more films that SHOULD be on this list, but for now these twelve films had better be on your netflix cue, or set in your Tivo because your life isn't as complete as it should be until you watch these movies.
Now if you will excuse me I have some knife sharpening to do before I go out on the town tonight.
Honorable mention movies that should be on this list
Evil Dead 1 and 2
Demons
Poltergeist
Ghostbusters
The Thing
Bride of Frankenstein
An American Werewolf in London
Hellraiser
Alien 1 and 2
The Amityville Horror 1 and 2
Psycho