Sell us on your Top 10!

[Ash28M]

OK it's time to talk about are favourite horror films and why we love them.

List your top ten, and talk a little about what it is that makes each one worthy of being placed among the best the genre has to offer.

I'll start...


1. Carrie (1976)

From it's Oscar nominated Acting to it's symphony orchestra worthy Soundtrack, this film is just an amazing experience and talk about character development. I don't think I have had more sympathy for a character in any other film. You go though so many emotions while watching this film; Sadness, sympathy and anger on how they they treat Carrie too almost tear inducing joy on how Carrie felt at the prom, too creepiness and fear as Carrie enters her home as her mom awaits, Sure it has some wonky scenes i.e the fast forward scene and a couple of the John Travolta, Nancy Allen scenes but on the whole the film a masterpiece that puts you though the emotional ringer.

2. The Exorcist (1973)

May be the most perfect horror film ever made and a smack in the head compared to what main stream audiences where ready for back in "73. Deliberately paced, great acting and creepy as hell and just plain disturbing at times. Ask most people what the scariest film of all time is and more times then not this film will be at the tip of their tongue. Should definitely be on everyone's top ten list.


3. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

You can take two showers and then watch this in the most perfectly air conditioned room and you would still feel filthy, sweaty and creeped out. From it's documentary like feel to it's creepy sound effects. This one gets to the core of your worst fears and doesn't let go. It's sadistic unrelenting terror makes you think your doing something wrong just by watching it and that's great.

4. The Shining (1980)

The best ghost story put on film and another almost perfect move. Jack Nicholson give a performance for the ages though admittedly a bit over the top. Creepy imagery and probably the best cinematography I've scene for a film shot in 4:3. it also has great music and atmosphere. This film just has too many great scenes to list off and the addition of the maze was genius. Stephen King was so wrong about this one.

5. The Blair Witch Project (1999)

For a long time I just stopped watching horror films. I don't know if it's just because the 90's sucked bad or what. I saw a few trailers for this and It looked pretty cool, I checked out the web site and got even more interested. Well after I came out of the theatre after that midnight screening I was literally shaking with grittiness. I hadn't been this frightened by a film since I was a kid. I wanted ever night scene to end so I could have relief in the day time scenes. The acting was so believable and The ending was perfect. I actually locked my bedroom door that night because the Blair Witch was going to get me and I was 24 at the time!

6. The Evil Dead (1982)

This film is just insane. Could you pick a better scenario than being isolated in a cabin while the woods are alive possessed and out to inhabit your soul. The Atmosphere is thick and claustrophobic. Some of the effects towards the end needed some work but you don't care because the rest of the film is so well made that you have to buy into it. It's just a really original idea done masterfully.


7. Suspiria (1977)

The best example of capturing the feel of a nightmare and putting it on film. The Movie isn't about narrative or acting. It doesn't matter if it doesn't always make sense because dreams rarely make sense. It's an all out assault on the senses with it's vibrant colours, surreal atmosphere, pulse pounding music and amazingly violent death scenes that for some reason you could also describe as strangely beautiful. A quote I heard one time from John Carpenter summed this up very well. "The movie starts with a girl walking through an airport, it's raining there's creepy music playing in the background, Nothing much is happening but for some reason I'm scared as hell"

8. Black Christmas (1974)

Arguable the first and Best Slasher of all time. Not to mention the best Canadian Horror film ever made. There are at least 10 main characters in this film and they are all interesting. The acting is way above par for a slasher especially Olivia Hussey who screams towards the end of the film trying to get Phyll and Barb attention from downstairs always gives me goose bumps. A mysteriously deranged psychotic killer and masterfully done ambiguous ending makes this one a true classic.

9. Jaws (1975)

One of the best films ever made period. I was afraid to take a bath after I saw this for the first time. The three main characters are so perfectly developed not to mention the amazing chemistry between them, their Dialogue alone makes this a classic. Who cares if the shark doesn't always look real the suspense and tension was so masterfully done that Spielberg could have used a rubber ducky and we still would have bought into it.

10. Alien (1979)

Some claim this is a sci-fi film with horror elements. When I'll argue that it's a horror film that just happens to take place in Space. Claustrophobic beyond belief, well developed characters, Great visuals and attention to detail that makes every part of the ship interesting to look at. The films builds up perfecting until the tension reaches it climax during the count down. When it's all said and done it's the best best sci-fi horror ever made IMO.

[KR~!]

If they were my favorites then why would I want to sell them? :hum:

[speanroc]

no need to sell the fact that these r my favorite , they r my favorite cause i say so.......:D

1-friday the 13th
2-friday the 13th part 2
3-last house on the left
4-island of death
5-scalps
6-chooper
7-i drink your blood
8-carnival of blood
9-evil dead
10-jaws

[RyanPC]

Yeah, I don't feel any reason to explain why these are my favorites. They're my favorites because I feel they are better than any other horror film out there. ;)

01. Dawn of the Dead (1978)
02. Carrie (1976)
03. Last House on the Left (1972)
04. Don't Look Now (1973)
05. The Wicker Man (1972)
06. Don't Torture a Duckling (1972)
07. The Stepford Wives (1975)
08. Deep Red (1975)
09. Videodrome (1982)
10. Rosemary's Baby (1968)

This list will probably change, but #1 and #2 will always remain the same. :D

[Ash28M]

no need to sell the fact that these r my favorite , they r my favorite cause i say so.......:D

1-friday the 13th
2-friday the 13th part 2
3-last house on the left
4-island of death
5-scalps
6-chooper
7-i drink your blood
8-carnival of blood
9-evil dead
10-jaws

That's too bad. That's an interesting list. it would be nice to hear how you became so fond if some of those.

[Spitfire]

01. Suspiria
02. Dawn of the Dead
03. Jeepers Creepers
04. The Thing
05. Tenebre
06. Night of the Living Dead
07. Friday the 13th: The Series.
08. Day of the Dead
09. Halloween
10. Wrong Turn

Suspiria is the movie that has always, till this day remained as my true Masterpiece of Horror; great suspense, beautifuly shot, colors, music, and heart-stopping kills. Argento's Horror Cinema Cannon.

Dawn of the Dead - Extended, to me, is the best zombie movie I've ever seen. Though Romero still hit gold with his other sequels and his first, of course.

The Thing is just a classic. Has the best replay of all of the movies listed and is a timeless classic. Carpenter has a lot of great films, but this one is my favorite from him.

Tenebre was the first giallo I ever saw. I was hooked on Argento ever since. I retraced all of his movies in all types of orders after that. The Goblins score along with Argento's stylish approach made this movie a top-level film for me. One of my all time favorites.

Jeepers Creepers was a movie that brought me back to Horror when it came out. It felt old-school, like the films of the 80's and was intensely creepy. The Creeper is one of the most original killers to be unveiled in a while.

Wrong Turn is another movie that I love. The setting is perfect; woods. The killers are awesome; cannibals that stalk and hunt you down. Great Pacing, loved it!

[_pi_]

It's almost impossible for me to do a list like this ... it just makes my head hurt! But I do enjoy looking over your lists, so keep 'em comin'! :p

[maskull]

1. Jaws

This movie scared the hell out of me as a kid and to this day makes me fear swimming in oceans. Great acting and it features one of the scariest story-telling moments in all movies. Ever. Not only my favourite horror film, one of my favourite movies of all time. Plus I have a fascination with sharks.

2. An American Werewolf In London

The opening scenes on the moors remains one of the scariest moments in horror history for me. Nice mix of humour and down right scares, not to mention a truly messed up dream sequence. Also werewolves are my favourite horror monster (next to sharks of course).

3. Black Christmas

The phone calls are creepy as hell, pretty much any scene with "Billy" in is a perfect scene of creepy terror. Throw in some nice humorous touches and great performances from the entire cast, especially Olivia Hussey, and you have a movie I can watch over and over without ever losing it's scares.

4. Friday The 13th (The complete series)

I love all of them. Just fun movies with inventive kills, lots of nudity, and an awesome camp in the middle of the woods setting. I've watched every movie in the series more times than I can count and will never stop watching them.

5. Ginger Snaps 2

As much as I loved the original, the sequel has taken over my love. The addition of the creepy little girl Ghost and a horny werewolf, plus retaining the sick humour of the first made a perfect mix. Plus Emily Perkins' performance is just perfect. My only minor complaint is that there's not enough Katharine Isabelle in this one, but when she does show up she steals the scenes, plus she and Perkins have such a great onscreen chemistry with each other.
Oh yeah, I may have mentioned this but I love werewolf movies.

6. Alien

Atmosphere, chest bursting, claustrophobia, and truly terrifying monsters, not to mention a dream cast....need I say more???

7. The Eye

This one just creeped me out from start to finish. And what a Hellish finish it was!!! The best of the Asian horrors, which is really saying something.

8. Fright Night

Somehow mixes camp with true scares and intentional humour. Great performances from everyone and the best vampire flick. Plus it has the nostalgia thing going for me.

9. My Bloody Valentine

I've never seen the uncut version of this film and yet I just love it. Sure a lot of it has to do with nostalgia, but the killer looks awesome, the mine setting is great, and there's copious amounts of Moosehead beer on display. Hell I even love the name of the movie.

10. Ravenous (1999)

Best score for a movie ever!! Guy Pearce, Robert Carlyle...both great actors with a perfect chemistry in this flick. The movie is fast paced, is gleefully (pitch)black humoured and has plenty of truly disturbing scenes. Sometimes it's hard to put into words why I love this movie so much, but I really, really do.

Mentions to: Open Water (may have scared me even more than Jaws especially on the big screen), May (Angela Bettis!!!), Dog Soldiers (Brit werewolves!), Ginger Snaps (Isabelle and Perkins plus a nice mix of horror and humour), Halloween (the score and a scary-ass killer), Near Dark (well thought out and performed vampire flick. Beautiful to look at as well)....

[JeffCostello]

These are my (very subjective) choices:

1. Dawn of the Dead - No need explaining.

2. Phenomena - My favourite Argento, I love the setting, the dream - like atmosphere and Jennifer Connelly.

3. Evil Dead 2 - Perfect mixture of fun & gore.

4. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre - This one had such an impact on me like no other horror movie had (and will have) - absolutely disturbing.

5. A Nightmare on Elm Street - Nostalgia.

6. Deep Red - THE perfect giallo.

7. Black Christmas - Groundbreaking.

8. Halloween - Almost (and only almost) as groundbreaking as BC

9. The Strange Vice of Mrs Wardh - This one stands for about fifty other giallos (non Argento), just couldn't decide which one to pick.

10. Dellamorte Dellamore - My favourite "recent" horror film (and it's also already 12 years old).

[JohnnyZombie]

I wont list my personal favorites, but I will list what I believe to be the top 10 best ever.

1. The Exorcist
2. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
3. Halloween
4. Night of the Living Dead
5. Dawn of the Dead
6. Suspiria
7. King Kong
8. Frankenstein
9. Dracula
10. The Phantom of the Opera

[maskull]

If i made a list of what I thought were the ten best horror movies of all time, it would be quite different from my faves list....

[KillerCannabis]

Without explanations (because I'm lazy):

1. The Thing
2. Re-Animator
3. Evil Dead II
4. Friday the 13th part 3
5. Texas Chainsaw Massacre
6. Day Of The Dead
7. Phantasm
8. Halloween
9. American Psycho
10. The Bird With The Crystal Plumage

[walkingdude]

This is really a hard thing to do.I basically had to pick out about 30 of my favorites and eliminate them down to ten.

Dawn of the dead
Day of the Dead
Evil Dead
Return of the Living Dead
Sleepaway Camp
Beyond the Darkness
Hell of the Living Dead
Night of the Demons
Slaughter High
RabidI had to leave out some great movies and I think if I did this again at a later time the order might be different.

[MorallySound]

1. Dawn of the Dead (1978)
2. The Devil's Rejects (2005)
3. Martin (1977)
4. Maniac (1980)
5. Rosemary's Baby (1968)
6. Basket Case (1982)
7. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
8. The Return of the Living Dead Part II (1988)
9. Poltergeist (1982)
10. American Psycho (2000)

This list is never the same, except for the top 5. The last 5 vary from time to time, and change up constantly. But this is how I feel about these movies right now.

[Ash28M]

If i made a list of what I thought were the ten best horror movies of all time, it would be quite different from my faves list....

Actually come to think of it. I don't think mine would change much if it all.
Well Possibly the order.

[allmessedup]

I have only three choices that are solid enough to give a real order of preference:
1-NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD
2-THE EXORCIST
3-THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE

All three are amazing and have been the films that scared me when I was growing up [especially 1 and 2.]

It's harder for me to create a full 10---some movies that I would include though are DAWN OF THE DEAD, CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST, ZOMBIE, FRANKENSTEIN, possibly the DAWN remake, and probably HELL OF THE LIVING DEAD [which would probably be #10--I think I'd feel guilty putting it above any of the others, but I love that movie too much to leave it out.] Most of the other picks would change too much depending on my mood.

[JohnnyZombie]

I have only three choices that are solid enough to give a real order of preference:
1-NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD
2-THE EXORCIST
3-THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE

All three are amazing and have been the films that scared me when I was growing up [especially 1 and 2.]

It's harder for me to create a full 10---some movies that I would include though are DAWN OF THE DEAD, CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST, ZOMBIE, FRANKENSTEIN, possibly the DAWN remake, and probably HELL OF THE LIVING DEAD [which would probably be #10--I think I'd feel guilty putting it above any of the others, but I love that movie too much to leave it out.] Most of the other picks would change too much depending on my mood.

You're not alone on Hell of the Living Dead. I've always been a huge fan of that movie. I wore out the old vhs release when it was called Night of the Zombies. Its just so much fun of a movie.

[Erick H.]

JAWS-Admit it,you think about it when you swim in the ocean.
THE SHINING-Wonderfully well shot,and Kubrick uses space and isolation to swallow up his characters.
THE EXCORCIST-The opening scenes of the characters are so believable that it draws you into the more graphic terror that follows.
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD-The low budget is a virtue,Romero keeps it claustrophobic and watches his characters fall apart under pressure.
THE OMEN-Setting an unbelievable situation in a believable setting makes you accept it.Great cast and direction.
CREEPSHOW-Came close to living up to it's tagline "The Most Fun You'll Ever Have Being Scared".Great,nasty fun !
PSYCHO-Because almost every horror film since it came out was influenced by it.
DEEP RED-Argento has made a lot of great stuff,but this one always got under my skin.
DAWN OF THE DEAD-Romero expands his scope and manages to combine graphic splatter with clever satire.
HALLOWEEN-It's a perennial,I watch it every October 31st the way most folks watch RUDOLPH at Christmas.

[shithead]

1.Dawn of the Dead
2.The Exorcist
3.The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
4.Halloween
5.Frankenstein
6.Black Christmas
7.Night Of The Living Dead
8.Psycho
9.The Curse Of Frankenstein
10.Re-Animator

[dwatts]

Crash

The other films in my list aren't really ranked, but this one is my favorite. My love affair with Crash began more than a decade before the film was made when I bought and read the novel at a rather impressionable age. When the film was announced - being made by my favorite Director - it seemed as though the planets had alligned and I was being handed a gift. Then the hyperbole started, hyperbole the movie would never be able to match. Bannings began, newspaper campaigns labelling fans sickos. And on. What we have though is a perfectly imagined and delivered story of mans relationship to machinary, to science, and how we're becoming less personal as time passes - less human. Add a superb sountrack from Howard Shore and you've got something special.

The Fly (Original)

When is a horror film not a horror film? My favorite Director Cronenberg managed to ruin this story, by robbing it of subtlety and going over the top. Yet the beauty of the original film is that while it is strange, the focus is less on the monster aspects (for much of the film this is hidden from us), and more on the love of a man and wife, of family ties, and the niavety of a young boy. The final scene is chilling even to this day.

Videodrome

Hm, didn't realize so many Cronenberg relatd titles were making it here. Videodrome is a story that is as relevant today as it was when it was made. Seeing it for the first time for an amazing experience, or was I there simply to see Debbie Harry's breasts? Hm? Anyway, this one is just a solid little film with lots of effects. It deals with body mutation, a core subject for Cronenberg throughout his career. This is as Cronenberg as Cronenberg ever got.

Alien

Forget that this is a sci-fi film - it's simply perfect cinema. All the tricks are here - don't fully expose the monster, jump scares, pace the action, woman in peril etc. Yet it subverts in by having a strong woman character. I never tire of wacthing this film. It simply doesn't get any better. Easily the best of the franchise that went Cameron-bombastic in the follow-up, a tad crippled in the third, before recovering somewhat in the fourth. The first film though is where it's at. The other films were all tryin to capture the magic by being different - which kind of misses the point.

Tenebrae

Dario was once my favorite Director. Still love him dearly, but faced with a full catalog of Cronenberg, well what can you do? Tenebrae has some advantages ovr other Argento titles. Firstly it's probably his most coherent film, his most believable, and has a terrific soundtrack. The settings are great too -being located in a modern suburb for the most part. Gore galore, twists and turns in the plot, madness all around. Gotta love it.

Frankenstien (Karloff)

I started my love with horror somewhere between Universal horrors and Hammer. Don't know which came first, don't really are. As a youth this film has the power to frighten the sh*t out of me. The black and white photography is fantastic, and the acting style - more theater than film in those days - works in its favor. There are some amazing sets too, the castle/tower where the monster is made just rocks. Plus add it some terrifically delivered lines: "It's alive! It's alive!" and you have the total deal. Wonderful stuff. The series didn't get any better, imo.

The Wolf Man

Many of the same memories as above. Lon Chaney Jr doing his thing, and making me afraid to climb the stairs to go to bed. We have gypsies, aristocracy, mythogologies, fog laden landscapes - it's all here. I think I believed in Werewolves for a good year after seeing this one :D

Quatermass and the Pit

This was the third film in the series (the fourth if you're willing to throw X The Unknown into the pot). Yet it actually surpasses the two that came before due to a wonderful plot, and a climax that is unsurpassed. Alien craft found in an underground station, strange dwarfs, mutant insects, and cranes. Yeah baby!

The Crawling Eye

You've got to ue your imagination with this one. Sure it's easy to laugh at, to poke fun. But to do so robs you of some great entertainment, and all you've got to do is to remember this is an older film, without access to CGI etc. The Crawling Eye stars Forrest Tucker, and he went on to appear in many classics of the genre. Made in the 50's sci-fi cycle we have clairvoyents, strange mists, decapitations, monsters, and a scene that really belongs in The Blob (hm, why isn't that on my list?) The Crawling Eye is a real treat, I love it.

The Werewolf of London

Tough one this. When asked my favorite werewolf film Chaney Jr's "The Wolf Man" usually falls out of my motuh first, and then afterwards I often wish I'd said "Werewolf of London" instead. The transformation sequence here really has not ben supassed for effectiveness. Sure it's not camera full-on like American Werewolf in London - but who says you have to see every hair sprout for something to be effective? Instead here we have invention, artistry, while maintaining the horror of it all. The film is aged, but it has some shocks. Brilliant flick.

[baggio]

In no order: (I have so many top favorites, but I'll go with these, based on these films I've seen countless times and enjoyed)


-April Fools Day
-Return of The Living Dead
-Day of the Dead
-Halloween
-Re-Animator
-Session 9
-The Prophecy
-Psycho - 1960
-Fright Night
-Phantasm

[dwatts]

I didn't find a space for "Halloween" - :lol:

How pathetic. Hmmmm but which would I have removed....

[fceurich39]

my top 10 dvds are

1.dawn of the dead 3 versions and shit load of features including fourth disc

2.texas chainsaw massacre until the darksky release come out on sept 26th

3.halloween limited edition both extended and theatrical versions

4.fight club 2 dvd set this needs a new special edition release again

5.alien quadrilogy no need explaining

6.return of the living dead just for the movie but extended/deleted scenes would of helped though

7.hills have eyes special edition 2 disc another great dvd by anchor bay

8.zombi 2 25th anniversary dvd to forever to come out but still is shriek show's best dvd release

9.nightmare on elm street not a whole lot of extras but that should change cause new line is working on a new version

10.day of the dead special edition 2 disc another must for horror fans

[Crazy Ralph]

1) The Evil Dead - I'm not a big fan of 2, or Army.... but this is my favourite horror movie of all time. I still get freaked out when I watch it.

2) Friday the 13th - This movie is the epitomy of horror. Woods, stalkers, young people getting murdered, decapitations. Simply.... NICE!!!!!

3) Dawn of the Dead - a real eye opener, and such a cool location. Lots of blood and gore.... George Romero is The King of this genre.

4) Carnival of Souls - Say what you will about NOTLD, and Psycho.... this movie far outdoes itself for the times. I can watch it over and over again.

5) Halloween - Easily, this movie took horror to a whole new level. John Carpenter hit a grand slam with this one, and there's nobody at horrordvds that will dispute this

6) Candyman - Stephen King's got nothing on Clive Barker. I'll bet your girlfriends or wives won't say his name in the mirror 5 times....

7) The Blair Witch Project - I don't want to start a fight here.... but I do think this was one of the most original ideas I've ever seen.

8) Hellraiser - Again, more Clive Barker. I think Pinhead is an awesome character.

9) The Devil's Rejects - When I saw this in the theatre, I was stunned when I left. I just love the raw, in your face action of this movie, and really, they don't give a shit about anything, or anyone. The soundtrack kicked ass too.

10) Sleepaway Camp - I love movies that take place in the woods, at summer camp, and this was a shocking twist ending at the time. M. Night has nothing on Robert Hiltzik.