rhett
10-30-2009, 07:32 PM
In what's coming a quick tradition of HORROR DIGITAL, we've once again lined up a horror director to close off this year's top ten lists. Last year we had Maurice Devereaux from END OF THE LINE and this year it's Paul Solet of GRACE fame. In addition to GRACE (now available on DVD and Blu-ray from Anchor Bay), Solet has also
http://www.horrordigital.com/reviews/ratings/ptop09.jpg
In what's coming a quick tradition of HORROR DIGITAL, we've once again lined up a horror director to close off this year's top ten lists. Last year we had Maurice Devereaux from END OF THE LINE and this year it's Paul Solet of GRACE fame. In addition to GRACE (now available on DVD and Blu-ray from Anchor Bay), Solet has also recently completed acting in the Halloween short, JACK CHOP (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPyyiiH76Kw) by Adam Green (HATCHET). I'd like to welcome Paul to the site, and without further adieu, his picks:
http://www.horrordvds.com/reviews/n-z/videodrome-se/videodrome-se_fronts.jpg
10. Videodrome (1983)
I saw Videodrome as a kid and couldn't believe my eyes. I felt like this guy totally understood what was going on in my head creatively. Which was some pretty strange shit. Body horror, the idea of losing control over your own facilities, is one of the final frontiers of fear, for me. Not much gets under my skin anymore, but the stuff that already lives under the skin still does the trick to this day. "Long live the new flesh!"
http://www.horrordvds.com/reviews/a-m/deathdream/deathdream_fs.jpg
9. Deathdream (1974)
Anyone looking to make a smart genre film on a budget needs to study what Bob Clark did with Deathdream. He shot this one in 1974 for a quarter million bucks in Florida, but still created one of the most emotionally effective films of the time. I absolutely love this movie. I have a signed copy sitting proudly on my mantle and a second one available to loan out to anyone I care about on hand at all times.
http://www.horrordvds.com/reviews/a-m/dandb/dandb_fs.jpg
8. Dead & Buried (1981)
One of the most under appreciated pieces of horror brilliance around. Aesthetically and atmospherically, this is just an extremely mature, ambitious film. If you're looking for a genuinely chilling movie, this one is for you. On a craftsmanship level, the effects here are pretty damn stunning, too. A great film to point to when arguing for the merits of practical effects.
http://www.horrordigital.com/topten/tenant.jpg
7. The Tenant (1976)
The word I hear most when people talk about this one is flawed, but it's one of Polanski's greatest successes visually and tonally. It brilliantly twists a contained environment over time to reflect its protagonist's state of mind in a way that few other than Polanski have achieved. Just a gorgeous film in so many ways.
http://www.horrordigital.com/topten/jacob.jpg
6. Jacob's Ladder (1990)
This film may have scared me more than any other. You really care about this character, and you don't want him to have to suffer. He doesn't deserve to suffer. He's kind, and compassionate and so fragile and human, and yet we are forced to literally go to hell with him in one of the most inspired depictions of damnation I've ever encountered. This movie is fucking genius.
http://www.horrordigital.com/topten/audition.jpg
5. Audition (1999)
When Audition is at its most disturbing, it's as disturbing as any film out there. When that bag moves.... Ugh. You know Miike's got you by the balls. Just when that slow burn structure has your guard down, this movie hits you with a relentless barrage of some of the most insane shit you have ever seen. "Kiri kiri kiri..."
http://www.horrordigital.com/topten/cure.jpg
4. Cure (1997)
Another twisted Japanese film. Kiyoshi Kurosawa could teach American genre filmmakers a hell of a lot about a lot of things, but his sound design always stands out most of all. When you finish watching a Kurosawa film, you literally hear the world differently. Aesthetically, he stylizes reality with a beautifully unintrusive grace.
http://www.horrordigital.com/topten/diabolique.jpg
3. Diabolique (1955)
Classic thriller storytelling genius. Visually gorgeous, while remaining absolutely motivated. This is how films ought to be made.
http://www.horrordigital.com/topten/benny.jpg
2. Benny's Video (1992)
I love Haneke. Narrowing down my favorite for this list was tough, but Benny's video is one of the most disturbing movies I've ever seen. This guy proves that fast cutting and photographic gimmickry are not the key to a successful genre film. He will take your breath away in a five minute master shot without cutting or moving the camera a single time.
http://www.horrordvds.com/reviews/a-m/dtad/dtad_fs.jpg
1. Don't Torture a Duckling (1972)
I love Fulci, but he only actually got to work with scripts that were effective in themselves a handful of times, and this is one. Giving this guy some actual story material to work with really shows that Fulci could do. This is a great little giallo, and a must see for any fan of the Italian maestros.
http://www.horrordigital.com/reviews/ratings/ptop09.jpg
In what's coming a quick tradition of HORROR DIGITAL, we've once again lined up a horror director to close off this year's top ten lists. Last year we had Maurice Devereaux from END OF THE LINE and this year it's Paul Solet of GRACE fame. In addition to GRACE (now available on DVD and Blu-ray from Anchor Bay), Solet has also recently completed acting in the Halloween short, JACK CHOP (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPyyiiH76Kw) by Adam Green (HATCHET). I'd like to welcome Paul to the site, and without further adieu, his picks:
http://www.horrordvds.com/reviews/n-z/videodrome-se/videodrome-se_fronts.jpg
10. Videodrome (1983)
I saw Videodrome as a kid and couldn't believe my eyes. I felt like this guy totally understood what was going on in my head creatively. Which was some pretty strange shit. Body horror, the idea of losing control over your own facilities, is one of the final frontiers of fear, for me. Not much gets under my skin anymore, but the stuff that already lives under the skin still does the trick to this day. "Long live the new flesh!"
http://www.horrordvds.com/reviews/a-m/deathdream/deathdream_fs.jpg
9. Deathdream (1974)
Anyone looking to make a smart genre film on a budget needs to study what Bob Clark did with Deathdream. He shot this one in 1974 for a quarter million bucks in Florida, but still created one of the most emotionally effective films of the time. I absolutely love this movie. I have a signed copy sitting proudly on my mantle and a second one available to loan out to anyone I care about on hand at all times.
http://www.horrordvds.com/reviews/a-m/dandb/dandb_fs.jpg
8. Dead & Buried (1981)
One of the most under appreciated pieces of horror brilliance around. Aesthetically and atmospherically, this is just an extremely mature, ambitious film. If you're looking for a genuinely chilling movie, this one is for you. On a craftsmanship level, the effects here are pretty damn stunning, too. A great film to point to when arguing for the merits of practical effects.
http://www.horrordigital.com/topten/tenant.jpg
7. The Tenant (1976)
The word I hear most when people talk about this one is flawed, but it's one of Polanski's greatest successes visually and tonally. It brilliantly twists a contained environment over time to reflect its protagonist's state of mind in a way that few other than Polanski have achieved. Just a gorgeous film in so many ways.
http://www.horrordigital.com/topten/jacob.jpg
6. Jacob's Ladder (1990)
This film may have scared me more than any other. You really care about this character, and you don't want him to have to suffer. He doesn't deserve to suffer. He's kind, and compassionate and so fragile and human, and yet we are forced to literally go to hell with him in one of the most inspired depictions of damnation I've ever encountered. This movie is fucking genius.
http://www.horrordigital.com/topten/audition.jpg
5. Audition (1999)
When Audition is at its most disturbing, it's as disturbing as any film out there. When that bag moves.... Ugh. You know Miike's got you by the balls. Just when that slow burn structure has your guard down, this movie hits you with a relentless barrage of some of the most insane shit you have ever seen. "Kiri kiri kiri..."
http://www.horrordigital.com/topten/cure.jpg
4. Cure (1997)
Another twisted Japanese film. Kiyoshi Kurosawa could teach American genre filmmakers a hell of a lot about a lot of things, but his sound design always stands out most of all. When you finish watching a Kurosawa film, you literally hear the world differently. Aesthetically, he stylizes reality with a beautifully unintrusive grace.
http://www.horrordigital.com/topten/diabolique.jpg
3. Diabolique (1955)
Classic thriller storytelling genius. Visually gorgeous, while remaining absolutely motivated. This is how films ought to be made.
http://www.horrordigital.com/topten/benny.jpg
2. Benny's Video (1992)
I love Haneke. Narrowing down my favorite for this list was tough, but Benny's video is one of the most disturbing movies I've ever seen. This guy proves that fast cutting and photographic gimmickry are not the key to a successful genre film. He will take your breath away in a five minute master shot without cutting or moving the camera a single time.
http://www.horrordvds.com/reviews/a-m/dtad/dtad_fs.jpg
1. Don't Torture a Duckling (1972)
I love Fulci, but he only actually got to work with scripts that were effective in themselves a handful of times, and this is one. Giving this guy some actual story material to work with really shows that Fulci could do. This is a great little giallo, and a must see for any fan of the Italian maestros.