Maurice Devereaux's Halloween Top Ten 2008

[rhett]

We're starting a new tradition here at HORROR DIGITAL. It's always nice to hear picks from us fans, but how about a word from the people who actually make these movies. Maurice Devereaux, the acclaimed director behind SLASHERS and the recently released Toronto Film Festival favorite, END OF THE LINE, has been generous enough to offer a list of his favorites. Straight from Montreal, here are his picks and comments unabridged. This marks the last of our top ten lists, so pick some movies and have a blast this October 31st! ~Rhett

10. Targets (1968) Another ahead of it’s time “real” horror film. You can see the 70ies style of hard edge films beginning right here in 1968. Well shot, acted and a great send off for Boris Karloff.

9. Exorcist III (1990) The BEST jump scare of all time., in a well acted, very creepy film, the Studio imposed ending is the only thing that prevents this film from being a total winner…Bring the director’s cut out now…Please!

8. Paperhouse (1988) One of the best jump scares of all time. Bernard Rose is a vastly underrated filmmaker, this film shows all the potential that Candyman confirmed.

7. The Boston Strangler (1968) Innovative multi screen use, very intense and creepy. Tony Curtis is great.

6. Don't Look Now (1973) Great atmosphere and performances…Nicolas Roeg is a true filmmaking innovator, 35 years later, even today with spectators being used to rapid fire commercials and music videos, no one has ever grasped the power of film editing like he did.

5. The Wicker Man (1978) A true original, unforgettable. The kind of film that not knowing anything about it will only enhance the experience. The great Christopher Lee is in it, in his best ever role.

4. Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) Not horror but very creepy, will haunt you forever.

3. Black Christmas (1974) All the cinematic slasher clichés start here, in this terrific little thriller…Give a little Halloween homage to Bob Clark and watch this very effective film.

2. Carnival of Souls (1962) Dated, but still full of creepy atmosphere. Another one of those “it was done here first folks”, too bad this was the only film from a clearly talented director.

1. Peeping Tom (1960) Rivals PSYCHO as study of a deranged serial killer, YEARS ahead of its time. It is astounding that the main murder weapon has never been copied in other horror films or that a remake has never been done.

Happy Halloween and stay scary!
Maurice Devereaux

[indiephantom]

Some terrific choices. I'm screening END OF THE LINE at my Halloween party. I'm thinking that film has one of the best jump scares of all time!

I want to see End of the Line! Guess I got to wait awhile.

Great list, and it reminds me that I need to watch another of my Halloween time favorites, Slashers, before the month runs out.

[satans-sadists]

Great list with a few films I haven't seen. Nice to see the high ranking for Carnival of Souls. I still need to add a couple of these to my dvd collection.

[Workshed]

Great feature for the site, good idea!

Nice picks, especially #1. Haven't seen that film in a long time.

[dave13]

like the list, but cant agree with exorcist III...i think its just dull dull dull

Nice to see the love for Carnival Of Souls! It's one of my all time faves and I am lucky enough to have the autographs of Candace Hilligoss, John Clifford and Bill Shaffer on it. Bill did the Carnvial Tour, which is an extra on the Criterion set.

[Hellbilly]

Good list. I was considering Picnic At Hanging Rock for my October marathon, but I can't seem to fit it in my tight and planned out schedule

[KamuiX]

Really solid list. Although I probably wouldn't watch Picnic at Hanging Rock around Halloween, it's one of my favorite films of all time. Nice to see some love for Paperhouse as well, really underrated fantasy/horror film.

Will have to check out The Boston Strangler now, considering it's the only film on the list I haven't seen, and I love pretty much every other film on it.

[Shannafey]

I've actually never seen Picnic at Hanging Rock and it is showing for free on Comcast On Demand, in HD!! So, I'll be checking it out soon!

[zombiecraig]

Far and away, the best list this year. Excellent picks!

[3invertednines]

Originally Posted by dave13

like the list, but cant agree with exorcist III...i think its just dull dull dull

Read the book, then give it another shot. I think it's great great great

[dave13]

Originally Posted by 3invertednines

Read the book, then give it another shot. I think it's great great great

Actually i did, and it didn't improve my opinion very much. The story wan't very interesting, and the character of Lt. Kinderman was such a thinly veiled excuse for Blatty to preach to his readers that it made the book feel like an unsubstantiated editorial piece. The guy would go off on irrelevant tangeants, spending pages waxing philosophical about what a forgone conclusion the existence of god was. It was clearly Blatty dumping his own baggage on the reader.

As far as the movie goes, I know the whole exorcist sub-plot at the end was forced on him by the studio, and it probably would have been a better movie without it. but i doubt it would have made enough of a difference to actually make it a good movie. The whole thing was uninteresting and devoid of tension. I know there's that one REALLY scary scene near the end, that everybody mentions, but i think the only reason that jump-scare is so effective is because the movie has been SO slow up till that point.

[spawningblue]

Exorcist 3 is one of my favourite horror films. Watched it this month already, some really creepy moments due to its great directing, editing, writing , and acting. One of those films where everything gels perfectly together, even with the added on exorcism scenes. And that jump scare gets me every time!

[dave13]

yikes! it looks like public opinion in this thread is turning against me! am i alone in disliking exorcist III?