Top 10 Horror Movies of all time
10. Alien (1979)
This Ridley Scott film is beyond legendary. When it comes to horror, this sci-fi/horror takes you to places you never thought you could ever go. It is a dark and slow moving film that builds and builds as it progresses, and has an eery and uncertain feel to it. The slow moving elements allow for the viewer to be suddenly surprised, this building of tension makes the audience very anxious. If you don't suffer from anxiety, then prepare for a 2 hour anxiety attack when watching 'Alien'. It is one of those films that you see a lot of hands over the eyes, but peeking through the fingers.
9. Phantasm (1979)
One of the best themes songs in a horror movie.......ever. If based on theme songs alone this would be in the top 3 without a doubt. This movie has so many great elements that makes it one of my favorites. One of those being the Tall Man, yep thats right check the credits, he is named Tall Man. Such a cool character with a high level of creep to him. There is a moment in the film when the Tall Man just picks up a casket by himself, and that's the moment you know something is not right. It is a movie with a definite level of cheese and bad acting, but I think it adds to the film, it kind of makes it the way it is. Its hard to beat 'Phantasm' with it's floating brain sucking orbs, tall dude, short dudes, a ridiculous muscle car, and a portal to another dimension.
8. The Vanishing / Spoorloos (1988)
This dutch film is such an amazing piece of filmmaking, and don't mistake it for the American remake that is not. The story follows a couple who is on a vacation trip, but when they stop for gas somewhere in France, the young lady goes missing. The rest of the film follows the story of the boyfriend looking for his love, and the abductor in the days leading up to the abduction. Never have I ever watched a film and was so drawn in and had to keep watching. It almost becomes an obsession for the viewer. The young man is obsessed to find out what happened to his girlfriend and you become obsessed, more obsessed than you have ever been with a story line. You never really know if you will find out what happened to her. There is a moment in the film with the abductor and missing woman's boyfriend are at the gas station, which is a full climax of you curiosity and anticipation for the answer. You feel like it may never be revealed, because the main character knows what that answer will cost him.......his life. The best part about this film is the fact that it is not a typical happy ending, but in a sense the most fulfilling one.
7. Jaws (1975)
Here is a film that defines horror. A horror film doesn't require certain elements to classify it in the genre of horror, a horror film is something that evokes some sort of fear within the viewer. I would go ahead and say that 'Jaws' is quite the horror in that case. This film is based on the true story of the 1916 New Jersey shark attacks, a moment in history when a Great White shark attack five victims in about a week span. This movie is the definition of horrifying and will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. The film has such a physical impact on people, and thats the reason why I love it so much. You could go to any beach out there, and play the legendary 'Jaws' shark attack theme music, and I guarantee you that everyone will run out of the water. To me, thats what a great horror movie is all about, instilling fear in people that can never be erased or forgotten.
6. Evil Dead 2 (1987)
It is simply the cult classic of all cult classics. The 'Evil Dead' series by Sam Raimi is one of the most original and influential series' of work out there. I chose the second installment over the first 'Evil Dead' film because they are pretty much the same piece of work, and I count them as the same film. To me number 2 was just a more polished film, but with still the right amount of rough edges. Finally the reason why these films are so good is because of Bruce Campbell. Bruce is the 'Evil Dead' series and always will be the reason it is what it is, he is a cult legend. The films speak for themselves, I can't say much more, it just is what it is.
5. Zombie aka Zombi 2 (1979)
There are 2 directors that are the legends of the zombie film, the first one being George Romero, and then the director of this film 'Zombie', the Italian zombie legend Lucio Fulci. The gore in this film alone, puts it in my top 5. There are scenes in this film that are beyond good, such as a zombie fighting a shark, feast scenes, an amazing throat bite, and the famous wood splinter eye stab. That moment is one of the best moments in horror gore history, it is just so slow and perfect. As a whole the movie is a true masterpiece, and it also boasts an amazing theme track that is almost hypnotizing. Fulci is a god, and has made great films over the years, such as his other classic 'The Beyond". To me 'Zombie' is the complete package of gore and filmmaking, it is so rewarding and entertaining.
4. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
A movie that takes influences from one of most notorious serial killers of all time, Ed Gein, and brings them to the screen in a very gritty and raw fashion. Nothing says horror like a house furnished by human remains. 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' brings us some of the best horror scenes and characters of all time. There is no better name for a horror killer than "Leatherface", he embodies everything you don't want to find in rural Texas. The family dynamic in this film is luring, because it has all the elements of a healthy family, but their bond is centered around everything that is evil and gruesome. To me 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' is the guiltiest pleasure horror film of them all. If you are just sitting around by yourself at night and you want to cure your boredom, then what is more satisfying than Tobe Hooper's classic. It is popular for all the right reasons.
3. Dawn of the Dead (1978)
This is a total no brainer, George Romero is a horror genius and his series is probably the most influential and copied series in the zombie horror genre. I didn't want to fill up the top 10 with his 3 films 'Night of the Living Dead', 'Dawn of the Dead', and 'Day of the Dead' so I am just lumping them all into the number 3 spot to give some other films a spot. The "Dead" series features some of the most important social topics during the time of their respective releases. They tackle topics from: racial prejudice, shift to a suburban america, social classes, woman's rights, and materialism. These films are important beyond their physical existence. Now lets talk about the juicy stuff......the gore. The best gore man to ever work the industry, Tom Savini, did the effects for the "Dawn" and "Day" films, which is the best gore ever created. 'Day of the Dead' has the best looking and most perfect gore, which is hard to appreciate in a time when movie gore has moved to become computer generated. Computer created gore is in no way, shape, or form an appeal to me, it takes the craft out of the film. Gore is huge part of horror and the craft of actual effects is a topic that can stand alone in conversation. The "Dead" series is as epic as it gets.
2. Psycho (1960)
This is the film that created the modern horror, it was all born in a single scene, the famous shower scene. Alfred Hitchcock's 'Psycho' took the horror film from creatures and monsters, and he put it right in your home. The shower scene is the most famous scene in all of horror for a reason, and it is rightfully justified. It is a 45 second scene that took 7 days to shoot, in which 45 camera angles were used. It is genius filmmaking at its best, the viewers said they could see the red blood in the water, but the film was shot in black in white. You have to be good to make people see red in a black and white film, and because Hitchcock brought the horror to the home, people were actually scared to take a shower. It is another film that is so perfectly composed, which adds to horror of it all. Anthony Perkins delivers a perfect performance as Norman Bates, which is now the platform of the modern movie psychopath. This film did everything for the modern horror, 'Psycho' set the bar beyond high.
1. The Exorcist (1973)
If 'Psycho' created the modern horror, then 'The Exorcist' perfected it. How can you not be number 1 when your main antagonist is Satan, better yet Satan possessing a little girl. I don't think any film delivers as much of an impact as this one does. 'The Exorcist' is one of those films that delivers an experience, because every single person has their story of their first time seeing it. It is almost as interesting to hear everyones tales of seeing it for the first time, as it is watching the film. When 'The Exorcist' is brought up you never know where the conversation is going to take you. This film is pure evil and it is everything you want in a horror, with a perfect production to compliment. Speaking of production, I mean even the sets were haunted for this film. A set burned down, and 2 cast members died before the film was even released. So much evil went into making this film, and I shower in every bit of it. It is the most interesting and best horror movie ever made.
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