Top 10 Horror Movies of All Time (5-1)

If you’ve read the first half of this post, welcome back and thanks for reading.  If not, I recommend you check it out as well as the movies on this list; but also thanks for reading.

5.     Paranormal Activity (2007)

 What made it scary good:

I am probably going to be ostricized early on in this post for including this movie in my top five and leaving out some very highly regarded horror movies.  Paranormal Activity seems to be a very polarizing movie, but I’m a strong supporter.

I remember trying to watch the Blair Witch Project in theaters when it was released and then again on DVD and never made it past the first 30 minutes because of how terribly slow and boring the 1^st act was.  At that point I was not convinced the documentary style could work for horror and didn’t see Paranormal Activity until 2009.  Paranormal Activity may not be the seminal work for documentary horror but it is the benchmark for the genre.  It created a great “false documentation” that enhances the fear in a way no other film has, and like The Strangers it does not often rely on jump scares but rather the suspense of the two main characters being stalked by an entity.  See it with others who also are watching for the first time, it’ll definitely enhance the experience.

Why it’s not ranked higher:

The most likeable character in this movie is the entity.  It is completely plausible that the entire time Katie and Micah think a paranormal entity is stalking and harassing them, it is really their neighbors trying to scare them into moving as far away as possible because they simply can’t stand these two anymore.

A less successful attempt at the same idea.

After the first viewing, the scare this movie is able to provide does not stick as well, and one scene in this film is so over the top that it is laugh out loud funny. Paranormal Activity 2 is about to be released, which will likely dilute the credibility this film carried.  Chances are this film is likely to move down the list rather than up it as time passes.  Finally, if you haven’t seen this movie make sure you do not see the Steven Spielberg theatrical ending; look for the online ending instead.  I’m do not want to promote the illegal downloading of movies on this blog but the ending attached to most torrent copies of Paranormal Activity is by far the best.

Also Recommended:

The Ammityville Horror (1979, 2005 remake), The Shining (1980)

 

4.     Carrie (1976)

What made it scary good:

Adapted by the novel written by Stephen King (his first novel) and directed by Brian DePalma (Scarface, The Untouchables); Carrie stars Sissy Spacek in the titular role of a high school girl sheltered and isolated by her fundamentally religious mother (Piper Laurie).  Carrie is picked on incessantly at school and desperately seeks friendship, all the while Carrie is discovering a gift she possesses.  When a prank at the senior prom pushes Carrie to her breaking point, she uses her gift to seek revenge on her fellow students.

A ginger prom queen, what a cruel joke!

There are a lot of things that separate Carrie from the other movies on this list and make it one of the best horror movies of all time.  Carrie is the monster/killer in this movie but she is also the protagonist.  The audience sympathizes with her character to a point that when the pig’s blood is dropped on her at prom (no spoiler here, it’s on the DVD cover) they’re almost cheering for her to burn the place down.

We don't need no water...

Carrie represents the angst and coming-of-age of the teenage girl.  She is struggling to understand the changes her body is undergoing, she’s desperate to be liked by her peers and by boys, and she is rebelling against her parent(s).  Carrie is a completely relatable character, and possibly the most developed character of any horror movie, ever.

Why it’s not ranked higher:

You could rewrite the last 30 minutes of the script and have a kind of twisted Molly Ringwald movie.  However, this is also what makes the last 30 minutes of Carrie so fun to watch, it’s well worth the wait.  This movie is exceptional and near perfect, it just barely missed my top 3.

The Exorcist (1973), Psycho (1960): The Exorcist is one of the best horror movies ever made and probably cracks most horror fans top 10, top 5, and top 3; just not mine.  It also has some of the same religious and supernatural elements present in Carrie.  Psycho, like Carrie, is an excellent character piece; the protagonist however is not as relatable.

Unless you're this guy

3.      Scream (1996)

What made it scary good:

The 2^nd of the Wes Craven films on this list, Scream is the story of Sidney Prescott (Nev Campbell), a high school girl who is stalked by a killer by the pseudonym “Ghostface” as well as her past. 

Cash Rules Everything Around Me

Craven reinvented the slasher genre with this, his first installment of the Scream trilogy.  Ghostface was a Scooby-doo like villain and part of the fun of this movie is not only the scares and kills but also the whodunit approach that added to the films suspense. 

I always had a thing for ya Sid!

What sets this film apart from many of the other classics in the slasher sub-genre is its satirical portrayal of the horror genre.  Randy’s (Jamie Kennedy) entire existence in the Scream universe is to spit off the rules to surviving a horror movie, and clichés that exist in a typical horror film.  Scream then proceeds to break most of these clichés and rules of the horror movies it pays homage to, a perfect example of this is that the killer actually runs after his victims.  The sequels to this movie are not as impressive as the original but the entire first trilogy (the beginning of the second trilogy, Scre4m, releases in April) maintains the continuity and integrity of the original.

Why it’s not higher:

Scream relies a little too much on the jump scare to terrorize the audiences and while definitely a scary movie is a little more light and fun than the rest of the movies on this list.  Ghostface does not leave the lasting impression of a terrifying iconic horror villain.  Still, #3 aint bad.

Also Recommended:

I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997), Urban Legend (1998):

Riding the revival of the teen slasher flick that Scream produced, both of these movies by far fall short of Craven’s work but both have their redeeming qualities.  Urban Legend provides a solid concept, some good scares, and some solid performances.  While I Know… provides Jennifer Love Hewitt in her prime.

This movie is based on a note I once wrote JLH. The real story ended in a restraining order.

 2.     A Nightmare on Elm Street (1985)

What made it scary good:

Wes Craven’s golden goose, Freddy Krueger is brought to life in A Nightmare on Elm Street, a film about a group of teenagers who live on the titular street and are stalked in their nightmares by a burned and disfigured man named Freddy Krueger.  What the teens soon learn is that if Freddy kills you in your dream, you die in real life.  A Nightmare on Elm Street explores an uncharted territory for horror movies, your nightmares, brings Johnny Depp to the silver screen for the first time, and introduces arguably the most iconic villain of all time.

Seen Above: Not Freddy Krueger

I won’t delve into the coming-of-age metaphors associated with this story because, unlike Carrie, I don’t think they contribute that much to the quality of the film.  What sets this movie apart is the suspense and fear, the groundbreaking special effects (for its time), and of course Freddy Krueger.

Why it’s not higher:

The special effects were groundbreaking for its time, but now they are outdated and at times distracting.  Additionally, A Nightmare on Elm Street touts seven sequels (including Freddy vs. Jason) which have turned Freddy Krueger into a campy and comedic character.  The reboot has tried to bring Freddy back to his roots but has not been received well by audiences.  This wouldn’t be a problem if you didn’t know who Freddy Krueger was before watching this movie, but if you don’t know who Freddy Krueger is they probably don’t have televisions on your planet.

Also Recommended:

Friday the 13^th (1980):  I debated with myself for a long time as to whether or not I should include this movie on my list.  Ultimately I couldn’t find a definitive reason not to, but I also couldn’t choose a movie to omit in its place.   Ultimately, this movie is great and spawned one of the most sucessful franchises in horror movie history; but I feel it lacks some depth, so I’m putting it here.

and the #1 movie on my list…

1. Halloween (1978)

I’d like to share a personal story.  When I was growing up a homeowner on my neighboring street dressed up as Michael Myers every year for Halloween and stood at the end of his driveway while the theme music for the movie blared out of his garage.  My little brother was so terrified of this man that not only would he not go to this house for Halloween candy; he wouldn’t even go down that street.  My brother had never even seen a Halloween movie and he was terrified for years whenever he even heard the Halloween theme song.  Michael Myers is pure terror right down to the William Shatner mask.

Saving you money on hotels, flights, and Halloween candy

Once you see Halloween this character becomes even more terrifying.  Michael Myers stalks and kills the teens of this town for no apparent reason, he doesn’t speak and he doesn’t run.  He just finds you, catches you, and kills you.  This movie was made in 21 days for $320,000, grossing $47 million dollars in the box office; it is the gold standard of slasher movies and launched the career of Jamie Lee Curtis as the all time scream queen. 

Halloween has stood the test of time and survived 7 sequels involving Micheal Myers (Halloween 3 does not count).  It has also survived a 2 movie reboot from Rob Zombie that was so bad he turned Michael Myers into Rob Zombie himself.

Rob Zombie or Michael Myers?

Halloween uses everything from jump scares, to suspense, great cinematography, and an excellent score to scare the **** out of first time viewers, and it gets better with each additional viewing.

Why it’s not higher:

Halloween has been on many prestigious “all time” lists and was selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for its cultural and historical significance.  It has also influenced almost every slasher that followed it and has been mentioned on various “all-time” lists.  However, it has pretty much been snubbed by the AFI, not making its greatest films list, and only being ranked #68 on its 100 Years…100 Thrills list.  Why it’s not higher?  I don’t know.

Also Recommended:

I recommend you see this movie again, and don’t see or forget about the reboot.  And keep checking back for new blog posts on this site.

Honorable Mentions:

Dawn of the Dead (1978, 2004 remake): Why do the zombies go to the mall?  It’s a metaphor, and how much does it still resonate in today’s economy?  The remake is actually a pretty stand up movie as well.

Child’s Play (1988):  You know what’s scary?  A killer ginger doll.

Children of the Corn (1984):  You know what’s scarier?  Killer ginger children.

Rosemary’s Baby (1968):  Almost as terrifying as Roman Polanski’s real life.

The Shining (1980):  Some movies are like people, some shine and some don’t.  This movie shines.

Thank you to everyone who read both parts of this list and I’m sorry if I left off one of your favorite horror movies.  Please feel free to comment and let me know what you think I missed or what I got right.

~Pac

Top 10 Horror Movies of All Time

When I was asked to contribute to this blog I wanted my first post to be something that was a good representation of my taste in movies, what qualifies as good cinema to me, and still be true to the spirit of the blog.  My favorite genre is Horror, and while horror and great filmmaking aren’t often uttered in the same breath, I enjoy this genre more than any other because it appeals to the most primitive human emotions (fear, violence, sin), often has an underlying social message, and are often the most fun to watch.  While most horror movies often get disregarded as campy, cheap, or poorly developed; some horror movies set the bar for what all other movies in the genre should strive to achieve.  This list is composed of my top ten favorite horror movies.  Movies like Shaun of the Dead (comedic) and Nosferatu (dated), may be great works of art in their own right, but do not elicit the emotions I feel a horror movie should for this day and age, and therefore are omitted from this list.     

10.     Alien (1979)     

What made it scary good:     

Sci-fi horror is usually not a subgenre that is based in enough reality for me to consider it truly terrifying, but what Ridley Scott did with this movie was create a suspense that kept the audience on edge for most of the film.  We know by the title that the villain is an alien but we don’t really see the alien in its entirety for most of the film.  Couple that unknown with the claustrophobia and helplessness of being on a spacecraft, and this movie epitomizes fear.     

This movie epitomize oxymoron

 Why it’s not higher:     

If this were 1979 it would be much higher, not because many of the other movies on this list didn’t exist yet, but because had I been born I would have had no idea what this alien looked like.     

And I wouldn't have seen this yet

 However, the alien is such a symbol of pop culture that some of the terror of the creature is lost on today’s viewers.  If this list were rearranged to reflect almost anything else (overall quality, quotability, special effects) this would be at or near the top.     

Also Recommend:     

Aliens (1986):     

James Cameron’s sequel goes much deeper into Ripley’s (Sigourney Weaver) character and is considered in some circles both better than the original, and one of the best sequels ever.  However, it is based more in action than it is horror and suspense, and Bill Paxton’s character is incredibly annoying.  This movies does, however, boast the best quote of any of the Alien movies, “Get away from her, you b****”.     

 

9.     Last House on the Left (1972)    

What made it scary good:     

This is the first of 3 Wes Craven movies on this list, and it was the first horror movie he wrote or directed.  Wes Craven, more than any other horror director, is capable of taking a person’s most primal fears and capturing them on-screen.   

Gregory Hoblit also successfully captured Primal Fear on screen

 In Last House on the Left, a girl and her friend go into New York to see a rock concert.  When in New York they begin seeking Marijuana and end up running into a group of escaped psychos.  What ensues next on-screen is the worst drug deal in the history of cinema.  Last house on the left paved the way for a simple motif that is in practically every horror movie since its release, drugs and rock & roll will kill you!    

Don't touch this dude's weed

 This film is very gory and at some points very hard to watch.  Last House also boasts one of the better horror movie remakes in recent years so if this movie seems too dated for your taste, all is not lost by viewing the update.    

 Why it’s not higher:    

While it may be Wes Craven’s first movie, it is definitely not his best.  The music and score completely kill the mood of the film from time to time; this is certainly the weakest aspect of the movie.  If I were a parent this film may also touch a fear that I have not experienced, but I’m not so #9 is where it lies.    

Also Recommend:     

The Hills Have Eyes (1977, 2006 remake), The Devil’s Rejects (2005)

 

8.     The Descent (2005)    

What made it scary good:     

This movie is the perfect blend of Predators and Aliens.     

This is not. Starting to get the hint that this movie is terrible?

Sporting an all female cast (except for one man and bunch a bunch of “crawlers”), The Descent chronicles a group of female friends who get together six years after a tragic accident to explore an underground cavern.  After they are trapped deep underground, they are left to explore the cave in order to find a way out.  What the find instead, really sucks for them!     

Seriously sucks for them

 While this movie taps into the fear and suspense that also made Alien so good, what ranks it higher on this list is that it takes place on Earth in present day, and therefore has a greater sense of realism attached to it.  The monsters in this film are terrifying, and the claustrophobia associated with the caverns adds an extra layer of uncomfortable.  But honestly, this movie may not even make my list if it weren’t for the question the writer leaves in the mind of its viewers.  In order to not spoil the film for those who haven’t seen the film, I’ll just say that “the descent” is a double entendre.      

Why it’s not higher:                                                                                                 

The acting is not top-notch, but it is a horror movie.  Other than that I can’t really say a bad thing about this movie, I think it is really good.  The other movies ranked higher on this list are just simply better.     

Also Recommend:     

Jaws (1975): This film didn’t make my list because Jaws, the shark, simply doesn’t look scary anymore.  Other than that it is everything The Descent is and everything it’s not.  Let’s put it this way, if both these movies were on television and I was watching alone, I’d watch Jaws; if I was watching with someone who hadn’t seen The Descent, I’d watch them watch The Descent.     

 

7.     The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)    

What made it scary good:     

This horror movie used a technique known as “false documentation” to enhance the scare for the viewers.  Basically, the beginning of the film indicates that the events that unfold on screen are in fact true even though they are, in fact, false (though the film is loosely based on Ed Gein).  I may have ruined some of the terror of this movie for some of you who haven’t seen this film, but that’s not the only reason this film is ranked in my top 10.  The Texas Chainsaw Massacre boasts some of the best cinematography for any horror movie ever made and the villain/monster, Leatherface (a chainsaw wielding psychopath who wears the skin of his victims as a mask) who stalks and kills the city slicker visitors of his home is the scariest transvestite ever portrayed on screen.     

Okay, second scariest

 So far we’ve covered most of the elements of the movie outlined in the title, a chainsaw wielding psychopath who creates a massacre…  IN TEXAS.  Seriously, this is the scariest part of the movie.  Have you ever been to Texas?  I haven’t.  You know why, because of movies like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.  I’ve lived in two places my entire life, both cities, and if this movie has taught me anything it’s that people like me aren’t welcome in backwoods Texas and probably will not survive.     

Don’t Mess With Texas

Why it’s not higher:     

Like many other horror movies, some also included on this list, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre has been diluted by its sequels.  With two other poorly executed sequels to the original and the laughably bad …Next Generation the original Leatherface lost his luster.  In 2003 reboot was a very strong effort but it was also tainted by its prequel …The Beginning.  Also, this movie may be a little dated to still accomplish the fright it originally packed.     

Also Recommend:     

House of 1,000 Corpses (2003): Rob Zombie’s seminal work, and in my opinion his best.  The climax goes a little over the top for what otherwise would be a completely believable and terrifying plot, otherwise this film delivers flawlessly.  And seriously people, please stay away from backwoods houses in Texas.   

6.     The Strangers (2008)     

What made it scary good:     

Of all the movies on this list, this one probably scared me the most on first viewing.  The plot revolves around a struggling married couple who goes to a cabin after a wedding reception to try to capture some of their lost romance.  Instead, they are stalked and harassed by three strangers who have no apparent motive for their exploits.  This movie excels because it does not rely on jump scares or other hackneyed devices often seen in today’s horror.  We feel the suspense as the strangers stalk the married couple and our urge to scream at the screen to warn the protagonists is almost unbearable during first viewing.  While the subplot of the couple’s dwindling romance is a little contrived, it is important to the plot as it gives the characters depth and makes the audience more sympathetic to their situation.  If you want the full effect of this film’s first viewing watch it with a significant other on a dark rainy day with the lights off.     

Why it’s not higher:     

This is not necessarily a criticism, but I was left wanting so much more.  The runtime of this movie is only 86 minutes and while the pacing is very good, I was begging for another 15-20 minutes.     

That’s what she said

 I mentioned earlier that the subplot of the couple’s struggling romance is a little contrived and probably could have been executed a little better.  Also, this is just personal taste and is certainly not the opinion of all movie goers, but for some reason I end up rooting for Liv Tyler’s demise in every movie she appears.  A sequel for this movie is currently in the works and this is not a movie or a franchise that can be improved with a sequel, I fear this will hurt the original’s credibility amongst horror fans.     

Also Recommended:     

Cape Fear (1991), Trick ‘r Treat (2007)     

I realize that this post is getting a little long-winded and have decided to break it up into two parts.  Check back in later for horror movies 5-1 and thanks for reading. 

~ Pac