Science Fiction has mixed well with Horror for a great many years. There is always an inherent fear of the unknown, and space continues to be the great unknown. As we follow the crew of the Nostromo space craft on a distant moon, we know something bad will happen to a crew member or two, but we have no idea how bad! Once it becomes obvious that a strange being has hopped aboard, the tension and fear become palpable. Because the scene with John Hurt has been talked about so often, it may have lost some of it's impact, but try imagining seeing that scene without ever hearing about it beforehand. Horrific! If you don't know what I'm talking about...watch it tonight.
IMDB rating - 8.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes - 9/10 (97%)
I first saw this movie when I was about 12 or so. A friend of mine had it on VHS and we sat and watched it in his basement. I had nightmares for weeks after! The make-up and special effects may look dated by today's computer generated standards, but for it's time, there was nothing like it! When we see David Naughton as David Kessler turn into a werewolf for the first time, it's scary, funny, painful and completely fascinating, thanks to the amazing make-up artist Rick Baker. There are some very good, jump out of your seat moments in the movie. There are also many very funny scenes, especially from David's rapidly decomposing buddy Jack, played by Griffin Dunne. A really great film that doesn't always get it's due.
IMDB rating - 7.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes - 7.8/10 (89%)
A Canadian made horror movie...yay!! The same director who went on to make "A Christmas Story" first gave us a unique view of a killer. It's a familiar story - sorority girls are stalked by a murderous maniac during the holidays. The story isn't great, the acting isn't great. But what makes this a good movie to watch during Halloween is the wonderful point-of-view filming technique used by director Bob Clark. It was an entirely new view for us, and it creeped the viewer out! It may look dated now, but it's still worth a watch, as very few movies are able to build tension the way "Black Christmas" does.
IMDB rating - 7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes - 6.1/10 (65%)
I know a lot of folks that didn't like this movie, and I kind of see why. Through a lot of it, not much was going on. The girl was ultra-annoying. But when the three characters were in the woods, at night, I felt my heart pound. And that final shot in the house??? C'mon!! That shot stuck with me for weeks. What this movie did for low-budget horror flicks was revolutionary. It proved you could make a scary, cinema verite, hand-held film for next to nothing and make millions of dollars. If you were there in 1999 to see this movie in the theatre, then you know about the phenomenon of "The Blair Witch".
IMDB rating - 6.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes - 7.7/10 (86%)
There are few roles that are perfectly encapsulated by the actor or actress portraying them. Sissy Spacek will forever be Carrie to me. She was so creepy - her menacing eyes haunted me for years! There are some goofy scenes to this movie, especially from the over-acting of Piper Laurie as Carrie's ultra-religious mother. But director Brian DePalma crafts a tale of innocence and jealousy nearly perfectly to culminate into one of the better horror climaxes of the 1970's. And that last dream scene? I've never heard of anybody that didn't jump ten feet from that scene! Stay away from the re-make...it doesn't capture the same feeling of dread as the original does.
IMDB Rating - 7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes - 8.4/10 (93%)
Another great, Canadian made horror film. When I worked in video stores, near Halloween, lots of people asked me for a scary movie. I always suggested "The Changeling"...and then they'd go rent "Scream 5" or something. This is a slow-paced film, but there are a lot of jumpy sequences. The ball bouncing down the stairs. The chair that rocked by itself. The bathtub. If you want to be scared for a night, and maybe many more after, watch this film in a very dark room. I promise you, you will have trouble sleeping! Oh, and don't get this confused with that Angelina Jolie film...you'll be very disappointed.
IMDB rating - 7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes - 7.3/10 (76%)
Director Henri-Georges Clouzot builds tension masterfully in this tale of a murder gone wrong. Two women, brought together by the one of the women's husband, plan to murder him in order to end his tormenting of the two. The Plan goes off without a hitch until they decide to dump his body in a never-used pool. Oh, but the pool is drained soon after...and the body ain't there!! Throughout the rest of the movie, we share in the complete paranoia of the two women as mysterious occurrences plague them. A fantastic, creepy, black and white foreign thriller that should not be missed! And never, I mean never, watch the American remake with Sharon Stone!!
IMDB rating - 8.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes - 8.6/10 (95%)
Here's another horror film that was made for almost nothing but got by on fun, gore and ingenuity. Sam Raimi directed this tale of a demonic book that unleashes great terror on some unsuspecting youngsters in a cabin in the woods. There are some real good frightening scenes throughout the movie, but the greatest treat is the visual style. Raimi and the crew had to come up with some very unique ways to have an ever-moving camera to portray the evil spirit on the move. And the results were fantastic. Bruce Campbell became a horror icon after this film was released and continues to play upon the character of Ash to this day. "Evil Dead II" is just as good, but a little zanier. For more chills, stick with the first one!
IMDB rating - 7.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes - 8/10 (95%)
I have seen "The Exorcist" a hundred times, literally, and I still get freaked out by it. Everybody knows the story of the little girl who gets possessed, and there are some very frightening scenes with her levitating and barfing and swearing and so on. But there are many subliminal shots of the devil, or at least the demon involved that make you jump back as well. The extra "spider crawl" scene released over 20 years after the initial release of the film is totally hair-raising as well. It is still, to me, the greatest horror film I've ever seen!
IMDB rating - 8.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes - 8/10 (86%)
This movie will not be for everyone, and that is precisely why it should be viewed. It is completely uncomfortable all the way through. And even though it was made over 70 years ago, the real-life circus freaks used in the film will haunt your dreams for nights after. It's a strange feeling you get watching the film - you feel empathy and sympathy for the titular characters, and then you fear them for the actions that they take. Tod Browning, who also directed 1931's "Dracula" with Bela Lugosi, certainly knows who to build terror and his expertise is on full display here. "One of us!!".
IMDB rating - 7.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes - 8.5/10 (94%)
John Carpenter's "Halloween" has long been regarded as a must-see film for the creepiest night of the year, and for good reason. The invention of Michael Myers, a deranged psychopath that only wants to kill was pure genius. But the great, tension-building music that goes along with Myers' return to his hometown makes it even better! Jamie Lee Curtis made a name for herself as a "Scream Queen" after the release of "Halloween", and deservedly so. She is able to capture the horror and insanity of the situation she is thrust into beautifully. As with other horror franchises, the chills and terror of subsequent sequels is greatly lacking. Watch the original...again and again and again!
IMDB rating - 7.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes - 8.6/10 (93%)
I'm not sure how difficult it is to find this movie anymore, but, at one time, it was banned in a number of countries. Why? Because of the realistic portrayal of Henry, played brilliantly by Michael Rooker. The movie takes the look of a pseudo-documentary, and some of the killing scenes are so realistic, many thought they were actually watching a documentary! This movie freaked folks out! It was loosely based on real-life serial killer Henry Lee Lucas, which added to it's horror. If you can find it, watch it, if you can...it gets gruesome!!
IMDB rating - 7.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes - 7.6/10 (86%)
Not only do I count "Jaws" as one of my favourite horror movies, I put it near the top of my list of favourite movies of all-time! I saw this movie for the first time at a drive-in when I was about five years old...and I refused to swim in a pool until I was about eight! Any movie that can have that sort of effect on someone must be classified as "horror". But "Jaws" is a lot more than the cello strings warning us of impending doom. It's perfectly crafted by Steven Spielberg with great acting all-round. This was the first mega-Summer-blockbuster film and it continues to thrill first-time viewers to this day.
IMDB rating - 8.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes - 9.2/10 (97%)
This is a really interesting film from Sweden. It revolves around a bullied 12-year old boy who meets a mysterious young girl one night in the cold, blowing snow. They become fast friends, even as he starts to suspect she may be something, uh, let's say, non-human. Lina Leandersson is absolutely mesmerizing as the young girl-vampire. Every scene she's in, she commands your attention. There is a strange sweetness to the film, but it's dotted just enough with very frightening scenes that will make you jump. The pool scene is one of the best shot scenes I can remember in any horror film. Really worth the watch. Remade for American audiences in 2010, called "Let Me In", which I didn't see.
IMDB rating - 7.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes - 8.3/10 (98%)
In 1968, George A. Romero created something special, an entire genre of film making. He, in essence, created the modern day Zombie Movie. What's more, he did it on nearly a zero budget, and it became one of the most endeared horror films ever made. The black and white film, the hand-held camera, the undead walk...all from the mind of the master. It may look dated now (it is nearly 50 years old already!), but there are still many things to love about the film. And, just for history sake, it's one of the very first films to have a black protagonist in a mostly "white" movie. Absolutely groundbreaking and a must see!
IMDB rating - 7.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes - 8.8/10 (96%)
If you've never seen the original, it's worth it. Although it has been watered down a bit by sequel after sequel after sequel, the original "Nightmare" has enough frightening scenes to keep you jumping on a dark night. The iconic vision of Freddy Krueger, the man who was burned to death for, possibly, being a pedophile is still something to behold, especially since he hides in the shadows of your dreams. We see the glove made of sharp knives first. We see the eerie vision of him walking through a hallway with impossibly long arms, easily made to reach out and grab ya! And we see Johnny Depp in one of his very first film roles. Director/writer Wes Craven created a character that is still as creepy as ever!
IMDB rating - 7.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes - 7.7/10 (94%)
There are few movies that keep me guessing right up to the end. "The Others" had me guessing even after I knew the twist! I wouldn't call this movie a traditional horror film, but there are a few scenes that'll creep you out. The brilliance of the movie is the unravelling of the story, which I can't really get into in case you've never seen it. But I can guarantee the slow pace of the film is needed to build the tension of the climax. Stick with it, you won't be disappointed.
IMDB rating - 7.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes - 7.2/10 (83%)
"They're heeeeerreeee!". That's it, that's all that is needed to know what movie we're talking about. A wonderfully crafted film that makes us believe horrific things could happen to any average family. Wonderful special effects for it's time, the movie will draw you in with it's cute kids and lovely neighbourhood. But it will scare the pants off of you at times, too. Remember the clown in the boy's bedroom?? I still do, 30 years later!!! There were sequels, and a re-make, but this is easily the best of the bunch.
IMDB rating - 7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes - 7.2/10 (88%)
Alfred Hitchcock was already one of the most famous and beloved directors in the world by 1960. But after "Psycho" was released, he became a true icon. What "Jaws" did for my fear of swimming, "Psycho" did for my fear of showering. But the film is so much more than just this one scene that has had entire texts written about it. Anthony Perkins created a character that would send tingles up the spines of audiences for decades to come. Norman Bates would become synonymous with creepy, odd killers. He perfected the role! And Hitchcock would use his camera to freak us out even more when Martin Balsam's Detective Arbogast buys it. An essential horror film to watch this time of year!
IMDB rating - 8.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes - 9.2/10 (97%)
Before "Chinatown", Roman Polanski made a couple of interesting horror-genre films, including "Knife In The Water" and "The Fearless Vampire Killers". But "Repulsion" was easily the creepiest...and best. Catherine Deneuve plays Carol, a woman who is staying with her sister and her sister's husband for a time. Everything is fairly normal, until Carol starts to fall into a deep depression. And with that depression comes visions, some of violence, some of extreme terror. Deneuve's performance allows the viewer to experience these visions with her, feeling every emotion she feels. And Polanski's little camera tricks make the uneasy feeling even worse as the film goes on. Not a scary movie, per-se, but really creepy.
IMDB rating - 7.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes - 8.9/10 (100%)
I'm usually not big on the whole gore-for-the-sake-of-gore films usually listed within the horror genre. And some will feel that "Saw" would fall into the description. But, for me, it was much more. Sure, the story surrounding "the room" wasn't so great. And, sure, some of the acting of those not in "the room" was suspect. But everything that happened in "the room", I thought, was fantastic! I was on the edge of my seat for every moment. Is that guy actually gonna cut his foot off?!?!? How the hell are they going to escape this madman's game?!? I had a ball watching this movie for the first time, and I have a feeling, most people did or will as well.
IMDB rating - 7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes - 5.5/10 (49%)
Remember I told you about seeing "An American Werewolf In London" at a friend's house? He showed me "The Thing" for the first time as well, and I was freaked out for a good long while afterwards. The movie takes place in the cold, dark Antarctic where there is no escape from whatever this alien entity is. But whatever it is, it's freaking terrifying! It's a lot like "Alien" in that regard. There are scenes that will scare the blood out of you (blood testing scene, anyone??), but what's so good about this movie is that it stays interesting throughout, even when the "Thing" has been revealed. Easily one of my favourite horror films!
IMDB rating - 8.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes - 7.4/10 (83%)
I chose to add this movie based solely on the first half-hour or so. The rest of the movie is pretty boring, but the first scenes are some of the best horror inducing scenes you'll ever see. This is where the famous line "The call is coming from inside the house" came from, and what "Scream" used to open that film more than 20 years later. Carol Kane is spot-on perfect as the babysitter. Seriously, turn the movie off after the opening scenes, it's all you need to create a terror filled night on Halloween!
IMDB rating - 6.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes - 5.2/10 (33%)
Honorable Mentions
Blade (1998) - a fun take on the vampire genre, more action than scares
Bride Of Frankenstein (1935) - fantastic film, but again, more fun than scary
Candyman (1992) - a great character with a few chills
Dead Calm (1989) - fabulous tension builder that falters near the end
Dracula (1931) - the original is dated, but still creepy
Frankenstein (1931) - not as scary as it used to be, but still great
Friday The 13th (1980) - the original is still pretty jump-inducing
The Haunting (1963) - dated, but very frightening at times
Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1956 or 1978) - either one is lots of fun
Ju-On: The Grudge (2002) - the Japanese version has some really good scares
Nosferatu (1922) - the one that started it all, silent and thrilling
The Omen (1976) - that Damien kid...man!
Rosemary's Baby (1968) - too long, but some great scenes
Slither (2006) - a good take on the monster movie
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) - pretty good scares on a nothing budget
Alright, that'll do. Have a Happy Halloween, and if you have some suggestions for me, I'm always open for that kind of thing.
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