Movie Review Monday: Halloween Edition
To celebrate Halloween, I thought I’d throw out my Top 10 Favorite Spookiest/Scariest Films of all time. You’ll notice that the majority of the films listed were released in 1980 or earlier. I guess I just don’t scare as easily as I did when I was younger. Either that or they don’t know how to make scary films like they used to.
In no particular order…
Halloween (1978)
I watched this one at home alone on cable when I was fourteen-years-old and I stayed up until three in the morning pressed up against the wall in the corner of my bed with my baseball bat, watching my bedroom door. Not my finest hour.
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
This film is the reason I had nightmares about zombies growing up. The opening sequence is as creepy and terrifying as it gets. I still think it holds up after more than forty years. They’re coming to get you, Barbara.
The Exorcist (1973)
I haven’t watched this film in thirty years because it freaked me out so much the first time I saw it. Don’t ask me to watch it again.
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Yes, the girl gets kind of annoying (who yells out “hello” when you hear something making noises in the woods out in the dark?), but you never see what’s chasing them and when it comes to doing scary right, I’m a firm believer that less is more.
The Haunting (1963)
The book by Shirley Jackson is better, but this one is the classic haunted house film. A little dated, but still creepy and spooky. In the night. In the dark.
Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
Just. Plain. Scary.
REC (2007)
This one delivers the scares almost from the start and once it gets going, it doesn’t let up. More intense than moody, but heavy on the creep factor.
The Shining (1980)
Admittedly, I find the book far superior, but on its own this is arguably the best haunted house film, scare for scare.
Psycho (1960)
Hitchcock set the standard with this one. Everything that followed pales in comparison. Anthony Hopkins creeps me out to this day.
The Ring (2002)
I admit, I have a thing for Naomi Watts, which is probably why I liked this one more than the original Japanese version. And I will NEVER watch an unmarked video tape in a cabin. NEVER.
Okay, that’s my Top 10 List of creepy movies that scared the hell out of me. What are some of yours?
I just said on facebook that I didn’t have a list, but thought I’d say I like all the old b&w classics, Dracula, Wolfman, Frankenstein, etc. Then I remembered a 2008 Swedish film, Let The Right One In. Loved the look & feel of that one. Also, the 2004 movie Hide & Creep was great for some comedy with your zombie horror.
Comment by Peggy — October 31, 2011 @ 6:44 am
Every Halloween I watch at least one Vincent Price. House of Wax, Theater of Blood, Witchfinder General. I just love him. I’m not one for scary movies, but I love a good evil character and no one enjoyed being evil like Price!
Comment by Marian Librarian (@LibrarianMarian) — October 31, 2011 @ 7:53 am
Peggy, I used to watch all of the old Universal films when I was a kid on the Saturday Afternoon Monster Matinee. Loved them. And LET THE RIGHT ONE IN came very close to making the list. The Swedish version, not the American remake, which completely lost the point of the title by calling it LET ME IN.
Comment by admin — November 1, 2011 @ 7:30 am
Thanks Marian. I loved Vincent Price growing up. He had the best maniacal laugh. I would watch just about anything he was in. Thanks for reminding me that it’s been too long since I’ve seen him.
Comment by admin — November 1, 2011 @ 7:31 am
We just watched The Haunting the other night. Classic. I agree on The Ring, and not just because of Naomi Watts. It’s a good creepy movie with more than a few surprises.
Comment by Tim Long — November 3, 2011 @ 6:32 pm
The Ring is one of the few horror films I actually own.
Comment by admin — November 4, 2011 @ 6:17 am