What is a horror movie? Many films claim to be horror films, but they are merely thrillers with a scene or two of gore. To me, a true horror film makes you cringe, makes you grab hold of an armrest or maybe even make you cry. A cat jumping out from behind a couch, when you think it might be something worse, is suspense revealed, not horror. True horror is when you believe what is taking place, those awful things, we hold back in the recesses of our minds, unfold before us and for a brief second, we believe it is happening. It is then, that horror is achieved.
We call lots of movies horror. The Exorcist is one of the classic American horror movies, but if you're an intelligent and well adjusted human being, it is neither scary nor thrilling. There is never a lump in your throat, because you know that demonic possession is nothing more than a tall tale. For me, there was a never a scary moment in the entire film. Watching it now, I find it almost comical. Now take Last House on the Left. Not a great movie by any means, but the rape and resulting revenge is pure horror, due largely to a low budget which allows you to believe this is happening, because it is plausible and realistic. So for this, you won't see certain movies you'd expect, but that is not to say there might not be some supernatural forces within this list.
To begin, I am setting a few ground rules. While wonderfully enjoyable, I am eliminating films such as From Dusk Til Dawn, Zombieland and Shaun of the Dead, because they are too funny to be scary. I will also be leaving out one of my personal favorites, Severance, which is littered with humor, despite being absolutely terrifying at some points. Let me also say, it might have one of the single greatest WTF scenes of all-time. Still, there is way too much humor to include it. I will also not include silly horror films that I enjoy like The Lost Boys, Nightmare on Elm Street and Candyman. I will also avoid guilty pleasure, such as Phantasm, Hellraiser, The Stepfather, Resident Evil and any of the Evil Dead series (could also be disqualified for humor). Finally, I will disqualify great horror films by definition, which are really not horror films, but love story/personal struggles, such asAmerican Werewolf in London, The Host and Nosferatu. In doing so, I have dwindled my list down to fourteen titles. All of which, I feel define the horror genre. I will not go into great detail, because I don't want to ruin any of the surprises in the films for those of you who may wish to see them. I will just give a brief explanation of their inclusion on the list. Some movies that I may view as better as a whole, might not necessarily be rated as high in terms of pure horror. for example, one movie in particular is on my Top 25 list, but isn't the top horror movie on this list.
Three....Extremes: A trio of vignettes by noted Asian horror masters, which take on horror to a psychological level. All three ask the question "How far would you go for what you desire?"
A Tale of Two Sisters: Brilliant Korean psychological horror about two sisters and their mean stepmother. The psychosis in this film and the abuse is beyond creepy. As with many Korean films, you must be patient during the first half and you will be rewarded in the second.
Jian Gui (The Eye): I am not speaking of the American remake of the same name. The Chinese version is amazing. It tells of a blind musician who is given a cornea transplant. Delighted at first, the new found sight also brings about premonitions of death and disaster.
Carrie: I know everyone has seen it and while the actual horror is slight, the final scene is absolutely brilliant and despite the quirky camera shots, it works so well in setting the tone. Plus, the buildup to the pigs blood being dumped onto her is squirm inducing.
Ringu (The Ring): The American version is a wonderful movie, but the Japanese version is slightly better. It's all about a cursed video, where in watching the tape, the viewer gets a call that they will die in seven days. The horror comes from the video and the little girl, who eventually, comes to see the viewers in a very horrifying manner. On a side note, the little girl who played the "girl in the well" in the American version, grew up to be absolutely stunning.
Halloween: I realize this would be number one on many people's lists, but the reality is, there is not much violence, the threats are almost comical and the anticipation of horror is conveyed more through the music than the movie itself. That being said, Michael Meyers and his mask bring chills to most, even today.
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer: Some may argue the merits of this being a horror movie, but I feel it possesses all the makings of one. This was the docu-horror years before it became a thing. Michael Rooker's portrayal of Henry is one of the most obscene and disturbing characters you'll ever see. The production value is so low that you have that odd sense, that you may be watching a snuff film. What makes this so terrifying is the knowledge it's somewhat based on real people. Drifters who have walked this earth and become infamous by their trademark three names. In this case, the movie is loosely based on Henry Lee Lucas, the notorious serial killer.
Lat Den Ratte Komma In (Let the Right One In): This Swedish "vampire" film could easily be called a love story, but when you watch the final scene, you realize it's anything but. I will also state that the American version is as good if not better in terms of production and script, but the cold dark setting in the original almost plays as a character. Pick your star, Lina Leandersson or Chloe Grace Moritz, it doesn't matter. The story is haunting. The reason why this works so well on a horror level is that you know the young boy is going to continue to be abused and you're not sure what is going to happen to the girl and her "father." The horror in this film comes from how uncomfortable you feel with the children's relationship. Despite being a horror movie, this is actually a beautiful movie.
The Omen: Unlike other demonic movies, this child isn't possessed, he's the spawn of Satan. The way the film is shot, the music and the rigidity of the characters all adds to the dread. The pint sized villain never actually does anything himself, but controls others to do his dirty work. One of the least bloody horror films ever made, it is still resounding with it's force.
Odition (Audition): When I first watched this movie, I said to myself. OK, we're over an hour and twenty minutes in and it's about a guy tricking girls into thinking their going to be in a movie, when he's really looking for a date. Then he calls her on the phone and I nearly jumped out of my clothes. The movie starts to get odd and then there is the final 15-20 minutes. It's not often I need to take a shower to get the heebie jeebies off of me, but this movie brought it to that level. Trust me. If you are patient, Takashi Miike will always reward you.
Martyrs: This movie is both horrifying and terrifying. It's the single most brutal film I've ever seen and is one I thought about for days after seeing. It's not gory, but there is blood. It's brutal, plain and simple. It's really two movies in one in many ways. The first have is about one person's psychosis and the second is about torture in the name of transcendence. If that doesn't make sense to you, watch this flick. I warn you though, you can not un-see this film.
The Shining: Stanley Kubrik's adaptation of Stephen King's novel has been argued about forever. King himself hates the movie, but viewers, many of them, deemed it the greatest horror film of all time. The thing about this movie is that it is a concert piece. It starts with just violins strumming away and ends with the horn section blowing the roof off. As we watch Jack Torrance's spiral into the abyss of insanity, we are treated to crazy visions that to this day I can't explain. One of the greatest films of all time, let alone horror films.
Jaws: The movie works on one very important level and that is, this actually happens. No, a shark doesn't chase a boat and then get blown to bits, but people die every year in the jaws of a great white shark. It isn't common, but it happens enough that the movie confirms our fears about the ocean. Jaws did for the ocean, what Psycho did for showers. That is saying a lot.
So what is the greatest horror film of all time?
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: This movie is the single greatest piece of horror ever made for three reasons. It was made on a budget that wouldn't pay one cameraman in today's world. It stays with you forever and there will be no other movie you see that you don't compare it to. Finally, there is no real violence or gore. Tobe Hooper made it with the intention of getting a PG rating to boost sales, but it received an unprecedented R rating for implied violence and gore. Imagine that, one scene is actually violent, truly cringe worthy and it's all the stuff we don't see that affects us. That is powerful.
This list will be an ever evolving one as other movies come across my path and scare, shock and make me think. I may even have forgotten some along the way. I'm sure I did, but this is pure horror, not half horror or whatever non-horror horror films are called. Just two nights ago, I watched a movie that could easily have made this on a scissor induced C-section, but that movie, despite tons of gore was more cerebral than just sheer horror and thus I left it off.
We call lots of movies horror. The Exorcist is one of the classic American horror movies, but if you're an intelligent and well adjusted human being, it is neither scary nor thrilling. There is never a lump in your throat, because you know that demonic possession is nothing more than a tall tale. For me, there was a never a scary moment in the entire film. Watching it now, I find it almost comical. Now take Last House on the Left. Not a great movie by any means, but the rape and resulting revenge is pure horror, due largely to a low budget which allows you to believe this is happening, because it is plausible and realistic. So for this, you won't see certain movies you'd expect, but that is not to say there might not be some supernatural forces within this list.
To begin, I am setting a few ground rules. While wonderfully enjoyable, I am eliminating films such as From Dusk Til Dawn, Zombieland and Shaun of the Dead, because they are too funny to be scary. I will also be leaving out one of my personal favorites, Severance, which is littered with humor, despite being absolutely terrifying at some points. Let me also say, it might have one of the single greatest WTF scenes of all-time. Still, there is way too much humor to include it. I will also not include silly horror films that I enjoy like The Lost Boys, Nightmare on Elm Street and Candyman. I will also avoid guilty pleasure, such as Phantasm, Hellraiser, The Stepfather, Resident Evil and any of the Evil Dead series (could also be disqualified for humor). Finally, I will disqualify great horror films by definition, which are really not horror films, but love story/personal struggles, such asAmerican Werewolf in London, The Host and Nosferatu. In doing so, I have dwindled my list down to fourteen titles. All of which, I feel define the horror genre. I will not go into great detail, because I don't want to ruin any of the surprises in the films for those of you who may wish to see them. I will just give a brief explanation of their inclusion on the list. Some movies that I may view as better as a whole, might not necessarily be rated as high in terms of pure horror. for example, one movie in particular is on my Top 25 list, but isn't the top horror movie on this list.
Three....Extremes: A trio of vignettes by noted Asian horror masters, which take on horror to a psychological level. All three ask the question "How far would you go for what you desire?"
A Tale of Two Sisters: Brilliant Korean psychological horror about two sisters and their mean stepmother. The psychosis in this film and the abuse is beyond creepy. As with many Korean films, you must be patient during the first half and you will be rewarded in the second.
Jian Gui (The Eye): I am not speaking of the American remake of the same name. The Chinese version is amazing. It tells of a blind musician who is given a cornea transplant. Delighted at first, the new found sight also brings about premonitions of death and disaster.
Carrie: I know everyone has seen it and while the actual horror is slight, the final scene is absolutely brilliant and despite the quirky camera shots, it works so well in setting the tone. Plus, the buildup to the pigs blood being dumped onto her is squirm inducing.
Ringu (The Ring): The American version is a wonderful movie, but the Japanese version is slightly better. It's all about a cursed video, where in watching the tape, the viewer gets a call that they will die in seven days. The horror comes from the video and the little girl, who eventually, comes to see the viewers in a very horrifying manner. On a side note, the little girl who played the "girl in the well" in the American version, grew up to be absolutely stunning.
Halloween: I realize this would be number one on many people's lists, but the reality is, there is not much violence, the threats are almost comical and the anticipation of horror is conveyed more through the music than the movie itself. That being said, Michael Meyers and his mask bring chills to most, even today.
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer: Some may argue the merits of this being a horror movie, but I feel it possesses all the makings of one. This was the docu-horror years before it became a thing. Michael Rooker's portrayal of Henry is one of the most obscene and disturbing characters you'll ever see. The production value is so low that you have that odd sense, that you may be watching a snuff film. What makes this so terrifying is the knowledge it's somewhat based on real people. Drifters who have walked this earth and become infamous by their trademark three names. In this case, the movie is loosely based on Henry Lee Lucas, the notorious serial killer.
Lat Den Ratte Komma In (Let the Right One In): This Swedish "vampire" film could easily be called a love story, but when you watch the final scene, you realize it's anything but. I will also state that the American version is as good if not better in terms of production and script, but the cold dark setting in the original almost plays as a character. Pick your star, Lina Leandersson or Chloe Grace Moritz, it doesn't matter. The story is haunting. The reason why this works so well on a horror level is that you know the young boy is going to continue to be abused and you're not sure what is going to happen to the girl and her "father." The horror in this film comes from how uncomfortable you feel with the children's relationship. Despite being a horror movie, this is actually a beautiful movie.
The Omen: Unlike other demonic movies, this child isn't possessed, he's the spawn of Satan. The way the film is shot, the music and the rigidity of the characters all adds to the dread. The pint sized villain never actually does anything himself, but controls others to do his dirty work. One of the least bloody horror films ever made, it is still resounding with it's force.
Odition (Audition): When I first watched this movie, I said to myself. OK, we're over an hour and twenty minutes in and it's about a guy tricking girls into thinking their going to be in a movie, when he's really looking for a date. Then he calls her on the phone and I nearly jumped out of my clothes. The movie starts to get odd and then there is the final 15-20 minutes. It's not often I need to take a shower to get the heebie jeebies off of me, but this movie brought it to that level. Trust me. If you are patient, Takashi Miike will always reward you.
Martyrs: This movie is both horrifying and terrifying. It's the single most brutal film I've ever seen and is one I thought about for days after seeing. It's not gory, but there is blood. It's brutal, plain and simple. It's really two movies in one in many ways. The first have is about one person's psychosis and the second is about torture in the name of transcendence. If that doesn't make sense to you, watch this flick. I warn you though, you can not un-see this film.
The Shining: Stanley Kubrik's adaptation of Stephen King's novel has been argued about forever. King himself hates the movie, but viewers, many of them, deemed it the greatest horror film of all time. The thing about this movie is that it is a concert piece. It starts with just violins strumming away and ends with the horn section blowing the roof off. As we watch Jack Torrance's spiral into the abyss of insanity, we are treated to crazy visions that to this day I can't explain. One of the greatest films of all time, let alone horror films.
Jaws: The movie works on one very important level and that is, this actually happens. No, a shark doesn't chase a boat and then get blown to bits, but people die every year in the jaws of a great white shark. It isn't common, but it happens enough that the movie confirms our fears about the ocean. Jaws did for the ocean, what Psycho did for showers. That is saying a lot.
So what is the greatest horror film of all time?
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: This movie is the single greatest piece of horror ever made for three reasons. It was made on a budget that wouldn't pay one cameraman in today's world. It stays with you forever and there will be no other movie you see that you don't compare it to. Finally, there is no real violence or gore. Tobe Hooper made it with the intention of getting a PG rating to boost sales, but it received an unprecedented R rating for implied violence and gore. Imagine that, one scene is actually violent, truly cringe worthy and it's all the stuff we don't see that affects us. That is powerful.
This list will be an ever evolving one as other movies come across my path and scare, shock and make me think. I may even have forgotten some along the way. I'm sure I did, but this is pure horror, not half horror or whatever non-horror horror films are called. Just two nights ago, I watched a movie that could easily have made this on a scissor induced C-section, but that movie, despite tons of gore was more cerebral than just sheer horror and thus I left it off.
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