Best Horror Movies of All Time

[jdrakeh]

My Top 3 Horror Picks:

Black Christmas (1974): A wonderful cast, expertly directed, in one of the most terror-inducing slashers I've ever seen. It still scares the bejeesus out of me all these years later and although there have been two attempts to remake it, neither comes close to capturing the absolute genius of the original.

Occhi di cristallo (2004): A more recent entry on both this list and in the giallo film collective as a whole, this is a stylish thriller with a plot that really draws in the viewer while remaining faithful to the common themes of giallo films. Additionally, it makes more sense than a lot of classic giallo film plots and, in that way, is a better giallo film, IMO.

The Thing (1982): One of very few horror films that I can watch over and over without tiring of it. The screenplay, the pacing, the acting, the score, and, of course, the practical effects are all perfect. While I like a lot of Carpenter's films, for me, this is easily the best of the lot. An absolutely terrifying film.

 

[Clint_L]

This thread is inspired by this post in the Pineapple thread:



I could argue either way whether The Sixth Sense is a horror movie or thriller (or if there's any distinction between the two). But the bottom line is that you need to stop putting it on lists of "Best Horror Movies" because it simply isn't that scary. I'll give you that it's pretty good; it's entertaining and well made. But it would struggle to get on my list of Top 100 Scary Movies of All Time.

So having said that, let's talk about the actual Best Horror Movies of All Time.

Here are the rules:

• Must be "horror". That means scary; inducing feelings of terror, fright, fear, and panic. You decide what that means, whether it's gore, suspense, psychological, etc.
• Must be "horror". Yeah, I'm using Fight Club rules for emphasis. We're talking about something actually scary. If you want to go non-traditional by arguing that The Lego Movie is a terrifying depiction of Lovecraftian horror, you need to be able to back it up with serious discussion about why is actually scares you, not just academic posturing. If you want to say "When Harry Met Sally" is #1 because there's nothing scarier than commitment, kindly go make your own thread.

...

9. Ghostbusters
Comedy and horror have gone together since the earliest days of film, but Ghostbusters stands out (and earns a place on this list) because it's a truly great horror movie, even without the funny bits. It's a unique blend that may never be matched.

Huh? Does not track. They're your own rules.

Don't get me wrong: I love Ghostbusters. So did my kid, from the first time he watched it. I think he was six.

What about this film is horror? Yes, it's about ghosts. But so is Casper. Which is equally frightening.

My list will be forthcoming.

 

[Clint_L]

My Top 3 Horror Picks:

Black Christmas (1974): A wonderful cast, expertly directed, in one of the most terror-inducing slashers I've ever seen. It still scares the bejeesus out of me all these years later and although there have been two attempts to remake it, neither comes close to capturing the absolute genius of the original.

But the most recent version at least takes it in a very different direction, even if kind of poorly executed.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Poltergeist: probably the scariest PG movie I can think of. Compares favorably to many R-rated films.
Alien: I was 10-11 when it hit theaters (same weekend as Halloween), and knew it was a scary movie when I saw the fully posable action figure. I wanted it, but at $28, it would have been a big ask. And because I knew it would scare me in my darkened bedroom, I never did. When I finally got to see it, I thought it was brilliant.
Halloween: helped create a genre
Cabin In the Woods: I don’t think there’s a better meta-horror movie
The Thing (original): a great film that set a standard for many films that followed
The Thing (remake): a completely worthy remake
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (original): a great film that set a standard for many films that followed
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (remake): a completely worthy remake

I know that’s only 8, but I struggled narrowing it down at all, and there’s at least 20+ films vying for the last 2 slots…or replacing some I’ve listed.

There’s a bunch of Cthulhu Mythos stuff I’ve enjoyed. Sci-fi horror. Big-name classics.

 

[dragoner]

This is a tall order, "Best of All Time" and I would only repeat what others have added like Alien, The Shining, or The Thing. Though ones that I will add that are worth seeing and are not listed:
Phantasm, indy film 100% worth seeing.
Stephen King films Children of the Corn, and Pet Sematary (the 1989 one).
Re-Animator, and From Beyond, also must see films.
Barker's Candyman, and Lord of Illusions, especially Candyman.

I guess I don't know, there are a lot of others, this is a start though, maybe I will think of more. Edit, maybe not strictly a horror film, I think Jacob's Ladder (1990) sort of fits in. Okay, just one more, The Prophecy. It never ends.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I think Viggo Mortenson’s portrayal of Lucifer in The Prophecy is among the best ever. Absolutely chilling.

And, FWIW, a lot of the movies I couldn’t rule in or rule out are being mentioned, sooooo…

 

[Tonguez]

I think Viggo Mortenson’s portrayal of Lucifer in The Prophecy is among the best ever. Absolutely chilling.

And, FWIW, a lot of the movies I couldn’t rule in or rule out are being mentioned, sooooo…

Definitely best on screen portrayal of Lucifer,
but strangely not a movie I"d consider Horror - like it obviously is, but my brain shifts it to action thriller instead (Serpent and the Rainbow too)

 

[Clint_L]

This list is subject to revision!

Alien - We all know the reasons. I recently re-watched it with my kid. It still holds up. I like Aliens even more but just don't see it as a horror film.

The Thing - see above. The blood test scene jump scares me every time even when I know exactly what is going to happen.

Night of the Living Dead - invented the modern zombie genre, working as both a horror film and surprisingly cutting social commentary.

Evil Dead 2 - This is horror comedy that is still legitimately horror.

The Descent - probably the most unrelenting horror film I have seen, from a traumatizing opening scene to a bleak, bleak ending (if you don;t count the sequel).

Eden Lake - hard to watch because it feels all too believable, as a couple get into a conflict with a bunch of teenagers and the whole thing just keeps escalating. That final scene!

Poltergeist - I dunno if it would still scare me today, but teenaged Clint had a lot of trouble getting that clown out of his head.

The Ring - no, not Ringu. I think The Ring is scarier - I legit did not see that ending coming and I almost soiled myself. Probably shouldn't have watched it alone.

Let the Right One In - the American version is good, but the Swedish original is an icy psychological masterpiece.

Cabin in the Woods - There are a lot of meta-horror films, and this might be my favourite.

It Follows - I mostly prefer my horror to be a slow build, and this one has such an ingenious premise.

Near Dark - Kathryn Bigelow's first film is a vampire western road movie, and a masterpiece of pacing and character building.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre - The original, naturally. Another film that created a genre, and still holds up with its almost found footage, cinema verite feel.

Get Out - another horror film that simultaneously embraces and deconstructs the genre, particularly as seen from a black perspective (the true horror doesn't come to the suburbs, it is the suburbs). I'm teaching it in my Grade 12 Language and Literature class this term.

Jaws - debated leaving it off, because it no longer scares me, even though it remains one of my favourite films. But back in the 70s, it not only terrified me, it made a whole nation afraid of the water.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Jaws - debated leaving it off, because it no longer scares me, even though it remains one of my favourite films. But back in the 70s, it not only terrified me, it made a whole nation afraid of the water.

I still occasionally have problems swimming in natural bodies of water- salt, fresh, brackish doesn’t matter- because of that film and all the others it inspired.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

FWIW, I have no doubts about my 3 favorite werewolf movies:

The Howling
American Werewolf in London
Dog Soldiers

I also remembered another couple of horror movies that I love that may have been overlooked by many horror fans: The Cottage and Of Unknown Origin.

At first, The Cottage merely seems to be a very clever reskinned version of the O. Henry comedic short story, “The Ransom of Red Chief”. Its take is centered around 2 British criminals (portrayed by Andy Serkis and Reece Shearsmith) who kidnap their boss’ daughter (Jennifer Ellison) and hold her for ransom in a small rural cottage on a seemingly abandoned farm. The details of the ensuing shenanigans are altered to fit with the change of framing. So it’s a dark comedy…until it goes into a pure horror film. It’s a wonderful subversion of expectations.

Likewise, Of Unknown Origin is another clever reskinned version of a classic- in this case, Moby Dick*. Only this time, instead of obsessive pursuit of a white whale across the seas, Peter Weller’s protagonist is facing an aggressive rat that has invaded the family’s new brownstone. Like Jaws, its Man vs Nature.

* a fact it shares with Star Trek II: the Wrath of Khan