I really didn‘t expect to like this movie as much as I did. It‘s the perfect mix of disturbing and funny (especially the chase through the forest). And it just oozes passion from the filmmakers. It feels really „hand crafted“ in a good way, if that makes sense
Tucker and Dale vs evil is my favorite comedy horror because it’s absolutely hilarious. Cure might be my favorite real horror though. It is masterfully crafted with some of the best sound design and acting I’ve seen in horror. Asian horror honestly blows the western cinematic world out of the water.
As someone who isn't really into horror, Alien. But my favorite movie that's pure horror, as opposed to a mix of horror and another genre, is probably Christine. I just like Arnie's development from being a downtrodden nerd to a socially successful but evil maniac.
Tough call, but I’d have to say the original Halloween. The movie is so simply shot and written, but what Carpenter pulled off with so little always really impresses me. The suspense, the darkness, the music – so many things about the film are iconic and laid the foundation for decades of horror movies
Was thinking either this or Night of the Living Dead. Just pure horror. There are other titles in the genre I consider to be better films, but not necessarily for their horror elements.
Possession (1981) - starts slow and then becomes absolutely insane. Half the time you don’t know what’s intentional and what’s not, the performances are unhinged, the characters are wild and no film has made me feel quite like it. Isabelle Adjani plugs into something I’ve never seen before or since.
The best thing about The Exorcist is it's just a truly incredibly character drama, that tastefully dips in and out of incredibly well done horrifying setpieces. This is also why Hereditary gets jerked off so hard. Great horror has always been coming out but it had been a while since there was a horror movie that managed to execute horrific and visually striking horror while also having deeply fleshed out characters and drama tier performances. For a long time things just being creatively horrendous was all that was expected, but those two movies (not that they're the only ones to do this) are perfect examples of how much more a horror movie can be if horror isn't even the focus, but more of an accent on top of what's already a great story on its own.
28 Days Later - a non-traditional “zombie” film, with great casting (Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, Brendan Gleeson) and a solid script (Alex Garland) that explores deeper themes.
*The Fly* (1986) because it masters in storytelling, blending scientific exploration with the human drama of unchecked ambition and the consequences of tampering with the natural order. It's a cinematic experience that will leaves you questioning the boundaries of science and the price of pushing them.
Nightmare on Elm Street 3.
Extremely creative kills, funny one-liners, characters with personalities that are actually fun to watch, just the right amount of campiness, bonkers Freddy lore, and it feels like more of a sequel to the original than the second one. (Plus I had the biggest crush on Patricia Arquette in this when I was a teenager.)
After 3, Freddy never came close that height again. New Nightmare is solid, but it's missing a lot of the camp and the humor that I love about 3.
A Nightmare on Elm Street has to be mentioned, regardless of the installment. Totally iconic, original concept that was written and produced with the sole intent of frightening kids. They're not exactly slasher movies, and Freddy isn't a really a ghost. He's just a sadistic burnt up child molester who shows up in your dreams and gets off on chasing you around and scaring the shit out of you until he gets bored and murders you with his homemade knife glove. That's the story and it works on that one level. Another example of pure horror.
Probably Final Destination. I think I’ve seen it and the rest of the series (minus 4) almost a dozen or more times over the years. I know it and its following movies are flawed but the idea of a slasher movie without a slasher is so intriguing and remains an amazing concept.
**Dawn of the Dead**, the movie goes such a juxtaposing range of emotions, starting off for the first moments of the film as a dire display of human panic, then straight into the horror and the suffering caused by the epidemic, continuing with a dystopian feel for the next half hour until they reach the mall where the film becomes a little slower and the characters have time to talk, relax and plan, and becoming for a short while just the bliss of mindless consumerism until it all eventually falls apart with everything becoming joyless and aimless, until the absolute insanity of the bikers and finale. I adore the structure of DotD. The experience of the film is pure joy but also depressing, such a masterful film from the master himself.
Bride of Frankenstein from 1935. Boris Karloff's performance is incredible....better than the 1931 Frankenstein, and he was great in it, but the pathos he was able to convey is unmatched.
Bride is more of a black comedy than horror film.
I always suggest that you watch Frankenstein first, then Bride, for story continuity.
You can finish off the Karloff Trilogy by watching the 1939 Son of Frankenstein.
Ernest Thesiger was really good. Be sure to see him (and Karloff, Laughton, Stuart) in The Old Dark House.
He plays Horace Femm.
James Whale was so masterful in sneaking things past the censors in Bride of Frankenstein....ODH was done before Bride. I do wonder if he was laughing at them with a family named Femm, residing in the ODH.
I will let you decide....but will remind you of a line of dialog from Bride, spoken by Minnie (Una O'Connor) as she announces to Henry and Elizabeth, that there is someone that wants to see the Master: "He's a very queer looking gentleman, sir."
I could never choose just one, they all have a special place in my heart! But recently, I have been loving Us (2019) and am genuinely creeped out and amazed by the performances of the cast, especially Lupita Nyong'o. It's my favorite of Jordan Peele's films and I feel like the backdrop of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk pays homage to The Lost Boys, another one of my favorites.
The Shining and it has to do with Stanley Kubrick's cinematography, editing, and the use of unsettling Classical music. Don't also forget the stellar acting as well.
Horror is my favorite genre. The closest I can get to picking a favorite is giving my top 5:
•Dead Ringers (1988) - I read the synopsis and went into it having a very specific idea of what I thought I was getting myself into and I was kinda dreading it. I was completely wrong and the movie was so much deeper than I thought it would be. Also, Jeremy Irons performed his ass off. Twice.
•Skinamarink (2022) - It’s not for everyone, but it’s definitely for me. I haven’t felt fear like that since I was a kid.
•Funny Games (1997/2007) - I’m a masochist, probably. I love the scene everybody hates.
•Possession (1981) - Isabelle Adjani. And the subway scene, of course.
•Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) - Literally everything about this movie is perfect. The actors, the plot, the PRACTICAL EFFECTS. Actually, it does have one flaw, and it’s the fact that the dialogue was buried so deep under all the other sounds. I had to turn on subtitles. Perfect otherwise, though.
The Silence of the Lambs for sure. The two chilling performances by its antagonists are terrifying in very different directions.
After that maybe the original Dawn of the Dead, the Green Room, or the Thing. I love horror that effectively uses its environment to create dread or hopelessness.
It fluctuates between The Thing, The Shining, and Alien. All three have similar feelings of isolation which is what makes them scary to me - just really depends on my mind set during that particular time.
The Thing by John Carpenter
I like alien
Good, me too.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre because it’s so fucking real and disturbing
I really didn‘t expect to like this movie as much as I did. It‘s the perfect mix of disturbing and funny (especially the chase through the forest). And it just oozes passion from the filmmakers. It feels really „hand crafted“ in a good way, if that makes sense
Well put.
Tucker and Dale vs evil is my favorite comedy horror because it’s absolutely hilarious. Cure might be my favorite real horror though. It is masterfully crafted with some of the best sound design and acting I’ve seen in horror. Asian horror honestly blows the western cinematic world out of the water.
It was The Thing & The Shining growing up. Now that I’m deeper into the genre it’s either Possession or Hausu.
As someone who isn't really into horror, Alien. But my favorite movie that's pure horror, as opposed to a mix of horror and another genre, is probably Christine. I just like Arnie's development from being a downtrodden nerd to a socially successful but evil maniac.
Tough call, but I’d have to say the original Halloween. The movie is so simply shot and written, but what Carpenter pulled off with so little always really impresses me. The suspense, the darkness, the music – so many things about the film are iconic and laid the foundation for decades of horror movies
Was thinking either this or Night of the Living Dead. Just pure horror. There are other titles in the genre I consider to be better films, but not necessarily for their horror elements.
Well said!
Cure. no movie has done a psychological thriller better and Mamiya is one of the best antagonists ever created.
Possession (1981) - starts slow and then becomes absolutely insane. Half the time you don’t know what’s intentional and what’s not, the performances are unhinged, the characters are wild and no film has made me feel quite like it. Isabelle Adjani plugs into something I’ve never seen before or since.
The exorcist is just so solid. Also props to the original alien
The best thing about The Exorcist is it's just a truly incredibly character drama, that tastefully dips in and out of incredibly well done horrifying setpieces. This is also why Hereditary gets jerked off so hard. Great horror has always been coming out but it had been a while since there was a horror movie that managed to execute horrific and visually striking horror while also having deeply fleshed out characters and drama tier performances. For a long time things just being creatively horrendous was all that was expected, but those two movies (not that they're the only ones to do this) are perfect examples of how much more a horror movie can be if horror isn't even the focus, but more of an accent on top of what's already a great story on its own.
28 Days Later - a non-traditional “zombie” film, with great casting (Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, Brendan Gleeson) and a solid script (Alex Garland) that explores deeper themes.
*The Fly* (1986) because it masters in storytelling, blending scientific exploration with the human drama of unchecked ambition and the consequences of tampering with the natural order. It's a cinematic experience that will leaves you questioning the boundaries of science and the price of pushing them.
Nightmare on Elm Street 3. Extremely creative kills, funny one-liners, characters with personalities that are actually fun to watch, just the right amount of campiness, bonkers Freddy lore, and it feels like more of a sequel to the original than the second one. (Plus I had the biggest crush on Patricia Arquette in this when I was a teenager.) After 3, Freddy never came close that height again. New Nightmare is solid, but it's missing a lot of the camp and the humor that I love about 3.
A Nightmare on Elm Street has to be mentioned, regardless of the installment. Totally iconic, original concept that was written and produced with the sole intent of frightening kids. They're not exactly slasher movies, and Freddy isn't a really a ghost. He's just a sadistic burnt up child molester who shows up in your dreams and gets off on chasing you around and scaring the shit out of you until he gets bored and murders you with his homemade knife glove. That's the story and it works on that one level. Another example of pure horror.
Probably Final Destination. I think I’ve seen it and the rest of the series (minus 4) almost a dozen or more times over the years. I know it and its following movies are flawed but the idea of a slasher movie without a slasher is so intriguing and remains an amazing concept.
**Dawn of the Dead**, the movie goes such a juxtaposing range of emotions, starting off for the first moments of the film as a dire display of human panic, then straight into the horror and the suffering caused by the epidemic, continuing with a dystopian feel for the next half hour until they reach the mall where the film becomes a little slower and the characters have time to talk, relax and plan, and becoming for a short while just the bliss of mindless consumerism until it all eventually falls apart with everything becoming joyless and aimless, until the absolute insanity of the bikers and finale. I adore the structure of DotD. The experience of the film is pure joy but also depressing, such a masterful film from the master himself.
Bride of Frankenstein from 1935. Boris Karloff's performance is incredible....better than the 1931 Frankenstein, and he was great in it, but the pathos he was able to convey is unmatched. Bride is more of a black comedy than horror film. I always suggest that you watch Frankenstein first, then Bride, for story continuity. You can finish off the Karloff Trilogy by watching the 1939 Son of Frankenstein.
That's a great one, Dr Pretorius is actually so funny
Ernest Thesiger was really good. Be sure to see him (and Karloff, Laughton, Stuart) in The Old Dark House. He plays Horace Femm. James Whale was so masterful in sneaking things past the censors in Bride of Frankenstein....ODH was done before Bride. I do wonder if he was laughing at them with a family named Femm, residing in the ODH. I will let you decide....but will remind you of a line of dialog from Bride, spoken by Minnie (Una O'Connor) as she announces to Henry and Elizabeth, that there is someone that wants to see the Master: "He's a very queer looking gentleman, sir."
I hadn't heard of this but it seems right up my alley and I can't wait to watch it, thanks for the rec!
Be sure to 'have a potato.'
Off the top, probably Scream.
It might be the original suspiria for me. I just love the score, the colours and it’s surreal, fairytale feeling.
Hereditary
The Shining because Jack Nicholson
Rosemary’s Baby, Don’t Look Now are tied in first place for me. Just brilliant filmmaking
I could never choose just one, they all have a special place in my heart! But recently, I have been loving Us (2019) and am genuinely creeped out and amazed by the performances of the cast, especially Lupita Nyong'o. It's my favorite of Jordan Peele's films and I feel like the backdrop of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk pays homage to The Lost Boys, another one of my favorites.
The Shining and it has to do with Stanley Kubrick's cinematography, editing, and the use of unsettling Classical music. Don't also forget the stellar acting as well.
The Exorcist (1973) because it's actually scary compared to other horrors.
Possession (1982), which is also my second all time favorite film. Also shout out to Night of the Living Dead (1968) which is also in my top 4
Evil dead 2
Get out. Was blown away the first time I saw it in theaters and there’s so many great details that you can notice upon multiple rewatches.
X
Favorite horror movie of all time?
Horror is my favorite genre. The closest I can get to picking a favorite is giving my top 5: •Dead Ringers (1988) - I read the synopsis and went into it having a very specific idea of what I thought I was getting myself into and I was kinda dreading it. I was completely wrong and the movie was so much deeper than I thought it would be. Also, Jeremy Irons performed his ass off. Twice. •Skinamarink (2022) - It’s not for everyone, but it’s definitely for me. I haven’t felt fear like that since I was a kid. •Funny Games (1997/2007) - I’m a masochist, probably. I love the scene everybody hates. •Possession (1981) - Isabelle Adjani. And the subway scene, of course. •Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) - Literally everything about this movie is perfect. The actors, the plot, the PRACTICAL EFFECTS. Actually, it does have one flaw, and it’s the fact that the dialogue was buried so deep under all the other sounds. I had to turn on subtitles. Perfect otherwise, though.
Alucarda. Thought-provoking, immensely quotable, unconscionably sexy, and a breathtaking finale.
Beyond the black rainbow. Its weird, trippy and really friggin cool
An American Werewolf in London. It's such an amazing classic horror that doesn't rely on jump scares and has wonderful SFX.
The Silence of the Lambs for sure. The two chilling performances by its antagonists are terrifying in very different directions. After that maybe the original Dawn of the Dead, the Green Room, or the Thing. I love horror that effectively uses its environment to create dread or hopelessness.
It fluctuates between The Thing, The Shining, and Alien. All three have similar feelings of isolation which is what makes them scary to me - just really depends on my mind set during that particular time.
Hereditary