Essential Horror
A list of horror movies among the hundreds I have watched that I think should be essential viewing for any connoisseur of the genre. There are some very well known ones, and some not so well known ones. Some have been hailed as classics, others written off as rubbish. But all of them have left their mark on me for some reason.
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- DirectorWilliam FriedkinStarsEllen BurstynMax von SydowLinda BlairWhen a young girl is possessed by a mysterious entity, her mother seeks the help of two Catholic priests to save her life.No matter how many times I watch this, it never ceases to chill. Still not sure if I like the extended directors cut version or not though. My favourite movie ever.
- StarsDavid SoulJames MasonLance KerwinA novelist and a young horror fan attempt to save a small New England town which has been invaded by vampires.This is the original telemovie, the full 3 hour version, not the truncated 2 hour one that was released on DVD. Certainly not the later Rob Lowe remake, which starts off well, but descends into nonsense at the end. My favourite book of all time and a pretty good adaptation. Stephen King books rarely convert well to movies, there is too much background and thought trains , but this just about works. I just wish they'd cast someone other than David Soul in the lead role, otherwise could have been top of the list. They also left out or altered some great scenes.
- DirectorGeorge A. RomeroStarsDavid EmgeKen ForeeScott H. ReinigerDuring an escalating zombie epidemic, two Philadelphia SWAT team members, a traffic reporter and his TV executive girlfriend seek refuge in a secluded shopping mall.The ultimate zombie movie, before zombie movies were cool. This was probably one of the first horror movies I saw, The setting in the shopping mall is perfect. Will always remember the scene with the helicopter taking down the zombie.
- DirectorTobe HooperStarsMarilyn BurnsEdwin NealAllen DanzigerFive friends head out to rural Texas to visit the grave of a grandfather. On the way they stumble across what appears to be a deserted house, only to discover something sinister within. Something armed with a chainsaw.I think this was the first horror movie I ever saw. It was on super 8 and we had a movie night at a friends house. I was around 13 or 14. The scene where one of the crazies is chasing a girl down the road and slashing at her back with a straight razor is so memorable.
- DirectorWes CravenStarsHeather LangenkampJohnny DeppRobert EnglundTeenager Nancy Thompson must uncover the dark truth concealed by her parents after she and her friends become targets of the spirit of a serial killer with a bladed glove in their dreams, in which if they die, it kills them in real life.These next two films kind of go hand in hand. The were both from the same era and have both spawned a plethora of sequels. I think it's easy to forget how influential and truly scary this movie was in it's day, and has many classic and chilling scenes.
- DirectorSean S. CunninghamStarsBetsy PalmerAdrienne KingJeannine TaylorA group of teenage camp counselors attempt to re-open an abandoned summer camp with a tragic past, but they are stalked by a mysterious, relentless killer.Another classic. Went to see this at the movies with a bunch of people from college. I think this is the only film that I have ever literally jumped out of my seat at, in the final scene.
- DirectorHerk HarveyStarsCandace HilligossFrances FeistSidney BergerAfter a traumatic accident, a woman becomes drawn to a mysterious abandoned carnival.Happened across this by accident. Bought the VHS at a closing down sale of the local video store because the title and the cover intrigued me. A haunting example of minimalist movie making.
- DirectorTony RandelStarsDoug BradleyAshley LaurenceClare HigginsKirsty is brought to an institution after the horrible events of Hellraiser (1987), where the occult-obsessive head doctor resurrects Julia and unleashes the Cenobites and their demonic underworld.Recently re-watched these movies and found the original had dated a little, but this one still has a few shocks up its sleeve, and probably my favourite of the run.
- DirectorDon CoscarelliStarsJames Le GrosReggie BannisterAngus ScrimmMike, now released from a psychiatric hospital, meets with Reggie, and discover his dreams (the events of the original film) are real, and they both journey to find and stop the evil Tall Man from his grim work.I love these movies, let me put that up front. This is by far and away my favourite of the franchise. It is surreal, haunting and fantastic. However you do need to watch the 1st installment before tackling this, as it follows directly on, and the first Phantasm ( also known as The Never Dead in some regions) and the first is almost as good.
- DirectorSteve MinerStarsJulian SandsLori SingerRichard E. GrantA warlock flees from the 17th to the 20th century, with a witch-hunter in hot pursuit.Don't know why I like this movie, but I do. Just left an impression.
- DirectorTobe HooperStarsJoBeth WilliamsHeather O'RourkeCraig T. NelsonA family's home is haunted by a host of demonic ghosts.Yet another classic, much mimicked and satirised supernatural film. Probably suffered a little from Steven Spielbergs family friendly screenplay, could have been grittier.
- DirectorTony MaylamStarsBrian MatthewsLeah AyresBrian BackerA former summer camp caretaker, horribly burned from a prank gone wrong, lurks around an upstate New York summer camp bent on killing the teenagers responsible for his disfigurement.A bit of a Friday the 13th rip off, but still memorable for it garden shear scenes,.
- DirectorGregory WidenStarsChristopher WalkenElias KoteasVirginia MadsenAt the scene of a bizarre murder, L.A. homicide detective Thomas Dagget discovers a lethal heavenly prophecy now being fulfilled on earth. In his fight to stop the forces of evil, he finds an unlikely ally in an elementary school teacher.I've always preferred the more supernatural horror than the slasher and torture sub genre. I've also been fascinated by the whole fallen angel/Satan/nephilim legends, so this movie was right up my street. Later sequels failed to deliver, but really enjoyed this one.
- DirectorJennifer KentStarsEssie DavisNoah WisemanDaniel HenshallA single mother and her child fall into a deep well of paranoia when an eerie children's book titled "Mister Babadook" manifests in their home.Off the wall movie, but creepy and absorbing. Really enjoyed this one.
- DirectorAdrian LyneStarsTim RobbinsElizabeth PeñaDanny AielloMourning his dead child, a haunted Vietnam War veteran attempts to uncover his past while suffering from a severe case of dissociation. To do so, he must decipher reality and life from his own dreams, delusions, and perceptions of death.Probably not always considered a true horror movie, but a haunting and complex fantasy.
- DirectorDaniel MannStarsBruce DavisonElsa LanchesterSondra LockeA social misfit uses his only friends, his pet rats, to exact revenge on his tormentors.Great Book and a worthy adaptation. Haunting portrayal of an outsider, with a horror twist
- DirectorJames WanStarsCary ElwesLeigh WhannellDanny GloverTwo strangers awaken in a room with no recollection of how they got there, and soon discover they're pawns in a deadly game perpetrated by a notorious serial killer.A Very clever and original (at the time) concept. Consequent sequels degraded exponentially, although the second installment stands up quite well too.
- DirectorDavid SladeStarsJosh HartnettMelissa GeorgeDanny HustonAfter an Alaskan town is plunged into darkness for a month, it is attacked by a bloodthirsty gang of vampires.I have been fascinated by Vampires since reading Salem's Lot, and this was one of the most truly original vampire movies since.
- DirectorChristophe GansStarsRadha MitchellLaurie HoldenSean BeanA woman, Rose, goes in search for her adopted daughter within the confines of a strange, desolate town called Silent Hill.Movie versions of Video games often fail to deliver, but this one drew me in unlike any of the others.
- DirectorJoel SchumacherStarsJason PatricCorey HaimDianne WiestAfter moving to a new town, two brothers discover that the area is a haven for vampires.Although more of a Teen movie, this still has some classic horror moments and great cinematography.
- DirectorSam RaimiStarsBruce CampbellEllen SandweissRichard DeManincorFive friends travel to a cabin in the woods, where they unknowingly release flesh-possessing demons.An absolute game changer. In retrospect the plasticine animation is very poor, but the concept, storytelling and execution is superb.
- DirectorJames WanStarsPatrick WilsonRose ByrneTy SimpkinsA family looks to prevent evil spirits from trapping their comatose child in a realm called The Further.One of the new generation of great supernatural movies.
- DirectorDanny BoyleStarsCillian MurphyNaomie HarrisChristopher EcclestonFour weeks after a mysterious, incurable virus spreads throughout the UK, a handful of survivors try to find sanctuary.A post apocalyptic zombie movie, one of the better of the new generation.
- DirectorMark McQueenStarsDanny DyerCraig FairbrassMyAnna BuringLondon based N-gen tests a performance booster on 30000. A month later, agile zombies plague London, spreading the disease with a bite. One man has 54 hours to find the cure/immune woman.Another modern Zombie movie which left an impression, head and shoulders above the rest.
- DirectorOren PeliStarsKatie FeatherstonMicah SloatMark FredrichsAfter moving into a suburban home, a couple becomes increasingly disturbed by a nightly demonic presence.I'm kind of over "Reality" and found footage movies, but this one of the originals was a ground breaker.
- DirectorCarter SmithStarsShawn AshmoreJena MaloneJonathan TuckerA leisurely Mexican holiday takes a turn for the worse when a group of friends and a fellow tourist embark on a remote archaeological dig in the jungle, where something evil lives among the ruins.Read the book,loved the movie. A bit different to your usual horror movie.
- DirectorBernard RoseStarsCharlotte BurkeJane BertishSamantha CahillA young girl lost in the loneliness and boredom of reality finds solace in an ill boy, whom she can visit in a surreal dream world that she drew in her school composition book.More of a fantasy than a horror, but haunting and I still have the feeling I have seen this somewhere before..?
- DirectorMike FlanaganStarsKatie ParkerCourtney BellDave LevineA woman and her sister begin to link a mysterious tunnel to a series of disappearances, including that of her own husband.A fairly simple story well told and has stayed with me.
- DirectorHideo NakataStarsNanako MatsushimaMiki NakataniYûko TakeuchiA reporter and her ex-husband investigate a cursed video tape that is rumored to kill the viewer seven days after watching it.Another milestone in horror movies, one of the first Asian cross overs and a an absolute gem. Watch the original, not the Americanised remake.