OldBoy

So with Halloween around the corner and the challenge going on in DVD Talk, i was wondering what you all dig in horror movies.

i've been watching the classic cheese of the 80's with "Re-Animator", "Night of the Demons" 1 & 2, got "Hellraiser" going next. i seem to wanna watch these more than once vs. the newer pieces that seem to be watched once and done.

i've been terribly disappointed by many of the horror films i've seen in the theater and only a lone few stand out as ones i will go back to from the newer crop.

Brent L

Most, not all, but most of the more recent horror flicks (as in the last ten years at least) seem to aim more for a young, hip, slick look than anything else. So many of them look exactly alike, and it makes me sick.

As for Hellraiser, enjoy watching that one. I'd say that movie is the one that creeps me out the most, I love it.

devilshalo

Night of the Demons & Jill Terashita

Old Horror = more boobies
New Horror = more gore

I'll take more boobies.

asianxcore

I definitely prefer older horror movies.

Though I have to admit that I enjoy a lot of the horror films coming out of Asia at the moment. Also films such as Haute Tension (France), and The Descent (UK) felt like instant classics to me on first viewing.

eiker_ir

70s-80s Horror, it's not even close

mhg83

I agree. The only recent horror film that stands out in my mind as a classic was "The Devils Rejects" Great story, good characters, and some of the best quotes.

inri222

I prefer atmosphere & story over blood & guts.

The Exorcist
Rosemary's Baby
Repulsion
Freaks
Psycho
Carnival of Souls
Night of the Living Dead
The Blair Witch Project
Nosferatu
The Bride of Frankenstein
Cat People
The Haunting
Phantasm
Suspiria
Peeping Tom
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer
The Omen
Halloween
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Vampyr
Eyes Without A Face
The Shining
Carrie
The Silence of the Lambs
Dead of Night
God Told Me To
Dawn of the Dead
The Others
Kwaidan
Legend of Hell House
The Innocents
The Vanishing
Martin
Jacob's Ladder
Invasion of the Body Snatchers

Rival11

I'm with ya. Although at one point the hills have eyes remake was my fav for a while but the style over substance thing got in the way. I"ve said it a million times on these boards and I'll say it again - The Excorcist I & III still scare me to this day and they are the only 2 films that can do that to me. Rosemary's Baby really creeps me out while Psycho always makes me want to pull up a seat up and watch it from start to finish....every damn time.

With that said though, I would absolutely love to see what Tarantino could do with a "serious" horror film - I think he's capable of delivering a great one but will prob never see it.

nateman

Quoted for, my thoughts exactly.

Although, I like the 60’s & the early 1900’s classics like Nosferatu (22’), etc…, as well.

islandclaws

Second me on that. Nothing, NOTHING even comes close to topping the golden age of the 70's and 80's for horror. I'd have to say 1978 and 1985 were two of the best years for horror output. I like some of the modern horror flicks, but they all seem to have one thing in common: being vapid gore flicks. Don't get me wrong, there have been some really good horror films during the last 10 years, but most seem to go purely for the gross-out factor which has gotten quite old at this point.

Giles

I really have no preference... I think Hollywood now, unfortunately is in a rut, making remakes, sequels... while other countries, notably Asia is making and taking the challenge in creating 'new' films.

Brent L

Which then, in turn, Hollywood remakes and often times doesn't even mention that it is a remake at all.

Cardsfan111

Another vote for old horror (70s/80s) vs the current stuff.

cranberries fan

Hey what about the Classic Universal-monster movies of 30's & 40.

and the Hammer Horror Films of the 60's and 70's.

You got love the classic the one that started it all for me that is.

Digigeek06

Count my vote in on the 70's/80's Films,nothing else compares

nateman

Oh I’m with ya’ all the way on that one. The Universal monster classics are well, classic.

The 70s-80’s were indeed the “Golden Age” of Horror & those 2 decades popped out aw-so many classics, it’s amazing.

Nick Danger

Absolutely. Things jumping from off-frame and gallons of catsup don't entertain me. Plot and atmosphere do.

chente

Word...and also Val Lewton's stuff.

d2cheer

Agree, they were forced to be more creative. Not everything could be done on a computer...

Rad14

I agree totally with nri222, "atmosphere and story over blood and guts" everytime.

I would also agree with most of his choices too and also 70's-80's being the "golden age" of horror movies. But there have been earlier exceptions like: Nosferatu 1922, The Innocents 1961, The Haunting 1960 etc and more recently, The Descent was pretty good.

I've said it before many times, but The Exorcist 1973, still does it for me everytime, though to be fair, I have listened to younger viewers (not on these forums) who have described it as "The funniest movie ever made!"

So I suppose you can't please everyone, can you?!

paradicelost

The main thing i like about older horror films is they had a very slow paced feel to them and people didn't bitch about it. Peeping Tom, Psycho, The Exorcist, and even Halloween and Re-Animator had a slow buildup to the suspense. I don't have a problem with films that grab you by the throat in the first 10 minutes and don't let go to the closing credits, to me thats just a different kinda scare.

Zodiac_Speaking

It's always a tough question. While old horrors are the ones will all love and refer too, but its nice to see what new horros try to do.

This year theatrically, horror has been way mediocre. Two nice blips were 28 Weeks Later... and Black Sheep, but RZ's Halloween, 1408, Reaping, ect have been highly average if not bad. Behind the Mask was a great DVD find. Maybe SAW 4 and/or 30 Days of Night will be some saving grace.

But to answer the question, I prefer a mixture of both, but with a little more old.

Give me Nosferatu (1922), Dawn of the Dead (78), Halloween with a little whatever is playing theatrically and a side order of foreign imports.

Giles

yes it was, 'Behind the Mask' was a real pleasure to discover.

paradicelost

Definitly, one of my favorite buys this year.

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