Favorite horror flick
02-14-08, 06:10 PM
#1
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Favorite horror flick
Pretty simple: name your favorite horror film and why you love it so.
For me: John Carpenter's The Thing
It's a perfect horror film. Tight, claustrophobic atmosphere. Slow-burning intensity. Great cast, led by the indominable Kurt Russell. The most amazing SFX work I have ever seen, period. Even once it's all said and done you still don't know who is who or when any one person may have been assimilated. Even at almost 2 hours long it feels too short to me.
Edit: maybe this should just be a top ten of sorts. I should have known picking just one horror flick is too difficult.
So, with that said, in no particular order (other than #1, of course):
- The Thing
- Evil Dead II: Dead By Dawn
- The Texas Chain Saw Massacre ('74)
- Halloween ('78)
- The Exorcist
- Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter
- Fright Night
- Re-Animator
- Phantasm
- Dawn of the Dead
I probably could list 50 more titles, but these are my go-to, cream of the crop ones that I've loved for years.
For me: John Carpenter's The Thing
It's a perfect horror film. Tight, claustrophobic atmosphere. Slow-burning intensity. Great cast, led by the indominable Kurt Russell. The most amazing SFX work I have ever seen, period. Even once it's all said and done you still don't know who is who or when any one person may have been assimilated. Even at almost 2 hours long it feels too short to me.
Edit: maybe this should just be a top ten of sorts. I should have known picking just one horror flick is too difficult.
So, with that said, in no particular order (other than #1, of course):
- The Thing
- Evil Dead II: Dead By Dawn
- The Texas Chain Saw Massacre ('74)
- Halloween ('78)
- The Exorcist
- Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter
- Fright Night
- Re-Animator
- Phantasm
- Dawn of the Dead
I probably could list 50 more titles, but these are my go-to, cream of the crop ones that I've loved for years.
Last edited by islandclaws; 02-16-08 at 12:27 PM.
02-14-08, 07:13 PM
#2
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
^i have always considered The Thing as scifi (Anything with aliens goes in the scifi section (it is a kick ass movie though)).
The combined version of The Re-Animator
and
Return of the Living Dead are probably my favs
mostly because I grew up on them being scared watching them and then when I was older I found the humor in them and enjoyed them in a whole new capacity
The combined version of The Re-Animator
and
Return of the Living Dead are probably my favs
mostly because I grew up on them being scared watching them and then when I was older I found the humor in them and enjoyed them in a whole new capacity
02-14-08, 09:56 PM
#3
John Carpenter's Halloween
I love it because Michael Myers is the most terrifying character ever created. Nothing scarier than someone who kills for no reason, has no conscience, never speaks, and is unrelentingly patient.
The John Carpenter score is still haunting to this day, and might be the most effective in all of horror.
Donald Pleasence is terrific as Dr. Loomis. You really believe he's trying to stop "pure evil." The rest of the cast is good as well, playing normal, everyday people.
The sequels have kinda cheapened the original (if nothing else, they could've at least hired guys who walked and moved like the guys who played Michael in the original), but I still think it's one of the best.
I love it because Michael Myers is the most terrifying character ever created. Nothing scarier than someone who kills for no reason, has no conscience, never speaks, and is unrelentingly patient.
The John Carpenter score is still haunting to this day, and might be the most effective in all of horror.
Donald Pleasence is terrific as Dr. Loomis. You really believe he's trying to stop "pure evil." The rest of the cast is good as well, playing normal, everyday people.
The sequels have kinda cheapened the original (if nothing else, they could've at least hired guys who walked and moved like the guys who played Michael in the original), but I still think it's one of the best.
02-14-08, 10:13 PM
#4
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DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978)
just because it's got great replay value. it's campy yet serious. epic but never drags. i mean i remember the first time i saw it and i had already decided that i loved it and then the next thing i know bikers are running through a mall killing zombies and then a fucking three stooges style pie fight breaks out...classic. seriously i used to dream about living in a mall surrounded by slow moving zombies.
just because it's got great replay value. it's campy yet serious. epic but never drags. i mean i remember the first time i saw it and i had already decided that i loved it and then the next thing i know bikers are running through a mall killing zombies and then a fucking three stooges style pie fight breaks out...classic. seriously i used to dream about living in a mall surrounded by slow moving zombies.
02-14-08, 11:28 PM
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Originally Posted by SterlingBen
^i have always considered The Thing as scifi (Anything with aliens goes in the scifi section (it is a kick ass movie though)).
The combined version of The Re-Animator
and
Return of the Living Dead are probably my favs
mostly because I grew up on them being scared watching them and then when I was older I found the humor in them and enjoyed them in a whole new capacity
The combined version of The Re-Animator
and
Return of the Living Dead are probably my favs
mostly because I grew up on them being scared watching them and then when I was older I found the humor in them and enjoyed them in a whole new capacity
My favorite: Poltergeist.
02-15-08, 07:28 AM
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Night of the Living Dead
A perfect horror film that created an entire sub-genre. From the opening scene to the final frame, this film terrified the shit out of me when I was a kid.
And not your typical stereotypical characters, each of them are flawed in some way and have their own agenda.
A perfect horror film that created an entire sub-genre. From the opening scene to the final frame, this film terrified the shit out of me when I was a kid.
And not your typical stereotypical characters, each of them are flawed in some way and have their own agenda.
02-15-08, 08:04 AM
#11
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by Brack
John Carpenter's Halloween
I love it because Michael Myers is the most terrifying character ever created. Nothing scarier than someone who kills for no reason, has no conscience, never speaks, and is unrelentingly patient.
The John Carpenter score is still haunting to this day, and might be the most effective in all of horror.
Donald Pleasence is terrific as Dr. Loomis. You really believe he's trying to stop "pure evil." The rest of the cast is good as well, playing normal, everyday people.
The sequels have kinda cheapened the original (if nothing else, they could've at least hired guys who walked and moved like the guys who played Michael in the original), but I still think it's one of the best.
I love it because Michael Myers is the most terrifying character ever created. Nothing scarier than someone who kills for no reason, has no conscience, never speaks, and is unrelentingly patient.
The John Carpenter score is still haunting to this day, and might be the most effective in all of horror.
Donald Pleasence is terrific as Dr. Loomis. You really believe he's trying to stop "pure evil." The rest of the cast is good as well, playing normal, everyday people.
The sequels have kinda cheapened the original (if nothing else, they could've at least hired guys who walked and moved like the guys who played Michael in the original), but I still think it's one of the best.
02-15-08, 08:21 AM
#12
DVD Talk Hero
Originally Posted by SterlingBen
^i have always considered The Thing as scifi (Anything with aliens goes in the scifi section (it is a kick ass movie though)).
My favorite in recent years has been The Descent. It's highly derivative but, at least for me, highly effective. One of the few horror movies to get me involved and get a response out of me.
02-15-08, 09:07 AM
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that's very hard to say...
not sure i could say just one with the emphasis and clarity with which you chose 'The Thing'...
'Frailty'... may be my favorite... i consider that a modern masterpiece... i think i'm alone in that view...
'From Hell'... this was first rate in every way for me... a classic...
'The Haunting'... this is one of the best ever... i mean the guy who did 'The Sound of Music' does horror...
'Phantasm'... i like this... it scared me when i was young... seems to hold up... not a great film, but effective...
'Nosferatu'... the archetype...
'Phantom Der Nacht'... the Herzog remake...
'Salem's Lot'... David Soul version... i always liked it... "look at me"... that was the first one for me that really made vampires scary... besides 'Nosferatu'...
'Shadow Of The Vampire'... not sure that's 'horror' but man i love that movie...
'Burnt Offerings'... stands out...
'The Thing' is on the short list... probably Carpenter's best film...
'Halloween'... i mean it's Halloween...
not sure i could say just one with the emphasis and clarity with which you chose 'The Thing'...
'Frailty'... may be my favorite... i consider that a modern masterpiece... i think i'm alone in that view...
'From Hell'... this was first rate in every way for me... a classic...
'The Haunting'... this is one of the best ever... i mean the guy who did 'The Sound of Music' does horror...
'Phantasm'... i like this... it scared me when i was young... seems to hold up... not a great film, but effective...
'Nosferatu'... the archetype...
'Phantom Der Nacht'... the Herzog remake...
'Salem's Lot'... David Soul version... i always liked it... "look at me"... that was the first one for me that really made vampires scary... besides 'Nosferatu'...
'Shadow Of The Vampire'... not sure that's 'horror' but man i love that movie...
'Burnt Offerings'... stands out...
'The Thing' is on the short list... probably Carpenter's best film...
'Halloween'... i mean it's Halloween...
02-15-08, 09:41 AM
#15
Originally Posted by noonan4224
I agree completely. Halloween was one of the first horror movies I ever saw and has remained my favorite over the years. I liked it so much that I actually enjoyed the sequels...except for the one with Busta Rhymes. That one just sucks all sorts of balls.
02-15-08, 11:01 AM
#19
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He probably likes it, I thought it was one of the most disappointing movies I'd seen in a long time (when I saw it a long time ago 
)
)
02-15-08, 11:48 AM
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Originally Posted by Dr Mabuse
that i'm the only one?...
or the other thing?...
which one of deez?...
or the other thing?...
which one of deez?...
That its a modern masterpiece.
Last edited by Matthew Ackerly; 02-15-08 at 12:03 PM.
02-15-08, 12:25 PM
#22
DVD Talk Limited Edition
The Shining, with Blair Witch Project at #2
02-15-08, 12:51 PM
#24
Chainsaw '74