this.

Gotta agree with this.

Alien is one of my all time favorite films, so that one gets the nod. Between the ship designs, the creature, the cast, it's just perfect.

The Exorcist is a close, close second. Genuinely scary and as Mr. Flix mentioned, a layered film that rewards repeated viewings (as is the criminally underrated Dominion).

Dawn of the Dead is a brilliant satire that still holds up today. Deep Red is my personal favorite Argento, so gotta mention that one.

Finally, while Texas Chainsaw Massacre isn't a favorite, I did see a Halloween midnight screening of it a few years back, and in a packed theater, that movie is fun as hell.

The 70's was indeed a great decade for horror and suspense thrillers. The last few nights I have seen a couple little-known 70's horror films on netflix:

The Sentinel. Pretty awful yet entertaining as hell with a cast full of familiar faces: Chris Sarandon, Burgess Meredith, Martin Balsam, Eli Wallach, Beverly D'angelo, Jeff Goldblum, Christopher Walken, Jose Ferrer and a few others I'm sure I'm forgetting.

The Haunting Of Julia (aka Full Circle). I had never heard of this one. Mia Farrow and Keir Dullea. Nonsensical but extremely well-made and fairly spooky.

Alien followed closely by Halloween.

Jaws is also one of my favorite movies but I don't consider it a horror film. As GoldenJCJ said, I consider it more of an adventure film.

EDIT: Gotta throw a nod to Dawn of the Dead too. Another one of my favorites.

60s is probably a better decade for horror.

1) The Exorcist
1a) The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

'Halloween'

'Salem's Lot' is another favorite.

'The Amityville Horror' not on the list?

Herzog's 'Nosferatu' was a masterpiece, both versions.

Lot of solid films from that decade.

Love Herzog's Nosferatu. Also Martin is another semi-forgotten gem.

Got to agree with this.

I love TCM, DOTD, Halloween, Jaws, etc as well. I never found Suspiria to be scary but it is a beautiful film. One of my favorites.

The 70s is my favorite decade for film, especially horror. Suspiria is my favorite film and Halloween is 2nd. The 60s is a close 2nd.

I would have to say Halloween. I love Alien...but I find Halloween more horror than Alien. Alien I consider more sci-fi.

Nothing Sci-Fi about Alien, just straight up horror. The Sci-Fi elements are pretty much irrelevant to the whole plot, they are there only to trap the cast in an inescapable environment.

Great "vampire" flick.

I think of it first as a science fiction film.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks this way. I love Schrader's film and Vittorio Storaro's cinematography is just breathtaking.

I voted Carrie. It's a pretty sad film but damn the imagery scares me half to death. Yes, the jump scare at the end, yes Spacek with blood all over her with those huge eyes, and yes the score. But the one thing that trumps 'em all: that damn Jesus candle in the closet.

Great list BTW. Now, take that list and see which ones have been remade or have one in development.

I like that one. Some pretty creepy scenes.

Martin is one of Romero's best films.

Alien is the best haunted house movie ever.

I see that Lt. Ripley voted for Alien. Who knew?

A lot of personal favs on this list, so it was a tough vote. But I voted for Jaws because it's the only one on the list that ever gave me nightmares (hey, I first saw it when I was 9 years old).

If you have any trouble, I'll be on the bridge.

THE WICKER MAN should not be on the list.

The Wicker Man is a classic horror film.

Yes it should.