Dragula
11-20-2007, 03:34 PM
31. The Ring (2002)
Naomi Watts proves she's got the pipes of a true scream queen in this remake of the J-horror hit 'Ringu,' about a mysterious video tape that kills anyone who watches it (no, not the Pamela-Tommy Lee tape). It's drenched in taut suspense, and boasts a finale that'll have you sprinting away from your TV set
------------
30. Hellraiser (1987)
Novelist Clive Barker's directorial debut has everything a great horror flick needs: a puzzle box that, when solved, tears your soul to shreds; a villain who gorges himself on human blood; and a pasty white minion of Satan with a British accent and pins jutting from his head (the iconic -- and aptly named -- Pinhead).
------------
29. Nosferatu (1922)
Despite being an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' novel, director F.W. Murnau's seminal vampire flick is lauded as one of the best silent films ever. And Max Schreck is so chillingly creepy as bloodthirsty antagonist Count Orlok (aka Count Dracula) that the actor himself was believed to be a vampire.
------------
28. The Descent (2006)
Six sexy female spelunkers trapped in a cave sounds like the setup for Cinemax soft-core porn. But in this pulse-pounding, scream-a-minute Scottish import, it's the backdrop for a gloriously gory battle to the death between said spelunkers and a horde of blind, flesh-hungry cave mutants.
------------
27. The Omen (1976)
Being possessed by the devil is one thing, but to discover your child is actually the seed of Satan? Now that's freaky. A few shocking moments (and Jerry Goldsmith's eerie Oscar-winning score) elevate a thoroughly chilling film, while Harvey Stephens' Damien still holds the title as all-time creepiest kid in horror movies
------------
26. The Fly (1986)
While the 1958 original was frightful (Vincent Price's tiny little fly voice pleading "Help me!" still gives us chills), David Cronenberg's remake is disquieting, disturbing, weird ... in a word, awesome. And Jeff Goldblum is indescribably alluring as the man mutating to a creepy crawler -- emphasis on "creepy."
------------
25. The Wicker Man (1973)
No, the much-maligned Nic Cage remake hasn't permanently tainted the sanctity of its title (it did leave scars). That's because the original is far too traumatic an experience -- in a good way. It's a genre-bending film that challenges viewers every step of the way through one supremely creepy Scottish isle.
------------
24. Carnival of Souls (1962)
This B-movie chiller is a marvel of atmosphere: There are virtually no special effects, no monsters, no serial killers in the shadows ... and yet the story of a church organist who seemingly escapes death in a car accident is frighteningly taut. You'll never hear organ music the same way again.
------------
23. The Eye (2003)
J-horror, Japan's unique brand of scary movie, has had a fair share of successes (and Hollywood remakes). But none are as chilling or terrifying as the Pang brothers' tale of a blind girl given new corneas that leave her seeing dead people -- and not really realizing it. Where's Bruce Willis when you need him?
------------
22. Scream (1996)
Only a fright master like Wes Craven could parody slasher "rules" (e.g., sex equals certain death), pay winking homage to classic horror films, and STILL make us jump 10 feet in the air. With one fell swoop, Craven both revived the genre and proved that a slasher flick needn't be as dumb as its dopey teen victims.
------------
21. Friday The 13th (1980)
Admit it, just the mention of "summer camp" or "Crystal Lake" has you glancing over your shoulder, listening for a noise in the woods and swearing off hockey masks. This classic teen slash-fest is a little bit 'Psycho,' a little bit 'Halloween' and a whole lot of terrifying fun.
------------
20. Dracula (1931)
Even today, Tod Browning's film remains downright unnerving: the gothic cinematography, the sensual undercurrent, Lugosi's iconic portrait of elegant malice ("I never drink ... wine"). More than the novel or any other movie, 'Dracula' defined forever what we fear about vampires ... and what we love about them, too.
------------
19. The Evil Dead II (1987)
Who says horror can't be hilarious? There's plenty of gruesomeness in Sam Raimi's cult classic -- ever see a man saw off his own hand? -- but there's also that priceless humor that plays off the absurdity of horror scenarios. It's a ridiculously fun film that tops 'An American Werewolf in London' as the best of its kind.
------------
18. Carrie (1976)
It has a deceptively humble premise (shy girl with a crazy mom and supernatural powers just wants to fit in), but even in a pre-Columbine world, Brian De Palma's take on a Stephen King novel was enough to give teens and their parents nightmares. And in today's climate, it simply resonates with horror.
------------
17. The Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
Philip Kaufman's flick about aliens bent on repopulating Earth with emotionless "pod people" packs an even more terrifying punch than the '56 original. Its bleak ending -- featuring a bug-eyed, screaming Donald Sutherland -- is enough to give grown men nightmares.
------------
16. Night of the Living Dead (1968)
George A. Romero made a shocking entrance to B-movie fame with his black-and-white zombie thriller. It plays out almost like a documentary, with very little narrative -- the zombies just keep coming, they have an insatiable hunger for human flesh ... what more do you need to know?
------------
15. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Ingeniously marketed as a documentary -- its stars were listed as "missing and presumed dead" -- this indie grossed $240 mil and proved that eerie sounds, visceral camerawork and adhering to the less-is-more principle (we never see the witch) make for one hell of a harrowing flick
------------
14. Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
The monster takes a wife -- and horror fans were invited to the reception. James Whale's compelling classic is the perfect marriage of poignant romance and creature discomforts. And as for the unholy union, turns out the couple was catastrophically mismatched.
------------
13. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
The ratty red-and-green sweater, the grotesquely burned visage, the glove made of knives, the ability to turn Johnny Depp into a puree of blood and guts: If ever a man was made to haunt dreams -- and murder people in them -- it was Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund).
------------
12. Rosemary's Baby (1968)
Roman Polanski's deliciously paced thriller is part satanic horror, part paranoid delusion. We know something's not right with hubby (John Cassavetes), but isn't pregnant Rosemary (Mia Farrow) letting hormones get the best of her, suspecting everyone she meets? Nope, she's right. Never mind.
------------
11. Frailty (2002)
Director-star Bill Paxton wields religious fanaticism like a blunt instrument -- or say, an ax -- as a father who enlists his young sons' help in carrying out "God's work," aka slaying sinners with the aforementioned ax. Taut, twisty and thrilling, the root of its terror lies in the fact that it's not so farfetched.
------------
10. 28 Days Later (2002)
The zombie genre goes even darker in Danny Boyle's malevolent take, in which flesh-eating is a viral affliction and the stricken are possessed with rabid ferocity and superhuman speed. And though they're there, the sociopolitical undertones can just be ignored if you want your dread served up straight.
------------
9. The Haunting (1963)
Multi-genre master Robert Wise ('Sound of Music,' 'The Set-Up') wasn't afraid of no ghosts, and he sure spooked the nation with this still-scary flick. The most definitive haunted house movie of them all, 'The Haunting' spawned 'Poltergeist,' 'Amityville' and, of course, countless episodes of 'Scooby-Doo.'
------------
8. Dawn of the Dead (1978)
Nobody knows "dead" like George A. Romero, and the horror visionary followed up one classic zombie flick ('Night of the Living Dead') with what is easily his magnum opus: a scarier, sharper, ballsier and bloodier campaign of terror that succeeds as much as a piece of cultural commentary as it does a fright fest.
------------
7. The Thing (1982)
John Carpenter's fright-fest is that unlikeliest of things -- a movie remake that's better than the original (a more suspenseful but less graphic 1951 black-and-white thriller). The shape-shifting-killer-alien sci-fi flick set a new benchmark for on-screen gore, and cemented Carpenter's rep as a master of horror.
------------
6. The Sixth Sense (1999)
We loved the twist, but that's not what makes 'Sixth Sense' so chilling; this masterfully told ghost story does more with half-glimpsed images and fine acting than most horror films do with buckets of blood. When we wake up screaming in the dead of night, it's not Freddy Krueger we see ... It's Haley Joel Osment.
------------
5. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
No, it's not based on real events as advertised in the opening credits (that tricky Tobe Hooper!), but that doesn't make it less terrifying. This shocking low-budget scarer about limb loss in the Lone Star State set the stage for Michael Myers, Freddy and Jason, awful sequels and all.
------------
4. The Shining (1980)
On the one hand, Stanley Kubrick's film is a drama of a father driven mad by inadequacy (Jack Nicholson, a little TOO good at playing crazy); on the other, it's a nightmarish landscape of dead twins, a possessed little boy and a naked woman who turns into a corpse. Either way, it'll scare the crap out of you.
------------
3. Psycho (1960)
The shriek of violins, the flash of a knife, Janet Leigh's horrified face: The shower scene in 'Psycho' is perhaps the most terrifying scene in movie history, but Hitchcock's classic unnerves in countless other ways, from Norman Bates' creepy (yet oddly sympathetic) mama's boy to the film's final, shocking twist.
------------
2. The Exorcist (1973)
Audiences in 1973 weren't just screaming at the sinister sights of this definitively classic yarn; some fainted or vomited, and one man even broke his jaw on the seat in front of him. We're still screaming 34 years later, even if there have been no further reports of physical damages. It's head-spinning, bed-shaking horror at its finest.
------------
1. Halloween (1978)
Oft-emulated but never equaled, John Carpenter's moody masterpiece is as terrifying today as it was 29 years ago. Vacant-eyed Michael Myers is soulless evil personified, the score bone-chilling, the cinematography eerily sublime and the overall impression unshakeable. Put simply, it is horror perfection.
------------
Personally, The Shining needed to be in the top 3. I know it came at number 4 but still, it was that good.
Naomi Watts proves she's got the pipes of a true scream queen in this remake of the J-horror hit 'Ringu,' about a mysterious video tape that kills anyone who watches it (no, not the Pamela-Tommy Lee tape). It's drenched in taut suspense, and boasts a finale that'll have you sprinting away from your TV set
------------
30. Hellraiser (1987)
Novelist Clive Barker's directorial debut has everything a great horror flick needs: a puzzle box that, when solved, tears your soul to shreds; a villain who gorges himself on human blood; and a pasty white minion of Satan with a British accent and pins jutting from his head (the iconic -- and aptly named -- Pinhead).
------------
29. Nosferatu (1922)
Despite being an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' novel, director F.W. Murnau's seminal vampire flick is lauded as one of the best silent films ever. And Max Schreck is so chillingly creepy as bloodthirsty antagonist Count Orlok (aka Count Dracula) that the actor himself was believed to be a vampire.
------------
28. The Descent (2006)
Six sexy female spelunkers trapped in a cave sounds like the setup for Cinemax soft-core porn. But in this pulse-pounding, scream-a-minute Scottish import, it's the backdrop for a gloriously gory battle to the death between said spelunkers and a horde of blind, flesh-hungry cave mutants.
------------
27. The Omen (1976)
Being possessed by the devil is one thing, but to discover your child is actually the seed of Satan? Now that's freaky. A few shocking moments (and Jerry Goldsmith's eerie Oscar-winning score) elevate a thoroughly chilling film, while Harvey Stephens' Damien still holds the title as all-time creepiest kid in horror movies
------------
26. The Fly (1986)
While the 1958 original was frightful (Vincent Price's tiny little fly voice pleading "Help me!" still gives us chills), David Cronenberg's remake is disquieting, disturbing, weird ... in a word, awesome. And Jeff Goldblum is indescribably alluring as the man mutating to a creepy crawler -- emphasis on "creepy."
------------
25. The Wicker Man (1973)
No, the much-maligned Nic Cage remake hasn't permanently tainted the sanctity of its title (it did leave scars). That's because the original is far too traumatic an experience -- in a good way. It's a genre-bending film that challenges viewers every step of the way through one supremely creepy Scottish isle.
------------
24. Carnival of Souls (1962)
This B-movie chiller is a marvel of atmosphere: There are virtually no special effects, no monsters, no serial killers in the shadows ... and yet the story of a church organist who seemingly escapes death in a car accident is frighteningly taut. You'll never hear organ music the same way again.
------------
23. The Eye (2003)
J-horror, Japan's unique brand of scary movie, has had a fair share of successes (and Hollywood remakes). But none are as chilling or terrifying as the Pang brothers' tale of a blind girl given new corneas that leave her seeing dead people -- and not really realizing it. Where's Bruce Willis when you need him?
------------
22. Scream (1996)
Only a fright master like Wes Craven could parody slasher "rules" (e.g., sex equals certain death), pay winking homage to classic horror films, and STILL make us jump 10 feet in the air. With one fell swoop, Craven both revived the genre and proved that a slasher flick needn't be as dumb as its dopey teen victims.
------------
21. Friday The 13th (1980)
Admit it, just the mention of "summer camp" or "Crystal Lake" has you glancing over your shoulder, listening for a noise in the woods and swearing off hockey masks. This classic teen slash-fest is a little bit 'Psycho,' a little bit 'Halloween' and a whole lot of terrifying fun.
------------
20. Dracula (1931)
Even today, Tod Browning's film remains downright unnerving: the gothic cinematography, the sensual undercurrent, Lugosi's iconic portrait of elegant malice ("I never drink ... wine"). More than the novel or any other movie, 'Dracula' defined forever what we fear about vampires ... and what we love about them, too.
------------
19. The Evil Dead II (1987)
Who says horror can't be hilarious? There's plenty of gruesomeness in Sam Raimi's cult classic -- ever see a man saw off his own hand? -- but there's also that priceless humor that plays off the absurdity of horror scenarios. It's a ridiculously fun film that tops 'An American Werewolf in London' as the best of its kind.
------------
18. Carrie (1976)
It has a deceptively humble premise (shy girl with a crazy mom and supernatural powers just wants to fit in), but even in a pre-Columbine world, Brian De Palma's take on a Stephen King novel was enough to give teens and their parents nightmares. And in today's climate, it simply resonates with horror.
------------
17. The Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
Philip Kaufman's flick about aliens bent on repopulating Earth with emotionless "pod people" packs an even more terrifying punch than the '56 original. Its bleak ending -- featuring a bug-eyed, screaming Donald Sutherland -- is enough to give grown men nightmares.
------------
16. Night of the Living Dead (1968)
George A. Romero made a shocking entrance to B-movie fame with his black-and-white zombie thriller. It plays out almost like a documentary, with very little narrative -- the zombies just keep coming, they have an insatiable hunger for human flesh ... what more do you need to know?
------------
15. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Ingeniously marketed as a documentary -- its stars were listed as "missing and presumed dead" -- this indie grossed $240 mil and proved that eerie sounds, visceral camerawork and adhering to the less-is-more principle (we never see the witch) make for one hell of a harrowing flick
------------
14. Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
The monster takes a wife -- and horror fans were invited to the reception. James Whale's compelling classic is the perfect marriage of poignant romance and creature discomforts. And as for the unholy union, turns out the couple was catastrophically mismatched.
------------
13. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
The ratty red-and-green sweater, the grotesquely burned visage, the glove made of knives, the ability to turn Johnny Depp into a puree of blood and guts: If ever a man was made to haunt dreams -- and murder people in them -- it was Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund).
------------
12. Rosemary's Baby (1968)
Roman Polanski's deliciously paced thriller is part satanic horror, part paranoid delusion. We know something's not right with hubby (John Cassavetes), but isn't pregnant Rosemary (Mia Farrow) letting hormones get the best of her, suspecting everyone she meets? Nope, she's right. Never mind.
------------
11. Frailty (2002)
Director-star Bill Paxton wields religious fanaticism like a blunt instrument -- or say, an ax -- as a father who enlists his young sons' help in carrying out "God's work," aka slaying sinners with the aforementioned ax. Taut, twisty and thrilling, the root of its terror lies in the fact that it's not so farfetched.
------------
10. 28 Days Later (2002)
The zombie genre goes even darker in Danny Boyle's malevolent take, in which flesh-eating is a viral affliction and the stricken are possessed with rabid ferocity and superhuman speed. And though they're there, the sociopolitical undertones can just be ignored if you want your dread served up straight.
------------
9. The Haunting (1963)
Multi-genre master Robert Wise ('Sound of Music,' 'The Set-Up') wasn't afraid of no ghosts, and he sure spooked the nation with this still-scary flick. The most definitive haunted house movie of them all, 'The Haunting' spawned 'Poltergeist,' 'Amityville' and, of course, countless episodes of 'Scooby-Doo.'
------------
8. Dawn of the Dead (1978)
Nobody knows "dead" like George A. Romero, and the horror visionary followed up one classic zombie flick ('Night of the Living Dead') with what is easily his magnum opus: a scarier, sharper, ballsier and bloodier campaign of terror that succeeds as much as a piece of cultural commentary as it does a fright fest.
------------
7. The Thing (1982)
John Carpenter's fright-fest is that unlikeliest of things -- a movie remake that's better than the original (a more suspenseful but less graphic 1951 black-and-white thriller). The shape-shifting-killer-alien sci-fi flick set a new benchmark for on-screen gore, and cemented Carpenter's rep as a master of horror.
------------
6. The Sixth Sense (1999)
We loved the twist, but that's not what makes 'Sixth Sense' so chilling; this masterfully told ghost story does more with half-glimpsed images and fine acting than most horror films do with buckets of blood. When we wake up screaming in the dead of night, it's not Freddy Krueger we see ... It's Haley Joel Osment.
------------
5. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
No, it's not based on real events as advertised in the opening credits (that tricky Tobe Hooper!), but that doesn't make it less terrifying. This shocking low-budget scarer about limb loss in the Lone Star State set the stage for Michael Myers, Freddy and Jason, awful sequels and all.
------------
4. The Shining (1980)
On the one hand, Stanley Kubrick's film is a drama of a father driven mad by inadequacy (Jack Nicholson, a little TOO good at playing crazy); on the other, it's a nightmarish landscape of dead twins, a possessed little boy and a naked woman who turns into a corpse. Either way, it'll scare the crap out of you.
------------
3. Psycho (1960)
The shriek of violins, the flash of a knife, Janet Leigh's horrified face: The shower scene in 'Psycho' is perhaps the most terrifying scene in movie history, but Hitchcock's classic unnerves in countless other ways, from Norman Bates' creepy (yet oddly sympathetic) mama's boy to the film's final, shocking twist.
------------
2. The Exorcist (1973)
Audiences in 1973 weren't just screaming at the sinister sights of this definitively classic yarn; some fainted or vomited, and one man even broke his jaw on the seat in front of him. We're still screaming 34 years later, even if there have been no further reports of physical damages. It's head-spinning, bed-shaking horror at its finest.
------------
1. Halloween (1978)
Oft-emulated but never equaled, John Carpenter's moody masterpiece is as terrifying today as it was 29 years ago. Vacant-eyed Michael Myers is soulless evil personified, the score bone-chilling, the cinematography eerily sublime and the overall impression unshakeable. Put simply, it is horror perfection.
------------
Personally, The Shining needed to be in the top 3. I know it came at number 4 but still, it was that good.