My Top Ten Favorite Horror Movies
- Sep 5, 2014
- 5 min read
In the spirit of the upcoming season, this week on Writer’s Block, I am giving you’re my top 10 favorite horror films. In all honesty I am not a horror junky, nor a huge fan of a lot of what’s out there in the horror genre. Primarily this is because they do not scare me. There have only been a few films over the years that have given me nightmares, whether I was a kid when I watched them or not.
With that said, my primary criteria for ranking these films, was if it scared me. For what I feel should be obvious reasons (although I know there are a lot of people who like cliché slasher flicks and gore) I tried to stay away from gore flicks and movies that I find too cliché or predictable.
There are some subgenres of Horror that I excluded from the rankings entirely, such as Zombie flicks and quite a lot from Steven King. We already know Steven King’s brand of horror is terrifying, and I could make a list of my top 20 zombie flicks all on it’s own. There are also some classic horror flick I will be giving honorable menions to at the end.
No, for this ranking, Writer’s Block is sticking to what will stick with you for the rest of your days type horror. So let’s begin.
10. The Crazies (2010)
The Crazies is just that, pretty crazy for a horror flick. The reason this one ranks in my top ten is because of it’s accuracy in what has been shown as government protocol, which helps bring a sense of, “It’s us against the world” to the thrills installed. The story follows the survival of a family and its friends through a pandemic that looks like an extreme form of rabies. Some of the plot twists in the second act are cliché, but overall this is a great flick with a surprise ending.
9. The Hills Have Eyes (2006)
If Texas Chainsaw Massacre didn’t make you fear inbred hicks in deserted places, The Hills Have Eyes may very well do the job. This remake is intense for having its typical mid 2000s casting problems, too many perfect chicks with slutty attitudes. However, this movie makes up for it with the great visual effects and make-up.
8. 1408 (2007)
Definitely more of a psychological thriller than a Horror film I think, 1408 watches the way a Silent Hill videogames play. Particularly that of The Room, a Silent Hill game that mimics the situation of this film perfectly. John Cusack does an excellent job in this film, the only horror I can recall ever seeing him in.
7. Evil Dead (2013)
A brilliant remake, not necessarily topping the first one but definitely giving it a run for its money, Evil Dead brings a group of friends to a cabin where they plan to help a friend through detox. With her possession being confused for the symptoms of detox, the thrills reach bounds a lot of gore flicks don’t reach. The ending suffered some in my opinion, but these movies at the butt of the list seem to be the most difficult for me to rank.
6. Signs (2002)
Brilliant, personal, dramatic, Signs is amazing. I feel as though it is easily forgotten among horror films. This story brings an epic problem to a personal and small-town level. It’s very hard to pull of alien invasion, but this one does so very well with little to know cheesy crap.
5. V/H/S (2012)
6 terrifying shorts shot POV having to do with VHS tapes. Great Directing. Only place I’ve found where you can watch it is Netflix thus far. Not much else to say about this one except watch it. It was like Broth3rhood meets Blair Witch project (although this has blair witch quality beat.
4. Saw (2004)
For those who have seen Saw, any of them, you can see why I chose the original to place on my list. The idea is very original, the actors: genuine, the visual effects are excellent, and it’s scary. Enough said.
3. The Mist (2007)
This movie is excellent, no other way to put it. The characters were great, casting excellent, only the first appearance of the real problem in the mist is somewhat cheesy and from there it just gets awesome. No cliché moments, no crappy effects, and even though overall it didn’t scare me like my top 2, it is just an all around great movie.
2. Paranormal Activity (2007)
Filmed entirely on a cam-corder, this ultra-low budget film of $10,000 has a slow build of scares that lead to the big one. Possession taken to the most personal level you can, it watches like a Blair Witch Project without all the snot, but this one gave me a scare, coming off as real.
1. The Candyman (1992)
I was absolutely astonished when looking through the lists of best horror films and did not see Candyman anywhere on any of them. Out of everything I ever watched as a kid, Candyman scared me the most. With a mirror in every bathroom in the US (basically, sorry if you don’t I guess?), this one is bound to get about everyone standing in front of their mirror saying his name. Technically this is considered a slasher film, but the story elements and characters make it so much more than that.
Starring Tony Todd and Virginia Madsen and based on the Clive Barker story, The forbidden, we lay witness to a University student finishing her thesis on urban legends, investigating one in particular, the Candyman, who’s infamous bloody hook keeps thousands of minds enslaved to his memory. Besides the dead-on casting all around and a marvelous plotline to go with it, Candyman has one of the most haunting themes ever rendered for a horror film. The opening credits sequence sets the tone for the film right away with Philip Glass’s chilling score. I recommend this movie 100% for anyone wanting a good scare who might missed it or forgot it to all the rivaling classics.
A lot of people are now questioning, Why the hell did I read this list, he skips so many classics and good scares! Well, don’t write me off yet, I do have this list of honorable mentions. I put these together because they could have very well ended up in this top 10 list but I like to give people something new.
Halloween (1978)
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Pet Semetary (1989)
Deliverance (1972)
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
The Exorcist (1973)
Re-Animator (1985)
An American Werewolf in London (1981)
American Mary (2012)
The Purge (2013)
Comments