SO FAR~

 

 

11. The Shining

12. A Clockwork Orange

13. [REC]

14. Peeping Tom

15. The Wicker Man

16. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

17. Martha Marcy May Marlene

18. Alien/Aliens

19. Drag Me To Hell

20. The Silence of the Lambs

21. Kill List

22. The Evil Dead

23. The Birds

24. Pan’s Labrinth

25. Let the Right One In

26. No Country for Old Men

27. Scream

28. Shaun of the Dead

29. Night of the Living Dead

30. The Orphanage

It's all for you!

 

 

10. The Omen (1976)

 

The Omen is a relentless film of terror, paranoia, gruesome attacks and sheer thrills. It's a film that immediately establishes itself as a force to be reckoned with, and of course that force is pure evil. A film that owes its motifs and vision to a lot of other films in horror cinema history, but one that still manages to evoke an original sense of child horror and still make it totally worth a watch. Some truly ground-breaking deaths, the brilliant acting from the film's Damien and a haunting score, it has everything going for it. I must say, I am a sucker for religious horror - the supernatural merged with the real is here perfectly made apparent and its a feast for eyes. I won't have mentioned it underneath because another scene takes the focus, but as the family journey to the church for the first time in the film, it is a wonderfully manic and terrifying portrait of the effect religion can have on people. Yes he is a demon child and is scared for other reasons, but the actual implications that the film have go far beyond the "horror-film" tropes it fulfills.

 

Best scene: There are several death scenes I can choose, including the GLASS/neck one (I have a fear of things touching necks, so this just sends me over the edge) :mellow: But i've decided on "Look at me Damien... This is all for you!.... *BOOM*" because of how unexpected and truly grotesque it is. Sends ripples down my spine even just thinking about it..

We'll pray. We'll pray. We'll pray for the last time. We'll pray.

 

 

09. Carrie (1976)

 

One of the most upsetting films in the countdown, Carrie is a beautiful destructive tale of adolescence, religion and insecurities. Sissy Spacek is the vulnerable and neglected girl with special powers and a dark, concealed upbringing. In all of its absurdities, it's incredibly relatable and real - who hasn't felt like an outsider or trapped within the confines of their home/school life? Painfully brutal, the film starts slow but gradually crescendos until that final, now iconic prom night scene when all hell is let loose (and then some!). Incredibly well paced, the film is a heartfelt, daring and intensely scary movie filled to the brim with rich performances, colours, and musical interludes. Released the same year as 'The Omen' too - clearly a good year for horror!

 

Best scene: I could've gone for any number of the more HUGE scenes, but the shower room, tampon scene is painful to watch and one of the most truly horrifying moments of the film so i've chosen that. But many of the more obvious, bloody or Crucifixion scenes would come very close second.

Finally one I've seen! Absolutely adore Carrie, such a scary horror and a fantastic movie, all time classic :heart:

Yesss. One of my all time favourites. One of the first horror films I remember watching as a kid. Fantastic film.

I've never actually seen the original of Carrie :blush: I REALLY enjoyed the remake though, I've watched it several times

I've never actually seen the original of Carrie :blush: I REALLY enjoyed the remake though, I've watched it several times

 

I absolutely hated the remake of Carrie. The original is impeccable movie making.

 

Really enjoying this countdown. There's been a couple that I haven't seen, so I'll look them up but I've not disagreed with any that I do know. Some really good choices, with hopefully some old favourites still to come.

Glad to see some love for 'Carrie'! It got a bit quiet in here but that's always one to bring back the audiences :heehee:

 

Lotti you need to watch the original! Also apologies this is taking SO long, real life and all that ~ but I am aiming to get it completed v soon I PROMISE.

Glad to see some love for 'Carrie'! It got a bit quiet in here but that's always one to bring back the audiences :heehee:

 

Lotti you need to watch the original! Also apologies this is taking SO long, real life and all that ~ but I am aiming to get it completed v soon I PROMISE.

 

I saw it on Netflix when scrolling today!! I promise I will try watch it v soon :o (and report back of course B-))

^ yay! It won't disappoint!

It's Halloween, everyone's entitled to one good scare.

 

 

08. Halloween (1978)

 

Halloween is the definitive slasher film (to an extent). It's the one that all others are based around and i'd argue it's the most influential of all the big franchises by some distance (though one film that influenced it, i'd put just above it as you're about to see). It's a pure unadulterated scream fest with expert building up of tension and masterful releases. Michael Myers is an enigma you don't really want to learn about. One of the most profitable independent films of all time it's clear to see why - a very simple premise made quite basically, but with the power and strength to entice and stun audiences. A social critique too, with the victims being promiscuous and unruly youth, it's a much deeper film than most of the other slashers and is just wonderfully scary. The score too, shiver-inducing with every piercing note (just listen to the trailer!).

 

Best scene: The first "stalk" for me is the most chilling. It's enough to make you look over your own shoulder about 16 times. The score, the build-up, really well done horror. :mellow:

Carrie is so heartbreaking. One part a supernatural thriller/horror but also a poignant drama about bullying and loneliness.

 

 

Halloween is just iconic in every way. I've never managed to watch Halloween II in full though, oops. Just H20 and the one after that.

We all go a little mad sometimes.

 

 

07. Psycho (1960)

 

And now the film that greatly inspired the one above. One of the defining horror films. Whether you've seen it or not, you've definitely seen that moment played over and over again. But why has Psycho managed to get such a hold on the general public and is it more than just the DI DI DI shower slash? In short, it is that scene and so much more. And it's become such a part of horror and film culture because it's cinema at its finest. I am a huge fan of Hitchcock - he's my second favourite movie man (after Kubrick) and he is capable of making films like no other. Effortlessly well paced and structured, bringing out stunning performances from all of his actors and a knack for making intense moments of 'edge of your seat' wonder. 'Psycho' isn't even my favourite from him, but as far as horror goes, it's up there as his best. It's a pretty tragic tale of Norman Bates who is hidden away from society and who acts out against anyone that approaches him because primarily, he cannot cope with human interaction. Norman is fragile and elusive, but also the central part of the film's horror. It's a masterful example of how to provide shocking twists, with totally believable and relatable characters. The script is punchy, the music is intense and the film is just a perfect horror piece of art. I love the story line most of all - so wacky and out there, but really gut-wrenching and pitiful. I never know where I stand with any of the characters - they are all gravely flawed and I think it's part of the film's universal acclaim that it breaks so many conventions and boundaries and leaves the viewer with countless thoughts and points of reflection. But even without all of those layers, it's still a thrilling ride.

 

Best scene: Yeah, as obvious as it is, the shower scene :mellow: but an honourable mention to Norman's "we all go a little mad sometimes" speech.

predicting a suspiria #1

(if so Y A S)

Awful things happen in every apartment house.

 

 

06. Rosemary's Baby (1968)

 

A film from Roman Polanski. A film that was born out of the changes to baby control and fears of pregnancy that swept America in the decades that preceeded it. A very important film for womanhood, pro-choice, rape culture and feminsim. But most of all, a wonderful, terrifying and warped fantasy ride into the mind of a paranoid mother at the height of her sexual awakening. Rosemary's Baby is very aptly titled - the actual "baby" doesn't really make any appearance in the film, instead it's the acts leading up to her contraception and the birth of the baby that create the terror of the film. Wonderfully melodramatic in true Polanski fashion and hauntingly gritty and real, the film is a brilliantly fun horror. Not so in your face with its horror, but one that builds on suspense and paranoia - a totally different type of horror to the baby terror we're used to in popular cinema. The quotation I have chosen up there is one which formed the basis of my dissertation during my masters - the horror of apartments and buildings in Polanski's films are the most important features of them... but this isn't even his best horror apartment film..

 

Best scene: I think the dream rape scene while wonderfully manic is removed from the true horror of the film, so i'll say my favourite scene is when the couple visit the Castevets because this is where paranoia and trust really comes into the fray. :mellow:

Rosemary's Baby is a masterpiece. Hands down my favourite horror film and within my top 10 films of all time. I don't know where to start with it. I wrote about it in part as part of my dissertation. Not only is a truly original idea (I mean, it still feels so modern and cutting edge when watched now) but it's also so, so scary and unsettling and has really interesting gender politics.

Ahh. That's one I need to see. Never seen it, but heard nothing but good things about it.

Every single one of your top 15 so far is a masterpiece. In fact my list would be similar in many ways.

Rosemary's Baby is a masterpiece. Hands down my favourite horror film and within my top 10 films of all time. I don't know where to start with it. I wrote about it in part as part of my dissertation. Not only is a truly original idea (I mean, it still feels so modern and cutting edge when watched now) but it's also so, so scary and unsettling and has really interesting gender politics.

Knew you'd be happy to see that one feature :D

 

Ahh. That's one I need to see. Never seen it, but heard nothing but good things about it.

Make sure you do! Although there's another still to come that I feel should be watched before it.

 

Every single one of your top 15 so far is a masterpiece. In fact my list would be similar in many ways.

Wow high praise! Really glad you're agreeing and hopefully that continues into the top 5 too :o