Tomorrow it is officially October and that means one thing — Halloween is fast approaching. And for me, the season of the witch (no relation to the Halloween 3 film) means many things, one of which is a good excuse (not that I need any) to watch horror films.
You see, as the King of Zombies (a title imposed upon me by one Shea MacLeod) it only makes sense that horror is my favorite genre (to both read and watch). With that said, I thought it would list out my top 10 horror movies of all time. You might be surprised, nay shocked!, at what you find here.
In no specific order:
Hellraiser: If I had to pick a fav of the favs, it would be this. Few horror movies have had so much influence over the design and scope of fear since Clive Barker’s masterpiece. Even the “face” of Hellraiser, Pinhead, is often thought an iconic figure in the horror industry.
Candyman: Sticking with the master, Clive Barker, Candyman produced one of the more eloquent and frightening “human” monsters in modern cinema. Add to this the minimalist score by Phillip Glass (and the haunting performance by Tony Todd) and you have an instant classic that will certainly keep you from repeating Candyman in the mirror of your bathroom.
Paranormal Activity: There is a reason why this film works so well — we’ve all experienced (or thought we experienced) things that go bump in the night. This film just shows us all what could be going on around us while we sleep. Spooky!
30 Days of Night: If you want a vampire film to get you out of the wreckage of modern, hunky/sparkly vampire films, then check out this take on the genre. It’s fast, it’s furious, and it’s set in Alaska. The cold alone is enough to fear!
A Nightmare on Elm Street (the remake): I might stand alone on this one, but the reboot of this classic film stripped away the wonderful camp and replaced it with fear. Freddy Kruger became something real and nightmares were never more terrifying. The soundtrack certainly helped the cause as well.
House of a Thousand Corpses: Okay, Rob Zombie, you MUST read I Zombie I — because you could take my book and turn into yet another classic horror film. Until then, I will happily add your shocking House of a Thousand Corpses. This film didn’t do much original for the “inbred cannibal” genre, but it did take it to new levels that only Zombie could do. Add to that Sid Haig’s brilliant performance as Captain Spaulding and this film is pure horror joy.
Quarantine: This remake of the spanish film Rec was one of the most suspenseful “zombie” films you will ever watch. On top of that, the performance by Jennifer Carpenter (who hails from Louisville, KY) was stellar … so this is a must see for anyone who wants a zombie film that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Pandorum: Yes, it’s labeled “sci-fi” but it’s more horror than anything. This film is similar to that of event horizon, but kicks up the fear to 11. It’s well written, well acted, has a great soundtrack and will stick with you.
13 Ghosts (Remake): I can’t help myself on this one. I’ve always had a bit of a man-crush on Mathew Lillard (since Hackers) and think the effects and creep-factor of this film is just incredible. Add to that the always spooky “house built by evil” factor and you have the makings for a great Halloween treat.
Exorcist: I had to include a classic on the list and this one is the best of the best. no film has ever frightened more than this. The exorcist took fear to a level no one had ever (and no one has since) attempted. Not only that, but it was well written and well acted. It’s a shame no one has ever been able to come close to this level of fright since.
There you have it. Ten films sure to bring some scares for this up-coming Halloween festivities. Slap a few of these on your Netflix queue, pop some corn, and enjoy some good ol’ frights. And when you’re done with that, and ready for bed, crack open your ereader and read a few more pages of I Zombie I before My Zombie My hits the shelves.