Wednesday 5 March 2008

To Hell and back again the horror movies lists

I know I'm going to run the there and back again thing into the ground at this rate, but hay ho tis all good.

Right after discovering a "expert" opinion list of Sci-Fi movies I thought I would try and see if I can find a similar thing for Horror films, I mean phsycologists seem to be ten a penny surely some one might have asked them what they think of a few movies?

But so far my search has been fruitless but I will continue and bring you the results should they appear, for now I give you the film experts opinions from Rotten Tomatoes http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/ who may not be horror specialists but do know an awful lot about films

1. Psycho (1960)
Is there any suitable argument why Psycho wouldn't be numero uno on the list? After all, Hitchcock's masterpiece not only changed the public's sentiment on showering -- the lather, rinse and repeat routine was never the same again -- but it also single-handedly invented the modern horror film. What makes the film such a terrifying experience is a combination of supremely eerie elements: The lonely motel, the equally lonely but clearly mentally unstable Norman Bates and, lest we forget, dear 'ol Mother. Despite a series of substandard sequels and Gus Van Sant's ill-fated attempt at remaking the film frame-by-frame with none other than man-boy Vince Vaughn on board, the flawlessly executed original will forever remain a classic.

2. King Kong (1933)
When you think of what makes up a horror movie, the first thing that generally comes to mind is something along the lines of blood, guts and gore, not necessarily a gigantic gorilla. But that, friends, is the great thing about King Kong -- it's not a horror movie in the traditional sense. Sure, at first glance Kong appears to be just another hirsute monster wreaking havoc on the big screen, but he's not so much a creature of destruction as he is a misunderstood beast provoked to unleash aggression in order to live up to an image of being a beastly eighth wonder of the world. Looking back, the special effects of the 1933 film may pale in comparison to the modern-day wizardry seen in Peter Jackson's update. However, director Merian C. Cooper certainly deserves recognition for paving the way for future special effects spectacles like Jurassic Park -- not to mention the creature-feature in general.

3. Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Nothing is more annoying than having a conversation interrupted by brain-eating zombies. Just ask Shaun, the title character of Edgar Wright's instant horror-comedy hit Shaun of the Dead. The slacker's mundane existence is turned upside down when the Walking dead suddenly begin taking over the city, which only further throws a wrench into his plan to win back the waning affection of his girlfriend. The killer comedy from 2004 achieved cult status for its distinctly British flare and, of course, for its cast of slowly, shuffling zombies that all too fittingly reflect the monotony of the living world.

4. Rosemary's Baby (1968)
Courtesy of Knocked Up, we've seen the consequences of a one-night stand. So, what could possibly be worse than giving birth to Seth Rogen's offspring? Uh, how about popping out Lucifer's lovechild? In Roman Polanski's insanely creepy 1968 film Rosemary's Baby, that's the unfortunate fate of Mia Farrow's character. After having a hellish dream involving a tryst with the Beast, Rosemary descends into a state of paranoia and madness with the belief that she's been impregnated with a demon seed. The success of the film is due in part to the ambiguity that Polanski presents; we never really know if all this is just a hallucination.

5. The Devil's Backbone (2001)
Guillermo del Toro's The Devil's Backbone is a beautiful, haunting ghost story that suggests restless spirits aren't necessarily always intent on sending shivers up our spines, but perhaps attempting to communicate a message to the living in the hope of finding peace in the afterlife. Set against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War, The Devil's Backbone focuses on an orphan named Carlos who encounters the ghost of Santi, a young boy who recently died during an attack. Once Carlos learns the truth behind Santi's passing, he makes a promise to avenge the boy's death. A meditation on the horror and atrocities of war, del Toro's dark tale effectively breathes life into the oft-tired genre of ghost stories.

6. 28 Days Later (2003)
Set in an unnaturally desolate London, 28 Days Later showcases the aftermath of a pandemic viral outbreak that results when a team of well-intentioned animal rights activists release caged primates infected with the virus. The disease, simply known as "the rage," is transmitted through blood and transforms the average citizen into a murderous fiend. The infected, while not zombies per se, take on a similar quality in that they attack en masse, but with much more skill and agility than the walking-dead. While Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later is rooted in fantasy, the film ruminates on the possibility of a man-made contagion being released and the effects it would have on the world at large. And honestly, what's scarier than that?

7. The Evil Dead (1979)
Oh, Bruce Campbell, our ample chinned hero. Where would slapstick horror-comedy be without you? To its credit, The Evil Dead is responsible for introducing the low-budget cinema cult icon to horror hounds around the globe. And so, for that reason alone, the film should be heralded as a classic. Sure, its plot is generic -- as if we have any doubts about the fate of a group of friends traveling into the woods these days -- but it's become a staple of late-night popcorn sessions. The Evil Dead also gave new meaning to the warning: "Don't go into the woods alone." Need viewers be reminded of the forest's, uh, sexual appetite?

8. The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
Rife with campy sensibilities, The Bride of Frankenstein is a combination of horror and comedy, but not necessarily in the same vein as, say, The Evil Dead or Shaun of the Dead. The film's comedic underpinnings are evident in the overly dramatic facial expressions of the bride, who manages to evoke a belly laugh with a simple turn of the head. However, James Whale's picture is still very much a horror film -- the monsters, after all, are assembled from dead bodies. As far as Frankenstein sequels go, The Bride of Frankenstein is by far the most worthwhile of the bunch.

9. Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn (1987)
Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn is a low-budget horror comedy at its best. The blood-soaked splatter fest takes the typical horror set-up -- a group of friends visit the woods where evil rears its ugly head and all-out madness ensues -- and makes a satire of it. The extreme violence and gore that saturates this sequel to The Evil Dead isn't intended to shock viewers, but rather inspire audiences to keel over with laughter because of the sheer absurdity of it all. As evidenced by the complete Evil Dead trilogy, director Sam Raimi and his horror cohort Bruce Campbell have a knack for turning scary into funny without compromising those essential nausea-inducing moments of gore.

10. Repulsion (1965)
At its core, Roman Polanski's wicked psychological thriller Repulsion is a tale of madness and paranoia. Carol, played by the enigmatic Catherine Deneuve, is convinced that pretty much any man is a potential assailant, due to some seriously repressed sexual feelings. When Carol's sister leaves for the weekend, the young woman is left alone, and madness slowly begins to set in. Eventually, the young woman's hallucinations inspire violence, and she kills any man she deems the least bit threatening. This beautifully-shot black-and-white film was Polanksi's first in English, and is often considered one his greatest achievements.

I'm really struggling to think of a definitive top ten of horror films as there is loads I love, but currently it looks something like this

1. Night/Dawn/Day/Land of the Dead by George A Romero - I love Zombie films, I love survivor flicks these are the daddies of them both (Cheap 80s remakes aside)

2. The Exorcist (1973) - Genius film far ahead of its time and still scary 30 odd years on

3. Poltergeist - The slow build up and false ending keep me riveted a really well told story

4. Friday the 13th - For me the best of the slasher films a cracking series not let down to badly by the sequels and remakes (unlike Halloween and Nightmare on Elm Street)

5. The Omen (1976) - Another creepy kid film with a great mixture of mood and music setting each scene

6. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) - The Daddy of gore films, great, scary and gross film often copied never beaten

7. Blair Witch - You either got this film or didn't I did and loved it

8. The Hills have eyes (1977) - I'll never forget the first time I saw this film and the fact it actually had me on the edge of my seat waiting for what happens next (remake wasn't bad either)

9. The Evil Dead - had to make an appearance on here at some point

10. Any of the Hammer horror films - A cop out choice but they're all good

You'll note I've missed out Shaun Of The Dead because well frankly its possible a forerunner in my greatest movies of all time list and far more than a Horror film

1 comment:

DeeDubya said...

Good list.

My version was: My sacriest movie moments: http://theblogoflists.blogspot.com/2007/10/halloween-special-my-scariest-movie.html