As I said, Irreversible is not a horror film in the traditional sense, but it does have some aspects of a horror film, and is equally as disturbing and horrific as any horror movie I've seen. Plus, a lot of horror fans like it, so that is why I mentioned it even though it technically wouldn't belong in the genre.
Originally posted by Mr Zero
Asian horror is either included or your list is a sham - it's the cutting edge of whats genuinely ****ing scary these days.
The "Tomie" franchise, "The Eye", and "St. Johns Wart" are mediocre at best, however "Versus" and "Audition" both do rightfully belong.
I have yet to see "Ju-on", "Evil Dead Trap", or "Ringu". Keep in mind the rental availability of these things isn't exactly bountiful.
BTW, isn't this list missing the goriest film of all time, "Dead Alive/Braindead"?
I think this a great thread. I think all of the listings are near perfect. the only one i havent been able to see in my horror life is canibal holocaust.
The Only gripe i have with the list is The omen. Was the onem really that good? Atleast the sense of being the best flick in the Genre. I believe that rosemary's baby should be there before the Omen. I think Rosemary's baby gets little recognition for helping to pave the way for more shocking and evelope pushing flicks, like the omen, and the exorcist. this movie had mad controversy for it being made,back in the day. Sinatra even left his wife for being in a witch movie.
some other greats i think that were fogotten or over looked include
American werewolf in london ( best werewolf flick to date)
Body snatchers- ( doesnt matter which version, i prefer the remake.)
The wickerman
The lost boys
the believers
Fright Night
Childs play.
Of course The Birds
I dont think these two are musts for horror fans,but are great original flicks. In the mouth of madness, cemetary man.
well he was represented with The thing. this is the best of his offerings. then halloween. As for Vampires, though there arent many, there are still better vampire flicks out there.
Wicker man can be considered horror for the occult material. you cant really calssify it as drama, suspense, or a thriller.
Irreversible & JAWS dont belong on that list, they are drama / thriller.Alien/Aliens & The Thing are pure sci-fi.
From Dusk 'till Dawn is a great ****in movie - but not scary or innovative in the least.
American Werewolf in London?
Asian horror is either included or your list is a sham - it's the cutting edge of whats genuinely ****ing scary these days.
Otherwise - nice job.
- I didn't have Irreversible....that was Backfire's suggestion and he is quite correct in his reasoning. Horror doesn't have to be some fantasy/made up crap............horrific things happen in real life too, which is more along the lines of Irreversible.
- Jaws does belong on that list. It is the best "monster" movie ever made. There are people still today who do not swim in the ocean.
- From Dusk 'till Dawn is the pinacle of camp/comedy/horror films. They don't get any better. If you want to watch camp horror...watch from Dusk 'till Dawn.
- Alien/Aliens are horror films......in a futuristic setting. To say something isn't horror simply because it takes place in the future is just assinine. A pure sci-fi flick would be Star Wars...or Star Trek.
- Asian horror is not on the cutting edge. I'm not a fan. I have not watched much simply because I wasn't impressed with the ones I did watch....which were pretty big names of Japanese Horror. I believe people talk so much about it as if it's new or innovative to make it seem like they are "in the know" on the cool stuff......to make them feel special for watching something that most people don't. Watch a few thousand horror films, then get back to me about how innovative asian horror is. It's not....same ol' concepts are being done in Asia, just as they are here in the U.S. Italian horror had the same rep 15-20 years ago. It wasn't deserved either. All Italian horror had to offer that wasn't readily available here in the states was more gore.....which in no way makes a movie better, it merely tries to cover up flaws in plot....you know, gloss over all the holes with blood. Don't get me wrong...there is alot of Italian horror I like....but not because they are Italian and "Italian is cool".......some are just genuily great flicks....but the Italian scene in general was never better than the U.S. scene. I judge purely movie by movie.....I'm not going to watch something just because it's Japanese and Japanese horror is "cool"....or Italian just because Italian "is cool". If I hear good things about a specific movie or I see it and it looks interesting...I watch it. That simple.
- American Werewolf in London? I'm sorry but I covered the werewolf genre.......and both The Howling and Dog Soldiers are much better films and are therefore much better representations of the werewolf genre in horror.
And i'm also a closet fan of Carpenters In the Mouth of Madness - which reminds me - Halloween & Prince of Darkness anyone? Carpenter needs to be represented
- I too am a big fan of In the Mouth of Madness. Is that one of the first movies a person should watch when getting into the horror genre though? Me thinks not.
- meh......Halloween was alright....but the slasher genre was covered with Friday the 13th.......which I believe to be a superior film. You may not..........but oh well, I made the post not you.
By the way.........Vampires were covered. The very best vampire flick ever made was Martin. It's on the list..........
I get the feeling people are just saying what their favorite movies are........not which are the best to basically sum up the horror genre. I didn't make this thread for fanboys.........I made it as kind of a check list for beginners to look at and see what movies they should watch first, which movies would better introduce them to the genre and pretty much sum up what they'll be recieving from it.
ED I think your list is a fine list - it's a good idea - and its your list. I just think your being a little too free-and-easy with what constitutes the "horror" genre, especialy for a beginners horror listing.
Aliens is a scary movie - but it's a BEM Sci-Fi flick for sure, not a horror movie in space. Carpenters ghosts of Mars is a horror movie in space - just a shitty one.
And jaws is an action flick - i think you just want them in there because they are "cool"- yanno - like asian horror is these days.
Anyway I'll be curious to see what you think of Audition....
ED I think your list is a fine list - it's a good idea - and its your list. I just think your being a little too free-and-easy with what constitutes the "horror" genre, especialy for a beginners horror listing.
If the film is made with the intention to scare somebody......it is meant to be a "scary" movie, otherwise known as horror.
I'm getting the vibe from you that you believe horror films are:
- about the supernatural or
- about some guy running around killing people
Don't mean to burst your bubble........but Jaws was meant to scare people. It wasn't done by accident. Jaws was meant to scare the crap out of people.......and it did. It was a "scary" movie.......
Since when is Asian horror "cool"?
In all reality it isn't....but it is all the rage these days. Perfect example. When the Ring came out.......everybody harped about how much better Ringu was. I thought, "hmmmm....it was the original film so it probably is better"..........guess what? Disappointment. It wasn't better than The Ring........it had a bit more tension to it but the plot was nowhere near as coherent. People just raved about it because it was Japanese horror and Japanese horror is supposed to be better right now or something...(just like Italian horror was supposed to be better when that scene really kicked off)...............I'm not falling for it. I'll continue judging movies individually...regardless of what country they were filmed in.
Originally posted by Evil Dead
If the film is made with the intention to scare somebody......it is meant to be a "scary" movie, otherwise known as horror.Don't mean to burst your bubble........but Jaws was meant to scare people. It wasn't done by accident. Jaws was meant to scare the crap out of people.......and it did. It was a "scary" movie.......
So by your definition any movie that has scary scenes is a horror film, even if it's about fish.
Moby Dick. HORROR MOVIE!!!
Films with tension and drama and action can be called thrillers and action movies if you want to define them. Jaws is by no means a horror film.
I dont think that the asian's have a very good grasp on a decent horror formula. I had a friend who was big into the asian cinema period. He made me sit through hours and hours of shit movies that are accliamed,but are just copying the western's horror formula. there are quite a few worth mentioning. Chopsocky, the king, and evil dead trap. Are very good and original horror flicks that Asian Cinema has pulled off. the thing with Asian horror is that it is many times exaggerated like there fantasy genre's, eigther this or they revolve heavily around asian beliefs and religoun, which make these movies targeted for a certain audience entertainment only.
I dont think it is appropriate to assign just one movie to sum up the knowledge and entertainment value of one branch of the horror world, such as one movie for vampires, one movie for werewolves, and so one. I know it is necessary in some cases due to the flood of movies around that one subject. It isnt my thread, but i think the best of the best of the subjects should be acknowledged. Many people are just listing favorited horror flicks though.
I dont see how you choose the howling over American werewolf in london. I wasnt around for the release of eigther. I do acknowledge what the howling did. It is a decent werewolf flick, but it is just filled with to much cheese. I would be bold enough to say that the Howling was an accident aswell. It came at a time when no one had a violent werewolf flick with a decent werewolf creature in it. However, American werewolf in London gives us a simple,yet great story that includes the werewolf mythology that we all love. The writing and acting was great, and not to mention it has the best transformation from man to werewolf in film history,and other superb effects.
I would also acknowledge fright night. I mean this movie came at a time when horror movies were stuck knee deep in the slasher cycle. Fright night was a surprise on it's entertainment. It took the age old story of Vampire sterotypes, and details and gave it to us all in one nostalgic film. this is one of those rare horror movies that should by all means be terrible and silly,but pulls of an orginal twist on vampire movies using the age old stories of Vampires.
I htink that is probably one of the most fitting descriptions for that movie i have read. Yeah it diddnt have to much bite, but when it did bite the fangs sank in deep. I think Fright night was a train wreck waiting to happen from it's conception.(I mean a t.v vampire hunter as a vampire killer) However, it diddnt wreck and miraculously Pulled out a surprise for everyone giving us the basic vampire concept that everyone has,but never got on film. I think that is why it worked,and worked well.