0016: Films to Scare Yourself Silly With (AKA Great Horror Films)

Submitted by lbangs on Tue, 02/20/2001 - 09:17
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  • Alien
  • Carrie
  • Cat People (42)
  • The Exorcist
  • Halloween
  • Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer
  • Jaws
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  • The Night of the Living Dead (68)
  • Psycho (60)
  • Rosemary's Baby
  • Scanners
  • Suspiria
  • The Thing (51)
Author Comments: 

I'll think of more soon, and I am certainly open for suggestions. Not all of these are truly "horror" films, but each one is close enough for this list.

jim08/18/2000

For your consideration: Alien, The Blair Witch Project, The Exorcist, and Rosemary's Baby.

And I've never seen the '51 version of The Thing. Was it really scarier than the '82 version? If so, that's pretty darn scary.

lbangs08/21/2000

Wow, Jim, great suggestions. I'll take them. I'll leave off Blair Witch, which was very interesting but, to these gumpy eyes, not quite as great as the other films above (perhaps if they had carved 20 minutes from the middle...), but I do believe I will steal your other three suggestions.

Thanks!

Shalom, y'all!

L. Bangs

lbangs08/21/2000

Oh, and yes, I much favor the 51 version of The Thing. In many ways, I'd be willing to bet that it was a MAJOR inspiration to Alien. A group of people in an isolated setting (the spacecraft in Alien, the arctic in The Thing) are slowly stalked by a largely-unseen, seemingly indestructable alien monster that manages to work its way into the environment of the humans. The official director was Christian Nybee {sic}, but it was produced by Howard Hawks. I have heard many rumors that he did much of the directing, and the film certainly bears his style and his artistisc excellent. I definitely recommend it.

Shalom, y'all!

L. Bangs

timepiece08/21/2000

How about Arachnophobia? Despite the comedic elements (like John Goodman), I found it very scary (attested to by the deep fingernail marks on my date's arm afterwards).

lbangs08/21/2000

I admit it has been many moons since I have watched this film, but it just didn't scare me or strike me as quite as impressive as the films above. Perhaps you can convince me to review it?

Shalom, y'all!

L. Bangs

08/25/2000

i am sorry but night of the living dead sucked and was not scary at all. the only good thing was that black guy who could just do anything and was an all around pimp!

jenhowel10/25/2000

dude, I completely disagree. I didn't find it per se scary, but it definitely was creepy. The make-up and gore level were both impressive for the time. And the aura of creepy isolation that pervaded the whole film sticks with you afterwards. Plus the line, "They're coming for you, Barbara...". And how can you not like the little girl? She's so cool!
For my money, "Rosemary's Baby" is the film that isn't scary and sucks. WHY WHY WHY is this considered a classic????? Rosemary is simply too stupid to evoke any interest in me.

jblack11/06/2000

I think you are being too hard on Rosemary Woodhouse.She is real young and quite naive. She's not stupid. And if you look at the movie in that perspective, you might change your view.

lord_gaskin02/22/2001

I fear that I must disagree. True, Night of the Living Dead was not a gore fest like many current "horror" films seem to be, but is its strength. I still have nightmares over that film and watch it whenever it comes on TV--and I hate horror films!

lord_gaskin02/22/2001

Henry terrified me like few films have been able to, I will give you that one easily. But what do you think about Evil Dead?

lbangs02/22/2001

I enjoyed Evil Dead, but while it seems a bit weaker than the films on this list, it also strikes me more as a comedy than a true horror film seriously meant to scare the living wits out of folks. More of a Re-Animator, actually...

Shalom, y'all!

L. Bangs

jblack04/11/2001

The Shining still scares the hell out of me.

marygabucan12/08/2003

How about the original Texas Chainsaw massacre.

lbangs12/11/2003

I reluctantly admit to really not liking Texas Chainsaw. It didn't scare me, and while its Hannibalesque over-the-top finale did get me to giggle, it wasn't nearly funny enough for me to forgive the film.

I've noticed that recently this has entered the 'minor classics' canon of many critics, but I'm just not one of them. Maybe I'll rewatch it again, but I did catch it last only a few years ago.

And AAA, I'm sorry... :)

Shalom, y'all!

L. Bangs

192208/27/2004

What about Robert Wise's 'The Haunting'? This film is breath-taking and quite scary.