Of course, trying to narrow down such a broad genre is extraordinarily difficult. Do we choose a zombie-flavour-of-the-month movie over a classic ghost story? Should vampires (no, not the ones that sparkle), werewolves take the top spots or do we prefer gore-filled slasher flicks? Not to mention the fine-line between good old scary thrillers and the monster movies we all love.
So instead we decided to mix-it-up and pick 10 horror movies (in no particular order) from across the genre that will hopefully keep you entertained this Halloween.
In space no one can hear you scream… in your TV room that’s another matter. Curl up with a cushion and watch Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) fight to stay alive against an acid-blood, chest-popping alien out to devour her crew. The first one has all the right mix of sci-fi, action and horror, but if you need a little more action (say a bunch of commandos shooting up a horde of aliens) maybe skip ahead to the second movie.
Not familiar with this one? A small, run-down desert tavern filled with probably the kind of people you wouldn’t want to be stuck in a diner with, try to survive the group of rampaging ‘monster/mutant/freaks’ laying siege to it. Not to mention trying to survive each other. Throw in some gratuitous gore, slime and unexpected scenes that make even classic afficionados say ‘huh’, it’s certainly a different offering for a spooky Halloween popcorn-fest.
We promised you no sparkly vampires and we deliver. If we had to pick any vampire movie to make us shiver it would have to be this one. There is nothing appealing about these blood-sucking fiends as they attack a small Alaskan town as it prepares to endure the annual polar night, where they endure 30 days of continual darkness (true story). What better time for a horde of rampaging nightmares to grab a bite to eat.
So many zombie movies, so little time. So we decided to choose a British movie (no, not Shaun of the Dea) that helped revitalise the living dead. Gone were the slow, lumbering undead of the original George Romero classics. These zombies are fast, aggressive and cutting a violent swathe through Britain. if you feel like a double-bill, you could toss in the sequel ’28 weeks later’. Not as good as the first but worth a watch.
If we had to chose a ‘devil-possesses-young-woman-and-kills-people’ movie it would have to be this classic. A young teen starts doing a few things that makes her mother somewhat nervous. You know, the usual teen stuff, swearing, shaking beds, killing people, crawling backwards down the stairs on all fours… in step the two catholic priests and, well, we wouldn’t want to spoil it for you. Slower paced than most movies these days, it may take a while before anything happens but it’s worth it to say you have seen the movie that scared your parents. Of course you may never eat split-pea soup again.
“One, two, Freddy’s coming for you…” Who didn’t shudder at this nursery rhyme sung innocently by a group of little girls skipping on the front lawn. Probably the razor-fingered booogeyman who went about eliminating Springfield’s teenagers in their dreams. With numerous sequels and even a re-make to choose from, Freddy’s bound to keep you entertained this Halloween. Just remember, “nine, ten, never sleep again…”
We’ve already reached number four and haven’t thrown in a ghostly spectre bent on revenge? Well, time to rectify that. As much as the Paranormal Activity movies (more demon than ghost anyway) are all the trend, for a truly creepy ghost movie we suggest Mama. Two young orphans are discovered in a cabin in the forest. Taken in by their uncle and his reluctant girlfriend, it soon becomes apparent that there is someone else ‘living’ in the house.
Okay, okay we know, not really a straight-up horror movie in the traditional sense, but you have to appreciate Joss Whedon (Producer) and Drew Goddard’s (Director) vision when they gave the tried-and-true horror plot a new twist. Without giving too much away, five friends travel to a cabin (you guessed it, in the woods) and the usual monsters start killing them off. If you haven’t seen it we’re not saying any more. If you have, well watch it again.
We’d say there was a choice between watching the original or trying the remake on for size. Truth is there isn’t a choice. Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick who played the devil’s spawn in the 2006 rebooted version just doesn’t pull off ‘creepy-kid’ the way Harvey Stephens did in the 1976 original. Watch Damien manipulate, kill and ultimately wreck havoc in the first instalment of this end of days horror trilogy.
Now this is a tough one. Do you try be all serious with your horror and watch the reboot? Or do you turn to the old cult classic and watch Bruce Campbell ham it up in the original trilogy, complete with possessed hand, bad graphics, loads of fake blood and let’s not forget the chainsaw. Well it’s entirely up to you, but one thing’s for sure no horror list is complete without an Evil Dead mention.
Think you can make a better list? Share your favourite horror movies in the comment section below.
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