It’s that time of the year – Halloween is upon us and if you like scary movies, it may be time to dig them out for your DVD player. I hated scary movies growing up. In fact, after seeing Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds I refused to watch anything remotely horror based for 10 years. And only then, did I watch one movie (see #10) because my mom was watching it. My next horror movie didn’t come until I was 17 and went to see The Fog.
But, sometime during my college years, my love for horror movies kicked in. My boyfriend and I rented so many horrors, we had to move to the really, really cheesy ones like Dr. Butcher M.D., (Medical Deviant) to find something new. One time a friend and I got together for a Friday the 13th marathon to keep a death count. Of course, we quit after the third one, only to watch Roman Polanski’s The Fearless Vampire Killers on television.
Then, as quickly as it came, it left again. If I watch a horror movie now, it is usually a repeat of one I’ve seen before. In fact, I am listening to #2 on television as I write this blog.
So, here’s my list. I have not seen a new horror movie in years. If you have a new favorite, be sure to share it with me!
10. Race with the Devil
This cheesy 1975 movie with Peter Fonda and Loretta Swit dealt with devil worshipers. I’ve been afraid of traveling in RVs every since!
9. Dracula
I’d say the 1992 version by Frances Ford Coppola, but really, any classic Dracula will do. In fact, if you haven’t seen it, rent Nosferatu, the original Dracula movie.
8. Children of the Corn
On my list simply because there is nothing more frightening than evil children. And huge corn stalks.
7. Creepshow
You may see a reoccurring theme here of movies by the King of Horror, Stephen King. Creepshow was the one that made me appreciate horror movies. Saw it 5 times at the theatre when I was in college.
6. Scream
Ah, the rebirth of the teenage slasher films. Actually, all three from this series are great movies.
5. Friday the 13th
Just a classic this one is, helping usher in a whole slew of teenage slasher movies. Look for a very young Kevin Bacon as a camp counselor in this one.
4. Rosemary’s Baby
I didn’t see this Polanski classic until about three years ago…when I was pregnant. I don’t know if that intensified the effect, but I hate Roman for not showing us the baby at the end! My imagination is far worse than anything he could have conjured up I am sure.
3. The Shining
Not the newer one, but the Kubrick classic. I don’t know if it is the directing, Nicholson’s performance, or just the creepy King storyline, but this movie still scares me to this day. Wendy, I’m home.
2. Poltergeist
Scary, scary, scary and when you know the behind the scenes story of all the misfortune associated with the movie (both Dominique Dunne and Heather O’Rourke died tragically), it is even scarier.
1. The Evil Dead
Five friends – check. A creepy cabin in the woods – check. Something chasing them – check. Sam Raimi’s a genius – check. This horror was made for a little next to nothing, but it is one of the best cult horror’s ever. Seriously, this one is not for the faint of heart.