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For many years I was a film critic and one night at the Toronto film festival, Roger Ebert and I were talking about horror films. We both admitted that as kids we were obsessed with horror flicks.
I took a quick poll of the 40 or so other critics at the screening and asked if horror films were their first real passion in film. Nearly every one of them raised their hand. Here then are my favs.128 Days Later
Rage is the horror in Danny Boyle's masterpiece. This is more than a horror film -- much more. It's a art film that examines the reasons for hope and relationships. And it's damn scary to boot.
2Night of the Living Dead
The original, the best. There is nothing quite like it.
3Shaun of the Dead
Certainly the best horror parody of all time, "Shaun" is also simply magical as a horror film/comedy. If you haven't seen it, you must.
4Psycho
Nothing more to say. Norman? Is that you Norman?
5Halloween
John Carpenter's "Halloween" defined an entire generation of teen slasher flicks.
It's remarkably good, even after all these years. And of course, it has Jamie Lee Curtis -- who is now and will always been the best female lead in a horror film.
Besides, Jamie Lee is one of the most splendid humans in Hollywood.
Also worth checking out is "Halloween H20" -- the 20th anniversary of Halloween where Jamie Lee and Michael Meyers confront each other after 20 years.
It's remarkably good, even after all these years. And of course, it has Jamie Lee Curtis -- who is now and will always been the best female lead in a horror film.
Besides, Jamie Lee is one of the most splendid humans in Hollywood.
Also worth checking out is "Halloween H20" -- the 20th anniversary of Halloween where Jamie Lee and Michael Meyers confront each other after 20 years.
6Blair Witch Project
A study in minimal horror, this movie looked like a gimmick when it was first released. However, I screened it again recently and was amazed at how well it holds up. Forget the low budget, this puppy is all about suggested horror and what you don't see is scarier than what you do...
7Evil Dead
Sam Raimi -- one of the good guys in Hollywood -- shot this creepy gorefest on little more than credit cards.
Personally I love the "shaky cam" shots, which were done by bolting a camera to a 10-foot-long 2-by-4 hanging and running like hell through the woods.
A group of 20-somethings head to a cabin where, oops, the spirit of the undead have been brought back by a reading of the Necronomicom...
This is the movie that introduced us to Bruce Campbell as well.
Sadly, the movie doesn't hold up so well over time. But boy, when it first arrived it was cool -- "Dead by dawn" indeed.
Personally I love the "shaky cam" shots, which were done by bolting a camera to a 10-foot-long 2-by-4 hanging and running like hell through the woods.
A group of 20-somethings head to a cabin where, oops, the spirit of the undead have been brought back by a reading of the Necronomicom...
This is the movie that introduced us to Bruce Campbell as well.
Sadly, the movie doesn't hold up so well over time. But boy, when it first arrived it was cool -- "Dead by dawn" indeed.
8Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
The first time I saw this was when I was a projectionist in college. Even above the clatter of a 35mm projector, "Saw" was shockingly scary.
It's unnerving for its sheer nilism and brutality. By the time grandpa hits the screen.... well...
Normally, I don't think much of remakes of horror films. However, the 2004 remake of "Saw" stands up well vs. the original.
It doesn't have the harrowing, ragged edge of the orginal, but it is certainly a much better made film.
And Jessica Biel's performance is startling. She's the only one in the game who can give Jamie Lee Curtis a run for her money.
It's unnerving for its sheer nilism and brutality. By the time grandpa hits the screen.... well...
Normally, I don't think much of remakes of horror films. However, the 2004 remake of "Saw" stands up well vs. the original.
It doesn't have the harrowing, ragged edge of the orginal, but it is certainly a much better made film.
And Jessica Biel's performance is startling. She's the only one in the game who can give Jamie Lee Curtis a run for her money.
