Top Ten Horror Films of All Time

In the wake of Hollywood's seemingly endless expulsion of atrocious (for the most part) horror film remakes I have made an effort to compile the top horror films of all time. I am sure I will get blasted for a few of my choices on here, moreover, I am expecting to get even more flack for what is left off. The list of great horror movies is endless, The Exorcist, The Omen, all five of Romero's Dead films, A Nightmare on Elm Street...etc., however, today we are exploring those which I deem to represent the genre well as a whole. If nothing else, getting a hold of this list will allow for fantastic viewing when nothing seems to strike your fancy.

Dawn of the Dead (1978)

Social undertones of mass consumerism coupled with an unequalled level of hopelessness are what put George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead at the zenith of the veritable horror movie heap. A plague of lumbering undead has taken over the planet. Forced to take refuge in the Monroeville Mall, three survivors struggle to keep positive morale active in a desperate situation. As the circumstances worsen the fight to stay alive is overshadowed by the fight elude mental breakdown in order to evacuate the shopping center for an unknown future. A powerhouse of social relevance and copious amounts of gore, George A. Romero captures the essence of the American way of life, begging the question of which the walking dead are, us or them. Maybe there is no more room in hell and the dead are already walking the Earth!

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

Based on the grisly crimes committed by the Plainfield (Wisconsin, sorry kids, not Texas) Ghoul, Ed Gein, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was the first to claim the "Based on True Events" moniker. Shot in a documentary style, influencing countless films that would follow, many viewers were sickened by the outwardly real depictions of mutilation, meat hook impalement, and cannibalism. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre employed the use of little blood & gore, proving that terror can be based on fear rather than splatter tactics. So effective is the acting that it is easy to identify with the nightmare that unravels on screen. The authenticity and over all tone is what sells this picture so successfully. Thirty five years after its release The Texas Chainsaw Massacre proves it truly is one of the greatest films of all time with each viewing.

Hellraiser

Exploring the dark realms of the human psyche, Hellraiser has "such sights to show you". Those seeking the ultimate pleasure use a puzzle box to summon the Cenobites to assist them on their journey, generally not realizing that fulfilling their desire comes at great penalty. Going against typical horror movie practice, Hellraiser's Cenobites are revealed in a white light, much like angels, rather than shrouded in darkness. This prompted the characterization of the Cenobites, and their leader, Pinhead, as "angels to some, demons to others". Adultery, murder, morality, alternate dimensions, demonology, along with the fine line between pleasure and pain, are all topics investigated within the many layers of this great film. Much deeper than the average horror movie, Hellraiser allows the viewer to dive deep into it's mythology within the original film as well as its many sequels.

Friday the 13^th (2009)

For the last twenty nine years the name Jason Voorhees has brought forth images of relentless stalking and the killing of drug abusing, sex crazed teenagers amidst the cabins and forests of Crystal Lake. The remake/reimaging of Friday the 13^th combines the storyline of the first four films in the series and picks up the pace tenfold. What makes this version so great, and better than the originals, is that it hijacks all the stellar moments from the previous films. The original four are considered slasher film classics, though slightly flawed in some areas. Combining their story arc flawlessly seemed impossible yet it has happened. Friday the 13^th(2009) pays homage to the genre the franchise helped to define while also succeeding in not only making Jason Voorhees scary again, but improving the overall concept of what the Friday the 13th mythos is all about. Do not miss...Jason never does.

Wolf Creek

One of a series of different tourist/backpacker films to be released in the earlier part of this decade, Wolf Creek stood outside the norm with its unrelenting brutality. The terror did not come in the form of gore or the scenes of torture; it was the unyielding and harsh pursuit of the victims. The complete lack of optimism, coupled with the anxiety the viewer experiences, makes Wolf Creek an exhausting exercise in utter & absolute horror. Much like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Wolf Creek is loosely based on true events, which somehow makes viewing these films extra intimidating.

The Decent

The Decent employs a different method to exploit the viewer's panic. Claustrophobia! Squeezed into extremely tight spaces, a team of cave explorers get trapped well beneath the Earth's topsoil. This all woman ensemble has to cope with the dark, constricted atmosphere of the cave, in addition to the murderous creatures that begin stalking them. Films often depict victims running up stairs or into closets for refuge, seemingly trapping themselves. Viewers just as often scream assistance at these victims onscreen to "RUN!" or "GET OUTTA THERE!" The Decent magnifies our anxieties, generating a tension so palpable that the viewers hands may clench into fists, pillows may be grasped tightly, and some of us will end up in the fetal position before the credits roll.

The Devils Rejects

If there is anyone on the planet that understands what horror is all about, it is director Rob Zombie. The Firefly family, a group of killers, is on the run for their crimes, continuing to increase the body count with every passing mile. A documentary style epic of depravity & odd characters, The Devils Rejects barrows many elements from film classics, yet still retains Zombie's signature tone. Real horror is not set around blood & guts, nor is it about the creature under the bed, it is about tone. Dirty, gritty, and harsh, the atmosphere of this film makes you feel as if a shower is necessary to wash yourself clean. Drenched in a thick coat of blood, The Devils Rejects' final push will astonish and amaze...never will you view Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird" the same again.

The Exorcism of Emily Rose

Based on the true story Anneliese Michel, The Exorcism of Emily Rose is not considered by many to be a true horror film. The Exorcism of Emily Rose, often located under the Drama section in retail outlets, certainly is not for the faint of heart. The story is located in a courtroom and consists mostly of flashbacks to further the plot. Speaking in tongues, bodily contortions, uncontrollable movements, all the standard exorcism fare is present in this film. What distances The Exorcism of Emily Rose from exorcism-type horror is the sympathy for the main character. The suffering is apparent as the life of this young lady is consumed by her condition. Compassion for a character in the horror genre is a rarity; however, identifying so deeply with Emily is what makes The Exorcism of Emily Rose so frightening.

30 Days of Night

For the few residents that remain in small town Barrow, Alaska, the next thirty days are shrouded in darkness and will most certainly be a lesson in survival. Erasing the mythology of the romantic, Victorian style vampire, 30 Days of Night's bloodsuckers are primal in every sense. This team of night stalkers hunts with pack mentality, using bait and traps in order to catch their human prey. In an unrelenting fashion, 30 Days of Night rarely lets up any intensity, showing what it must be like for wild game to be pursued by humans. Can the residents continue to exist for thirty days when confined to the indoors, isolated from the world, while being tracked by the undead? Filmed with an eerie shade of blue moonlight reflecting off the snow, the Alaskan landscape seems alive with a peculiar, haunting quality. 30 Days of Night defiantly changes the rules of vampire lore, the changes are a vast improvement to the legend and brings the vampire to the modern age.

Stigmata-questions the church

Stigmatics receive the wounds of their savior through extreme devotion. When a young atheist receives the wounds of Christ and perplexes the Church in the process, the Vatican begins an inquest. Stigmata's plot explores the Christian religion's boundaries, policies, and doctrines. A great horror film is known to push the envelope in ways which strike panic into the viewer. Questioning the laws of the established church, questioning whether or not Jesus even wanted these churches built, as well as demonic possession of an atheist by a clergyman is certainly a good method of installing dread into God fearing people. Stigmata's plot, which is based around portions of the Dead Sea Scrolls, is multilayered and causes deep debate among viewers. For content alone Stigmata is worth the watch, there is also stellar acting and effective scares throughout.

Pet Sematary-Honorable mention

Good enough to be on this list, though a top eleven seems a bit of a strange cut off point. In turn, Pet Semetary gets an honorable mention. The film adaptation of Stephen King's novel features Native American folklore, resurrected cats, cemeteries, the death of loved ones, betrayal, possessed/undead children, and ghosts. Pet Semetary runs the gamut of genre staples generating horror movie awesomeness in the process. Of the many Stephen King adaptations, this one is most excellent.

For more information on these films or to rent or purchase please see Netflix.com, Amazon.com, imdb.com.

All information acquired from a combination of Wikipedia.org, imdb.com, and each of the films official websites.