5 most essential horror films

[bwind22]

Let's say you meet someone that hsa never ever seen a single horror, but is keen on the idea of getting into them. The horror virgin asks you what 5 movies you think they should see.

Please note that these don't need to be your favorite movies (You don't even need to like them.) Just list what you feel are the five most essential films for any horror newbie to see. 5 films that you think anyone who wants to call themself a horror fan (everyone on this board) should have seen... P.S. Don't say a series (ie: Nightmare on Elm Street series. That's 7 movies and they aren't all that essential.)

Here's my list (in no particular order)...

Nightmare on Elm St.
Dawn of the Dead (Original)
Halloween
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Original)
Night of the Living Dead (Original)


I went back and forth between NOTLD and Hellraiser, but eventually ended up favoring NOTLD.

[wufongtan]

friday the 13 part 2
nightmare on elm street
evil dead
night of the living dead
saloms lot
I went for those so to give the newbie a good mix of diff types of horrors

[Plaguewind]

Well, always noting that being essential and being a great movie are not exactly the same thing... In no particular order...

Night of the Living Dead
Halloween (for all the "spawns" it allowed...)
The Exorcist
Nightmare on Elm Street
Hellraiser

[thEsounDofdirT]

this is extremely difficult for me...

a nightmare on elm st.
evil dead 1 or 2...
halloween
last house on the left
the exorcist

[Plaguewind]

Evil Dead, essential too... Hell, an accurate 5 movies list is impossible.

[thEsounDofdirT]

this would be much easier if it were like 10 movies

[bwind22]

Just think though.... If it was only 3 it'd be a lot harder! ;)

Just kidding, but I picked 5 because I wanted to see some variance in the lists. If we could pick 10 then I bet we'd see about 8 films the same on just about every single list.

[Plaguewind]

Originally posted by bwind22
Just think though.... If it was only 3 it'd be a lot harder! ;)

Just kidding, but I picked 5 because I wanted to see some variance in the lists. If we could pick 10 then I bet we'd see about 8 films the same on just about every single list.

Makes sense, my friend. :0)

[thEsounDofdirT]

it'd be interesting to see everyone's top 25.. in order of true greatness

[bwind22]

That would be cool! Make the thread, I'll post on it after some thought about it!

[Plaguewind]

Would be nice, and demand some thinking, which is always good... Just make the thread, DirT...

[thEsounDofdirT]

the deed is done!

[Freddy Krueger.]

Originally posted by Plaguewind
Evil Dead, essential too... Show them that and they're never watch Horror again because they'll think it was to stupid.

Freddy VS. Jason
Hanninal
Nightmare on Elm Street
Jeepers Creepers
Thir13ten Ghosts

[orangestar]

The Exorcist
Silence of the Lambs
NOTLD(original of course)
Nightmare on Elm St.
Candyman

I had to decide between Halloween and Candyman...but I actually liked Candyman so it wins.

[jay o2 waster]

Friday the 13th 6
Dead Alive
The Exorcist
Ginger Snaps
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

You got to give a newbie, a wide range in types of horror, give them Slasher (Friday the 13th 6) Gore/Splatter (Dead Alive) Ocult (The Exorcist) Modern (Ginger Snaps) and Classic (TCM) I realize that there are many other horo genres but it is hard to include thm all in only 5 movies. If you sit them down and have them watch Halloween, Friday the 13th, and NOES, then tell them that is what horror is, they will only know what slasher/horror is, and to truly give them a wide view of what true horror is they need to see that there is more than just one branch of horror. They may like one more than the other. But if they only see one angle of horror and they dislike it, they may think that all horror movies are like this and disown horror all together. This in a way kinda shows truth to my theory that there is a type of horror for everybody.

[Hate_Breeder]

Day of the Dead
Nightmare on Elm Street
Abominable Dr. Phibes
Ted Bundy
TCM

[movieman64]

Halloween
Friday the 13th Part II
Dawn of the Dead
Basically any of the "Hammer" horror films with Peter Cushing and/or Christophe Lee. "Horror of Dracula" one of my favorites
The Omen
The Exorsist

[thEsounDofdirT]

i actually think house of 1,000 corpses would be nice to add to any of these lists... it's full of the crazies.. it's a lot like texas chainsaw ... and it's got some really fucked up moments..

and freddy... i've never shown evil dead to anyone and had them hate it.. they loved it

[zwoti]

night of the living dead
nightmare on elm street
halloween
suspiria
the beyond

[nine9]

Exorcist
Legend Of Hell House
Halloween
Nightmare on Elm Street
Psycho!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No spank required K! LOL!

Five doesn't cut it! Can't eliminate any of these but HAVE to add Nosferatu! Started it all along with The Cabinet.......


Whew!!!!!

Hard one!

[kpropain]

1. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (original)
2. Dawn Of The Dead (original)
3. Halloween
4. Friday The 13th
5. Psycho

Damn that was tough....

[nine9]

Originally posted by kpropain
1. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (original)
2. Dawn Of The Dead (original)
3. Halloween
4. Friday The 13th
5. Psycho

Damn that was tough....

I should have put Psycho there too! Hard to think of them all at once. :(

[kpropain]

Originally posted by nine9
I should have put Psycho there too! Hard to think of them all at once. :(

Can't forget that one it's a classic....

*Bends Nine9 over knee and gives spanking*http://users.telenet.be/eforum/emoticons4u/evil/229.gif

[Kim Soong Il]

Originally posted by kpropain
1. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (original)
2. Dawn Of The Dead (original)
3. Halloween
4. Friday The 13th
5. Psycho

Damn that was tough....

I agree, great movies:)

[nine9]

Originally posted by kpropain
Can't forget that one it's a classic....

*Bends Nine9 over knee and gives spanking*http://users.telenet.be/eforum/emoticons4u/evil/229.gif

Thank you Kpro! Much deserved! LOL!

Changing it right now!:)

[kpropain]

Originally posted by nine9
Thank you Kpro! Much deserved! LOL!

Changing it right now!:)

Saw you changed it....

*Takes Nine9 off knee and says good girl*:D

[nine9]

Originally posted by kpropain
Saw you changed it....

*Takes Nine9 off knee and says good girl*:D

LOL!:D

[ShankS]

not most, but essential

tcm
battle royale
evil dead
shogun assassin
zombie flesh eaters
american werewolf in london
dog soldiers

[Kim Soong Il]

some of those movies are really under budget.

[ShankS]

Originally posted by Kim Soong Il
some of those movies are really under budget.

does there have to be a specified budget??

a low budget can turn out far better than a high budget flop

[Kim Soong Il]

I totally agree. I am not into all the over advertisement like some BWP and the new DoD. But at the same time, a movie like, say, Raiders of the Living Dead, I can do without.

[nine9]

Originally posted by Kim Soong Il
I totally agree. I am not into all the over advertisement like some BWP and the new DoD. But at the same time, a movie like, say, Raiders of the Living Dead, I can do without.

Cool avatar Kim! Is it from a movie?

[Kim Soong Il]

It most certainly is!:)

[nine9]

Originally posted by Kim Soong Il
It most certainly is!:)

Ummmmmmmm........so what movie?:confused:

[Kim Soong Il]

Its from the New Dawn of the Dead!:cool:

[nine9]

Originally posted by Kim Soong Il
Its from the New Dawn of the Dead!:cool:

Oh.......:rolleyes: Sorry didn't catch that.....:)

[Vampenguin]

Well, just to give them the good with the bad, aa=nd the bad-but good, I gonna put:

Plan 9 From Outer Space
Nightmare on Elm Street
Alien
The Exorcist
House on Haunted Hill(Remake)

Now to get out there and take some advice from this thread.....considering I AM kinda a horror newb...

[nine9]

Just thought of Nosferatu! Editting again. sorry! :)

[Kim Soong Il]

Nosferatu's good

[kpropain]

Originally posted by nine9
Just thought of Nosferatu! Editting again. sorry! :)

LOL just can't make up your mind can ya........:p

[nine9]

Originally posted by kpropain
LOL just can't make up your mind can ya........:p

Nope...Gemini thing....half of me says one thing..... the other fights for dominance! LOL! Ask Blood rayne, she will understand!

:D

[thEsounDofdirT]

i think i'd just hold up 10 of my fav movies and say ... look here noob... pick 5 and we'll watch them

[Steelsymth]

Halloween 1
Nightmare 1
The Ring
Alien
The Exorcist

[juda666]

house of 1000 corpses
evil dead 1
dawn of the dead
hellraiser
nightmare on elm street 4

[kpropain]

Originally posted by thEsounDofdirT
i think i'd just hold up 10 of my fav movies and say ... look here noob... pick 5 and we'll watch them

Yeah that sounds like something I would do.

[KRUGERKID13]

Ginger Snaps 1 & 2
Romeros Dead Trilogy
Hellraiser
Suspiria
Dog Soldiers

More then five movies but thats how i group 'em

[Vampenguin]

Ugg...I cant believe I didnt put Psycho and The Shing on my list!!!

My real horror list follows:

Psycho
Nightmare on Elm Street
The Shining
The Exorcist
House on Haunted Hill(Remake)

Even though I think Psycho is extremly overrated, it was a decent movie

[KRUGERKID13]

glad to see house on haunted hill remake on someones list love that movie

lucky enough to find the poster for it in a movie theaters attic one day

[Vampenguin]

Originally posted by KRUGERKID13
glad to see house on haunted hill remake on someones list love that movie

Glad to see Im not the only one! I put it there because the rest of the movies are from no later than the late 80's. I thought there needed to be an eexample of very modern horror, and that is one of the best.

[KRUGERKID13]

i agree

[bwind22]

This was a good thread thats been idle for about 2 years now so I figured it could use a bump. We've got plenty of new people here since this was posted so there may be some fresh viewpoints.

[Narg]

Well, if I wanted to show what Horror is truly capable of....

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Maniac
Henry:Portrait of a Serial Killer
Cannibal Holocaust
House by the Cemetery

[noctuary]

The Haunting
Psycho
Halloween
Evil Dead
Kairo

[Haunted]

Where was I when this thread came out? Why didn't I post?

Well, here's my stellar moment.

1. A Nightmare on Elm Street (an agreement among many)
2. The Exorcist (Ditto)
3. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre- original (Ditto, again)
4. 13 Ghosts (original- because it has Margaret Hamilton:D )
5. Night of the Living Dead

[Angelakillsluts]

Texas Chainsaw Massacre
The Shining
Black Christmas
Dawn of the Dead
Psycho

[MisterSadistro]

In no particular order:
NOTLD
TCM
The Haunting
The Exorcist
Suspiria

CK

[doctor satan]

The Shining
Carnival of souls
Ringu
Day of the dead
Evil Dead

[alkytrio666]

-Psycho (1960)

-Halloween (1978)

-The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974, of course)

-Dawn of the Dead (1978)

-The Evil Dead (1982)

[The_Return]

God I hate reading my old posts, sounded like I was retarted.


- Dracula [1931]
- Evil Dead [1982]
- The Thing [1982]
- Texas Chainsaw Massacre [1974]
- Night of the Living Dead [1969]

[bwind22]

Originally posted by The_Return
God I hate reading my old posts, sounded like I was retarted.


- Dracula [1931]
- Evil Dead [1982]
- The Thing [1982]
- Texas Chainsaw Massacre [1974]
- Night of the Living Dead [1969]

When you learn how to spell, you'll look back at this one and feel retarded.

;)

[The Mothman]

Evil Dead
Dead Alive
Zombie
Day Of The Dead
The Devils Rejects

[scouse mac]

Halloween

Night of the Living Dead

Alien

Ring

The Thing


Tried to spread the selection around a little to give a better idea of the types of horror out there.

[AJ*]

The Omen
Friday the 13th Part 6: Jason Lives
Halloween
Halloween 2
Event Horizon

[bwind22]

Originally posted by AJ*
The Omen
Friday the 13th Part 6: Jason Lives
Halloween
Halloween 2
Event Horizon

Don't take this wrong because even though you're a newbie, you get to have an opinion too, but what was so great about Friday the 13th 6? Just seems like kinda an odd selection...

[AJ*]

Originally posted by bwind22
Don't take this wrong because even though you're a newbie, you get to have an opinion too, but what was so great about Friday the 13th 6? Just seems like kinda an odd selection...

To me, Jason Lives is really the first Friday movie that looked like it was filmed with high production values and handled with care. It was also the first Friday film where not one cast member was annoying/boring to me. All of them looked like they were having fun with their roles. There's a lot of comedy interspersed between the kills but it never seems forced. Thom Matthews does an excellent job as the adult Tommy Jarvis and he gives Friday the 13th that Dr. Loomis kind of character that had been missing throughout the franchise. CJ Graham is right up there with Kane Hodder as my favorite portrayer of Jason. He had the Terminator-like vibe going on. I loved the quick head/body turns and all that. The only thing that bothers me is his mask is a bit too big but I can live with that.

The atmosphere is GREAT in this film. Other than Halloween 4 it's probably my favorite slasher movie as far as atmosphere goes. JL is dark, foggy, shadowy, windy...just everything I could want. The film is glossy but somehow (in parts) maintains that grainy, colorless late 70's, early 80's look that I love in horror films...especially the camp scenes in the final 1/3 of the movie.

The music is excellent. Harry Manfredini out-did himself with this particular Friday score. It was faster paced than usual and had an adventurous sound to it. He had a bombastic, Frankenstein kind of vibe going that I loved...particularly with the scene where Sheriff Garris is trying to put Jason down with the shotgun. The music just conveyed to me that Jason wasn't human anymore. He was larger than life and he wasn't going to stay down.

The kills...simply great. Never have they been more creative. JL still has my most favorite kill of all-time in a slasher film (the cop getting folded in half).

I don't think this film has one weakness in it and it's my standard by which all other Friday (and slasher films in general) are judged. If they had given CJ Graham's Jason the Part 7 makeup it would have been the ultimate Friday film.

[alkytrio666]

I loved 'Jason Lives'. It was the only 'Friday' movie that Jason looked genuinely badass in.
Ithought it was a very good film.

[onibaba]

Texas Chainsaw Masscre
Audition
The Exorcist
Nosferatu
The Omen