Burnt Offerings
The Dunwich Horror

Added.

Also underlined the backings for other films so that they stand out from the rest and are easily distinguishable.

Looks like Black Christmas will be our 21st chosen one for the 70s.

http://www.horror.com/forum/showpost...&postcount=907

Keep 'em thoughts coming, folks.

For the final spot I would be fine with either:

Burn Offerings
or
The Night Stalker

Both are from the mind of Dan Curtis who created Dark Shadows.

Burnt Offerings is a great haunted house story with Oliver Reed and Karen Black.

The Night Stalker is the tale of a journalist played by Darren McGavin investigating murders being committed by a vampire. This was so successful (along with The Night Strangler) that it led to the TV Show "Kolchak, The Night Stalker" which is one of my favorite TV shows.

Don't forget Bette Davis!

I'll back:
Damien: Omen II
The Satanic Rites of Dracula

All added.

http://www.horror.com/forum/showthre...398#post954398

Looks like a 4-horse race for that final spot.

Agreements/objections/new contenders?

There are a few films currently sitting with no backings that absolutely must make at least the honourable mentions section, but I will resist the temptation to get behind them for now and just copy & paste my comments on The Sentinel from earlier in the thread;

The Sentinel: For a very ordinary director, Michael Winner managed to deliver some moments of real directing genius. The Sentinel is one of those movies that just oozes atmosphere. Unsettling atmosphere, genuinely creepy and uncomfortable horror with a really fine ensemble of supporting actors. Beautifully insidious undertone to the whole movie, underappreciated classic of the genre.

Totally agree. I've already backed this one, and assume the Sentinal is part of the 4-horse race because it has two backings?

I'l also back Burnt Offerings.

[edit]:
Also, I hate to do this because I know it's not the right time yet, but I'm going to be busy for the next couple days and might not be able to check in. For honorable mentions, I'll back:

Deep Red
The Brood
Magic
King Kong
Straw Dogs

After review I'll back Burnt Offerings and The Sentinel

Looks like Black Christmas's spot has just been challenged by The Sentinel, while Burnt Offerings has just found enough backers to slide into the 21st spot itself.

http://www.horror.com/forum/showpost...&postcount=907

The two made-for-TV films are breathing down the necks of the contenders as well. An interesting battle has shaped up.

Keep the thoughts coming, folks.

Black Christmas is often considered the first slasher film. I have even read a book which classified all horror before Black Christmas and all horror after, thus stating that this film officially dawned a new era of horror. This fact can not be ignored. Of course, it did not make as much money as other films like Halloween or even The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but it is still a very worthy film to add. What is interesting is that, in addition to this, the film is surprisingly good. The film has an interesting premise and story. Plus, the acting is pretty good for a film like this. Even the killer (whose identity is never revealed) is intriguing. The film even has a little humor, which is interesting. No top 1970s horror list would be complete without this film. To be honest, I am surprised that this film is not already on the list.

I would like to withdraw my backing of "The Satanic Rites of Dracula" and back "Black Christmas" instead, if that is ok.

Metternich's post made me rethink my backings...

I prefer the Dracula movie, but from what I remember Christopher Lee's Dracula has already been represented in the list, and my backing for the movie in this case probably won't make any difference any way. So I would rather back Black Christmas...

I'm probably in the minority but I hated Black Christmas. I know its a classic and its important to the genre but its hard for me to vote for a movie I didn't like.

Done.

Looks like Black Christmas and Burnt Offerings have the maximum support to be our 2 chosen films.

(Villain, is that a negative vote above?)

Agreements/objections?

http://www.horror.com/forum/showthre...398#post954398

I am fine with the choices.

Black Christmas and Burnt Offerings... famous and notable; but in my opinion, not bad, but not particularly good or loved films. More honorable mentions types to me. But they clearly cleaned up on votes. No objections here.

No its not a negative vote. Just why I didn't vote for it. I may not like it but its generally regarded as a well made important film in the genre. I wouldn't want it not included just because of my personal preference. Oh and I'm fine with both films presented.

All fine with me.

4 NOCs so far. What about the others?

I have no complaints either.

Fine with me...

Yep, I like it.

Okay, looks like the majority are in favor so the top 22 are sealed.

http://www.horror.com/forum/showthre...398#post954398


Now - the Honorable Mentions. Quite a few frontrunners for those 6 slots:-

The Sentinel (1977) 2 votes, 3 backings

Frankenstein: The True Story (1973, TV) 2 votes, 2 backings
The Night Stalker (1972 TV Movie) 2 votes, 2 backings
Magic (1978) 2 votes, 2 backings
The Brood (1979) 2 votes, 2 backings

A Bay of Blood (1971) 2 votes, 1 backing
The Dunwich Horror (1970) 2 votes, 1 backing
The Legend of Hell House (1973) 2 votes, 1 backing

+

A single vote with a single backing to the following:

Blood for Dracula (1974)
Damien: Omen II (1978)
Deep Red (1975)
Gojira tai Hedora (1971)
I Drink Your Blood (1970)
King Kong (1976)
Straw Dogs (1971)
The Stepford Wives (1976)


Do we go with the top 5 by default and select ONE more from the rest?

Thoughts?

Considering the 5, are think there are better choices. I'd prefer all list the six we want. And post any 'why it should be included' with it.

To read why film should be selected, read corresponding # below.

1. Godzilla Vs. The Smog Monster (Gojira tai Hedora) 1971) (want diversity for our list?)
2. The Night Stalker (1972)
3. Magic (1978)
4. King Kong (1976)
5. The Stepford Wives (1976)
6. The Legend of Hell House (1973)

1. Gojira tai Hedora - A fantastic, innovative and scary film. It's psychedelic, they included animated sequences, amazing set and colors, use of jazz and acid rock, where they mix jazz in with the spoken parts, including rather bizarre things, like the eggs of Monster. It's the first film to attack the issue of pollution, at the same time it's a metaphor for the evil/neglect of mankind.

The horror scenes include a coastal giant sludge tadpole menacing a child's father, and then the child slicing it with his knife. In a nightclub, slug from monster pours down the steps, like the blob (the ending of the scene with the slug covered cat meowing is classic!). The Smog Monster flies over a children camp exercising, releases it's smog on them, and they're left as smoking skeletons (child's film?). The "flower children" teens are partying at night when a GIGANTIC Hedora walks up, even towering over Godzilla (genius). A true period piece. One animated sequence: http://youtu.be/rVLaqFWpm7A

2. The Night Stalker (1972) A classic, always highly rated, thoroughly enjoyable. Best made for TV I've ever seen, any genre. "An abrasive Las Vegas newspaper reporter investigates a series of murders committed by a vampire." Can see full film on Youtube.com for free http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAy8v0FMoAM So impressive, garnered a sequel and TV series.

3. Magic (1978) - fascinating, and unusually scary film about a ventriloquist (Anthony Hopkins) who can't put his dummy down, even for 20 secs... he's insane. Directed by Richard Attenborough. also starring Ann-Margret, and Burgess Meredith.

4. King Kong (1976) - completely different take on King Kong. Dark, moody, superior foreboding music. Many a child shed a tear for Kong at the end.

5. The Stepford Wives (1976) - mega famous cultural landmark classic movie. I haven't met an adult who hasn't heard of it.

6. The Legend of Hell House (1973) - famous cult classic with Roddy McDowall.

I would like to see Driller Killer get on this list somehow. It's important director Abel Ferrara's best film. Its violent take on depravity and degradation perfectly encapsulates the existential angst of the 70s, set against a punk rock backdrop. It even manages to be poetic in a few spots. Top all this off with the fact that Ferrara wrote, directed and stars in the film and we have a true tour de force. It's the one film from the 70s I think MUST be on the list, so I'm throwing all my backing behind this one film. Please give it your consideration.

I will also say that if King Kong somehow gets into consideration, I will negative vote it. It's a terrible film and a travesty of a remake.

I'll say:

The Sentinel
The Legend of Hell House
Magic
The Driller Killer
The Night Stalker
The Brood

I Drink Your Blood (1970)
Deep Red (1975)
The Night Stalker (1972)
The Brood (1979)
The Sentinel (1977)
The Driller Killer (1979)

Looks like we have some changes in our Honorable Mentions.

The SIX films which have 3 or more members backing them, as of right now (as UNDERLINED), are:-

Magic (1978) - 2 votes, 3 backings
The Brood (1979) - 2 votes, 4 backings
The Legend of Hell House (1973) - 2 votes, 3 backings
The Night Stalker (1972, TV movie) - 2 votes, 3 backings
The Sentinel (1977) - 2 votes, 4 backings
The Driller Killer (1979) - 1 vote, 3 backings

http://www.horror.com/forum/showthre...398#post954398

Thoughts, agreements, debates?

I'll get on the Driller Killer train and back it. One of the top themes I can think of for the 70s is that it was the peak period of grindhouse cinema. I would have lobbied for one if we didn't already have a few in the list (TCM, Last house on the Left, the Hills Have Eyes, even the Exorcist was big in the grindhouses, but that film might have also shown up in regular theaters). However, I love the idea of adding one that's not as well-known. Also, as neverending mentioned, it has an art house quality that would add diversity to the list. It's a good movie and somewhat misunderstood due to its inclusion in the Video Nasties list, which was probably purely due to its cover art.

I'm keeping my vote for King Kong though. ;)

I will negative vote the King Kong remake, no offense to the people that liked it, but I do not see its significance and I find it to be a rather terrible film and remake. Additionally, I will back:
Driller Killer (This film come highly recommended from neverending, so I will back it)
It's Alive (Killer baby)
Deep Red (One of Argento's best films, in my opinion)
The Brood (A great Cronenberg piece from the 1970s)
Nosferatu The Vampyre (Generally regarded as a great remake of Nosferatu)

I stand by my backing of The Stepford Wives, I find it to be a really good movie and a classic from the 1970s.

I love The Brood but it shouldn't be in the honourable mentions.... It's not strong enough. Cronenberg will be well represented without this offering.... Equally I don't think The Legend of Hell House belongs on the list. Its a fun flick and am a huge fan of Roddy McDowall, but this just isn't enough to get in the honourable mentions section if you ask me.

The biggest oversight in the list right now is that it wont include Martin... This is a movie that really belongs in the list. Its a quality take on the vampire tale, but more than that it captures the era perfectly. It a sleazy, dark, depressing slice of cinematic beauty. A low budget classic from Romero that I really think you guys should get behind. I regret not getting behind this movie sooner, but please guys, think about this one hard, because it really belongs on the list.

I'll back Martin.

I will back The Driller Killer and Deep Red.

Well, 4 films have a clear majority of backings so I am moving them up into their separate "Honorable Mentions" section.

http://www.horror.com/forum/showthre...398#post954398

3 other frontrunners with 3 backings each are still UNDERLINED.

A new contender has emerged with 2 solid backings - Martin. It joins 3 other films in the list with 2 backings each (underlined also, for easier access). So that's a total of SEVEN films vying for the last 2 Honorable Mention spots (unless the FOUR chosen already receive negative votes/support back outs).

Straker, are those negative votes for Brood and Hell House? Please clarify.

Keep going, folks.

I have already backed five or six films, but I will back one more The Legend of Hell House.

Yes.... Didn't want to neg vote anything and hoped I wouldn't need to neg vote films I like, but it is what it is.

The Brood: We already have Rabid in the cut, Scanners in the 80s, probably The Fly and Videodrome in their too. I want some diversity in our list rather than seeing every well known Cronenberg movie make our list. Love the film, just don't think it is a better choice, based on what we already have, and what we need to add to balance our list.

The Legend of Hell House: Its just not good enough to make the cut, we would have to give up some real quality for this and I don't understand why its getting so much support over some of the other flicks in contention.

Straker makes a great point about Cronenberg. I backed it to mark the decade where Cronenberg first made an impact, but I overlooked that Rabid was already in there. I'll drop my backing of The Brood and add a backing for Martin.

I was thinking Martin is a glaring omission too.

I'll remove my backings for King Kong, stepford wives, hell house, and replace with Martin, Nosferatu the Vampyre, and The Brood. Unless Straker is really negging a film with 6 backings, only then I'd flip that to... meh, can't find a better and important film than The Brood (besides the ones already selected and the ones I'm backing The Night Stalker, Magic and Godzilla Vs the Smog Monster).

Also, I want to put forward the idea that we should cap the number of films people can back in each section. Maybe just two honourable mention backings per era....I realise its a bit late in the day for this and I haven't thought the idea through too much so maybe there are negatives to this idea that I haven't considered. I just feel that we would get a better reflection of diversity if we limited the number of backing people could make. Just an idea, maybe too late now anyway, but I thought I would throw it out there, might make the last few decades a little more interesting.

I agree Straker made a good point about Cronenberg with reluctance I will remove my backing of it, but I will note that I actually really enjoy that film. I completely disagree with limiting the number of honorable mentions to two. I think it is good, as is.