If this is still up for debate, I'd like to second, or otherwise support one of these films (in this order). See if anyone wants to endorse any of these:


Magic (1978) - 2 (excellent and scary movie. Anthony Hopkins does an incredible job of acting and ventriloquy)
The Andromeda Strain (1971) - (Truly a great movie. Very sci-fi, subjective on horror genre)
Godzilla Vs the Smog Monster (Gojira tai Hedora) (1971) -- (an artistic gem. The sound, music, costumes/effects, animation sequences and cinematography is fantastic. I always loved the story and creativity too.)
The Night Stalker (1972 TV Movie) -- (Excellent movie, fantastic suspense, completely original take on the vampire genre at the time.)
The Spell (1977 TV Movie) -- (very creepy and well made movie. Introduces the young Helen Hunt)
King Kong (1976) -- (great music and mood, live ape was fantastic, except when it smiled.)
Kingdom of the Spiders (1977) -- (very effective creepy and good movie. The last shot of webs all over the town is incredible.)


I'd like to endorse Salem's Lot, but I only saw part of it. It's two eps, or a 3hr movie.

Love to see you top 20. Five on your list was in my top 20. Curious, what did you think were the flaws of Aliens that kept it out your top 20?

This was my left over list (not in the top 20):

American Warewolf in London
Twightlight Zone
Funhouse
The Serpent and the Rainbow
Killer Klowns from Outer Space
Creepshow 2
the Hitcher
Alterd States
Motel Hell
Cujo

I think it was the decade I watched the most horror. :) But I don't think it was my favorite decade of horror. I think 1970 was for me.

The 70s is done and dusted. We have our chosen 20.

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Thanks to Sculpt for sending in his list, which takes the overall tally to 10. I await at least a couple more before I post the Master for the 90s.

Ah, ok, I think I'm reading it right now. This is the 20, right?

1. Halloween (1978) - 10
2. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) - 10
3. Alien (1979) - 9
4. Carrie (1976) - 9
5. Suspiria (1977) - 9
6. Dawn of the Dead (1978) - 8
7. Jaws (1975) - 8
8. The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971) - 8
9. The Amityville Horror (1979) - 8
10. The Exorcist (1973) - 8
11. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) - 7
12. Phantasm (1979) - 7
13. Last House on the Left (1972) - 6
14. The Omen (1976) - 6
15. The Wicker Man (1973) - 6
16. Zombi 2 (1979) - 6
17. The Hills Have Eyes (1977) - 5 (backed by The Villain, seconded by Giganticface, neverending)
18. Eraserhead (1977) - 3 (backed by Straker, seconded by The Villain, neverending)
19. Salem's Lot (1979 TV Movie) - 2 (backed by Straker, seconded by The Villain, realdealblues)
20. Rabid (1977) (neverending) (seconded by Straker, hammerfan, roshiq)

Agreed. Considering all the horror movies released as a decade, 1970's had better quality.

Cool. I'll post it after V's posted the list, and probably after all the debate is finished.

It's not so much about flaws (it's one of my favorites of the decade), it's just that I don't rank it quite so high for a horror list. If it were a sci-fi list, or an action list, or thriller, or maybe even just a "favorites" list, it would be pretty high. But I don't think it's particularly scary or gory, and not really intended to be. It's like Predator, Resident Evil or even The Terminator -- dark and full of creatures, but more of an action format.

The first Alien, on the other hand, is one of my top horror movies of all time, as it follows more of a slasher format, and is also genuinely scary.

Kinda ironic because I'm the one lobbying for movies to be added to the list that don't always make it -- stuff that I think is scary and contributed to the history of horror like A Clockwork Orange and Straw Dogs. For the 90s I'll probably be lobbying for scary thrillers Clean, Shaven and Seul contre tous. I'm sure much milder crime thrillers like Se7en and Silence of the Lambs will be on there.

Ya, I know what you mean. I wouldn't have included Andromeda Strain in my horror list, so I can see how you'd favor more strict horror over Aliens. A Clockwork Orange was fascinating, and quiet an art piece, and certainly has horror elements.

Hey, V, just curious if there will be any ranking of the films that are tied, other than alphabetical. For instance, there's five in this list that got 8 votes, and I bet most folks have an opinion of how they would rank them. The Exorcist is 5th alphabetically, and I (as one vote) would rank it at the top of that list.

I say, I was a bit amused when I saw Eraserhead in the list. I've seen it a few times. It never occurred to me as a horror movie. I saw it as a surreal, subconscious dream movie. It's trippy, dark and disturbing, but in a depressing way, as opposed to horrific. It's at worst sardonic, and at best bare truth. I just never saw it as horror. But I see on the internet, some organizations add the tag of horror.

By the way, Eraserhead premiered at Filmex film festival in Los Angeles, on March 19, 1977. It's a 1977 movie, not 1976.

It won't be a ranked list. All selected films will have equal limelight in their podiums.

The Master List had it as 1977 (http://www.horror.com/forum/showpost...&postcount=249). Roshiq sent his entry and incorrectly marked it as 1976, and so it stayed when I compiled all the entries.

My mistake. Corrected.