Intelligent Horror?
 

This is NOT one of those belittling threads denouncing gore or shock value Horror. I am just new here so I wanted to "test the waters" so to speak.

What are member's recommendations (and why) concerning intelligent (story line related, not just one shock after another) Horror?

Being up front with everyone, I watch a lot of movies. Most people would say "way too many"! So I am into discussion as much as I am new titles.

Thanks!

The Wicker Man, the Seventh Victim, Reanimator, Night of the Hunter

Thanks! I will warn you respectfully up front. I have some pretty weird views on "Horror Movies". I don't really consider 3 of the 4 of what you listed there as "Horror Movies" However, I KNOW that is just my opinion.

Most Asian horror to me seems to have a philosophical background to it- The Eye, Eye 2, Pulse, A Snake of June and that one I saw recently about the research team that has a ghost of a young boy trapped in a room- I can't remember the name right now.

Se7en. In a lot of horror where they reference literature, it seems like the writer did a brief google search and said "hey, that sounds neat, I'll write that into the movie" but did no further reading on the subject. But Se7en knows its shit.

Silk. I liked that one a lot.

For starters, you should read te "top 100" threads atr the top of this page

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD - a breakthrough film, created a genre, it is loaded with socio-political commentary and has an amazing ending

DEEP RED - one of the greatest Gialli, stunning camera work an odd plot filled with psycho-sexual themes and an amazing score

VIDEODROME - revolutionary concept...the act of viewing will change you

JOHN CARPENTER'S THE THING - Great story, it's essentially Twelve Angry Men trapped in the cold with a monster

MISERY - a suspense story that really delivers, stellar acting and directing

INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS - either version, great Red Scare/loss of humanity film

PEEPING TOM - a disturbingly sympathetic take on the serial killer

FRAILTY - zealots will destroy us all! a well-told tale from a kid's perspective

FROM BEYOND - H.P. Lovecraft has never been filmed with such reckless, sexual abandon, great gore and a great story

SLEEPY HOLLOW - Tim Burton bring a literary classic to life with Bava-esque flair, sure the particulars get jumbled, but the heart is in the right place

BEHIND THE MASK: THE RISE OF LESLIE VERNON - fantasticly smart deconstruction of the slasher genre

THE MIST - great story, great ending

I think the SAW movies are some of the best movies. Great story line, New and great ways to die. Also Great Gore.

Pretty weird views?
Then you have found a home, my friend:)

I recommend Ghoststory BTW:cool:

I always considered Cronenberg to be a pretty intelligent director. There's alot of dept ot his films and he tend to continue themes from film to film..

LOL you must of missed alot of the HK contibution to the genre - Mr Vampire/Return of the Demon/The Dead and the Deadly etc etc.