Semi Final Results:
MATCH 1:
4 Night of the Living Dead (1968)
8 The Exorcist (1973)
MATCH 2:
4 Evil Dead II (1987)
4 Alien (1979)
4 The Thing (1982)
Sure, make me decide between my three favorite films!
All five of these films are exceptional, and I would have highly approved any of EDII, Alien or The Thing winning this round.
EDII is a blast of fun, humor, trippy psychedelic horror, through wildly creative Rami' shot direction, a fresh telling of traditional evil spirit conjuring (next to the original ED); with excellent cinematography and first rate soundtrack by Joseph LoDuca.
The Thing probably has the best practical special effects in the history of film. It's a tight, and rather faithful reimagining of Joseph Campbell's short story "Who Goes There". The shot direction is smart and effectual, heightening the paranoia and surprises.
Alien, however has an expert touch on every craft of film making: special effects, cinematography, acting, and most notably an incredibly seamless mix of music and sound effects, with arguably Jerry Goldsmith's all-time best work, creating a thoroughly enveloping ethereal soundtrack. What makes Alien standout a bit more than EDII and The Thing is its combination of story/visuals with deep symbolism, a natural and engaging group of relatable characters, with actors who engage in semi-improvisation, producing a bare exhibition of human reactions, and a complete and rewarding story narrative. And so my pick is Alien.
I'll post the Final Round today.