HDC Presents: 100 Years of Horror

[The Villain]

I'll back The Host as well

[_____V_____]

Done.

We are still at the default SIX.

http://www.horror.com/forum/showthre...57593&page=120

[Giganticface]

I'm okay with those six too. I would personally swap a couple out, but I'm sure we all have that opinion.

My thoughts on the current candidates:

I don't think The Orphanage is necessary because it's in the same vein as Pan's Labyrinth and The Devil's Backbone, but it's a pretty good film. I found the story fairly uneventful, and I predicted the ending, but the atmosphere is decent, albeit overly-dependent on creepy loud noises. If we were going to add a slow-burn atmospheric film, I'd pick Session 9 by a mile.

I agree with some others that Final Destination is not a great film. However, it's the only true slasher in the bunch (by "true" I mean formulaic), so if nothing else, it shows that slashers are not en vogue, and in order to gain notice, they had to do something gimmicky like remove the physical stalker altogether. That's not a great reason to include it, but at least it's a justification.

Some of the other suggested films are really good too. Mum & Dad, The Host, Pulse, Ils, Frontiere(s), Thirst... All worthy. I wouldn't vote for Pulse simply because we already have The Ring and Shutter. I'd rather see some non-"J" Asian horror get in, like Oldboy or Thirst (and I'd pick Oldboy for its notoriety). A much as I love them, I'd have a tough time including two New French Extremist films in the Honorables -- it would be a missed opportunity to sweep up with greater diversity -- but I strongly feel that one should have been in the top 24, and another in the HM's due to the extent of its influence, overall quality, and breadth of style and subject matter.

I guess at this time, I'm not going to add any backings unless someone wants to lobby for a particular film. The films I, personally, would include are Inside, Black Swan, Oldboy, and Session 9, all of which I've already backed. I also like Battle Royale in the list for being a unique outlier (but not officially backing it at this time... I might if it looked like it was going to fall). That would leave one spot for another quality choice, maybe The Signal or The Host, or Devil's Backbone, even though it would double-up on del Toro. He's one of the important drivers of the genre right now, so deserving.



My thoughts on the overall list, realizing this has no bearing:

If we could fine-tune tune the list (understanding that we can't), I'd get rid of The Ring because we already have Ringu in the 90s, or make it a Special Mention since it does have importance for bringing J-Horror worldwide. I think this is a result of us submitting our 2000s while debating the 90s.

I'd remove Dog Soldiers because Neil Marshall doesn't need two, and The Descent is a better representation.

I also don't love having both Behind the Mask or Cabin in the Woods in the top 24. I actually think neither is worthy of such high rankings, but I don't have an issue with one being there. Both satirize our genre by joking about cliches, providing explanations of common flaws, and reinforcing stereotypes. I'd rather dispell that believe by including good films. ;) They're both fun though, and if I were picking one it would be Cabin in the Woods because it's actually scary in parts, and does a nice job with the immoral game show trope. My main beef, however, is just that I think including both is redundant.

I watched Little Otik before backing it (actually not quite finished yet) and it's great. In my mind though, it's proabably a better fit for Honorable Mentions due to its relative obscurity and being a stylistic outlier, but that's only if I were fine-tuning this list to the Nth degree... It's well deserving of a top spot.

Originally Posted by Sculpt

Say, Gigan, let me say, I not only enjoyed reading your insight into the films, genre and general reviewer idiosyncrasies, I think you write well too. IMO has good flow, subtle humorous references, and conceptually succinct use of adjectives, as here:

Thanks Sculpt... I appreciate the kind words.

[Straker]

Originally Posted by Giganticface

If we could fine-tune tune the list (understanding that we can't)

If I were fine tuning the list, my first targets for culling would be Jeepers Creepers, Signs and Cabin in the Woods.... None of them are strong enough to warrant a top 20 spot. We are way past that point though and somehow they were all popular choices and represent the opinions of the majority which is ultimately what this process is about.

[Giganticface]

Originally Posted by Straker

If I were fine tuning the list, my first targets for culling would be Jeepers Creepers, Signs and Cabin in the Woods.... None of them are strong enough to warrant a top 20 spot. We are way past that point though and somehow they were all popular choices and represent the opinions of the majority which is ultimately what this process is about.

Yep, totally agree about representing the opinions of the majority. Just throwing my thoughts out there.

Jeepers Creepers is the one film on the list I haven't seen.

[Straker]

Originally Posted by Giganticface

Jeepers Creepers is the one film on the list I haven't seen.

No rush there.... Its kinda fun, nice brainless popcorn flick that doesn't tax the brain, but equally doesn't add any value to the genre. I quite like it I guess, but there are easily 50 better films from the era.

[Giganticface]

Originally Posted by Straker

No rush there.... Its kinda fun, nice brainless popcorn flick that doesn't tax the brain, but equally doesn't add any value to the genre. I quite like it I guess, but there are easily 50 better films from the era.

Good to know, for both the positives and negatives you point out. It's on my watchlist, but never seems to make the cut come movie-watching time.

[Sculpt]

Originally Posted by Straker

If I were fine tuning the list, my first targets for culling would be Jeepers Creepers, Signs and Cabin in the Woods.... None of them are strong enough to warrant a top 20 spot. We are way past that point though and somehow they were all popular choices and represent the opinions of the majority which is ultimately what this process is about.

Agree wholeheartedly. Also agree with Gigan on Dog Soldiers. I enjoyed all of the films, just wouldn't considering them great or extraordinarily noteworthy. (I know we aren't editing)


If, as a group, we decided against going with the top 6 films (after 21/22 was done), then these would be my 6 HM choices:

The Host aka Gwoemul (2006)
Oldboy (2003)
Pulse aka (Kairo) (2001)
Inside aka À l'intérieur (2007)
Hard Candy (2005)
John Dies at the End (2012)

[Giganticface]

Originally Posted by Sculpt

John Dies at the End (2012)

I still gotta see this one.

[Sculpt]

Originally Posted by Giganticface

I still gotta see this one.

John Dies at the End is on Netflix. I think it's fast paced semi-narrated directing, plot and story was really effectively executed, fascinating, and a lot of fun, serious and humorous at the same time. It's sort of it's own fusion type of horror film. I thought it was really smart, and played like stream of consciousness. Not without flaws, but I thought it was original and notable.