HDC Presents: 100 Years of Horror

[neverending]

Originally Posted by Giganticface

Sweet! Great idea, V.



I'm not following. Is that a plea for backings of The Driller Killer? (Love his character in that film... such a spazz.)

It's a cry of frustrated disbelief. Ever felt that way?

[Giganticface]

Originally Posted by Sculpt

I've enjoyed reading your incite in the era, getting some representation of what we might call 'a minor sub-genre', and a nod towards Bava's. Actually, it would be cool to include your write-up below the Honorable Mentions.

My thinking on having diversity, and having a representative film by a director of many films, or rep of a country, or being concerned with having too many films with an actor or actors is: I personally think it's a much higher priority to pick the best films. The single film is king.

If you've ever worked on a film/video/play/recording/etc, you get an appreciation for the 'life of their own' these films take. It comes from the input of so many different people, from personal, accidental & metaphysical means. What actor is in it, the director, country, era elements are secondary -- something to consider -- but secondary. That's just my long considered opinion. I think if a film is good enough, it will earn a spot on it's own merit.

Having said that, I'm OK with the original outcome we came to, and V presented. Which was:

Day of the Triffids (1962)
The Raven (1963)
Onibaba (1964)
The Little Shop of Horrors (1960)
Mr. Sardonicus (1961)
Blood Feast (1963)

As I stated, I think the best films deserve to get in. I think Day of Triffids and The Raven are the best, & too big to leave out.

I don't have an objection to replacing Blood Feast (or Mr Sar/Sho/Oni) if you guys really think Black Sunday is a straight-up better film.

Finally, if we're still in discussion, I actually agree with Metternich, where I think Village of the Damned (1960) is a classic. I'd be in favor of replacing Blood Feast with Village. But again, I'm OK with the list of 6 we have.

Thanks for the nice compliments about my comments, Sculpt. We're definitely on different sides of the coin on this topic though. We're not making a movie, we're making a list. If I were teaching a class on the history of rock music, and I only had time to go into detail about 10 albums, and I thought 5 of the best albums were by the Beatles so I spend half the semester talking about the Beatles... well that wouldn't be a very good class IMO.

We have a list here at HDC for the top 100 most disturbing and gorrific films. If half that list were from the torture subgenre because those truly were the most disturbing, that wouldn't be a very good list IMO. Instead, the list contains plenty of films that aren't terribly disturbing, but a wide variety of styles and approaches are represented at varying degrees of disturbing. It's a good list.

If I were a visitor who stumbled upon this HDC list called 100 Years of Horror, I would hope that list would give me a solid, thorough overview of all the high points and important points that occurred over the century. That's just me though. Maybe not everyone would expect that. For the most part I think we're doing a decent job of that, but there are a few glaring omissions, and some imbalance, and not just in the 60s.

At any rate, I love V's idea, and I think that solves the problem.

Oh yeah, and Black Sunday is an infinitely better movie than Blood Feast. That's not why I backed Blood Feast.

[Sculpt]

Originally Posted by neverending

Excellent idea, V!

You're a genius!

Originally Posted by Sculpt

I've enjoyed reading your incite in the era, getting some representation of what we might call 'a minor sub-genre', and a nod towards Bava's. Actually, it would be cool to include your write-up below the Honorable Mentions.

.

[Giganticface]

Originally Posted by neverending

It's a cry of frustrated disbelief. Ever felt that way?

Haha, yep! I'm just not following what it's in reference to. Oh well, my mind is typically full of non sequiturs.

[metternich1815]

Originally Posted by Giganticface

Thanks for the nice compliments about my comments, Sculpt. We're definitely on different sides of the coin on this topic though. We're not making a movie, we're making a list. If I were teaching a class on the history of rock music, and I only had time to go into detail about 10 albums, and I thought 5 of the best albums were by the Beatles so I spend half the semester talking about the Beatles... well that wouldn't be a very good class IMO.

We have a list here at HDC for the top 100 most disturbing and gorrific films. If half that list were from the torture subgenre because those truly were the most disturbing, that wouldn't be a very good list IMO. Instead, the list contains plenty of films that aren't terribly disturbing, but a wide variety of styles and approaches are represented at varying degrees of disturbing. It's a good list.

If I were a visitor who stumbled upon this HDC list called 100 Years of Horror, I would hope that list would give me a solid, thorough overview of all the high points and important points that occurred over the century. That's just me though. Maybe not everyone would expect that. For the most part I think we're doing a decent job of that, but there are a few glaring omissions, and some imbalance, and not just in the 60s.

At any rate, I love V's idea, and I think that solves the problem.

Oh yeah, and Black Sunday is an infinitely better movie than Blood Feast. That's not why I backed Blood Feast.

I completely understand your points here, but I still think we have made some really good lists, so far, even if they aren't perfect. That is just my opinion though.

[Giganticface]

Originally Posted by metternich1815

I completely understand your points here, but I still think we have made some really good lists, so far, even if they aren't perfect. That is just my opinion though.

I don't disagree. This is going to be a killer final product, and I can't wait to see it in its entirety.

[Sculpt]

For inclusion in the Final 22 I back, and seek endorsements for this film:

Godzilla Vs The Smog Monster (1971) (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.

If you haven't seen Godzilla Vs The Smog Monster, you are missing an artistic film treat! A truly special film. I invite you to toke up, and follow it up with the Yellow Submarine. ;)


Animated sequences like this: http://youtu.be/rVLaqFWpm7A

[Sculpt]

Also, for the Final 22, I'd also like to support:

The Night Stalker (1972 TV Movie) - 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

If I were to support more than 2 films for the 22:

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.

The Andromeda Strain is a great film, I just don't consider it Horror.

[The Villain]

I....need to watch more movies. I haven't seen most of those.

*shamefully hangs head*

If anyone gives some compelling arguments I'll back the films you suggest

[Sculpt]

Originally Posted by The Villain

...If anyone gives some compelling arguments I'll back the films you suggest

See my two posts prior to yours. :)