must see classic horror films

[urgeok]

Originally posted by slasherman
Hmmm they dont have to be black and white to be called a classic...early 80 isnt modern anymore...but its difficult to say/decide(who decides?) when a movie becomes a classic..:p

i think a movie becomes a classic when it is generally held to be believed as one of the best of it's kind.
Especially if it set a new standard for the genre.

Halloween isnt that old but it's a classic
Dawn of the Dead is a classic ..

i think the distiction could be :
Golden age of horror VS modern classics

[Tat2]

Originally posted by lee challenger
THE EXORCIST
THE EVIL DEAD
JOHN CARPENTER'S THE THING
POLTERGEIST
ALIEN
HALLOWEEN
FRIDAY THE 13TH
THE OMEN 1, 2 AND 3
DAWN OF THE DEAD (original)
AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON
THE HOWLING
ZOMBIE FLESH EATERS
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD
DRACULA ( Christopher Lee)
INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE
JAWS
PUMPKINHEAD
THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (original)
THE HILLS HAVE EYES
SCANNERS

These all are good movies and most are must see, but they aren't considered "classics" thats the 1960's and prior. Okay, you do have one classic (NOTLD) but never the less, I have underwear older than some of these titles.

[Tat2]

Originally posted by urgeok
i think a movie becomes a classic when it is generally held to be believed as one of the best of it's kind.
Especially if it set a new standard for the genre.

Halloween isnt that old but it's a classic
Dawn of the Dead is a classic ..

i think the distiction could be :
Golden age of horror VS modern classics

Urge, you do bring up a valid point. There are films, that as soon as they are released, you will hear the Critics say "destined to be an instant classic."

I believe that in some realms, such as cars for example, they are considered classic at 20 years old, vintage at 25 years old and antique at 30 years old (I could be off on the years, but I'm sure you get the idea).

I agree with you, that movies like DOTD, Holloween and The Exorcist deserve some form of distinction because they are older movies just not as old as ---say---The Day The Earth Stood Still , or The Wolfman etc...

So maybe it needs to be brought to the forum and polled on...lets come up with our own categories. Thoughts?

[The_Return]

I personally think a "classic" is a movie that had a significant impact on it's genre/films in general. Example: Scream will, to me, forever be a classic. I havnt seen it, but it shaped and changed the look of "horror" movies for years to come.

NotLD, TCM, Exorcist...All classics...I think the picture has beeen gotton

[slasherman]

Many people will see "Titanic" and "Lord of the Rings" movies as classics...cause of there sucess and impact....To me there not...and they never will be...
Its like "Gone with the Wind"...that film has never been a classic to ME....but film "experts" wanted it to be and it become....nearly all the so called classics films are from Hollywood...why is that ?....Cause a "classic" can earn more money!