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CarlyTown>The Drive-in>Horror
Horror (That Doesn't Suck)
Freaks (1932)- Exploitative trash or incisive portrayal of a culture seldom portrayed in film? You be the judge. Banned for many years, Freaks features real-life circus freaks and a genuinely shocking ending.
The Haunting (1963) - Based on a brilliant novel by Shirley Jackson, The Haunting is a wonderfully spooky movie with great performances all around. Avoid the remake at all costs. Where the original was a masterpiece of subtlety and atmosphere, the remake is a masterpiece of cheesy CGI and bad acting. Liam Neeson, I'm looking at you. You should know better.
Repulsion (1965) - This Roman Polanski film redefines disturbing as it chronicles a girl (Catherine Deneuve) going slowly insane in her apartment after her roommate sister goes away for the weekend. Leave-the-lights-on-for-three-full-nights scary.
Rosemary's Baby (1968) - Another great Roman Polanski film, from a great novel by Ira Levin, this sixties classic features excellent performances all around - Ruth Gordon and Charles Grodin especially - and an era-defining hairstyle by Mia Farrow. Oh, and the spawn of Satan, although I always like to think of the highlight of this movie as the Dakota apartment building. Pretty creepy in its own right.
The Exorcist (1973) - Clearly, The Exorcist is the scariest movie ever made. There's not really much else to say. Young girl gets possessed by Satan, mother freaks out, the Catholics are called in, some pretty disturbing things occur. The re-release with additional footage is worth seeing, if only for Regan's crazy spider-walking. Too bad all the sequels were unworthy of the original. (Cause that never happens with horror movies.)
The Wicker Man (1973) - Unbelievably weird British film about a pagan society living on an island, and the proper, chaste policeman (Edward Woodward) who visits the island to investigate a child's disappearance. Christopher Lee plays the de facto Lord of the island. Featuring a truly eerie folk music soundtrack, this movie has to be seen to be believed. The film itself has gone through many changes over the years, so be careful which version you pick up. This website, devoted to the various versions of The Wicker Man will help. Do not, under any circumstances, pick up the awful Neil LaBute remake from 2006. I'm warning you. Unless, of course, you like pointless misogynistic crap, and the sight of many women being beaten up by Nicolas Cage and his terrible, unrealistic hair.
Bad Ronald (1974) - Ew. Not so much scary as truly creepy. This was a television movie about a young boy who accidentally kills another child, and his mother hides him in a secret room in her house. She dies, and another family moves in, not realizing Bad Ronald lives there too. Of course, there are multiple daughters in the family for Bad Ronald to fall in love with in the creepiest way. Plus, the guy never showers and gets fouler and fouler looking as the movie progresses. Ew.
The Omen (1976) - Another great horror classic in the Satan's spawn category. Classed up by excellent direction, production values and stars like Gregory Peck, this film forever paved the way for the Creepy Child genre of movie. I still get freaked out when I see kids in suits, period. "All for you, Damien!" Eek. I could have sworn this movie was one of the first of many horror films to use Carmina Burana for its theme music, but I see the soundtrack is actually done by Jerry Goldsmith.
Halloween (1978) - The movie that started the whole teen/slasher horror movie genre. Starring Jamie Lee Curtis as a pretty tough babysitter, Halloween is far better than all the following sequels and the trashy Friday The 13th franchise. The haunting, tinkly theme adds significantly to the scare factor.
The Howling (1981) - A newscaster is sent to a rehabilitation center, and finds herself in a community of werewolves. Scary as heck, and great special effects. I haven't seen it for years, but I remember one scene in particular where someone turns into a vampire during a news broadcast. (Which I always seem to get mixed up in my mind with Network.) Followed by awful and genuinely weird sequels.
Sleepaway Camp (1982) - Okay, so there are these two kids who go off to sleepaway camp--a brother and a sister. The mother is a complete nutcase, and the little girl, Angela, is seriously disturbed. Shortly after they get to camp, creatively bad things happen to anyone who hassles Angela. Incredibly low budget, and amazingly weird, with one of the strangest twist endings I've ever seen. "Angelaaaaaaaaaaa . . ."
Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) - Aw! Remember the days when Freddy Krueger was scary, and not a stand-up comedian? This first movie in the series features teens who are visited by the killer Freddy in their sleep, and do their best to evade him. I love the motif of parents and adults not listening to the genuine fears and dangers that their teenage children are in--this is always scary and disturbing. Plus, a teeny tiny Johnny Depp, and some really memorable imagery. Body bag, dragging down the hall anyone?
Poltergeist (1982) - Another great classic, about a family that has ghosts visiting through the tv, and the young daughter wanders into another dimension. Pretty scary in its very realistic depiction of a typical suburban family undergoing some pretty crazy stuff. I'd never live in a subdivision before being absolutely sure that it was NOT built on a graveyard. I wouldn't live in a subdivision anyway, but I'm just saying.
Paperhouse (1988) - Aw, Paperhouse. One of those movies you pick up in the video store (yes, video store, children), and find a whole mind-blowingly weird film. A young British girl suffering from illness discovers that she can transport herself into her drawings, where she finds a mysterious land, and a creepy house occupied by a young disabled boy. Really psychologically disturbing. From an excellent novel by Catherine Storr called Marianne Dreams.
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Candyman (1992) - Terribly scary film based loosely on an urban legend. Beautifully photographed with excellent performances all around, especially Tony Todd and Virginia Madsen, surprisingly enough.
The Faculty (1998) - Although this borders on science fiction, rather than horror, this late 90s entry into the great genre of WB stars in horror movies is a cut above the rest. Essentially, the teachers at this high school are aliens and excitement ensues. Good characters and writing, and a really odd cast ranging from Jon Stewart and Bebe Neuwirth to Wiley Wiggins and Harry Knowles make for an enjoyable film.
The Blair Witch Project (1999) - What is more powerful? The effect of Blair Witch Project on independent filmmaking or the backlash against it? All I know is that I stood in line at the Uptown theater to see it, and didn't sleep for two days after seeing it. Three film students disappear after going into the woods to shoot a documentary. The film comprises the footage they shot. Much shaky cam ensues, but the end result is really scary. It's all about what you don't see, and honestly, the idea of being lost in the woods is scary enough to me, never mind the Blair Witch.
Saw (2004) - There's such a fine line these days between horror and torture porn, but I have to come down on the side of Saw as horror. It's inventive, and has enough weird supernaturalistic elements to make it horror for me. Some pretty gory scenes take place, but at least there's a bit of a plot behind it. I highly recommend the commentary on the DVD by James Wan and Leigh Whannell, the director and writer of the film. Not only completely hilarious, but it provides really interesting insight into how to make a good horror film on the cheap.
Session 9 (2001) - Really interesting horror film about men who are working on removing the asbestos from an abandoned mental hospital who get caught up in the hospital's former inhabitants and in their own mental issues.
I'm Not Scared (2003) - Enjoyable Italian horror/suspense film. A young boy finds another young boy in a hole, who is being held captive by his father and some shady associates for the purposes of ransom.
Dawn of the Dead (2004) - One of those weird cases where the remake is better than the original, the new remake of Dawn of the Dead is pretty fantastic. Incredibly action packed, filled with interesting characters and a little romantic, thanks mainly to Horror Babe Jake Weber. The original is definitely interesting as well, but really a little dated and kind of boring. It's super fun to pick out all the tributes the remake made to the original, by adding cameos of the original actors and quotes from the originals.
Red Eye (2005)
The Host (2006)
Disturbia (2007)
1408 (2007)
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The Bad Seed (1956) - No one is creepier than Rhoda, with her party dresses and blond braids. Man, if I saw her skipping down my street I'd run like hell in the opposite direction. Excellent tacked-on scene at the end where the actress playing her mother spanks her.
A Bucket of Blood (1959) - Really good horror movie by Roger Corman wherein a bus boy at a beatnik coffeehouse accidentally kills a cat, makes a sculpture out of it and becomes an acclaimed artist. Really well filmed (for being made in five days) and has a super cool jazzy soundtrack.
The House on Haunted Hill (1959)
The Birds (1963) - Only slightly scary, this Hitchcock film is mostly notable for the bad Maine accents and the incredibly wooden performance of Tippi Hedren. Absolutely hilarious, in part because Tippi's performance makes everybody else's look over-the-top in comparison. Also because Hitch was behind the camera whipping fake birds at Tippi.
Spider Baby, or The Maddest Story Ever Told (1968) - Pretty funky cool independent horror movie about a creepy family who lives in a big house. Creepy in kind of a interesting new way. Apparently the whole cast and crew were on drugs the whole time. The extras include a showing of the movie where they invited the director, who seemed genuinely confused by the fans interest in the show. Good times!
The Stepford Wives (1975) - From a great book by Ira Levin, this movie would be far scarier if Katherine Ross didn't already seem like a robot. Luckily, Paula Prentiss is around to liven things up. Excellent cultural artifact with its consciousness-raising groups and fear of suburban conformity. Also, the clothes are hilarious.
Evil Dead 2 (1987) - Hilarious and way ahead of its time in inventive camera usage, this is one instance in which the sequel is superior to the original. Mostly because they just refilmed The Evil Dead with more money. And of course, it stars Bruce Campbell in his very best role.
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Love at First Bite (1979) - George Hamilton as Dracula? Arte Johnson as Renfield? Cameo by Sherman Hensley? SOMEBODY in the 70s was having a really good time. Nonetheless, this movie is genuinely funny and charming.
Once Bitten (1985) - I can't help it. I sincerely believe this quirky teen vampire movie was Jim Carrey's very best work.
April Fool's Day (1986)
Shawn of the Dead (2004) - Super freaking hilarious takeoff on horror movies, specifically zombie movies. Super funny extras, as well. And? Actually scary at times! Fun cameos by Brits like Tim from The Office.
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
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Updated 8/9/08
Comments, questions, or suggestions?
Email carly[at]carlytown.com.
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Swingin' Classics
Horror (That Doesn't Suck)
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