Death Ship (1980)
This is the seminal horror film from my childhood. I remember
taping it off tv some time back in the 80's when I was in my
teens. It crept me out so much back then and still to this day
has the power to unsettle me. The dark scenes of the ship on
the ocean are so creepy and I know if I was out there on the
water I wouldn't want to bump into an old haunting ship like
that. And those large red piston things pumping away in the
bowels of the ship have always creeped me out so much. I
know alot of horror fans aren't fans of the film and some
consider it campy and cheesy but I consider this to be one of
the creepiest and most haunting films I've ever seen. I
honestly don't see how this film could be considered cheesy or
campy, but it's down to personal opinion in the end. It's my
second favourite horror film of all time.
|
|
|
|
|
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
I still remember the evening I first watched this back in the mid
90's. I'd never watched such a darkly disturbing film like it up
till that time. I've always had an interest in real crime, reading
books written by FBI profilers and such detailing real life crimes
by serial killers and mass murderers. I also watched many
documentaries about the same killers around the same time
through the early 90's. So when I stumbled across this film it
truly disturbed me with it's grimy feel of reality. It isn't an
over-the-top sensationalist view of killers like so many horror
films depict, but is lodged deeply within a dark trench of
unflinching reality making you feel this has really happened in
some form before. I still consider the acting performance of
Marilyn Burns who plays 'Sally' as just about the most chilling
I've ever seen in a horror film. Her performance in my opinion
lifts the film to even greater heights... or grim depths you could
say. This truly is a horror film that only the 1970's could create,
and trying to recreate such a film these days just doesn't work.
A truly brilliant horror film that time will never age.
|
|
Zombie Flesh Eaters (1979)
How could we have Halloween without some zombies walking
amongst us and ripping into some flesh to feast on. This is the
best zombie film I've come across so far. I haven't seen too
many zombie flicks but this one definitely stands at the top of
the pile with some genuine unsettling moments and also has
the creepiest zombie I've come across which is the one
commonly seen on the dvd covers and poster art, he makes a
quite gruesome rise from the depths of the earth at one point
in the film with some masterful 70's style camerawork
delivering some very creepy close-ups. Many consider this as
Lucio Fulci's best piece of the work in the genre and I heartily
agree with those sentiments. So if you haven't seen it yet, this
is the time of the year to get around to that, even if you have
to rip out some guts to do so. You won't be disppointed. If
you're eating the leg, can I have the breast?
|
|
|
|
|
Braindead (1992)
Just about the most entertaining film I've seen in years, if not
ever. Strange to be saying that about the most bloodiest,
goriest film the world has probably ever seen. You know it's
going to be great when a Priest leaps up and exclaims: 'I kick
ass for the Lord!' and the proceeds to go all kung-fu on some
zombies. My God does the blood and guts flow in this one, it's
by far the most gory film that I've ever seen. Peter Jackson
really knew how to make these films back in the day, he was
pretty much the king of uber gory comedy horrors like
'Braindead', as well as another film in the same ilk, 'Bad Taste'.
I found myself recoiling in horror at times at some of the
graphic gore scenes but then would find myself in stitches five
minutes later laughing so much that tears were running down
my face. If you are even just a slight fan of gore you need to
see this film. Hell, even if gore does nothing for you, you need
to see it. It's one of the best rides I've been on for years. I call
this film a ride because that's what it is, the goriest bloodiest
rollercoaster you'll ever see.
|
|
Shock Waves (1977)
Here's another of those horror films I wasn't expecting all that
much from when I sat down to watch it one night, although I
was expecting another great performance from my favourite
horror actor of all-time, Peter Cushing. Early on though the
creepiness encountered in this film kicked into gear and made
me realise it was going to be one of those films that greatly
surprised when I wasn't expecting a great deal. The music
score is just about the eeriest I've heard in any film, whether it
be horror, thriller or mystery. And the scenes with the zombie
nazi soldiers emerging from the abandoned ship early on made
the hairs on the back of my neck stand up to attention. The
zombies in this film truly are creepy entities, all bleach blonde
hair, using the waters surrounding the island and permeating
through it as their marching grounds, human alligators of sorts.
Peter Cushing is again in his familiar stamping ground of
portraying another unsettling character who was once the
leader of the nazi soldier zombies now terrorizing the unwilling
inhabitants of the island, including himself. I heavily
recommend this film to any people out there who love the more
serious creepy horrors with really eerie music scores. I thought
this film wouldn't turn out to be much but is now in my Top 10
horror films of all time.
|
|
|
|
|
Just Before Dawn (1981)
I had heard alot about this fairly well unknown slasher from
the early 80's from reading some threads on the forum about it
and whilst listening to some horror film radio shows and
podcasts like Deadpit.com and others. I decided to get myself
a copy of it one day and wasn't disappointed with my hopes
for it. It was made in 1981 but as with alot of films made in
1980 and the first half of 1981, it had more of a late 70's
atmosphere rather than the 1980's atmosphere we all know
well. It isn't campy and cheesy like many 80's horror films made
mostly from 1982 onwards, but is firmly embedded in a late
70's atmosphere with a real level of genuine creep like seen in
other films from around that time like 'Halloween' for instance.
It's another backwoods slasher film with some innocents
preyed on by some demented killers but it's made in a way
that lifts it above most others with some great scenes, such as
the one involving a distant waterfall as some lovers play about
in a lake in the foreground. That scene has become one of the
seminal horror movie scenes for me of all time, brilliantly done.
If you've seen alot of slashers over the years and feel a bit
burnt out from them all, this is one of the lesser known titles in
the genre you should check out definitely.
|
|
Grindhouse (2007)
I haven't felt more energised in ages then when watching the
full version of Grindhouse. It was one of the most amazing
experiences I've ever had in film. A Rodriguez and Tarantino
double-bill sounded orgasmic when I first heard of the project
due to loving all of Tarantino's films as well as Rodriguez's,
especially 'Sin City.' I had also recently discovered the world of
grindhouse films around 12 months back and loved what I got
to see, so was looking forward to this project so much. I
adored the griminess of the print, with the scratches, lines,
faulty picture and scene drop-outs, it's so damn cool. And the
fake trailers, so well done, especially Roth's, 'Thanksgiving,'
you'd think they were honestly done back in the 70's. Took me
back to the days of VHS back in the 80's with the dodgy quality
of some of those rentals I got out. That's one gripe I have with
modern day DVD's and their perfect digital quality; it's too
perfect. I sometimes long for those days of the 80's with the
scratchy quality of some of the VHS rentals. Anyways, enough
of the bitching. 'Grindhouse' is an incredible experience with
Rodriguez's uber cool looking 'Planet Terror' and another
delightful serving from the plate of Tarantino. 'Death Proof' is
stunning, a perfect grindhouse entry and is my favourite film
from him so far.
|
|
|
|
|
Suspiria (1977)
My third favourite horror of all-time, and the film I rate as the
creepiest film of all time. Argento pulled off a true masterpiece
with this entry into his vast array of horror goodness he's done
over the years. I remember picking up a British VHS copy of it
at a local sci-fi bookstore here in Western Sydney many years
ago when the title intrigued me as I looked over the dvds in
the store. Never before have I watched a film like it, the visuals
are so wonderfully shot and the music score by Goblin is by far
their darkest one in any film I've seen where they composed
the music. The scene where they count the footsteps still
remains with me as one of the eeriest scenes in any film till this
day. There is word of a possible remake of this film in the
works but I honestly don't know how the hell anyone could
remake such a film. But it wouldn't surprise me as Hollywood is
ripping every last horror film right through the Remake Glory
Hole these last few years. Good luck guys but you are on a
beating to nothing trying to re-imagine 'Suspiria.' It's like with
the original 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre,' they are untouchable
films in my opinion, films of their time and films only set within
the imagination of their original creators. This truly is a horror
title you have to see before you die.
|
|
The Descent (2005)
I had to place this title in the list as it's the best horror film I've
ever seen, and one of the very best films of any genre I've
seen. I've never felt so on edge watching a film before. It's
filmed in such a way that I felt I was down in the caves with
the girls, traversing the deep drops and very narrow passages.
Character development was done very well early on which
made me feel for the girls as the film progessed which greatly
deepened the impact the film had on me. If it wasn't for the
character development early on, it wouldn't have been as
good. One sensation which is felt greatly in this film at times is
one of claustrophobia, when the girls are squirming through
very tight passages amid the underground caving system. I
found myself squirming on the bed almost as much as the girls
were, it was incredibly well done, to make you the viewer feel
what the girls were feeling. And then when some underground
dwellers make their presence's felt to the girls, the film
descends to even greater depths of terror as they battle to
stay alive. It felt like watching some new friends under siege
and in fear of their lives. Amazing film and needs to be watched
by everyone who loves a good serious horror film. So grab that
rope and abseil down into the depths.
|
|
|
|
|
Intruder (1989)
This is another of the rare serious 80's slasher films with only a
small amount of cheese attached. It's mostly known for it's
gruesome kills and some fans say that's the only element
that's good about the film. But what I found in 'Intruder' was a
great little slasher film made on a small-ish budget. I loved the
setting of a supermarket at night, created a feeling of unease
as we all shop at places like that, sometimes at night. I'm sure
most supermarkets would be creepy at night, a large space
with many aisles and all the areas in the back of the store in
the storage rooms with many shadows and dark niches. The
music again is quite a creepy 80's synth score which gives the
film that more serious feel of unease which I love. Most
adventures in the 80's horror scene are ones of campiness and
cheese, especially with the music score and soundtrack, but
you won't find it here for a change, which is a good thing. It
gives the film a nice touch and left me feeling on edge at times
which is a breath of fresh air for an 80's film. It's good to truly
feel creeped out by a horror film for a change from that decade
and this one did that for me quite well. Just beware your next
trip to supermarket, it could be your last!
|
|
|
