My Top 10: Horror Films

Horror has never really been a genre that I regularly watch. It is not just I am a bit of a wuss when it comes to scary stuff, but I just feel that horror does not regularly succeed each year. It might do in the box office, but not that does not necessarily mean that it is a good film. But after looking through the horror films that I have seen, it surprised me. I forgot how many great films there are, that I would relate to the horror genre.

A few films have recently left this list. One is The Others. One of the few recent successful horror films in my opinion. Nicole Kidman plays single mother who feels her new house is being haunted and scaring her two children.
Like most horrors, it ends up with a suspenseful twist, and it is quite a memorable one.

Another was The Cabin In The Woods. It is not often we see a smart horror that is not afraid to make fun of its own genre.
I had heard a lot of interesting review of this 2012 hit, but I never expected to be as clever as I originally thought. It is this generations 'Scream' and I hope you realise why once you have seen it.

The most recent was The Thing. From a novel by Stephen King, and directed by John Carpenter, this is quite a gruesome one from 1982. Lead by Kurt Russell, a group of scientists in Antartica stumble upon a shape-shifting being that ends up taking the shape of the thing it's killed. It is tense throughout, because you never know who to trust.

I am sure I have not seen all the great horror films, but I think my top 10 is still quite an impressive one:

10) The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) - Finally managed to see this and was very impressed. Not just in how well this simple story is made, but how much it still holds up even after 46 years of its release.

It sees a group of five kids visiting their grandfathers house, only to be hunted by a family with a brutal history. Its basic premise gives you time to appreciate how much it focuses on the tension instead of the gore and the clever use of editing and cinematography.

9) Poltergeist (1982) - A horror that manages to give off a perfect mix of horror and blockbuster to please both fans of the genre as well as mainstream audiences.

Even though Tobe Hooper is directing, it has producer Steven Spielberg's hands all over it.

It sees a family's home get haunted by a bunch of ghosts. The visual and practical effects are still as effective today.

8) Halloween (1978) - The classic slasher that stars Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasence.

The story of a murderer institutionalized since childhood manages to escape and cause havoc to a nearby town.

It's small budget gave this film wonderful simplicity that somehow managed to enhance the horror of the antagonist and vibe.

Also, the score is iconic and inspired many similar pieces in future horrors.

7) Rosemary's Baby - One of the few horrors that will quite literally scarred me for life.

It tells the story of a couple moving into a new apartment that has peculiar neighbors.

When she gets mysteriously pregnant, the weirdness gets cranked up and the astonishing ending will never leave my memory.

6) The Shining - Another Stephen King novel, this time directed by the incredible Stanley Kubrick.

This timeless classic is the ultimate psychological thriller about a family that heads to a hotel for the winter. But an evil presence takes the father (played by Jack Nicholson) and violence and madness ensues.

5) Invasion Of The Body Snatcher (1956) - When a doctor from a small Californian town realises that the residents are being replaced by emotionless alien doppelgangers, he must escape and tell the world before its too late.

The simplicity in its story-telling and themes of 50's America paranoia as well as the relentless pacing makes this such a thrilling viewing experience. Even over 60 years since it was made, it still manages to work.

4) Frankenstein (1931) - An absolute classic for so many reasons.

For many, this is the definitive version of the Mary Shelley novel. This is a film that is synonymous with actor Boris Karloff, who famously played The Monster.

It's an incredible piece of work for its time, and while many have tried to make a successful modern re-make, none have come even close.

3) The Sixth Sense - It is not often we see a horror that wins major awards, but this 1999 classic came awfully close.

After being nominated for 6 Oscars including Best Picture, this was director M. Night Shyamalan's film that made him a star. Shame he has not come anywhere near to the same stardom in the rest of his catalogue of films.

2) The Exorcist (1973) - Many peoples ultimate horror film. This is probably the most recognised film to be banned in several countries.

Despite my first viewing only being a few years ago, I can definitely see why some people would be so feared by it.
The level of horror reached new heights for the mainstream audience and it will become a timeless horror classic.

1) Psycho (1960) - Alfred Hitchcock's film that will keep him as one of the great directors of all-time.

Featuring probably the most famous scene of all-time, Psycho had everything and it continues to amaze each generation since its release which is now 60 years ago.