Since it is October, and I have been kinda dragging my heels on getting this list out, the timing for this section is quite apropos. Horror movies are as much a staple of cinema as Westerns and crime dramas. Some of the earliest movies were horror movies, and while we might think them campy or cheesy now, we have to remember that it was new technology back then. The fear factor was as much in the technology itself as it was in the plot or characters. Part of me would like to see some contemporary horror movies that evoke the moody Gothic feel of those early films, instead of relying on gore and shock value. And no more sparkly vampires. Ever.
Lord of Illusions – It's a Clive Barker film, and one that's somewhat more understated than the Hellraiser series. “Understated” however doesn't mean it wimps out on the chills.
The Thing – The best John Carpenter horror movie he ever made.
An American Werewolf In London – John Landis has a truly screwball sense of humor. Mix that with the curse of lycanthropy and you have a trippy scary monster movie.
Dracula – The classic vampire film. Bela Lugosi may have been perpetually typecast because of it, but he's still “The Count.”
Tremors – It's a modern movie, but it's got the style of a classic '50s monster movie.
Silver Bullet – Another werewolf movie, but this one's played straight. And it works well.
From Dusk Till Dawn – The horror element doesn't show up till about halfway through the movie. That's what makes it so damn effective.
Creepshow – The film that firmly established the “anthology” movie genre, in my opinion, since it spawned Tales From The Dark Side and Tales From The Hood. Notable for Stephen King's essentially one man show.
Flatliners – The cast list sounded like one of those “today's biggest stars” grab bags, but the premise is creepy and the acting is really well done.
Stir of Echoes – This one got lost in the noise from The Sixth Sense, which is a shame because I think it's probably the better movie. Watching Kevin Bacon go crazy is a lot more fun than watching Bruce Willis play dumb.
Next Time: Drama
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