Top 25 horror films

Great list. So many on there were close contenders for mine, painfully omitted. The only one of yours I haven’t seen, Black Moon, was of course added to my watchlist. Since you listed Frankenstein, I must give a plug to Son of Frankenstein, which I rank even higher, and my favorite Bela Lugosi role.

I feel like Videodrome should be right up my alley, but I’ve seen it a couple of times and it just haven’t clicked yet. I’m going to add it to my watchlist and give it another chance.

Lack of release years makes this more difficult to rate, but the Final Destination series is a guilty pleasure for me, and the three I possibly haven’t seen: Girl House, Valentine and The Swerve don’t particularly appeal, alas. Session 9 and It Follows are of course brilliant.

God, I love The Wicker Man so much. Own all three cuts, theatrical, director’s and final, as well as its two soundtrack releases: Silvascreen and Studio Canal, and have seen it countless times. It’s the single greatest example of dread on screen I can think of, and yet one of my favorite depictions of terror as well (“O Lord!”). Absolutely cracking.

Just watched Dead Alive again a few weeks ago for the nth time, and it totally holds up. Peak Peter Jackson, imo.

Highly recommend the LtROI novel if a fan of the story. Actually the Let Me In remake adhered more closely to the book, and captured the Håkan substory more faithfully.

So freaking good. The mystery/horror subgenre is painfully underrepresented, and Lisa Bonet is peak sexy. Not to mention it’s genuinely scary imo.

Again, so many list entries that barely made mine. Zombie/Zombi 2 on the big screen was the culmination of one of my favorite horror movie marathon days starting with A Serbian Film and Snowtown. The Woman in Black is one of my favorite TV movies which actually scared me. If you liked Who Can Kill a Child, I’d recommend The Children from my list. And regarding your last: one of my most memorable Thanksgiving dinners was at a family friend’s, where I found myself sitting next to James Karen (only in L.A.), who was happy to chat about RotLD with a fan. A lovely man, RIP.

Have not seen three of yours: Death Smiles on a Murderer, Hunter’s Blood and Hell of the Living Dead.

[edit] Had a chuckle that more than one of my recent recommends to you were on your list here. :D

Coincidentally, the only one of yours I haven’t seen if your first. Re: your third, see my reply just above to Mrmojo4700. Sleepaway Camp is the perfect example why many films should be gone in to blind. I have sworn off trailers and am happier for it. The Wailing was quite good, but I rank Na’s The Chaser as the most edge of my seat film ever seen. And I love The Exorcist III so much. Highly recommend the Legion director’s cut and/or fanedit for peak versions of it. Great book too.

I had mostly left gialli off my list, but I love Tenebre. Great, beautifully shot film with an amazing soundtrack.

Can totally identify with that problem. I would sometimes belabor a post for ages. Over the years I’ve relaxed more, and am usually satisfied to throw in a disclaimer and call it good enough. I more enjoy compiling lists with more specific criteria, however. More fun.

Can’t find a single criticism of your list. Like/love ‘em all.

Maniac Cop 2 (1990)
Bad Taste (1987)
Dead Alive (1992)
The New York Ripper (1982)
Return of the Living Dead 3 (1993)
The Stepfather (1987)
Maniac (1980)
Day of the Dead (1985)
Angst (1983)
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
Society (1989)
City of the Living Dead (1980)

I love society.

Lots of goodies there. I about wore out my copy of The Stepfather on VHS back in the day. And as a grizzled horror fan who has seen some shit, Henry:PoaSK is one of the few films to really shake me up. Feel like I need a shower afterwards. Have had the Maniac Cops on my watchlist forever. Time to bump those up.