Top 10 Horror Films: 00's

Welcome back, if you've been following my blog then you'll be aware that I've been looking at my favourite horror films by the decade and last time I looked at the 90's. Now comes the time to enter the 21st century and it is safe to say that the noughties were a very violent time in horror cinema, exploitative and extreme torture porn films became increasingly popular along with very bloody zombie films as well. Along with this, horror film remakes were also becoming more frequent (unfortunately), so amidst all of the various types of horror films released in the previous decade here are my top 10. Warning, there may be spoilers!

10. Ginger Snaps (2000)

Teen horror grew in popularity in the latter years of the 20th century thanks to the slasher boom and later films like Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer and it was a trend that continued well into the noughties. Ginger Snaps managed to bring teen horror into the new century with a twisted coming of age story about a teenage girl who begins to experience strange changes in her body, and no it's not just puberty, Ginger (Katherine Isabelle) is turning into a werewolf. Now the highlight of this film lies in its two leads, the aforementioned Katherine Isabelle as Ginger and Emily Perkins as her shy sister Bridgette. Isabelle is brilliant at conveying Ginger's transformation from introverted outcast to promiscuous lycanthrope, meanwhile Emily Perkins is equally excellent as Ginger's sister who struggles with her own problems as well as her sisters transformation. The two share a great onscreen chemistry as well. It's a darkly comical piece, while it does maintain its sense of humour throughout, Ginger's insidious transformation and violent outbursts are still quite frightening. It's an entertaining werewolf flick but it's also a lot more than that, the film has often been cited as a strong feminist horror film, from its strong female leads to the obvious metaphor of lycanthropy for periods, it is another example of how horror cinema can portray women as more than just eye candy running from killers. A great horror to begin the decade with. 

9. The Strangers (2008)

Among the onslaught of gory horror films released in the noughties, The Strangers instead went for a more subtle approach and boy is it effective. The film sees couple Kristen (Liv Tyler) and James (Scott Speedman) who come under attack by a trio of masked assailants in a remote vacation home in the woods. This is a film that relies heavily on suspense, utilising long silences and shadows to build this incredibly eerie atmosphere throughout, it is subtle in its scares. That iconic scene where the masked man slowly emerges from the shadows behind the unsuspecting Kristen is nailbiting to watch. The antagonists are especially creepy, their black clothes and eerie white masks make their appearance incredibly unsettling while their dry, monotone voices give them this chilling presence throughout. These villains keep in line with the films subtle tone while at the same time they are incredibly violent and relentless. It is a slow burner however, and while that can work in certain films at times it just makes this one seem a bit boring, this isn't helped by its rather bland leads who make the first half of the film pretty dull. If you can make it through the build up however, you're in for a real treat as it is an atmospheric masterpiece once the trio of villains make their way onscreen. 

8. House of 1000 Corpses (2003)

Now Rob Zombie already had an established music career in the 90's, from White Zombie to his solo career, he was known for heavily incorporating horror themes and imagery in his songs and videos. It was only a matter of time until Mr. Zombie entered the world of horror filmmaking and House of 1000 Corpses marked this entrance. The film focuses on four teenagers who travel the Texas backroads in search of weird and wonderful things, their latest endeavor leads them to the home of the strange Firefly family who stop at nothing to make their lives a living hell. Now this is a film that you either love or hate, from its vulgar humour to Zombies unique style, this won't appeal to everyone, even the director himself has criticized it, but it's easy to watch and highly entertaining. The characters are brilliant, especially the villains who include horror legend Bill Moseley as the sadistic Otis and Zombies wife Sheri Moon Zombie as the insane Baby, the colourful family may be unrelentingly violent but you can't help but grow to like them. Colourful is definitely a word I would use to describe this film, not only in its characters but its lighting and setpieces are equally eyepopping, it is definitely a visually appealing film. Like a lot of similar films, House of 1000 Corpses is very violent, scalping, stabbing and flaying are only a few of the despicable deeds that take place within the house. The film itself is one big homage, in particular to the films of Tobe Hooper, but its unique visuals and characters make this its own film and although its not well received by many it has become a cult classic since its release. 

7. Hostel: Part II (2007)

Eli Roth had already gained a lot of attention with his controversial Hostel, so when its sequel came out two years later many were eager to see what the director would do next. The second installment follows three girls taking a trip to the sinister Slovakian hostel where they are subjected to violent and outlandish punishments by the Elite Hunting club. Now I like the first Hostel film but I enjoyed this one more for a few reasons, mainly it is because it takes a lot less time to get to the horror unlike the first installment which spent a considerable amount of time fitting in as much sex as it could. This one however gets to the point much quicker and keeps a steady pace throughout, it feels more even than the first. Also its trio of leading women (Lauren German, Bijou Phillips and Vera Jordanova) just feel a lot more developed and more likeable than the protagonists of the first. There are also Stuart (Roger Bart) and Todd (Richard Burgi), members of the Elite Hunting club with their own entertaining subplot. Above all, Roth really raises the level of gore in this film, in particular in its climax that's a lot more, ehh, ballsy than that of the first. What Roth had attempted in the first Hostel he perfects in this one, managing to find the balance between extreme violence and dark humour which felt somewhat unbalanced in the first film. Extremely violent and fiendishly funny, Hostel: Part II is one of Roth's best films to date.

6. Dead Snow (2009)

Zombie films grew immensely in popularity in the 21st century and not just in America, this zombie craze reached an international level. Dead Snow is a Norwegian zombie romp that follows a group of friends who awaken an army of Nazi zombies during their stay at a remote cabin in the mountains. This film is as hilarious as it is disgusting and certainly does not hold back on the gore, there are as much entrails in this film as there is snow. This brutal violence is combined with slapstick, almost cartoonish humour makes it very reminiscent of Peter Jackson's Braindead (one of the characters even sports a Braindead t-shirt) while the cabin setting makes one think of The Evil Dead, it's full of homages but despite this it is very much its own film. It has some memorable death scenes both because of their violently comedic nature, one scene where a man gets killed in an outhouse is particularly funny. Although it can be pretty silly that does not make Dead Snow any less terrifying, there are some pretty intense jumpscares along with the heart racing opening scene set to the tune of Edvard Grieg's 'In the Hall of the Mountain King'. It is a pretty intense film despite its cartoony nature and the battle scene between the humans and Nazi zombies is one of the best fight scenes in horror history only rivaled by that in its sequel Red Vs Dead. Director Tommy Wirkola manages to create a film that is both hilarious and terrifying from its jumpy sequences to extreme gore, this is definitely how horror comedy should be.

5. Wolf Creek (2005)

Now to more serious stuff on the other end of the globe, Wolf Creek tells the story of three tourists who become the targets of the maniacal Mick Taylor (John Jarratt) on their journey through the Australian outback. Now this is some seriously unrelenting stuff, unlike a lot of the films I've spoken about so far this contains very little humour, it's just 100 percent sheer brutality. Although Mick Taylor comes across as a bit funny at times his cruel nature inclines us to ignore this, don't get me wrong though Wolf Creek is a brilliant horror film. It has this gritty sense of raw violence that's not stylised like a lot of films but rather done in a realistic way that makes Wolf Creek a lot more effective. The raw violence is made even more effective thanks to the gritty setting very reminiscent of a Mad Max movie, lots of road and desert that ties in well with the brutal violence. What really makes this film special though is its unpredictability, anybody can die and writer/director Greg McLean makes this very clear when he kills off the films protagonist when we least expect it. Nobody is safe in this film, not even an unsuspecting motorist whose head is shot clean off by the insane Mick Taylor. It is an incredibly intense film thanks to its violent and unpredictable nature and it certainly had me on the edge of my seat throughout, definitely not for the faint of heart.

4. Jeepers Creepers (2001)

Countless iconic horror characters were established in the 20th century and the 21st century has seen the emergence of even more, one of which is the formidable Creeper (Johnathan Breck). The Creeper pursues siblings Trish and Darry Jenner (Gina Philips and Justin Long respectively) across the Florida countryside during his 23 day killing spree in this modern creature feature. The real highlight of this film is the Creeper itself, it's not a vampire or zombie but an entirely new creation which makes it all the more unpredictable, the demonic being has a variety of abilities from claws on his head to a pair of leathery wings. The film makes for an intense game of cat and mouse between the Creeper and the Jenner siblings (not those Jenner siblings unfortunately), one scene where he pursues the siblings in his monstrous truck is particularly nailbiting. As we slowly learn more about this monster we only become more enticed. The films setting is just as memorable as its creature, the vast fields surrounding the narrow country roads, the scenic area juxtaposed with the terrifying Creeper makes for a very memorable film visually. It's a fun and inventive film with director Victor Salva creating his own breed of creature instead of the usual monsters used in horror films, although some would say Salva is scarier than the Creeper itself due to his unsavory past. Jeepers Creepers is an entertaining film that is a creature feature of sorts crossed with a teen road movie, packed with intense sequences and imagination it is one of the more inventive horror films of the early noughties. 

3. Shaun of the Dead (2004)

Edgar Wright was making quite the impact with his early works such as Spaced, but it was Shaun of the Dead that gained him the world recognition he deserved. A comedic take on the zombie apocalypse, the film follows Shaun (Simon Pegg) as he attempts to win back his ex girlfriend Liz (Kate Ashfield) during the outbreak of a zombie epidemic. Accompanying Shaun and Liz are his water friend Ed (Nick Frost) and his mother Barbara (Penelope Wilton) as they journey across town to their local pub, The Winchester. The first installment in Wright's Cornetto trilogy, this is one of the greatest zombie comedies of all time thanks to the brilliant acting and Wright's unique style. The dialogue is sheer genius, lines such as 'you've got red on you' have since become iconic, this absurd humour combined with Wright's siganture intense atmosphere makes for a completely original piece of zombie cinema. It is a comedy at heart but that doesn't mean it lacks the violence and gore of your normal zombie film, one scene sees Dylan Moran's character get torn open and pulled into a crowd of zombies and nothing is left to the imagination. It's got some very inventive zombie kills as well, at one point Shaun and Ed proceed to combat a couple of undead fiends by throwing records as them. It's one of the most original zombie films of all time thanks to Wright's signature style and performances by Pegg and co.

2. 28 Days Later (2002)

Yes, another take on the zombie genre but this one is radically different to what we've seen before. Set in a post-apocalyptic London, the film follows Jim (Cillian Murphy) who awakens in a hospital to see that the world around him has crumbled due to the rage virus, a disease that has rapidly spread across the country. The zombies, or 'infected' in this film are not the mindless, slow moving things we've been used to, oh no, these ones can run and very fast at that. They are violent, animalistic creatures that stop at nothing when it comes to hunting down their prey, it makes Jim's situation ten times worse than that of your usual zombie survivor. This film doesn't only have you on the edge of your seat but instead has you dangling from your seat in sheer terror, it is 100% horror, no humour, just sheer terror. Director Danny Boyle shows he's no amateur when it comes to horror as he manages to weave this incredibly intense atmosphere, his direction makes the crazed infected seem only more horrific. The acting is stellar with Cillian Murphy being joined by Brendad Gleeson as Frank, Naoime Harris as Selena and Christopher Eccleston as the stern Major Henry West, Murphy's performance as Jim however is sheer brilliance and his development throughout the film is, for me, the highlight. It is undoubtedly one of the most terrifying zombie films of all time.

1. REC (2007)

Now I'm not a big fan of found footage films, that subgenre went stale many Paranormal Activity's ago, however REC came at a time before these films became worn out back when found footage was still gaining popularity. This Spanish zombie flick centres on a news crew who follow a group of fire fighters out on their nightly routine, however when they get called to an apartment block things take a terrifying turn and what ensues is a masterclass in suspense horror. One thing that makes this film so scary is how real it feels, this is the advantage of the found footage element as from the beginning it feels as though we're watching an actual documentary, so when crazed zombies come throttling towards the camera it's hard not to coil away in fear. The effects are, well, very effective, the blood and zombies all seem so real thanks to the brilliant special effects and the shaky cam, it's almost like watching a snuff film at times. As the camera crew gradually become more unsettled so do the audience, the film becomes increasingly claustrophobic and tense so that audiences can almost feel the way the characters onscreen do. We are forced into these situations with them courtesy of the shaky cam and it really is the best use of found footage in cinema. There have been numerous found footage films over the years and even more zombie films, yet REC stands out as possibly the best of these found footage flicks and one of the best modern zombie films, a truly terrifying piece of cinema that plays on all of the senses. 

And so ends another terrifying decade of horror cinema, which means now we've only got one left so next time I will be looking at that, completing this series of posts. Yes of course the next post is about the present decade, the 2010's, and although we're only six years into it we've already seen a wide range of wonderful horror films that are all terrifying in their own different ways. Until next time!

Top 10 Horror Films: 90's

Welcome back to another installment in my series of posts where I look at some of my favourite horror films by the decade. Last time I looked at one of the biggest decades in horror, the 1980's and there was certainly a lot to look at. However as the 80's slowly came to an end so did the great slasher boom, by the time the 90's came around horror filmmakers knew that in order to keep the genre alive they needed to head in new directions. From tongue-in-cheek meta-horror to surreal, experimental horror, the 90's certainly saw a great change in both the style and standard of horror film compared to that of the 80's. Now comes the time for me to look at some of my favourite horror films from the 90's, and be warned there may be spoilers.

10. New Nightmare (1994)

Wes Craven found immense success with his original A Nightmare on Elm Street, after that he left the franchise to other writers and directors so he could pursue other projects. Four sequels and countless one-liners later, Craven returned to the franchise to reinvent it for the new decade and the result was New Nightmare. Instead of following its predecessors the film was set in a fictionalised version of the real world and saw Heather Langenkamp playing herself as she combats Freddy Krueger (Rober Englund) as he attempts to enter the real world. It's an interesting concept and was used by Craven as a means to bring the franchise back to its dark roots as opposed to the rather comical route the franchise had taken. Freddy was back and more terrifying than ever with his new organic clawed hand and more gruesome face while Langenkamp was joined by her original Nightmare co-star and onscreen father John Saxon. Even Craven himself joined the ride in this fictionalised version of our own world. As Craven intended, the films tone is a lot darker and much closer to the original film, there is more suspense and less one-liners, Freddy was scary again. It is an entertaining film, especially to fans of the franchise and pays many homages to the genre himself. In some ways it acts as a precursor to a later Wes Craven film, but I'll get to that later..

9. Jacobs Ladder (1990)

Psychological horror was something that gained a lot of popularity in the 90's, films took inspiration from earlier ones such as Rosemary's Baby and The Wicker Man in the sense that they would focus more on tension than explicit scares. Jacob's Ladder tells the story of Jacob Singer (Tim Robbins), a Vietnam War veteran who finds himself experiencing bizarre hallucinations and flashbacks upon returning home from the war. In terms of scares this film relies heavily on its visuals, from the shaking faceless people to a surreal party scene where people turn into lizard things(?) this film is packed full of strange and frightening imagery. Along with the creepy atmosphere present throughout the film becomes incredibly eerie as it progresses and manages to target the emotions as well as the senses in the most visceral way. This is mainly down to Robbins' incredible performance as Jacob, he packs so much emotion into the troubled character that he becomes one we can easily empathise with. He feels real. Although by today's standards it is not as terrifying as it would have been at the time, Jacob's Ladder is a thought provoking film packed with suspense and emotion, it is one of the many more 'mature' psychological horrors that became increasingly popular in the years that followed. 

8. From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)

The 90's also saw the emergence of two very talented directors who to this day still find themselves collaborating on certain projects, they are Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino. In the 90's they collaborated on a black comedy vampire flick set in a strip club in Mexico and with Rodriguez directing and Tarantino writing and acting, it was hard for this film not to be highly entertaining. From Dusk Till Dawn was the result and it saw the murderous Gecko brothers (George Clooney and Quentin Tarantino) who, after escaping over the Mexican border, find themselves in a strip club full of vampires. Harvey Keitel also joins the two as troubled preacher Jacob who, along with his children are forced to smuggle the brothers across the border. The script is classic Tarantino, full of witty and memorable dialogue and cultural references, along with brilliant acting from all the players this film becomes a fun ride even before the vampires bare their ivory fangs. However, as it is a Robert Rodriguez film it is packed full of cleverly choreographed action sequences, the two filmmakers work extremely well together and they really bring their combined talents to their fullest extent here. The vampires aren't your typical bloodsuckers, Salma Hayek's character Santanico Pandemonium looks particularly animal-like, they are vicious creatures in both their appearance and their actions. It is a highly entertaining film with Tarantino's wit, Rodriguez's high-octane action and their combined love of violence and gore.

7. Army of Darkness (1992)

1981 saw the terrifying The Evil Dead, 5 years later its sequel Evil Dead II adopted a more comedic tone while keeping the blood and madness from the first, then in 1992 Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell) returned again and this time things were completely different. In the third installment of the Evil Dead franchise, Ash finds himself stuck in the Middle Ages once again fighting the terrifying deadites while also attempting to find his way home. While Evil Dead II brought black comedy to the franchise, this film fully incorporated it making it the funniest of Ashes adventures and also the most bizarre. It features a number of miniature Ashes, a deadite clone of Ash and some of his greatest one-liners, this is really the film that established Bruce Campbell as the B movie action hero we all know and love today. While it does lack the scare factor of the original, it makes up for that with its improved visuals and creature effects, those claymation deadites became a thing of the past. Initially I was unsure about this film and its departure from the dark tone of the original, however it has grown on me a lot since I first watched it and I have learned to appreciate the direction in which it drove the franchise. The least scariest film of the franchise but arguably the most entertaining, Army of Darkness is an action packed comedy of terrors that will make you fall in love with Ash Williams if you haven't already.

6. Bride of Chucky (1997)

The Evil Dead franchise wasn't the only one to take a more comedic turn in the 90's, many others brought more comedy to their installments in order to keep things interesting, one of which was the Child's Play series. Possessed doll Chucky (Brad Dourif) had always had a sense of humour despite his films being relatively dark, however the fourth installment decided to take a completely different route and really emphasised this aspect of comedy. Bride of Chucky follows the maniacal doll as he is reunited with his ex-girlfriend Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly), after she too becomes a doll the duo follow a couple across America in order to gain possession of their bodies for their own use. The chemistry between the two evil dolls is tragically comedic, Chucky often lashing out at Tiffany while she attempts to lash back, but the two do love each other (as much as dolls can) and even engage in some very Team America-esque doll sex. Their playful relationship is what makes the film so funny along with memorable appearances from Alexis Arquette as Tiffany's goth friend and John Ritter as an overprotective military dad. However there is still horror in this film and Chucky is still his ruthless self and doesn't hesitate to kill whoever gets in his way, Tiffany is just as psychotic and there is a great scene in which she uses a mirrored ceiling to kill an unsuspecting couple. The darkly comedic tone really works in Bride of Chucky and acted as a means to keep the franchise fresh, it managed to develop the franchise without ruining it entirely.

5. Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992)

David Lynches films are never usually billed as horror films, but their surreal elements and incredible sense of atmosphere makes them more terrifying than a lot of films in the genre. His show Twin Peaks had many terrifying and bizarre scenes, but they were nothing compared to what was to come in his prequel film Fire Walk With Me. Now initially I hated this film, it left out some of the shows best characters while focusing on some of its least likeable, it didn't really capture the magic of the show. However, it did manage to scare me stiff and after watching it again the film began to grow on me a lot. It focuses on the final days of Laura Palmer's (Sheryl Lee) life before her murder that sparked the events of the show. In classic Lynchian style, the film has this incredibly dark atmosphere that many will find unsettling despite the fact that there is nothing explicitly scary happening, this is a common element of his films. Through use of the score and Lynches direction, many scenes become very unnerving without any jump scares. Having said that there are many explicitly scary moments such as when Laura's face suddenly turns white while reciting a poem and when she is assaulted by the always formidable Bob (Frank Silva). David Lynch is a true maestro when it comes to sending chills up the audiences spine and he does so perfectly in this film. It is a surreal nightmare full of bizarre sequences and tense atmosphere that challenges the quality of many mainstream horror films.

4. Candyman (1992)

While many horror franchises came to an end in the 90's, some were just beginning, Candyman falls into the latter category. The film is based off Clive Barker's short story The Forbidden and follows university student Helen Lyle (Virginia Madsen) as she investigates a mysterious urban legend involving a mythical figure known as the Candyman (Tony Todd) that could be linked with a number of real life murders. The real beauty of this film, like many horror films, lies within its antagonist played wonderfully by Tony Todd. The Candyman or Daniel Robitaille as he was known in life, is the spirit of a son of a slave whose hand was sawn off before being covered in honey and stung to death by bees. He is a tragic villain and Todd brings immense depth to the character along with giving him a sense of charisma reminiscent of villains such as Count Dracula. It is a horror with heart and Tony Todd is that heart. It is a bit of a slow burner at the beginning as it takes a while for the eponymous villain to make an appearance, this is what allows for the suspense to build and makes his subsequent appearance eagerly anticipated. Aside from being a horror, it is also a film that highlights a number of social issues such as the rising gangs in the Chicago projects, a location where much of the film takes place. While being a film that is both creepy and bloody, it is also thought provoking and looks at a number of deeper themes such as slavery and crime. It is one of the most important horror films of the 90's.

3. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Hannibal Lecter had already made his onscreen debut when Brian Cox took on the role in Manhunter 5 years prior, however this is the film that really popularised the character and showed audiences what the cannibalistic doctor was really capable of. However, Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) is not the villain of this piece, instead it is the insane Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine) while Lecter quietly waits in the wings acting as a consultant for the FBI. On the trail of the murderous Bill is Agent Clarice Sterling (Jodie Foster) who must consult Hannibal in order to get inside the mind of a killer. Obviously the highlight of the film is Hopkins as Hannibal, in his limited screentime he managed to create this incredibly captivating and unsettling character without even having to kill anyone until the films final act. He brings this incredibly intimidating presence to all of his scenes and is equally as terrifying to watch as he is captivating. Foster and Levine also excel in their roles however they are somewhat overshadowed by Hopkins despite having much more time on screen than he does. It is a clever horror film that both requires and provokes thought, however this sophistication is juxtaposed by the grotesque violence and gore, this really works and is essentially what makes the film stand out from other horror films at the time and what gained it such acclaim. It is often considered a 'thinking mans horror' but that doesn't mean it lacks in violence, the scene where Hannibal escapes custody is incredibly violent and tense, yet it still retains the characters sense of intelligence. The Silence of the Lambs is a smart and thrilling piece of horror cinema that contrasted many others of its time and one of the few horrors to not only win an academy award, but to win five of them.

2. Braindead (1992)

Peter Jackson is often best associated with his adaptations of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, however some of his earliest films were the pinnacle of splatter films during their time and one of the best of these is his zombie romp Braindead. This mad little zombie flick sees a zombie outbreak in a small New Zealand town, at the heart of it all is the timid Lionel Cosgrove (Timothy Balme) whose mother was the first infected and who houses many of the undead. Now this film is completely off-the-wall, it's bonkers and that's what makes it so memorable. It has the perfect balance of slapstick comedy and outlandish gore that is almost vomit inducing, one of my favourite scenes involves a woman's head being torn apart by the zombie baby growing inside her. Yep, zombie baby. It's got a zombie baby, a kung fu priest and some particularly horny zombies too, it's a film that has to be seen to be believed. The violence in this film is relentless, the climax involves Lionel slaughtering the hordes of the undead using a lawnmower, I don't think I've ever seen so much blood onscreen before Braindead. However, the bizarre sense of humour throughout makes the more gory sequences much more enjoyable and easier to watch. This film never seems slow, Lionel is constantly struggling to keep the zombies in his basement a secret while at the same time attempting to woo his beloved Paquita (Diana Penalver) so there is always something happening to keep the audience amused. Braindead is relentlessly sublime, darkly comical and above all, it is a love story.

1. Scream (1996)

Now earlier in this post I spoke about New Nightmare and Wes Craven's attempts at meta-horror but all that was merely a precursor to this brilliant 90's slasher flick. However, this is no ordinary slasher as it follow a killer with an obsession with the horror genre who teases his victims with trivial questions over the phone before killing them mercilessly. The killers latest target is Sydney Prescott (Neve Campbell) who appears to have a mysterious connection with them. The film both parodies and pays homage to the horror genre, in particular slashers, by poking fun at the many tropes and 'rules' of horror cinema. The character of Randy (Jamie Kennedy) who is particularly obsessed with the genre makes frequent references to many horror films along with informing his fellow teens of the 'rules' of surviving a horror film. While it is heavily tongue-in-cheek, that does not make Scream any less frightening, the opening scene alone is incredibly suspenseful and sees tensions gradually rise as Casey Becker (Drew Barrymore) being terrorised by the formidable Ghostface. It's a clever little storyline courtesy of screenwriter Kevin Williamson, and with Craven's directorial skills and experience to bring it to life it was hard for this film to not be a hit. Scream if often regarded as a turning point in horror cinema, personally I think this is the point when horror films became more self-aware. Not only did this encourage other films to take a similar tongue-in-cheek route, it also prompted future horror films to play with the genres conventions and break 'the rules' so carefully outlined in the film. It is an homage to the genre and a great send off to a fantastic century of terror.

And so there ends yet another decade in horror cinema and with that also ends the 20th century. We've looked at the golden age and the slasher boom, zombies and vampires, an entire century of horror cinema. Next time I'll be looking at horror's emergence into the 21st century where remakes and torture porn were the new craze. Stay tuned for that!

Top 10 Horror Films: 80's

Two blog posts in one day now there's something I never thought I'd have time for. Anyway, the time has come for another installment in my series of lists of my top 10 horrors per decade and this time we find ourselves at the 80's. I've mentioned this decade a lot in these posts mainly in referencing the great slasher boom that took place during that time, yes slasher films in the 80's were as common as superhero films would be today. But the 80's wasn't all about slashers oh no, the decade saw some very important horror films being released, films that continued to push the envelope, some films that even just ripped the envelope into thousands of tiny pieces. Filmmakers began to use more blood and gore, creating more elaborate kills and more terrifying monsters. Yes the 80's was a brilliant decade for horror and one of my personal favourites, which made it harder for me to single out just ten films. But anyways, here's my list and as always beware, there could be spoilers ahead.

10. Slaughter High (1986)

Now the 80's was packed full of slasher flicks, some gaining high acclaim while others faded away into obscurity, and it would seem like Slaughter High falls into the latter category. However, it is a really entertaining film that's full of some very inventive and incredibly gruesome death scenes that are, at times, vomit-inducing. It follows a group of old high school friends who become the victims of a mysterious killer in a jester mask during their high school reunion, it soon becomes clear that the killer is another former student who they victimised at school to the point of insanity. I say 'mysterious' killer, but in reality his identity is evident from the beginning, even the trailer drills it into your mind that the killer is Marty Rantzen (Simon Scuddamore), an ex-nerd who was disfigured in a high school prank gone wrong. Still though, he has a formidable presence about him despite the silly looking jester mask he dons. What makes him scary is the way in which he kills his victims, almost all of the deaths are nods to some of the pranks played on Marty at the beginning of the film. For example, a glass jar of acid smashes, sending the substance flying to his face, later he uses the same substance to burn a girl to death in a bath tub. It's a nasty, unrelenting film yet surprisingly funny here and there, it also has a catchy, guitar-heavy soundtrack that's just pure 80's. There's nothing clever or thought provoking about Slaughter High, it's just pure exploitation, but that's the beauty of this 80's slasher flick.

9. Night of the Demons (1988)

This is about as 80's as you can get. The film focuses on a Halloween party at an abandoned mortuary that goes awry after the guests start getting possessed by demonic entities that dwell inside the mortuary walls. Another film that has gained a cult status since its release, Night of the Demons is one of the most entertaining horror films of the 80's, its got plenty of laughs and plenty of scares and with its distinctive 80's style it is hard to resist this films charm. It's like if John Hughes attempted to remake The Evil Dead. But it's not all jokes in this film as there are some scenes that are not only scary but downright bizarre, one involves a girl inserting her lipstick into her nipple before slaughtering one of the other guests post-coitus. There's also a surreal dance scene where the possessed Angela (Amelia Kinkade) sways away to Bauhaus' Stigmata Martyr and as the lights begin to flash almost subliminally it feels like watching a David Lynch film. While some of the acting is a bit off, standout characters include the comedian Stooge (Hal Havis) and the wise-cracking Italian stereotype Sal (Billy Gallo). It isn't perfect but Night of the Demons is a thoroughly entertaining 80's horror that will make you laugh, jump and tilt your head in confusion, a true classic.

8. Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)

I've spoke about this film a lot on my blog, basically it's the only Halloween film without Michael Myers as after the second installment the franchise was intended to be an anthology series. However after this flopped, that idea was scrapped and it went back to the Myers storyline. Don't let the bad reviews fool you though, as a standalone film this is a pretty solid horror that has tons of shocking scenes and pretty decent acting. Instead of continuing the Michael Myers story, this installment revolves around Daniel Challis (Tom Atkins), a doctor who uncovers a bizarre plot orchestrated by maniacal warlock Conal Cochran (Dan O'Herlihy) involving evil Halloween masks and stonehenge. I know, a huge contrast to its predecessors, but a fun film all the same. Although it was directed by It director Tommy Lee Wallace instead of the series' creator John Carpenter, Carpenter's presence is evident throughout, from the incredibly suspenseful atmosphere to his synth heavy score. Along with this early Carpenter-esque vibe, the film has some horrific moments that make it so memorably scary. One scene in particular involves a childs head slowly decaying into a pile of snakes and insects after wearing one of Cochran's masks, what makes it even more chilling is the cheery Silver Shamrock theme playing on the nearby television. It's definitely one of the strongest sequels in the franchise, I may be so bold as to say it's the second best after the original but that's up for debate. With brilliant performances all around and an atmosphere so tense you could cut it with a spoon, Halloween III: Season of the Witch has since become a cult classic despite the initial negativity surrounding it.

7. Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)

The fourth installment in the Friday the 13th franchise was nowhere near the final chapter despite what its title may say, it was followed by 6 more sequels, a crossover and a remake, but to me it is the best. What sets it apart from the others you may ask? Well to me this one is the definitive Friday the 13th film, not only does it have Jason Voorhees (Ted White) in all his hockey-mask-wearing glory (only the second film to feature said mask), but it also has likeable characters and an interesting plot that makes the impact of the kills much more intense. Taking place directly after Part III, the film sees Jason Voorhees escaping the morgue and returning to Crystal Lake to continue his slaughter of its inhabitants. Aside from the usual killer-stalking-teens story, there is also the story of Tommy Jarvis (Corey Feldman), a young boy from Crystal Lake living with his mother and sister and who has a penchant for horror movie masks. It also sees a man named Rob (Erich Anderson) seek out Jason so as he can avenge his sister who was killed of in Part 2. The subplots alone make it more interesting than previous films in the franchise, however it is the characters in this installment that really make it stand out, they are likeable characters who have time to develop, allowing us to actually care for them when they meet their doom. Above all, the film has a brilliant dance scene courtesy of Crispin Glover, definitely one of the stronger films of the franchise and my personal favourite.

6. The House by the Cemetery (1981)

Lucio Fulci is without a doubt one of Italy's greatest horror directors, renowned for his graphic effects and ability to create atmosphere throughout his films, and nowhere are these skills more evident than in The House by the Cemetery. The film takes place in a house by a cemetery where the Boyle family take up residence after the father Norman's (Paolo Malco) former colleague mysteriously dies, what follows is an outlandish tale of gore, suspense and questionable dubbing. The film highlights two things that Fulci does best, as I already mentioned, these being gore effects and building tension. While not explicitly scary the atmosphere in this film is incredibly suspenseful, somehow Fulci manages to create this unnerving sense of tension that works in his favour. Along with this are his notoriously gory sequences that he's so infamous for, not only because they're explicitly violent but also because they are so drawn out. One scene in the film in which a realtor is brutally decapitated had to be severely cut down and even then it seems like it lasts forever, the Italian director has a keen eye for violence. There is a lot about this film that doesn't make sense however, what was the significance of the mysterious babysitter? Why did she bare a striking resemblance to a shop window mannequin? Why does 9 year old Bob (Giovanni Frezza) sound like a 30 year old woman? These are questions whose answers Fulci took to his grave with him, despite all of the plot holes however, House by the Cemetery is very stylish and extremely unsettling, definitely one of Fulci's best works.

5. The Thing (1982)

After Alien, sci-fi was beginning to get scarier and a prime example of this is in John Carpenter's The Thing. Essentially a remake of The Thing From Another World, the film is set in the Antarctic and sees the citizens of a research station combat a strange, shapeshifting being from another world. This was the second film in the long collaboration between director John Carpenter and actor Kurt Russell who plays the protagonist MacReady in this, it once again proves that the duo work extremely well together. Russell brings his signature witty charisma to the role, creating one of the most likeable horror film protagonists of all time. This film contains what is perhaps the most suspenseful scene in cinematic history in which everybody at the station must undergo a blood test to determine who has been assimilated by the creature, it is an incredibly nailbiting scene. It would be cruel to praise this film without discussing its effects, it contains some of the most mindblowing creature effects of its time, one of my favourites being the stomach that becomes a set of jaws thanks to the eponymous Thing. The whole idea of the baddie hiding among the heroes is something that has been done many times both before and after The Thing, however it has never been done like this before. It is a masterclass in science fiction that takes a familiar concept and fuses it with John Carpenter's signature style to make for a truly terrifying piece of cinema.

4. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Director Wes Craven had already gained acclaim in the genre in the 70's with films like Last House on the Left and The Hills Have Eyes, but it was this supernatural 80's slasher that really cemented the late directors name in horror history. While it follows the usual slasher formula of a killer relentlessly stalking teenagers, this one has a supernatural twist as the killer can only get his victims in their dreams from beyond the grave. This is the film that introduced the world to Freddie Krueger (Robert Englund), the disfigured dream lord who vengefully slaughtered the children of Springwood Ohio years after he was burned to death by their parents. It put an original spin on a genre that was growing in popularity and I suppose that's what gained it so much acclaim, taking an original idea and applying it to a genre that was still growing in popularity. Englund is phenomenal as Krueger, bringing an incredibly sinister atmosphere to all of his scenes while also maintaining a certain wit that the character has become so heavily associated with over the years. The acting talent doesn't end there however as this also marks the cinematic debut of a certain Johnny Depp who plays Glen, the love interest of the films protagonists Nancy (Heather Langenkamp). It's a clever little film and the late Mr. Craven has great fun toying with the audiences minds, blurring the lines between dream and reality, it is one of the highlights of his career.

3. Hellraiser (1987)

Body horror was another subgenre that became increasingly popular during the 80's and one of the most iconic of these films is Clive Barker's Hellraiser, an adaptation of his own novella The Hellbound Heart. The story revolves around nihilist Frank Cotton (Sean Chapman) who enlists his sister in law Julia (Clare Higgins) to help resurrect him after being torn apart by the cenobites, beings from another dimension. I love this film, it is a film that retains a perfect balance of sophistication and violence, having a tone much more serious than other films released at the time. It's got some of the greatest creature effects ever, the cenobites are so disturbingly grotesque from the grizzly looking Chatterbox (Nicholas Vince), to the now iconic Pinhead (Doug Bradley) they are some of the most original and convincing creatures of their time. Bradley in particular is incredible as Pinhead, his performance is so memorably chilling that although he is only a neutral character in this film he is undoubtedly the most iconic thing about it. It has such a unique sense of style, gothic and beautifully grotesque, it really reflects the whole theme of pain and pleasure that is so prominent throughout the film. Between the skinless Frank feeding on unsuspecting victims in his attic to the eerie cenobites, there is such a strong sense of dread throughout Hellraiser that makes it one of the most memorable and original horror's of its time.

2. The Shining (1980)

It was only a matter of time before acclaimed director Stanley Kubrick turned to horror, and what better way to do so than adapting Stephen King's supernatural novel The Shining. A twisted tale of paranoia set against the backdrop of a haunted hotel that sees Jack Torrance's (Jack Nicholson) slow descent into madness during his time as winter caretaker at the Overlook Hotel. Kubrick takes King's novel and makes it his own, bringing his signature style and techniques to the film to present a visually stunning piece of horror cinema. Kubrick transforms the story into a surreal descent into insanity fuelled by paranoia and Jack Nicholson is brilliant at embodying this aspect of the film. As always he gives an electric performance and it is a real treat watching him unleash this sheer madness upon his unsuspecting family. While Nicholson's performance is terrifying enough, Kubrick also makes use of the editing and the chilling score to weave a truly horrifying tale packed full of atmosphere. Nicholson isn't the only one who stands out, young actor Danny Lloyd who was only six years old at the time is brilliant as Torrance's son Danny. He gives a performance that is not only convincing but also vaguely disturbing and his muttering of 'redrum' to this day remains to be unnerving. A combination of the acting, editing and score along with the distinctive Kubrickian style make this a truly chilling horror, a slow burner but chilling nonetheless. Although it differs greatly from King's novel, it stands out as one of Kubrick's greatest films.

1. The Evil Dead (1981)

My favourite horror of the 80's however, is a little cabin in the woods film called The Evil Dead that not only began a successful acting career for Bruce Campbell but also saw Sam Raimi begin his career as a director, later going on to give us the likes of Spider-Man and Drag Me To Hell. The story involves five students who head to a remote cabin in the woods for a relaxing break, what they get however is far from relaxing when they come across the Necronomicon Ex Mortis, the book of the dead. Soon they become the victims of a mysterious demonic force that possesses them one by one, prompting them to become violent and unhinged. This is a cacophony of outlandish violence, its got decapitation, its got stabbing, its got sexually frustrated trees(?), and although the effects seem a bit dated by today's standards they are pretty impressive for such a small budget. I read Bruce Campbell's autobiography a while ago and one of the most fascinating parts in it was the chapter about the making of this film. The crew assembled a variety of makeshift pieces of equipment including a camera attatched to a broomstick for when the window breaks during one of the POV sequences. The story of its production is the tale of budding young filmmakers making the most of their miniscule budget to produce a fantastic piece of horror cinema. The results are incomparable, it is a thrilling tale of terror that sees friends being forced to kill eachother in order to save their souls from the evil dead. It has since spawned two successful sequels that took a more comedic tone, an impressive remake and a hilarious TV show that aired last year. God bless The Evil Dead.

Phew. That was a lot. Like the 70's, there were so many brilliant horror films released in the 1980's and it was so hard to pick just 10, so if you've got any favourites then let me know in the comments! Also before anyone says anything I don't count Aliens as a horror, moreso an action/sci-fi but if I did you know it'd be on this list. Next time I'll be looking at the 90's, a decade that saw the decline of slasher films but the emergence of a whole new subgenre, meta-horror. Until then.

'Preacher' Pilot Review

In the past few years, AMC have given us some real TV gold, from the acclaimed Breaking Bad to the grim, zombie filled The Walking Dead, they certainly have made some fantastic television and their newest show Preacher looks like its set to follow in those footsteps. Preacher is based on Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon's cult comic book that ran through the latter part of the 90's and followed troubled preacher Jesse Custer on his quest to find God after bonding with a powerful entity known as Genesis. The show has been developed by none other than Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg who have given us films such as Superbad and This is the End along with Sam Catlin of Breaking Bad, so with a creative team like that it was hard for Preacher to disappoint, and it's pilot certainly does not.

The pilot follows the eponymous preacher Jesse Custer (Dominic Cooper) in the small town of Annaville, Texas as he struggles with the conflict among his parishioners along with his own inner conflict. To make things more complicated there are some new arrivals in his town, his ex-girlfriend turned hitwoman Tulip O'Hare (Ruth Negga) and the wise-cracking Irish vampire Cassidy (Joe Gilgun). This season appears to be acting as a precursor to the events of the comics which I feel really works as it allows for introduction and development of the key characters. Now as far as my knowledge of the comics go, I've only read two of the six collected editions so far, but from the pilot of Preacher it has already become clear that the show really captures the spirit of its source material. From its cinematography to its soundtrack, the world of Ennis and Dillon's comic was brought to life in full in the pilot episode, and it is a dark and brutal world. You see the comics really put the graphic in graphic novel, from mutilation to rape, pedophilia to beastiality, they are completely off the wall. Obviously there is only so much you can show on television but Rogen and Goldberg are certainly pushing the limit with  several bloody brawls and an exploding Tom Cruise in just the first episode. But it's not all blood and violence as the duo also bring their signature sense of humour to the show which is something that I feel is lacking in shows like The Walking Dead and also something that I feel will make Preacher stand out among the rest.

One of the shows main assets that is evident from the pilot are its strong cast who really bring life and personality of their comic book counterparts. British actor Dominic Cooper takes on the role of Jesse Custer, a struggling preacher who is losing his faith not only in his congregation, but in his religion as well. Cooper is quite captivating to watch as Custer, he really conveys the inner turmoil suffered by the preacher and his struggle to cope with it, not only that but he makes a really convincing American, you wouldn't even know he was from London beneath that smooth Southern drawl. Speaking of accents, I was relieved to hear that Joe Gilgun of This is England fame could pull off a convincing Irish one as he takes on the role of Irish vampire Cassidy. This character is the comic relief of the show and from the pilot it looks as if Gilgun's portrayal of the character will become a fan favourite as the show goes on. The real highlight of the pilot episode however, is Irish actress Ruth Negga in her role as the witty Tulip O'Hare. Negga really embodies the badass hitwoman from the comics while adding her own unique flare to the character, from her first scene (a brawl inside a car) she will already catch your attention and will grow on immensely throughout the rest of the episode. Along with the trio of primary protagonists, some other highlights include newcomer Ian Colletti as the disfigured Arseface and W. Earl Brown as his stern father, Sheriff Hugo Root.

It is a very well-written show packed full of memorable dialogue that is worthy of a Tarantino film, some of the best one-liners are courtesy of Cassidy and there are sure to be much more where they came from. A combination of this witty dialogue and the stellar acting has brought Ennis and Dillon's characters to life, making them both likeable and captivating. But it's not all talk, in fact that was one of the most action packed pilot episodes I've ever seen, from bar brawling to car brawling to plane brawling, Preacher is full of some excellently choreographed action sequences that will have your heart racing. As I said before, the comics are pretty bizarre when it comes to violence and there is obviously a lot that won't make it to the small screen, but fair play to Rogen and Goldberg as they are doing their best to pack as much of that outlandish gore into the show. Examples of this include the opening scene involving one of Genesis' failed hosts and a darkly comic scene where a man attempts to 'open his heart' to his mother, this show is not for the faint-hearted. It also left many questions to be answered such as the identities of the mysterious duo seen travelling the globe throughout the episode and the details of Jesse's backstory that was hinted at through flashbacks. These are questions whose answers can be found in the pages of the comics, how true the show will remain to its source material however is uncertain as of now.

Exhilarating from start to finish and packed full of brilliant writing and impeccable acting, Preacher is looking out to be another acclaimed TV show from AMC. It has a fantastic creative team behind it along with a colourful cast of characters that will be sure to keep things interesting throughout, along with being darkly humourous and shamelessly violent it is sure to gather a wide following pretty quickly. It manages to both honour its source material while at the same time bring the Preacher story into the contemporary, something that will please both those who have read the comics and those who have not. With such a thrilling pilot episode it is hard to not be excited for the future of this show, there are so many characters and story arcs to explore in the future and if it remains consistent with this fantastic pilot then Preacher is set to be just as successful as some of its predecessors on AMC.

Top 10 Horror Films: 70's

In my last post I gave my pick for the top 10 horror films of the 1960's, now it's time for my next installment in this series of lists, the top 10 horror films of the 1970's. If I had to pick my favourite decade for horror cinema it would be, without a doubt, the 70's. Not only did the decade see the emergence of some of the greatest horror filmmakers of all time, it also saw a number of new, ambitious horror films that continued to push the boundaries of fear in their own respective ways. It was a decade where horror cinema really started to mature, there was more blood, more sex and much more suspense, to me it is one of the most influential decades of horror cinema. So here are my top 10 horror films from the 1970's, beware there may be spoilers!

10. Phantasm (1979)

The 1970's saw a variety of independently produced horror films being released, giving the filmmakers more freedom when it came to creating ways to shock the audience, one of these films was Phantasm. The film is an under-appreciated gem, a bizarre coming of age flick riddled with suspense and chills courtesy of the films antagonist, The Tall Man (played brilliantly by the late Angus Scrimm). It follows a young boy named Mike (A. Michael Baldwin) who believes that his parents deaths were caused by a mysterious tall man who works at the local funeral home. Now there's a lot about this film that will come across as nonsensical, the zombified dwarf minions for example, but the whole lack of explanation behind The Tall Man and his minions is where the beauty of this film lies. That fear of the unknown is what makes this film so unsettling, along with Scrimm's performance and the chilling score by Fred Myrow and Malcolm Seagrave. While primarily it is a horror, underneath all of that terror Phantasm is a coming of age story about loss and coping with it, something that the young protagonist is faced with from the beginning of the film. Although it was not immensely successful upon its release, Phantasm has since spawned a number of sequels and began director Don Coscarelli's successful career in horror cinema.

9. A Bay of Blood (1971)

In my last post I spoke very highly of Italian director Mario Bava for his massive influence on the slasher genre, but that influence only grew when the 70's came along. A Bay of Blood is a blood soaked tale of murder and deception that follows a number of people fighting for possession of a large area of land, willing to do whatever it takes to get what they want. To further complicate things, a group of unsuspecting teens arrive at the bay and what ensues is a bloody string of murders right up until the films grizzly end. This complex giallo film is partially what inspired the slasher boom in the following decade, from its lakeside setting to its gruesome setpieces, many tropes of modern slasher films can be traced back to A Bay of Blood. The Friday the 13th franchise is one of the most notable slasher series to take inspiration from this film, the second Friday the 13th even copies the impalement scene, maybe if Jason had have watched less Mario Bava films he would have gotten less sequels. Like all of Bava's films, A Bay of Blood manages to blend violence and atmosphere so effortlessly that as much as you want to look away, he has made it impossible to. The story is cleverly woven together to make it more than just your average killer-stalking-teens movie, oh no, it's much more than that. Without A Bay of Blood, it is safe to say, slasher films would have been a lot different.

8. Dawn of the Dead (1978)

The 60's saw director George A. Romero revolutionise the zombie subgenre in a way that nobody had before with Night of the Living Dead, ten years later he upped the action and the gore for his hugely iconic sequel, Dawn of the Dead. With society collapsing due to the increasing numbers of undead rising across the globe, a number of survivors find sanctuary in an abandoned shopping mall however the zombies are not far behind. This film takes Romero's original Night of the Living Dead and expands it on a completely wider scale, there are more zombies, there is more blood and the extent of the apocalypse is much greater than before. Romero had help from Italian horror maestro Dario Argento in producing this one, the latter was a big fan of Night of the Living Dead and eagerly agreed to get its sequel developed, with two of horrors biggest names behind this it was bound to be a success. Along with this, horror makeup wiz Tom Savini provided the special effects makeup for the film and worked effortlessly with his crew throughout the production, thanks to him zombie films would now be much more gorey. Along with being both thrilling and terrifying, the film also has deeper meanings, poking fun at consumerism in its shopping mall setting. While its predecessor is what evolved the zombie film, Dawn of the Dead set the standard for modern zombie films and has since influenced almost every one since.

7. The Exorcist (1973)

One of the most controversial films of its time, The Exorcist is the story of Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) who seeks help from the church when her young daughter Regan (Linda Blair) becomes possessed by a demonic entity. This is one of those few films that still doesn't seem dated despite its release over 40 years ago, the effects and general subject matter were way ahead of their time and pushed the limits of mainstream horror cinema. The idea of a young girl spouting out profanities was controversial enough at the time, but images of her masturbating with a crucifix and her head turning 360 degrees, well let's just say people were a bit shocked. Critics were divided upon the films released with some calling it obscene and disgusting while others, such as Roger Ebert, praising the special effects and William Friedkin's direction. It is a highly suspenseful film packed full of jumpscares at all the right moments, the frights in this film never feel cheap, they always have a build up. It also popularised Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells, the opening piano solo has since become heavily associated with the film. It is safe to say there had been nothing like this before in mainstream cinema, while nowadays there are countless imitations released year after year (including a TV reimagining set to be released soon) The Exorcist is the first, and best of its kind. 

6. The Wicker Man (1973)

Not to be confused with the remake of the same name where Nick Cage shouts about bees and punches women, no, the original Wicker Man was set on the remote Scottish island of Summerisle and followed police Sargent Howie (Edward Woodward) arriving there in search of a missing girl. This  film was dubbed 'the Citizen Kane of horror films' upon its release and rightly so as it is the groundbreaking debut from director Robin Hardy and gained immense acclaim upon its release. Despite being quite the slow burner (pun intended), the film is so packed full of mystery that you will be enticed from its beginning, right up until its shocking climax. The film deals with paganism in the modern world and draws heavily on the theme of religion, Howie who is a devout Christian acts as a sort of fish out of water as he finds himself surrounded by the pagan cult that resides on Summerisle. This sense of isolation only makes Howie's insidious investigation more unsettling. The highlight of this film is the head of the pagan cult and leader of the island, Lord Summerisle who is portrayed impeccably by horror legend Christopher Lee who brings his signature flare of charisma to the wicked character. As a horror it is not explicitly scary, but the sense of mystery and isolation that follow Howie on his investigation manages to build this unsettling atmosphere throughout. It is a very mature horror film for its time and inspired many other future films to follow suit.

5. Black Christmas (1974)

Bob Clark is a director who is best known for his festive classic A Christmas Story, however, nine years prior to this he had already presented a very different kind of Christmas story, one about a murderer who stalks sorority girls from inside their house during the Christmas holidays. Yes its everybody's favourite festive slasher flick, Black Christmas. As I mentioned just there, the film is set in a sorority house that becomes the location of a number of grizzly murders over the holidays while the killer taunts the residence over the phone. Little do the girls know that their mysterious killer is calling them from inside the house. I loved this film the first time I watched it, it was immensely suspenseful and the outlandish yammering from the films killer was unnerving as hell. Even the fact that the killer is never actually seen (or caught for that matter, depending what you interpret) adds this sense of ambiguity to the film that will leave you feeling uneasy even after the credits roll. There's this twisted juxtaposition throughout between the gruesome murders and the Christmas festivities that's really effective, you'll never look at Christmas lights the same after this. It's an eerie piece of horror cinema with effective scares and even better acting with a cast including the likes of Olivia Hussey, Margot Kidder and John Saxon. So this Christmas why don't you and your family sit down after dinner and enjoy this wonderful holiday classic.

4. Alien (1979)

After the release of Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey in 1968 it looked as though the day's of cheesy and camp science fiction movies were gone. It had paved the way for a new, more mature brand of sci-fi films, one of which was Ridley Scott's terrifying sci-fi horror, Alien. It followed the crew of the spacecraft Nostromo and their horrific encounter with an alien life form after landing on a mysterious planet while following a distress signal. The days of goofy looking space creatures were gone, Alien (quite literally) gave birth to the sinister Xenomorph, a horrific creature with acidic saliva and two sets of jaws who relentlessly hunted the crew of the Nostromo in the movie. This creature to this day is still terrifying, not only in appearance, but also because its birth involves bursting through a hosts chest after being laid in there through the means of a facehugger (nasty stuff). However, it was no match for the films lead Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) who managed to survive its attack and escape the ship unscathed. Since then she has become one of the most iconic heroines in cinematic history and Weaver has become renowned for her performance. The film as this dark atmosphere throughout that, combined with the feeling of isolation aboard the craft, creates a tension that can only be broken by the snarling jaws of the eponymous alien. Simply terrifying.

3. Halloween (1978)

Now over the course of these posts I've been mentioning how certain films have had an influence on a certain slasher craze in the 1980's, Halloween is the spark that set off this explosion of slasher films in the decade that followed as it gained high praise upon its release. The film follows teenager Laurie Strode (Jamie Leigh Curtis) who finds herself being stalked by a mysterious figure on Halloween. Unbeknownst to her, the figure is the murderous Michael Myers (Nick Castle) who has returned home after years of being locked away in an asylum, waiting to kill again. This low budget slasher is what began director John Carpenter's successful career as a horror filmmaker, not only did he direct the film, he also co-wrote the script and provided its now iconic score. It displayed his ability to build suspense by creating a terrifying adversary in the form of Michael Myers, a silent killer with a penchant for killing babysitters. This formula of a masked killer stalking unruly teenagers is something that had been seen in films prior to Halloween, but this is what popularised it and its success inspired countless films with similar tropes in the years that followed. Even now, watching Halloween is still a nailbiting experience, that scene where the exhausted Laurie rests her head after believing she killed Myers only for him to slowly rise from behind her still gives me goosebumps. An iconic piece of indie horror that sent the genre in a new direction in the following decade.

2. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

Another indie slasher that caused quite a stir upon its release, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is the gritty tale of five teenagers who become involved with a twisted family of redneck cannibals while travelling through the Texas back roads. Director Tobe Hooper was clever in making this film as he managed to weave a very violent story with very little violence, although there are several violent scenes such as chainsaw decapitations and meat hook impalements, there is little blood onscreen. Despite this, it was still criticised for being violent upon its release and many were shocked by some of its sequences. One of the things that stands out about this film is that Tobe Hooper managed to create this gritty, realistic world from the setting to the acting, everything about this film seems grounded in reality. This is what makes it all the more shocking. Of course it would be a crime to talk about this film without mentioning its villain Leatherface, a mentally troubled man who wears a mask made of human flesh and is manipulated by his family to kill people for food. The late Gunnar Hansen portrays Leatherface in this film and he gives quite the performance, watching him pursue the traumatised Sally (Marilyn Burns) with his buzzing chainsaw is a harrowing experience, he gives the character an unhinged vibe that makes him all the more unpredictable. That final shot of him dancing in the sunset with his chainsaw is the icing on the cake, a beautiful ending to a beautiful film.

1. Suspiria (1977)

Now those of you who read my blog will know that I love this film a lot, so it seems only fitting that I put it as number one on this list. Suspiria is a twisted fairytale about a girl named Suzy Bannion (Jessica Harper) who begins her term at a prestigious German ballet school that hides a dark secret. Now this film is a true work of art courtesy of Italian director Dario Argento, every frame of the film is like looking at a painting, from its elaborate production design to its colourful lighting, the film gradually becomes more hypnotic as it progresses. There is blood, there are some jumpscares, but those are not what makes this film so frightening. From the beginning, there is this incredibly eerie atmosphere that is a combination of Argento's skills as a director and the haunting score by Italian prog rock band Goblin. The whole film has this sense of mystery surrounding it and even as the credits begin to roll there are still questions left unanswered, this sense of uncertainty and ambiguity is very effective in the grand scheme of the film. Sure the acting is a bit dodgy as is the dialogue, but the atmosphere is so utterly terrifying that you won't even notice that stuff, you'll be too encapsulated in the hypnotic visuals. Watching Suspiria is like slipping into a surreal nightmare from which you never want to awaken from, it is stylish, mysterious and downright unsettling. Suspiria is a one of a kind horror film, no horror film since has ever managed to build such a beautifully haunting atmosphere and to be honest, I don't think any ever will.

And so ends another decade of terrifying films, there were so many fantastic horror films released in the 70's it was so hard to pick just ten. If you've got any favourites or any films that I've left out then let me know. Next time I'll be looking at the 80's, a decade that saw the great slasher boom so stay tuned for that!

Top 10 Horror Films: 60's

Hello again, if you've been reading my blog recently then you'll know that I recently started to list some of my favourite horror films of all time beginning with those from the golden age and in my last post, those from the 1950's. Now we come to a decade where horror was beginning to evolve immensely, the 1960's. Horror films were becoming bloodier, made all the more effective with the help of colour cinema, the slasher genre was slowly emerging and zombies became more fearsome than ever. It was truly a decade of change for horror cinema and one that produced some of the most iconic horror films of all time. So now I present to you my list for the top 10 horror films of the 1960's, beware there could be some spoilers in there!

10. The Raven (1963)

Edgar Allan Poe is one of the pioneers of gothic horror, known for his various poetry and prose, Poe's work has since inspired a wide variety of films over the years, one of which being this 1963 Roger Corman classic. It's only a very loose adaptation of Poe's iconic poem The Raven, this version adds in sorcery and deception presumably to extend the poem into an entertaining feature length film. It's a pretty bizarre premise for a film, the story of a sorcerer named Bedlo (Peter Lorre) who seeks help from fellow sorcerer Erasmus Craven (Vincent Price) after being turned into a raven by the malevolent Dr. Scarabus (Boris Karloff). More fantasy than horror but still classed as the latter, The Raven is a pleasure to watch due to its absurd plot and entertaining performances from the trio of horror legends, Price, Lorre and Karloff. It lacks all the suspense and mystery from its source material but that doesn't matter here, it is a masterpiece of comedy-horror and one of Roger Corman's most entertaining Poe adaptations from the 60's. I mean come on, what's not to like about a film that involves a wizard duel between Vincent Price and Boris Karloff? However, one reason why I love this film is because it is one of the roles that launched the career of Jack Nicholson who plays Lorre's son in this. It was one of many Corman films to have Nicholson in the cast and if it wasn't for films like The Raven his careers could have went a completely different way.

9. Black Sunday (1960)

Gothic horror cinema was making a comeback all over the world, from Hammer films in the UK to AIP in America, the world was once again embracing gothic horror cinema. Over in Italy, a certain director by the name of Mario Bava was also embracing the gothic genre with a little film by the name of Black Sunday. It stars scream queen Barbara Steele in a duel role playing both princess Katia Vajda and the evil undead witch Asa who wishes to drain her blood to gain immortality. It takes inspiration from many different sources such as Dracula, Carmilla and the Salem Witch Trials however it is very much its own film thanks to the expertise of Mr. Mario Bava. The film highlighted his talent from the horror genre, his ability to build an air of suspense and his skills in both direction and cinematography. When I first watched this I was overwhelmed by the visuals, the setpieces were exaggerated yet naturalistic, reminiscent of the production design in Tod Browning's Dracula but with a hint of Bava's own unique flair. The real highlight of Black Sunday, however is Barbara Steele's performance, or performances, in particular during her scenes as the resurrected witch Asa. Not only is her appearance unsettling, but she gives such an enticing performance that every scene with her sent shivers up my spine, she is an actress truly worthy of the title of Scream Queen. It is an Italian masterpiece of gothic cinema that highlights Mario Bava's talents as a director and sent him on to have a promising career in the genre.

8. Blood and Black Lace (1964)

Speaking of which, four years later Bava directed what is often considered as one of the most influential giallo films of all time, Blood and Black Lace. The film follows a group of fashion models who become the targets of a brutal killer who is intent on finding a mysterious diary in their possession. Blood and Black Lace is often considered to be one of the first giallo films, a subgenre of Italian horror that would inspire slasher films in the years to come. From its setpieces and colourful lighting to its highly stylised murder sequences, the film set the standard for giallo films and inspired future legends of the genre such as Dario Argento and Lucio Fulci. Not only did it influence giallo films in Italy, but Blood and Black Lace is often considered to be one of the earliest slasher films as well. Many tropes of the modern slasher genre such as the high body count and blending of violence and sexuality can be traced back to this film, even its title emphasises the connection between the two. I like this film, not only because of its massive influence, but because it genuinely is an entertaining film to watch. Once again Bava presents us with this unique visual style, only instead of Black Sunday's gothic atmosphere, this time we get this colourful sixties vibe that suits the plot really well. As a fan of films that are ahead of their time it was hard for me not to like this film, until this point a connection between sex and violence had only really been hinted at in horror cinema, but this film emphasised that link and inspired future films to do the same. Much like Bava's later film A Bay of Blood, this really set the standard for every slasher film in the following years. 

7. Dr. Terror's House of Horrors (1965)

Something that was becoming more popular in the 60's was the anthology film, a feature length film that incorporated a number of different smaller segments, in the horror genre these were made popular by Amicus Productions. My all time favourite of these films would have to be Dr. Terror's House of Horrors, a film that involves several men on a train who each tell their own horrific tale to the mysterious passenger Dr. Shreck (Peter Cushing). Along with Cushing in this menagerie of horror were the likes of fellow horror giant Christopher Lee, Roy Castle of Record Breakers fame and a young Donald Sutherland who each told their own personal tale involving encounters with the supernatural. The segments varied from a tale about a formidable plant to one about a piece of music with a voodoo curse, each as frightfully entertaining as the next and only made more enjoyable by the excellent performances. My favourite segment in the film would have to be Christopher Lee's story about an art critic who is terrorised by the severed hand of a dead artist whose work he panned, it is as strange as it sounds and Lee is as impeccable as always. The real beauty of this film lies in its twist ending though and it keeps in line with the darkly comedic tone, I won't spoil anything though in case you watch it yourself. Dr. Terror's House of Horrors is a darkly funny and highly enjoyable anthology of horror that will appeal to fans of the genre and others alike.

6. The Birds (1963)

While he had previously been making mystery and thriller films, Alfred Hitchcock finally took to the horror genre in the 1960's and one of his most iconic of these films was The Birds. The film follows Melanie Daniels (Tippi Hedren) as she travels to Bodega Bay in San Francisco only to find that the birds there are becoming increasingly violent towards humans. The film is more than just your average creature feature however as it has the master of suspense behind the camera, Hitchcock brings his signature talent for suspense to The Birds to create an atmosphere so tense you could cut it with a butter knife. That scene where Melanie walks by the children's playground where the blackbirds perched on the jungle jim watch her is truly nailbiting, I thought that scene would never end. The whole idea that something as innocent as birds turning on humanity is a chilling concept that is executed perfectly here by Hitchcock, rather than having the birds attacking all at once he makes their assaults gradual, almost strategic. When the birds finally do attack it is almost cathartic, winged beasts flying violently around the place causing harm to any human who gets in their way, the film has the perfect balance between suspense and violence. While the effects may seem a bit dated by today's standards, the acting is flawless and the performances from both Hedren and her co-star Rod Taylor are incredibly convincing. There is this sense of hopelessness throughout and even the films ambiguous ending retains this, in less than two hours Hitchcock managed to make us fear birds of all things.

5. Rosemary's Baby (1968)

To be honest, I never really found this film scary (apart from its opening theme) but it is without a doubt one of the greatest horror films of its time and I will tell you why. First of all, the film does not rely on violence or shock value for its scares, instead it relies heavily on suspense. For the films majority it keeps with the theme of 'less is more' and it really works, it keeps the viewer constantly guessing what is going to happen and who's messing with Rosemary (Mia Farrow) making it an enticing piece of cinema. The film follows Rosemary who begins to experience strange goings on in her apartment after she becomes pregnant, soon she becomes increasingly paranoid and even begins to question whether or not she can trust her own husband Guy (John Cassavetes). This sense of paranoia that gradually increases throughout the film is really captivating and Mia Farrow is brilliant at conveying this to the audience, following her on her journey into madness is a great experience. The real highlight of the film for me is the Castevet's, the old couple who live in Rosemary's building portrayed by Ruth Gordon and Sidney Blackmer, this sinister duo hide behind their seemingly friendly demeanor throughout and they both shine in their roles. Rosemary's Baby is a slow burner but by the time it reaches its shocking climax you'll be glad you watched it.

4. Blood Feast (1963)

As I mentioned earlier, the increasing prominence of colour cinema meant that films could now be much more bloodier and no man took advantage of this more than American director Herschell Gordon Lewis. Often cited as the Godfather of Gore, the director is notorious for making some of the earliest splatter films and pushing the limits of how much blood and guts you could show onscreen. Blood Feast is the perfect example of this. The film follows mysterious caterer Fuad Ramses (Mal Arnold) who begins to decapitate a number of women across suburban Miami in preparation for his blood feast, a sacrifice to the goddess Ishtar. Upon its release, Blood Feast was panned, considered to be in poor taste due the excessive gore that was uncommon at the time and is one of the earliest entries on the video nasty list. Looking back now, it is pretty corny and the acting is almost cringeworthy at times, but it would be wrong to ignore how important this film is. This one really pushed the boundaries, Lewis did things that some filmmakers would never have dreamed of doing and although it seems a bit amateurish at times it was essentially the first of its kind and after Blood Feast more splatter films began to emerge in the years that followed. It is not necessarily a good film, however Blood Feast is highly entertaining, be it the over the top performances, the bizarre story or even just the gore, the film has something we can all enjoy.

3. Masque of the Red Death (1964)

Another one of Roger Corman's Edgar Allan Poe adaptations, Masque of the Red Death was set in a world overrun by a mysterious plague known as the red death where all of the survivors reside in a large castle ruled over by the satanic Prince Prospero (Vincent Price). While many of Corman's Edgar Allan Poe films were a bit silly in comparison to their source material, I think that this one genuinely does the writer justice. It takes inspiration not only from Poe's short story of the same name but also from his other short story Hop-Frog. There is a surreal and dreamlike atmosphere throughout due to the production design and colour schemes, the cinematography was done by none other than Nicolas Roeg who would go on to direct classics such as Don't Look Now and The Man Who Fell to Earth and his influence is felt in several Roegisms throughout. To me it is the most mature of Corman's Poe adaptations, while some sequences are a bit silly it has this sense of slow burning tension throughout that all comes together in the films macabre climax that could have made even Edgar Allan Poe smile. Of course it would be rude not to mention Price's performance as Prospero who brings his signature sense of charismatic evil to the character, he gives a powerful performance that almost made me feel sorry for the villainous prince. If you were going to watch any horror film by Roger Corman, watch this one.

2. Night of the Living Dead (1968)

The film that changed it all, this classic zombie romp is what caused the undead to evolve from voodoo slaves into bloodthirsty monsters from beyond the grave. The film follows a group of survivors led by a man called Ben (Duane Jones) who defend themselves from inside a farmhouse against hordes of the recently resurrected deceased. This was a big gamechanger for its time, not only because it changed zombies forever but also due to the casting choices. At this time it was uncommon to have an African American actor in a lead role which is why Duane Jones' casting raised a lot of eyebrows at the time, however Jones' performance is timeless and has since become iconic. Another reason why it was so controversial is because of a certain scene in which a young girl comes back from the dead and proceeds to stab her mother to death with a trowel, even by today's standards that's pretty shocking. It was a bold move by George A. Romero to make this film but it managed to launch his highly successful career and spawned a number of sequels both official and unofficial, it is also known for being one of the most profitable horror films of its time being one of the top grossing films in Europe upon its release. It is a true milestone in the history of horror film.

1. Psycho (1960)

As I said earlier, Alfred Hitchcock briefly turned to horror during the 1960's and while The Birds was fantastic, it did not compare to his masterpiece that is Psycho. Based on the novel by Robert Bloch, the film follows Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) who checks into the mysterious Bates Motel after stealing money from her boss. It is here where she meets Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) and things take a shockingly sinister turn. Often considered one of the earliest slasher films, Psycho is a masterclass in horror cinema, from its heavily suspenseful atmosphere courtesy of Hitchcock to Bernard Hermmann's chilling score, the film gets everything right. Just when the audience thinks Hitchcock will turn left, he turns right, it is a film that is highly unpredictable and full of unexpected surprises at every corner. The pivotal shower scene has since become infamous, and although knowing about it does spoil the film, there are still plenty of surprises waiting within the walls of the Bates Motel. The acting is stellar, although it did unfortunately get Perkins typecast in the role of Norman Bates for the duration of his career, it is without a doubt his greatest performance. Psycho has since inspired countless parodies and homages, not to mention a number of sequels, a tv show and a shot-for-shot remake (but lets not get into that), it is very deservant of its popularity. In Psycho, Hitchcock toyed with the conventions of classical cinema to give audiences a new experience that would scare the living daylights out of them, and in that he certainly succeeded.

And so ends another decade of horror, if you have any horror films you like from the 60's or if you agree with the list then let me know in the comments. Next time I will be looking at what, to me, is the greatest decade in horror cinema, the 1970's. Films that looked at possession, witchcraft, serial killers and the terrors of space, so stay tuned for that!