The annual "What's your favorite horror movie?" thread

[Harold falcon]



Whoever voted for Leprechaun, congratulations. You have selected the worst ************* ever to carry the horror film banner, and you have revealed yourself to have the worst taste imaginable. You probably drive a pimped out Ford Aspire, eat mayonnaise sandwiches on Wonder Bread, and look forward with anticipation to the next Jos. A. Banks "3 for 1" sale so that you can stock up on clean underwear.

The Troll movies were pretty goddamn terrible. Also the Amityville Horror series ate rhino nuts. The first Children of the Corn movie wasn't terrible but all it's sequels/remakes were.

 

[imatlas]

I voted Halloween but only because you omitted The Exorcist and Suspiria.

I always found Suspiria boring, but the last few minutes are great.

If the question is "what is your favorite film that is of the horror genre?" I would probably have to go with the Omen, the Shining, or Cemetery Man, although the last one is more of an existential post-modern comedy.

That is a different question, and one that has had its own threads in years past. The Omen (1976) and The Shining (1980) are both excellent films, but as I've said before I am baffled by the love for Cemetary Man. One of these days I'll give it another try to see what all the fuss is about.

Suspiria has a brilliant soundtrack, weirdly surreal set design and lighting, and some brain-searingly horrific set pieces. It is the pinnacle of Italo-Horror.

 

[imatlas]



The Troll movies were pretty goddamn terrible. Also the Amityville Horror series ate rhino nuts. The first Children of the Corn movie wasn't terrible but all it's sequels/remakes were.

You, sir, are a walking encyclopedia of schlocky horror. Respeto!

Edit: the first Amityville Horror actually scared the **** out of me, but I was about 12 when I saw it.

 

[FLMountainMan]

Exorcist III is awesome. Some awesome visuals. The old lady crawling around in the background on the ceiling? The guy with the shears running after the nurse? Badass.

 

[mordecai]



as I've said before I am baffled by the love for Cemetary Man. One of these days I'll give it another try to see what all the fuss is about. .

It isn't even close to being the only reason, but Anna Falchi certainly doesn't hurt the film. NSFW

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

 

[erictheobscure]

I don't know if it's my favorite, but I teach Candyman with some regularity and I've come to think it's really, really clever.

 

[imatlas]

Good lord, another vote for Leprechaun? What the hell is wrong with you?!? Stop huffing pesticides, people!

 

[imatlas]



I don't know if it's my favorite, but I teach Candyman with some regularity and I've come to think it's really, really clever.

I have to agree, it's a highly underrated movie, that has stood up well to multiple viewings.

How do you teach it?

 

[imatlas]



Exorcist III is awesome. Some awesome visuals. The old lady crawling around in the background on the ceiling? The guy with the shears running after the nurse? Badass.

I might get some hate for this, but I feel the same way about The Blair Witch Project. I found the final shot, in particular, very disturbing. It only had a single sequel so I don't really think it deserves to be called a franchise film.

A couple of other memorable franchises that have come to mind while considering this topic are Basket Case and It's Alive. Do either of these have any partisans?

 

[ter1413]

I voted for Halloween....The Omen would give it a run!

 

[javyn]

Argento is God.

 

[imatlas]



Argento is God.

That certainly would explain the Old Testament.

 

[mordecai]

Does Salo count as horror?

 

[Harold falcon]



I might get some hate for this, but I feel the same way about The Blair Witch Project. I found the final shot, in particular, very disturbing. It only had a single sequel so I don't really think it deserves to be called a franchise film.
A couple of other memorable franchises that have come to mind while considering this topic are Basket Case and It's Alive. Do either of these have any partisans?

There's only one thing wrong with the Davis baby, IT'S ALIVE!

I remember rather enjoying the third one with Michael Moriarty. The mutant babies were placed on a deserted island by the government so they have to create their own mutant baby society and then Ben Stone from Law & Order fights to save them. Pretty hilarious. Reminds me a lot of the Troma films of the '80s. Toxic Avenger and Class of Nuk'em High among some other high points. But these types of films are really comedies instead of horror films. Same with the Evil Dead series, although the first one was an attempt to make a horror film the rest just turned to horror/comedy.

 

[imatlas]



There's only one thing wrong with the Davis baby, IT'S ALIVE!

I remember rather enjoying the third one with Michael Moriarty. The mutant babies were placed on a deserted island by the government so they have to create their own mutant baby society and then Ben Stone from Law & Order fights to save them. Pretty hilarious. Reminds me a lot of the Troma films of the '80s. Toxic Avenger and Class of Nuk'em High among some other high points. But these types of films are really comedies instead of horror films. Same with the Evil Dead series, although the first one was an attempt to make a horror film the rest just turned to horror/comedy.

Such a great tag line! I never got past It Lives Again - I'll see if I can track down the third one. However, Larry Cohen is high on my list of Best Schlock Horror Directors, with Q, The Stuff, and It's Alive being the high points of his body of work. God Told Me Too is a lot of fun as well.

My high school drama teacher and his wife had small parts in The Toxic Avenger, so I have a warm spot for that one, but most of the Troma movies are flat out awful, and not in a good way.

I don't really get why people love The Evil Dead series as much as they seem to. The first one is a passable low budget indy, the second one is a remake of the first with better production values, and the third is just awful.