REALLY SCARY MOVIES
Some of the best scary movies:

ALIEN What started as a “slasher film in space” soon became one of today’s most memorable monster movies ever made. A masterpiece of tension, atmosphere, tidy special effects and ensemble acting. It's legacy still lives on in its trilogy of sequels as one of the most influential movie monsters ever in our pop culture. It remains one of the few films that I can watch over and over again and never get tired of. A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET Not just a slasher flick, this film has one of most original concepts ever used in the horror genre. A freaky burnt psychopath with razor fingernails who preys on his victims in their dreams. I still haven't recovered from the scene where Tina gets murdered! A true classic and a very scary film. BLUE VELVET David Lynch's twisted journey into the dark side of American suburbia remains a landmark in cinema history; a kinky, creepy, even erotic tale which in it’s time was ground-breaking. Lynch united surreal themes and imagery to create utterly compelling, yet uniquely disturbing viewing. Bizarre and frequently haunting this is a movie that will stay with you for a very long time and really is a must see. CANDYMAN The slasher genre was pretty much tapped out by the early 90s when "Candyman" came along, and despite what would happen to the series later on (two abysmal sequels), it stands as one of the most original and terrifying horror films of the 90s. A dark, ominous figure who appears when his victims say his name five times in front of a mirror, then mercilessly slashes them to death! Based on a story by Clive Barker, it rises above most horror films by eerily suggesting that some urban legends have a spooky basis in reality. EVIL DEAD Five teenagers stay at a cabin in the middle of nowhere and accidentally release an evil spirit that, one by one, turns them all into Marilyn Manson. A simple yet well crafted schlock horror film with more blood than a blood bank. EXORCIST Linda Blair plays a young girl who gets possessed by Captain Howdy when she plays with a Ouija board. Silly girl! Everyone knows when a spirit you're communicating with calls themselves Captain Howdy, they are really the devil!! This film took terror to a new level, and is so disturbing I love it! A great soundtrack and enough Pea and Ham soup for everybody. HALLOWEEN Jamie Lee Curtis was crowned a bona fide "Scream Queen" for this horror classic about a psychopath named Michael Myers who is obsessed with killing his last remaining sibling. The only problem is he doesn't seem to mind killing anyone else who crosses his path along the way, bringing to life the urban legend of the “Bogey Man”. One of the best soundtracks ever used in a horror film and a perfect predecessor for the many films it inspired. NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD George Romero challenged the system in the 60’s when he made one of the greatest zombie films of all time and changed the course of independent genre filmmaking. Truly terrifying, it broke barriers for future filmmakers like Sam Raimi and Wes Craven. OMEN (1976) A true classic with Gregory Peck and Lee Remick as wealthy political figures who come to terms with the fact their child is the son of Satan. Beautifully constructed this film uses suspense, a powerful musical score and genuine eeriness to depict a classic tale of good versus pure evil.

PSYCHO A greedy woman pays the ultimate price for stealing money from her boss. What more can be said of this Hitchcock masterpiece. Groundbreaking for its time this film perfectly takes us into the evil of the human psyche. RINGU Hideo Nakata's quietly unsettling study in terror with a very original idea. A grainy, enigmatic videotape has the power to kill people seven days after they watch it. This brilliant premise fuelled the 2002 Hollywood hit THE RING, and although RINGU has a less elaborate storyline, the fear is far more primal. ROSEMARY’S BABY As absolute horror classic which tells the story of a fragile woman pregnant with the spawn of Satan. The dread and suspense Polanski creates is nail biting, relying more on atmosphere and ominous tone than on cheap thrills. A horror fan’s delight delirious with potions, blood, and chills. SCREAM Marking the "re-birth" of the teen horror flick this film took all the rules and reinvented them. Although the ending may be a let down for some, this film is more than worth it for the opening sequence where Drew Barrymore gets it! SE7EN This dark and morbid film is a homicide thriller that is guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat. Dark, grey and foreboding its claustrophobic urban world reveals the dark and masochistic soul of a serial killer. A must see for anyone who has ever wanted to put Gwyneth Paltrow’s head in a box. SILENCE OF THE LAMBS A well crafted masterpiece combining well written psychological drama, suspense, horror and even a love story. Anthony Hopkins showed us that even a psychopath could be well mannered and cultured, even if he was just about to rip out your liver and eat it. FREAKY!! THE WICKER MAN (1973) Just when you think that there's still room for originality in today's film industry, imagine the disappointment when you find out that the musical thriller has already been done!! The Wicker Man is a brilliant, classic film about a Scottish-mainland policeman who investigates the disappearance of a girl on a remote island that still practices pagan beliefs, open sexuality, and devotion to earthly gods. For some strange reason there are several musical numbers, including Britt Ekland's singing and beating the wall in the nude. WHEN A STRANGER CALLS (1979) When a babysitter receives several threatening phone calls asking her to "check on the children," she gets the cops to trace the caller. But when they do, the calls seem to be coming from... inside the house!! (oohhhhhhhhh!). Although the rest of the film may be a bit of a let down it sure is one hell of an opening sequence. But I warn you, don’t watch this one alone. You WILL think there is someone else in the house I assure you. Well worth a look if only to see what inspired the opening sequence to SCREAM.

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SPOOKY SCARY:
The good old fashioned ghost story:

POLTERGEIST “They’re here!” I must have watched this film a hundred times as a child but you can never tire of this classic suburban nightmare about a family getting plagued by pesky house ghosts. This one will teach you not to sit too close to the television. THE AMITYVILLE HORROR Supposlying based on actual events this 70's horror classic is a must see for the now famous wall-bleeding scene. A family realise their home is haunted when they discover that their basement dwells above Hell (or something like that). Unfortunately, the frights are hardly as good as they could be but still well worth a look. THE CHANGELING A potent combination of the mystery and horror genres, which avoids horror and cheap shocks in exchange for a subtle creepiness. When a recent widower moves into an antique Washington mansion, his realisation that he may not be the only resident leads him towards a deadly secret that refuses to remain buried. This movie is in the same vein as WHAT LIES BENEATH, which unfortunately should have paid more attention to this old classic which far surpasses its predecessor.

THE OTHERS After a few disastrous attempts in modern times (i.e. THE HAUNTING remake to name just one) this film came along and finally showed them all how it was done. A finely crafted story which favours atmosphere, sound, and suggestion over flashy special effects. Together with terrific performances, this film provokes well-earned goose bumps that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat until the very end. Nicole Kidman is terrific as the highly-strung yet brittle compulsive in a house which seems to occupy some unwanted house guests. THE SHINING Stanley Kubrick’s gothic depiction of an unhinged writer manipulated by the dark forces within a remote hotel. Jack Nicholson plays one of his most demented personalities striking terror into the heart of his fragile wife and their tricycle riding young son. Jack wielding an axe into the bathroom door is most probably one of the most terrifying scenes in horror film history. THE UNINVITED (1944) A terrific old-fashioned ghost story that is genuinely creepy. Most 40s horror flicks give you Bela Lugosi transmogrifying into a gorilla in a castle full of crackling machinery, but this film builds with nervy anticipation and is guaranteed to give you the shivers. A supernatural thriller of unrivalled subtlety, about a young girl haunted by the ghost of her dead mother.

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SCARILY FORGOTTEN :
Scary movies you might not have seen but should:

AMERICAN GOTHIC (1988) A group of friends stumble upon the settlement of a bizarre cult-like family of religious fanatics who have a few screws loose to say the least. Rod Steiger and Yvonne De Carlo are parents to a bunch of mentally retarded adults with a hunger for human flesh - creepy! The friends are, predictably, served up for slaughter by the bizarre family but don’t think that this is merely a slasher flick, it’s far more sinister than that. If you're in the mood for something completely off the wall insane, I highly recommend this forgotten Canadian gem. APRIL FOOL'S DAY (1986) A young woman, Muffy, invites her friends to her island home getaway for a bit of April Fool's fun. Of course this involves killing them all off one by one. An amusing tongue-in-cheek slasher flick, full of laughs and an unexpected twist at the end. BLACK CHRISTMAS You may never have heard of this neglected 1974 gem, but you've probably seen one of its many imitators. This film was the first to successfully take the common prank call and turn it into something to be really afraid of! A female sorority house is slowly emptying as Christmas approaches but the jolly atmosphere soon fades due to an ongoing series of menacing telephone calls. This film is a perfect example that the unseen is far scarier as tension builds beautifully, making good use of ominous shadows. If you're lucky, you may find this film gathering dust at your local video store but don’t let its tacky b-grade appearance deter you from checking it out. COMA (1977) A female doctor who investigates the reason for her healthy friend's decline into a coma during a routine operation. She soon finds herself amongst a conspiracy of murder and other unethical procedures. It's a slow but genuinely creepy movie, especially the hospital designed to store coma patients by suspending them from the ceiling. Equally unnerving is the Institute's supervisory nurse - but that just might be her 70's uniform clashing with the carpet.

HOUSE When his Aunt commits suicide, a successful horror novelist travels to her home and decides it's a perfect place to write a book. It doesn’t take long before he finds a monster in his closet, followed by yet another monster that is a hideous mutation of his wife… I think you get the picture. House is a fun movie with a great mixture of horror and comedy with some great effects that will either scare you or have you bursting out with laughter. Well worth a look if you like the laughs with your gore. IN THE DEAD OF WINTER (1987) As a dead ringer for the actress who walked off mid-production, a struggling actress travels upstate to star in the small independent film. However, she soon discovers that the movie role was just a pretence to get her up to the isolated snowed-in house, and that she has become a pawn in a very deadly game of cat and mouse. A somewhat underrated old-style thriller that deserves to be seen for its suspenseful twists and turns, as well as Mary Steenburgen’s terrific performance. STEPFATHER (1986) A particularly scary horror/thriller about a psycho trying to build himself what he perceives as the perfect family. When things start to fall apart he has no time for therapy, he kills them all and moves on to the next unsuspecting family. Definitely one of the better chillers of the 80's. THE HOWLING Someone told me this film is Australian but I couldn’t see a single Aussie reference. Otherwise this is a true classic and probably the best werewolf movie ever made. A couple go away for a therapy weekend at a woodland community only to discover the place is crawling with werewolves. Too bad the rest of Howling instalments sucked! WHATEVER HAPPENED TO AUNT ALICE? A newly-widowed socialite finds out her husband has left her with nothing. She is forced to pack up and move to Arizona and buys a small house in the middle of the desert. Here she devises a simple plan to solve her money problems by convincing her housekeepers to invest their life savings. When their investment begins to pay off, she steals the cash, kills them and buries their bodies under trees in her garden. A simple but very enjoyable little thriller that will still run chills up your spine even though it's over thirty years old.

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