(subject to change!)
Alien 1979, Ridley Scott. What do you need to say, it's Alien.
Asylum 1972, Roy Ward Baker. If Dead of Night is the Great Granddaddy of The Horror Anthology, then Asylum is a worthy Grandson. Not a patch on the great old man of course, but better by far than most. A very young RobertPowel is dispatched to an Asylum, where apparently the Chief Psychiatrist Dr. Star has gone insane. Living with a different personality as one of the inmates, it falls to Robert Powel, himself a Psychiatrist, to correctly find and identify the mysterious Dr Star. The interviews begin, and with each new patient, a new tale to chill the blood..... Hammy Horror, but good hammy Horror. From actually Hammer by the way. Fondly remembered, worthy of a watch.
The Amityville Horror 1979, Stuart Rosenburg. The house looks scary. The stuff that happens in the house is just freaky also. Oslowe sez: There are some good moments early on that convey tension, but as James Brolin begins to lust over his axe, the movie goes downhill
The Abominable Doctor Phibes 1971, Robert Fuest. One of Vincent Price's more memorable turns as a villain, and that's saying something. Visiting the nine plagues of Egypt upon those whom he blames for his wife's death,
Vincent does the revenge-bit yet again.
The Birds 1963, Alfred Hitchcock... Nature turns on man, without explanation, and in a way people seem helpless to defend against.
The Blair Witch Project 1999, Daniel Myrick & Eduardo Sanchez. Some people hated it, some liked it. It didn't look like every other damn movie out there.
Black Christmas 1974, Bob Clark. A lesser known Canadian film. Little action happens yet it still manages to be very chilling. The ending is somewhat of a disappointment if you are looking for resolution but it fits nicely with the film. Oslowe sez: Many claim this gem was the originator of the Slasher craze that erupted in the late 70s. I say: Bob Clark also directed Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things and A Christmas Story. Now that is scary.
Bride Of Frankenstein 1935, James Whale. Dead...I...Love...Dead Who can forget it?
The Brood 1979 David Cronenberg has serious issues with bodily functions. Oliver Reed & Samantha Eggar have a marriage so bad you wouldn't wish it on your worst enemies. Seriously creepy. Not recommended viewing for expectant parents. No, really.
Carrie 1976, Brian De Palma. That last shot of a hand sticking out of a grave made my blood run cold. And the prom scene is definitely not for those with heart conditions.
Cat People 1942, Jacques Tourneur. A dark, richly atmospheric allegorical tale of sexual awakening, and cats. Perfect casting and superb direction, set design and lighting, make this a gripping and unforgettable film, possibly low on the horror even by the standards of the day, but exuding atmosphere by the bucket load. It's been tried many times since, but still never surpassed. Boffo.
Child's Play 1988, Tom Holland. It seems important to mention, since it began a cult following and spawned several sequels and a couple of lawsuits. Plus, it gave Brad Dourif and Chris Sarandon work.
Christine 1983, John Carpenter.A high school loser acquires a wrecked '57 Plymouth Fury and begins restoring it. The car is evil, sentient, and very protective/jealous. One of the best of early movies made from Stephen King novels, this one was done damned well.
The Company of Wolves 1984, Neil Jordan. Angela Carter's gory post-feminist Folklore is drawn together with utterly magnificent production design by the late Anton Furst. It may not count as proper horror, but it has some truly nightmarish imagery, and a properly spooky turn by Angela Lansbury as the story-telling granny.
The Convent 2000, Mike Mendez. A truly inspired, very funny, yet effective tale of demon possession and college kids in peril. Rises over the rest with excellent direction, a surprisingly well-used cast, and one of the greatest opening sequences to ever feature a nubile teenager in a Catholic school girl outfit outside of a porno. The difference here? She doesn't have KY in that duffel bag, but a 12-gauge and a sawed-off baseball bat.
Curse of the Werewolf 1961, Terrence Fisher. Oliver Reed gives a magnetic perf as the tormented and accursed Leon. Granted, his makeup makes him look somewhat like a great cuddly were-teddy-bear, but his anguish and grief cut through the latex.
D-F
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