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xnikki118x

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top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« on: October 18, 2007, 02:01:43 AM »
I thought you guys might like this.

http://movies.aol.com/movie-photo/best-horror-movies

Best Horror Movies of All Time: 31 Days of Horror

We're counting down the 31 best horror movies of all time, revealing one movie each day this October, until we finally unmask No. 1 on Halloween. Click "Next" to see which flicks snagged spots 31 through 15 or on the link below to jump straight to today's film, then check out clues to the remaining 14.

31. 'The Ring' (2002)
Naomi Watts proves she's got the pipes of a true scream queen in this remake of the J-horror hit 'Ringu,' about a mysterious video tape that kills anyone who watches it (no, not the Pamela-Tommy Lee tape). It's drenched in taut suspense, and boasts a finale that'll have you sprinting away from your TV set.

30. 'Hellraiser' (1987)
Novelist Clive Barker's directorial debut has everything a great horror flick needs: a puzzle box that, when solved, tears your soul to shreds; a villain who gorges himself on human blood; and a pasty white minion of Satan with a British accent and pins jutting from his head (the iconic -- and aptly named -- Pinhead).

29. 'Nosferatu' (1922)
Despite being an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' novel, director F.W. Murnau's seminal vampire flick is lauded as one of the best silent films ever. And Max Schreck is so chillingly creepy as bloodthirsty antagonist Count Orlok (aka Count Dracula) that the actor himself was believed to be a vampire.

28. 'The Descent' (2006)
Six sexy female spelunkers trapped in a cave sounds like the setup for Cinemax soft-core porn. But in this pulse-pounding, scream-a-minute Scottish import, it's the backdrop for a gloriously gory battle to the death between said spelunkers and a horde of blind, flesh-hungry cave mutants.

27. 'The Omen' (1976)
Being possessed by the devil is one thing, but to discover your child is actually the seed of Satan? Now that's freaky. A few shocking moments (and Jerry Goldsmith's eerie Oscar-winning score) elevate a thoroughly chilling film, while Harvey Stephens' Damien still holds the title as all-time creepiest kid in horror movies.

26. 'The Fly' (1986)
While the 1958 original was frightful (Vincent Price's tiny little fly voice pleading "Help me!" still gives us chills), David Cronenberg's remake is disquieting, disturbing, weird ... in a word, awesome. And Jeff Goldblum is indescribably alluring as the man mutating to a creepy crawler -- emphasis on "creepy."

25. 'The Wicker Man' (1973)
No, the much-maligned Nic Cage remake hasn't permanently tainted the sanctity of its title (it did leave scars). That's because the original is far too traumatic an experience -- in a good way. It's a genre-bending film that challenges viewers every step of the way through one supremely creepy Scottish isle.

24. 'Carnival of Souls' (1962)
This B-movie chiller is a marvel of atmosphere: There are virtually no special effects, no monsters, no serial killers in the shadows ... and yet the story of a church organist who seemingly escapes death in a car accident is frighteningly taut. You'll never hear organ music the same way again.

23. 'The Eye' (2003)
J-horror, Japan's unique brand of scary movie, has had a fair share of successes (and Hollywood remakes). But none are as chilling or terrifying as the Pang brothers' tale of a blind girl given new corneas that leave her seeing dead people -- and not really realizing it. Where's Bruce Willis when you need him?

22. 'Scream' (1996)
Only a fright master like Wes Craven could parody slasher "rules" (e.g., sex equals certain death), pay winking homage to classic horror films, and STILL make us jump 10 feet in the air. With one fell swoop, Craven both revived the genre and proved that a slasher flick needn't be as dumb as its dopey teen victims.

21. 'Friday the 13th' (1980)
Admit it, just the mention of "summer camp" or "Crystal Lake" has you glancing over your shoulder, listening for a noise in the woods and swearing off hockey masks. This classic teen slash-fest is a little bit 'Psycho,' a little bit 'Halloween' and a whole lot of terrifying fun.

20. 'Dracula' (1931)
Even today, Tod Browning's film remains downright unnerving: the gothic cinematography, the sensual undercurrent, Lugosi's iconic portrait of elegant malice ("I never drink ... wine"). More than the novel or any other movie, 'Dracula' defined forever what we fear about vampires ... and what we love about them, too.

19. 'Evil Dead 2' (1987)
Who says horror can't be hilarious? There's plenty of gruesomeness in Sam Raimi's cult classic -- ever see a man saw off his own hand? -- but there's also that priceless humor that plays off the absurdity of horror scenarios. It's a ridiculously fun film that tops 'An American Werewolf in London' as the best of its kind.

18. 'Carrie' (1976)
It has a deceptively humble premise (shy girl with a crazy mom and supernatural powers just wants to fit in), but even in a pre-Columbine world, Brian De Palma's take on a Stephen King novel was enough to give teens and their parents nightmares. And in today's climate, it simply resonates with horror.

17. 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' (1978)
Philip Kaufman's flick about aliens bent on repopulating Earth with emotionless "pod people" packs an even more terrifying punch than the '56 original. Its bleak ending -- featuring a bug-eyed, screaming Donald Sutherland -- is enough to give grown men nightmares.

16. 'Night of the Living Dead' (1968)
George A. Romero made a shocking entrance to B-movie fame with his black-and-white zombie thriller. It plays out almost like a documentary, with very little narrative -- the zombies just keep coming, they have an insatiable hunger for human flesh ... what more do you need to know?


15. 'The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Ingeniously marketed as a documentary -- its stars were listed as "missing and presumed dead" -- this indie grossed $240 mil and proved that eerie sounds, visceral camerawork and adhering to the less-is-more principle (we never see the witch) make for one hell of a harrowing flick.


And the following are to be revealed the next day, the day after, etc until Halloween. They only list hints.


14. [Hint: The 21-person body count of this early horror sequel's original cut was hacked down to 10 due to pressure from censors.]
'The Bride of Frankenstein' (1935)
The monster takes a wife -- and horror fans were invited to the reception. James Whale's compelling classic is the perfect marriage of poignant romance and creature discomforts. And as for the unholy union, turns out the couple was catastrophically mismatched.

13.  Hint: More than 500 gallons of fake blood were used in the making of this film.

12. Hint: This film's editor went on to direct the made-for-TV sequel.

11. Hint: The studio wanted to change the title of this underrated chiller to 'God's Hands,' but the director convinced them to leave it be.

10. Hint: This post-apocalyptic flick was inspired by 'The Day of the Triffids.'

9. Hint: This classic ghost story earned its director a Golden Globe nomination.

8. Hint: When the MPAA threatened to slap this late-'70s classic with an X rating, the director persuaded the studio to release it unrated rather than adjust the film in any way.

7. Hint: The special effects for this early-'80s masterpiece are still considered the benchmark for practical gore.

6. Hint: The left-handed star of this thrill masterpiece learned to write right-handed for the role so that he would not give away a key clue to the film's ending.

5. Hint: Before shooting began, this gory, terror-inducing film had the not-so-terror-inducing title of 'Headcheese'.

4. Hint: Although the movie features a very young boy in a pivotal role, the director was able to shoot all of the boy's scenes without the young actor realizing he was in a horror film.

3. Hint: The film's director attempted to buy as many copies as possible of the novel upon which the movie is based so as to keep the ending a secret.

2. Hint: The famous set of stairs in this occult classic now leads down to an Exxon station.

1. Hint: Although the events of the movie were initially supposed to unfold over the course of many days, they were condensed to one day to reduce the need for costume changes and thus keep the film's budget low.





So, any guesses as to the movies not revealed yet? Think #5 (the one that was initially to be called 'Headcheese') is Texas Chainsaw Massacre or something? Also, I know I've read the facts about #4 and #3 before but I can't remember the movies, of course.
« Last Edit: October 19, 2007, 03:23:31 AM by xnikki118x »
:-*

Mandark

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #1 on: October 18, 2007, 02:05:59 AM »
4 sounds like it would be The Shining, and 3 is Psycho.

TVC15

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #2 on: October 18, 2007, 02:07:31 AM »
2 is The Exorcist.  Not sure about 1.

I'm pretty sure 2 is the Exorcist.  It's been years since I was in Georgetown, but I know there are Exxon stations in the area and I can't think of many other occult movies that have famous outdoors staircases.
serge

Smooth Groove

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #3 on: October 18, 2007, 02:11:44 AM »
Thanks, Nikki.  I love Horror flicks.  It's really too bad that there aren't enough high quality films in that genre. 

Mandark

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #4 on: October 18, 2007, 02:17:36 AM »
I assumed 1 was Halloween.

Phoenix Dark

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #5 on: October 18, 2007, 02:20:24 AM »
17. 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' (1978)

I saw this for the first time earlier this year. Very good film, and the ending was very surprising. Lots of great actors too
010

Ichirou

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #6 on: October 18, 2007, 02:29:00 AM »
I'm impressed they included Carnival of Souls on this list.

17 is Body Snatchers, but it migh be the original black and white version, not the Donald Sutherland remake.

Could No. 13 be Braindead (US title was Dead/Alive, I believe)?

9 is Poltergeist, I think.

7 is probably An American Werewolf in London.

1 is Halloween.

It's too bad Fright Night probably isn't on this list.  Does anyone remember that one?  It really was a great, underrated cult film.  Roddy McDowall starred as this old washed up actor who hosted a TV show that showed old horror movies.  He really owned that role.  The sequel was actually pretty good too.

I wonder if the list includes the first Gremlins.  That one had some really shocking moments...if they're including crap like Scream, I think Gremlins qualifies.
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etiolate

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #7 on: October 18, 2007, 02:40:51 AM »
blair witch is way too fucking high and nosferatu too low


xnikki118x

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #8 on: October 18, 2007, 02:46:28 AM »
Thanks, Nikki.  I love Horror flicks.  It's really too bad that there aren't enough high quality films in that genre. 

You are very welcome. :)


I wonder if the list includes the first Gremlins.  That one had some really shocking moments...if they're including crap like Scream, I think Gremlins qualifies.

I don't remember anything about the first Gremlins except that it scared the living fuck out of me as a child. I'm pretty sure I thought they were living under my bed at some point and woudln't go to sleep until Daddy scared them away or something.
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TVC15

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #9 on: October 18, 2007, 02:48:06 AM »
I assumed 1 was Halloween.

I thought that, too, because I figured it had to be in there, but I tossed the idea because it seems kind of lame that a movie called Halloween would have its action spread over a few days. 

I do think you might be right though, because that fact (along with most of the others) sounds pretty familiar.
serge

Ichirou

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #10 on: October 18, 2007, 03:03:59 AM »
I don't remember anything about the first Gremlins except that it scared the living fuck out of me as a child. I'm pretty sure I thought they were living under my bed at some point and woudln't go to sleep until Daddy scared them away or something.

The second one was hilarious.  I need to get those movies on DVD.
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TVC15

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #11 on: October 18, 2007, 03:16:52 AM »
As I get older, I find that The Howling is sort of my favorite Joe Dante movie.
serge

Eel O'Brian

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #12 on: October 18, 2007, 06:53:24 AM »
Number 13 has got to be The Shining (elevator scene)
sup

Solo

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #13 on: October 18, 2007, 07:17:43 AM »
Halloween is #1, all is right in the world.

TakingBackSunday

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #14 on: October 18, 2007, 07:20:00 AM »
Number 1...Texas Chainsaw Massacre?
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Ecrofirt

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #15 on: October 18, 2007, 07:50:55 AM »
Dawn of the Dead is #8.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre is #5.
« Last Edit: October 18, 2007, 07:59:41 AM by Ecrofirt »
8=D

Solo

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #16 on: October 18, 2007, 07:58:13 AM »
The Thing is 7.

Bloodwake

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #17 on: October 18, 2007, 10:09:01 AM »
Halloween is #1, all is right in the world.

This is true.

I think Dario Argento's Suspiria should be in the top five. That movie is fucking creepy as shit.
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Ecrofirt

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #18 on: October 18, 2007, 10:27:23 AM »
Today is going to be Friday The 13th Part 2.
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TVC15

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #19 on: October 18, 2007, 02:27:10 PM »
Today is going to be Friday The 13th Part 2.

I like the series, but I'm not sure any of them should be near a top 31.

Could the 500 gallons of blood one be carrie?  They had to shoot the blood scene like 50 times or something.
serge

Eel O'Brian

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #20 on: October 18, 2007, 02:32:51 PM »
Today is going to be Friday The 13th Part 2.

I like the series, but I'm not sure any of them should be near a top 31.

Could the 500 gallons of blood one be carrie?  They had to shoot the blood scene like 50 times or something.

Yeah, I'd forgotten that.  It's either Carrie or The Shining.
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Bloodwake

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #21 on: October 18, 2007, 03:33:58 PM »
15. 'The Blair Witch Project (1999)

This 'movie' was fucking ridiculously scary.

Blair Witch was definitely a new way at looking at horror films... I'm still impressed with it. There isn't a horror film since Blair Witch that has done anything for me to be honest.
HLR

Bloodwake

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #22 on: October 18, 2007, 03:34:42 PM »
Today is going to be Friday The 13th Part 2.

I like the series, but I'm not sure any of them should be near a top 31.

Could the 500 gallons of blood one be carrie?  They had to shoot the blood scene like 50 times or something.

No, it's Nightmare on Elm Street. Carrie is already on the list.
HLR

bluemax

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #23 on: October 18, 2007, 05:21:09 PM »
Number 13 has got to be The Shining (elevator scene)

I thought it was Dead Alive.
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Ecrofirt

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #24 on: October 18, 2007, 07:27:04 PM »
WTF, today was The Bride of Frankenstein.

That took me completely by surprise.
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Cyanista

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #25 on: October 19, 2007, 01:49:47 PM »
#4 could be Pet Semetary, too.
omg

TVC15

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #26 on: October 19, 2007, 01:56:58 PM »
I don't think anyone would rank Pet Semetary that highly.  Unless they were ranking the Ramones song.

Today's was:

spoiler (click to show/hide)
Nightmare on Elm Street
[close]

13's a good spot for it, I think.  It still holds up, even today, but I probably wouldn't put it in the top 10.
« Last Edit: October 19, 2007, 01:59:09 PM by TVC 15 »
serge

DJ_Tet

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #27 on: October 19, 2007, 01:58:34 PM »
Pet Semetary was sweet.  The part where Gage gets creamed by the tractor trailer and the fight over his coffin were well done and exactly as I imagined them.  The part with the severed achilles was even worse than I imagined  :'(

With a little better acting, it could have been an all-timer.  I'm not a huge fan of horror movies at all, but I really enjoyed Pet Semetary.  I feel like Misery gets all the King hype, where PS is sort of forgotten.  The only thing different between the two movies is the quality of the leads.  Jason Robards is the man, but Kathy Bates and James Caan were amazing in Misery.  


edit:  I agree with tvc though, if PS is #4 on this list I'd be shocked.  I don't think it's regarded that highly, although personally I'm a big fan.
TIT

TVC15

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #28 on: October 19, 2007, 02:04:57 PM »
Misery should probably be on the list.  Well, maybe not, but it should be on the list if some of that stuff could make it (The Descent?  The Omen?  The Eye?) .
serge

DJ_Tet

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #29 on: October 19, 2007, 02:10:01 PM »
Yeah, it should.  I didn't even know there were 31 good horror films.

*backs out of thread*
TIT

Cyanista

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #30 on: October 20, 2007, 05:32:48 PM »
I don't think anyone would rank Pet Semetary that highly.  Unless they were ranking the Ramones song.

Normally I groove with your opinion, but you might be smoking crack.  It had flaws, and they were numerous, but Pet Semetary is one of the scarier horror films ever made.  You cannot tell me that creature in the bed squalling and the evil zombie baby were not horrifying.

Quote
Today's was:

spoiler (click to show/hide)
Nightmare on Elm Street
[close]

13's a good spot for it, I think.  It still holds up, even today, but I probably wouldn't put it in the top 10.

I probably wouldn't top 10 it either, but it does hold up well!  Especially since it introduced us to Johnny Depp.

omg

Bloodwake

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #31 on: October 20, 2007, 06:52:48 PM »
I think Rosemary's Baby is highly overrated.
HLR

TVC15

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #32 on: October 20, 2007, 07:29:14 PM »
I don't think anyone would rank Pet Semetary that highly.  Unless they were ranking the Ramones song.

Normally I groove with your opinion, but you might be smoking crack.  It had flaws, and they were numerous, but Pet Semetary is one of the scarier horror films ever made.  You cannot tell me that creature in the bed squalling and the evil zombie baby were not horrifying.

Quote
Today's was:

spoiler (click to show/hide)
Nightmare on Elm Street
[close]

13's a good spot for it, I think.  It still holds up, even today, but I probably wouldn't put it in the top 10.

I probably wouldn't top 10 it either, but it does hold up well!  Especially since it introduced us to Johnny Depp.



I actually haven't seen Pet Semetary in probably almost a decade.  Maybe I should rewatch it now that I have taste and shit.
serge

whiteACID

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #33 on: October 21, 2007, 11:17:25 AM »
#6 is the Sixth Sense. Bruce Willis learned to write with his right hand so people wouldn't be able to see that he didn't have a wedding ring on.
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AdmiralViscen

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #34 on: October 21, 2007, 11:45:09 AM »
Number 13 has got to be The Shining (elevator scene)

No, Shining has to be 4.

Eel O'Brian

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #35 on: October 21, 2007, 12:28:42 PM »
I disagree about Pet Sematary, for one very specific reason and a bunch of general ones:

In the novel, not everything returned from the burial ground as evil.   That was the chance you took - some things returned relatively normal, some things returned "wrong."   In the movie, everything buried there returned as a snarling, murderous creature.  Why the fuck would you bury anything there knowing that it was just going to come back trying to kill you?

Plus, complete pussying out on Gage - in the book he was covered in scars from being splattered by the truck.

Plus, it's shot like a made-for-TV movie.  No style whatsoever.

Plus, shitty acting all-around, with the exception of Herman Munster.

It's just a terrible fucking movie.
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TakingBackSunday

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #36 on: October 21, 2007, 08:37:12 PM »
10: 28 Days Later
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TVC15

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #37 on: October 21, 2007, 10:25:55 PM »
I never read Pet Semetary.  I only like his early stuff, like Carrie, The Shining, and Salem's Lot (looking at a list, that may be ALL I like novel-wise).  Quality wise, he was a much better short story writer than a novelist, especially early in his career before he was huge.  He displayed strong knowledge of the form, and produced a lot of tight stories, and he was adept at writing stories in the form of others (see, for example, Jerusalem's Lot), which also shows mastery. 

I know he was an English major, and while his work isn't "academic," there's a lot of evidence that he took his shit seriously while in school.  The short story thing is one bit of evidence.  Writing good short stories is partially talent, partially knowledge of the format, and how tight it needs to be.  As a matter of fact, I'd say people not learning the form is why the short story is largely dead; same reason poetry is.  They are like the maths of writing. 

In addition, King, at his best (again), shows a naturalistic bent in his novels (but usally not his short stories, although there are exceptions.  I think it's difficult to pull off naturalistic writing in a compressed format), which is probably part of the reason people think they are such effective horror books.  This also displays knowledge of English, since his novels are so famous for taking every day things and turning them into horror.  If you are going to make the mundance terrifying, what better language is their to use than that of naturalism?  I think evidence will show that going with naturalistic writing wasn't just by chance--most of his short stories do not display this tendency--so we can only believe that the decision was one based on his education and expertise. 

But in the 80s, I am assuming when his addictions took over, the naturalism got replaced by tendencies that leant towards shock, and the tight naturalism got replaced by long-windedness.  It might be a funny thing to say, but when you are working primarilly in horror, I think gore and shock might be the logical extreme of intentional naturalism.  During this transformation, though, although (at least in some things) the naturalism inherent in the plots remained, it all but disappeared in the language.

I'm not a very big fan, though.  I find his early books entertaining and his short stories should be (and often are) used in college classes to teach the form.  He gets a lot of shit, but as someone into writing and literature, it's nice to see someone that takes their writing seriously, even if it is in a genre that is slight.
serge

TakingBackSunday

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #38 on: October 21, 2007, 10:51:24 PM »
I honestly enjoy reading short stories and novellas moreso than full novels.
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Synbios459

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #39 on: October 22, 2007, 01:36:58 AM »
I never read Pet Semetary.  I only like his early stuff, like Carrie, The Shining, and Salem's Lot (looking at a list, that may be ALL I like novel-wise).  Quality wise, he was a much better short story writer than a novelist, especially early in his career before he was huge.  He displayed strong knowledge of the form, and produced a lot of tight stories, and he was adept at writing stories in the form of others (see, for example, Jerusalem's Lot), which also shows mastery. 

I know he was an English major, and while his work isn't "academic," there's a lot of evidence that he took his shit seriously while in school.  The short story thing is one bit of evidence.  Writing good short stories is partially talent, partially knowledge of the format, and how tight it needs to be.  As a matter of fact, I'd say people not learning the form is why the short story is largely dead; same reason poetry is.  They are like the maths of writing. 

In addition, King, at his best (again), shows a naturalistic bent in his novels (but usally not his short stories, although there are exceptions.  I think it's difficult to pull off naturalistic writing in a compressed format), which is probably part of the reason people think they are such effective horror books.  This also displays knowledge of English, since his novels are so famous for taking every day things and turning them into horror.  If you are going to make the mundance terrifying, what better language is their to use than that of naturalism?  I think evidence will show that going with naturalistic writing wasn't just by chance--most of his short stories do not display this tendency--so we can only believe that the decision was one based on his education and expertise. 

But in the 80s, I am assuming when his addictions took over, the naturalism got replaced by tendencies that leant towards shock, and the tight naturalism got replaced by long-windedness.  It might be a funny thing to say, but when you are working primarilly in horror, I think gore and shock might be the logical extreme of intentional naturalism.  During this transformation, though, although (at least in some things) the naturalism inherent in the plots remained, it all but disappeared in the language.

I'm not a very big fan, though.  I find his early books entertaining and his short stories should be (and often are) used in college classes to teach the form.  He gets a lot of shit, but as someone into writing and literature, it's nice to see someone that takes their writing seriously, even if it is in a genre that is slight.
:lol TVC talking as if he's some master writer :lol
...

TVC15

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #40 on: October 22, 2007, 05:29:04 AM »
I didn't say anything truly objective about my own writing, but regardless of its quality, that doesn't I can't criticize the writing ability of other people.  I didn't even say anything particularly harsh about King.  If anything, reading and writing is one of the few things I'm truly qualified to speak about.  It's my job.
serge

TakingBackSunday

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #41 on: October 22, 2007, 07:16:21 AM »
I never read Pet Semetary.  I only like his early stuff, like Carrie, The Shining, and Salem's Lot (looking at a list, that may be ALL I like novel-wise).  Quality wise, he was a much better short story writer than a novelist, especially early in his career before he was huge.  He displayed strong knowledge of the form, and produced a lot of tight stories, and he was adept at writing stories in the form of others (see, for example, Jerusalem's Lot), which also shows mastery. 

I know he was an English major, and while his work isn't "academic," there's a lot of evidence that he took his shit seriously while in school.  The short story thing is one bit of evidence.  Writing good short stories is partially talent, partially knowledge of the format, and how tight it needs to be.  As a matter of fact, I'd say people not learning the form is why the short story is largely dead; same reason poetry is.  They are like the maths of writing. 

In addition, King, at his best (again), shows a naturalistic bent in his novels (but usally not his short stories, although there are exceptions.  I think it's difficult to pull off naturalistic writing in a compressed format), which is probably part of the reason people think they are such effective horror books.  This also displays knowledge of English, since his novels are so famous for taking every day things and turning them into horror.  If you are going to make the mundance terrifying, what better language is their to use than that of naturalism?  I think evidence will show that going with naturalistic writing wasn't just by chance--most of his short stories do not display this tendency--so we can only believe that the decision was one based on his education and expertise. 

But in the 80s, I am assuming when his addictions took over, the naturalism got replaced by tendencies that leant towards shock, and the tight naturalism got replaced by long-windedness.  It might be a funny thing to say, but when you are working primarilly in horror, I think gore and shock might be the logical extreme of intentional naturalism.  During this transformation, though, although (at least in some things) the naturalism inherent in the plots remained, it all but disappeared in the language.

I'm not a very big fan, though.  I find his early books entertaining and his short stories should be (and often are) used in college classes to teach the form.  He gets a lot of shit, but as someone into writing and literature, it's nice to see someone that takes their writing seriously, even if it is in a genre that is slight.
:lol TVC talking as if he's some master writer :lol

um what
püp

whiteACID

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #42 on: October 22, 2007, 12:28:54 PM »
I watched horror movies at a young age but I still get freaked out about them, to the point of hiding my eyes behind my hands. Of course I used to be scared to death of the monkeys in The Wizard of Oz.
boo

Eel O'Brian

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #43 on: October 22, 2007, 12:38:39 PM »
Those monkeys are still creepy.
sup

TVC15

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #44 on: October 22, 2007, 12:57:22 PM »
I watched Wizard of Oz for the first time ina  bunch of years last year, and I was really surprised by awesome it still was.  It's near the top of a lot greats lists and it probably deserves it.  It's got a little of everything in it.
serge

DJ_Tet

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #45 on: October 22, 2007, 01:11:37 PM »
TIT

Ecrofirt

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #46 on: October 31, 2007, 12:25:05 PM »
So the list is complete now.

Is Evil Dead 2 really a better horror movie than The Evil Dead? I think not.
8=D

Solo

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #47 on: October 31, 2007, 12:29:34 PM »
Halloween is #1, all is right in the world.

Ahhhh yea

Bloodwake

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #48 on: October 31, 2007, 12:48:48 PM »
Halloween at number one.

GOOD.

I can agree somewhat with this list then.
HLR

Mupepe

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Re: top 31 horror movies OF ALL TIME dundundun
« Reply #49 on: October 31, 2007, 12:58:02 PM »
I watched horror movies at a young age but I still get freaked out about them, to the point of hiding my eyes behind my hands. Of course I used to be scared to death of the monkeys in The Wizard of Oz.
I started watching them when I was like 4 so they don't really affect me.

TVC: Have you read Insomnia?  It's one of his better longwinded novels.  I personally love most of King.  I own every book / short story written by him up to 2006.  He started downhill after Bag of Bones for me.