Some of the Best Horror Movies

Horror movies are often ignored, neglected or looked down-upon.  Critics, more often than not, pan the movies in favor of "sensitive dramas" or "culturally relevant" movies.  Well, I think that horror movies are culturally relevant, and sometimes even sensitive (not often, but every once in a while). 

Horror movies tap into a darker part of ourselves.  Some are cautionary tales, some are movies that take a look into the unknown.  They search out our fears.  Fears of the unknown and fears of death are fairly common.  Horror movies take a poke at those fears, explore them, and sometimes, make fun of them.  Sometimes, they even make fun of themselves.  I won't get into a great psychological debate on the issue of horror movies.  That is not what I wanted to do with this hub, maybe another time.

This hub is a look at some of the best horror movies of all time.  It will be presented in two hubs.  They are in alphabetical order.  I hate rating things, or putting them in order from lowest to highest, because I love all of these movies, and for very different reasons.  This list was a joint effort between me and my sister.  She loves horror movies as much as I do, and we often recommend movies we have seen to each other.  I asked her for her list of favorites, put that with mine, removed some lesser known horror movies for another list, and put it all together.  This is our list of the best horror movies.  Of course, this is all a matter of our opinions. You may disagree, and your suggestions are welcome.  We may have missed something, or you may know of a movie we have never seen.  

I am going to list the movies in alphabetical order, as I said, because I really can't put them in any ranking order. Trust me, I have tried.

1. Alien (1979): A classic movie in the sci-fi/horror genre. Alien stars Sigourney Weaver as Ripley, a member of a team sent to investigate a distress call on a far away planet. I absolutely love this movie! There is darkness, suspense and a little gore. I am sure everyone can recall images of the scene where an alien burst out of one guy's chest. The aliens in this movie have become legendary, spurning sequels, and of course, Alien vs Predator. I am not as big a fan of the Predator movies, though. And, of course, there is the tag line for the movie, "In space, no one can hear you scream." How can you not get chills from that?
   
2. The Amityville Horror (1979): Another selection from 1979, is the disturbing Amityville Horror. A tale of a family who moves into what is supposed to be their dream house, but turns out to me a nightmare, as terrible things begin to happen, and the father seems to descend into madness as the house takes control over him. Another classic in the horror genre. Close your eyes, you can see the house, can't you? With it's windows that look like eyes. It's as if the house is staring at you. An image like that, just a house, that can stay with you, can become a part of pop culture, is why this movie is on my list.
3. Army of Darkness (1992): While this movie is campy, silly and just a little stupid, I love it just the same. Mostly because it is campy, silly and a little stupid. Army of Darkness stars the wonderful B-Movie hero, Bruce Campbell, as Ash, an egotistical, misogynistic, coward as the hero. Transported back in time, he has to battle an army of the undead. It is a classic, campy silly movie. It pokes fun at itself, and that's why I love it. It isn't meant to be scary or to be taken seriously. When you have a movie where tiny, evil versions of the hero, band together and attack the hero of the movie, you know you can't be watching anything that is meant to be serious. It's just a lot of fun!
4. Carrie (1976): The first Stephen King based movie on my list, and the first one made. Carrie is an awesome movie that launched Sissy Spacek's and John Travolta's careers. Carrie is the story of a shy girl who has some super scary powers. After being set up for a good laugh, all hell breaks loose as Carrie unleashes her powers. I loved the book, and I loved the movie. There was a remake of Carrie for television in 2002, that was very good, as well! Stephen King actually had a hand in writing the screenplay for that one, so it's worth a watch, as well. As far as the sequel, The Rage:Carrie 2...don't bother. It was stupid.
5. Dawn of the Dead (1978 & 2004): I decided to include both versions in one listing. They are both great movies and both worthy of recognition. The 1978 version was written and directed by horror legend, George A. Romero, and is the first sequel to the also great, Night of the Living Dead. It is a classic zombie horror movie set in a shopping mall, of all places. Why? Maybe the zombies were looking for some semblance of their former life. What says suburban American normal-ness more than a shopping mall? And, what better place to hold up against the invading horde of zombies? Plenty of food and space, very few windows. The 2004 version is updated, more gory, and just as great! Both movies are great, and leave you with a disquieting, uncomfortable feeling.
6. The Exorcist (1973): A timeless horror classic! A must see! Disturbing, gripping, and emotional. It is the story of a young girl possessed by evil spirits, and the battle for her life and very soul. It is an amazing story that weaves together the lives of a young girl and her mother with that of a young priest who is questioning his faith, and an older priest, determined to defeat the demon. This is a great movie. It is what horror movies should be. It has stood the test of time as one of the best horror movies ever.
   
7. Halloween (1978 & 2007): Halloween is a classic slasher flick! The original version and the remake done by Rob Zombie differ a little, but the same basic feel is carried through. Halloween is the story of Michael Meyers, a crazed killer who was locked up after killing his family, only to escape from his physical prison in search of more victims. The original stars Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode, the focus for Michael Meyers attentions. The music is chilling, the murders are gruesome, and the movie is one of the best ever! The remake by Rob Zombie does the movie incredible justice. It was an excellent movie that delved deeper into the psyche of Michael Meyers.
8. Halloween II (1981): The sequel to Halloween is just as good as the first. In fact, it is more a continuation of the first movie than a sequel. Sequels usually involve a furthering of a story, sometimes in different settings, at a later time. This just picks right up where the first movie left off. I did not include the Rob Zombie sequel to his amazing version of Halloween, only because I have yet to see it! Sorry, been a little lazy as far as movie watching goes, but it is in my queue, awaiting it's turn. In this continuation, we learn that Michael Meyers is virtually indestructible. How do you kill a killer who can't be killed?
   
9. Hide & Seek (2005): De Niro in a horror movie? Has the world gone mad? Nope! Not at all! This movie is more psychological thriller than classic horror movie, but it does have elements of a great horror movie. De Niro stars as a father of a young girl, played by Dakota Fanning, with a strange imaginary friend. I can't tell you more than that. I really can't. Watch it and see for yourself! This movie, while good, wasn't on my list, but my sister rated it highly, so it was included.
10. The Hills Have Eyes (1977 & 2006): I prefer the classic by one of the true masters of horror, Wes Craven, both movies are great examples of creepy horror movies. Granted, there have been a lot of movies made about creepy, deformed psychos that live on the fringes of America, but The Hills Have Eyes was one of the best! It is a basic horror movie formula, but one that works wonderfully. A family gets misdirected and stranded, only to be attacked by a group of deformed psychos who pick them off one by one.
    
11. Hostel (2005): Hostel redefined the horror movie genre, and gave new life to the entire genre. Hostel follows three men as they backpack across Europe. They end up in a strange hostel in Eastern Europe, that seems like a dream come true, at first. Cast with basically unknown actors, it gives a sense of honesty to the movie. Hostel is full of disgusting gore, and I loved every minute of it. If you have a weak stomach, this is not a movie you should see. If you love violence and gore, it's a must see.
12. House of 1,000 Corpses (2003): I took my mom to see this movie on Mother's Day. Strange present, I know. She is part of the reason I love horror movies so much. I grew up watching Poltergeist and terrible movies like Motel Hell. House of 1,000 Corpses pays tribute to classic horror movies of the 1970's. Another selection by musician turned film maker, Rob Zombie. He did a great job with this movie. The movie follows four teens as they actually search out a legend of a serial killer. After being sidetracked by a strange roadside attraction, they find themselves amongst some even stranger company. Captain Spaulding still creeps me out.
13. IT (1990): IT is the second Stephen King movie to make the list. Made as a mini-series for TV, IT is an amazing journey through childhood fears. It follows a group of losers, The Losers Club, that become friends in the midst of bullies and the mysterious disappearances of some of the town's children. The movie stars Tim Curry as the ever creepy Pennywise the Dancing Clown. Of course, this is no ordinary creepy clown. He takes on the shape of your deepest fears, and feeds off your fears. I read this book when I was twelve. I hate clowns to this day. It's fitting that one creepy clown should follow another on my list. I love this movie more for the characters than for the scares. You see this group of kids change as they deal with the evil that is living deep within the bowels of their town, and follow them into adulthood when the terror returns.
14. Jacob's Ladder (1990): It has been quite a few years since I have seen this movie. Another psychological thriller, it follows Jacob Singer, a Vietnam Vet, as he struggles to maintain a grasp on his sanity. Visions of his dead son, and his times in Vietnam plague him, leaving him questioning what is real and what is in his head. This movie disturbed me in ways a lot of horror movies just can't. It is cerebral, disquieting, and strange.
    
15. The Lost Boys (1987): While not a great movie, I have included The Lost Boys, partly for nostalgia sake. It was a favorite of mine growing up, and I still love it to this day. It is a great vampire movie that takes a creepy spin off the classic story of Peter Pan, without taking itself too seriously. Yep, Peter Pan with vampires. It really does make sense. I never got that connection when I was a kid, I just loved the movie. I admit, I was a huge fan of "The Coreys" when I was a kid. Corey Haim will be missed. The movie follows a family who moves out to a small California town that is plagued by deaths and disappearances. The reason? "All the damn vampires". 
16. The Mist (2007): The Mist is yet another Stephen King movie.  I love this movie for it's honest look at human behavior.  One of my favorite lines from the movie does a great job of summing up the heart of the movie; "As a species we're fundamentally insane. Put more than two of us in a room, we pick sides and start dreaming up reasons to kill one another. Why do you think we invented politics and religion?"  That pretty much says it all, doesn't it?  The movie follows residents of a small town that congregate in the local grocery store as a strange mist fills the town.  The mist is filled with horrifying monsters, most of which, you don't see more than a glimpse of.  The real horror of this movie isn't the monsters, though. It's the way the people behave in light of this terrifying situation.  I was on the edge of my seat the entire movie, and enthralled right to the end.
17. A Nightmare on Elm Street Series (1984-1994): I have included the entire series of movies.  Some are better than others, but they are all classic, sometimes silly, horror movies.  All of the movies follow the same basic formula; a group of teens start having strange dreams about a deformed killer with a hand full of sharp knives.  Freddy Krueger is a timeless horror movie villain.  The series follows along as Freddy seeks out more victims.  The first movie launched the career of one of my favorite actors, Johnny Depp.  That is reason enough to love the movie.  I have loved watching Freddy haunt the dreams of teens since I was a kid, and was sad to learn that Robert Englund would not be staring as Freddy in the recent remake.  I am unsure if I even want to see it.  In my opinion, Robert Englund will always be Freddy Krueger, no matter who takes on the role, or what Englund goes on to do in his career.  He is a legendary actor in the horror genre, and will always be a favorite of mine.
    
18. Nosferatu (1922): Nosferatu is a silent movie that is close to a century old, yet it is still just as disturbing as it was back then.  None of the fancy special effects of today, and without the spoken dialogue, it lends a creepy quality to the movie. Max Schreck is amazingly scary as Nosferatu. Without spoken dialogue, he portrays a disturbing creepiness through his expressive eyes and facial expressions.  Not many people would consider an "ancient" vampire movie in their lists of best horror movies, but it was the first of it's kind.  Nosferatu gave birth to the horror movie.  This is the great-granddaddy of all horror movies.  It is a take off of the book, Dracula, written by Bram Stoker.  Of course, many movie versions have been made based on the book, but nothing compares with the original.
    

So, this is the first half of my list of the best horror movies.  It is by no means complete.  I am always looking for the next great scary movie, and watch more horror movies than is probably healthy.  If you have suggestions, please, send them along! I would love to hear the opinions of others, and maybe even discover another horror gem that I have missed along the way.