Scary stories are something that's been with us for as long as time can remember. For some reason, people have always enjoyed getting a little scared, and whether it be horror movies, ghost stories around a campfire or the chilling books by authors like Stephen King, there's something perversely satisfying about getting a fright.
When it comes to horrors, there are so many types of stories to scare you. Monster stories, gory films, the silly and wacky horrors, psychological thrillers and ghost stories have kept audiences on the edge of their seats.
Comparing horror movies is always going to be tough. Alfred Hitchcock for example made some of the great classics, films like Psycho and The Birds, but they are very difficult to compare to a movie like A Nightmare on Elm Street for example. But these five films perhaps best define the genre in a whole, the films that inspired thousands more just like them.
The first I have just mentioned, Psycho, perhaps the most eerie of all Alfred Hitchcock's masterpieces. Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates is absolutely brilliant, and to this day, this classic piece of cinema will scare almost everyone. It is nerve-wracking and the tension is unbearable throughout, and while it may not be as scandalous as it was in 1960, it remains one the iconic horror movies of all time. Who will ever forget that shower scene.
Thirteen years later in 1973, William Friedkin directed The Exorcist, and this is still a movie you had better not watch alone, and even then you may find yourself not being able to sleep afterward. Linda Blair stars as Regan, a girl who is possessed by a demon, while Ellen Burstyn is brilliant as her mother, as is Max Von Sydow as one of the priests who attempt to exorcise her. You will never forget this movie, or some of the music after you watch this.
Steven Spielberg made his mark on cinema with the unforgettable horror about a Shark terrorizing a small town beach town in Jaws. This sparked a different kind of fear, and many people claim to be scared of the sea, and sharks, based strictly on having seen this film. The John Williams composed theme remains as haunting today, and with a great cast like Roy Schneider, Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss, one can forgive how fake the shark looks these days.
When it comes to the slasher horror movies, Halloween is perhaps the pinnacle of this sub-genre. Yes, Michael Myers has competition from Friday the Thirteenth's Jason or Wes Craven's Nightmarish Freddie Kruger, but John Carpenter's classic 1978 blockbuster was definitely the best. Carpenter is another fantastic director in this genre, having also made classics like The Fog and The Thing, but Halloween also had great performances from Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasance.
Poltergeist finishes the list. This 1982 movie starring Craig T. Nelson and JoBeth Williams, and directed by Toby Hooper, was actually produced by Steven Spielberg too. According to the cast, Spielberg also cast and directed them and did the movie's storyboards, but because he was doing E. T. At the same time, could not be the actual director. This is arguably the best of all haunted house horror movies, and tells the story of a family who have to deal with their home being haunted.
When it comes to horrors, there are so many types of stories to scare you. Monster stories, gory films, the silly and wacky horrors, psychological thrillers and ghost stories have kept audiences on the edge of their seats.
Comparing horror movies is always going to be tough. Alfred Hitchcock for example made some of the great classics, films like Psycho and The Birds, but they are very difficult to compare to a movie like A Nightmare on Elm Street for example. But these five films perhaps best define the genre in a whole, the films that inspired thousands more just like them.
The first I have just mentioned, Psycho, perhaps the most eerie of all Alfred Hitchcock's masterpieces. Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates is absolutely brilliant, and to this day, this classic piece of cinema will scare almost everyone. It is nerve-wracking and the tension is unbearable throughout, and while it may not be as scandalous as it was in 1960, it remains one the iconic horror movies of all time. Who will ever forget that shower scene.
Thirteen years later in 1973, William Friedkin directed The Exorcist, and this is still a movie you had better not watch alone, and even then you may find yourself not being able to sleep afterward. Linda Blair stars as Regan, a girl who is possessed by a demon, while Ellen Burstyn is brilliant as her mother, as is Max Von Sydow as one of the priests who attempt to exorcise her. You will never forget this movie, or some of the music after you watch this.
Steven Spielberg made his mark on cinema with the unforgettable horror about a Shark terrorizing a small town beach town in Jaws. This sparked a different kind of fear, and many people claim to be scared of the sea, and sharks, based strictly on having seen this film. The John Williams composed theme remains as haunting today, and with a great cast like Roy Schneider, Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss, one can forgive how fake the shark looks these days.
When it comes to the slasher horror movies, Halloween is perhaps the pinnacle of this sub-genre. Yes, Michael Myers has competition from Friday the Thirteenth's Jason or Wes Craven's Nightmarish Freddie Kruger, but John Carpenter's classic 1978 blockbuster was definitely the best. Carpenter is another fantastic director in this genre, having also made classics like The Fog and The Thing, but Halloween also had great performances from Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasance.
Poltergeist finishes the list. This 1982 movie starring Craig T. Nelson and JoBeth Williams, and directed by Toby Hooper, was actually produced by Steven Spielberg too. According to the cast, Spielberg also cast and directed them and did the movie's storyboards, but because he was doing E. T. At the same time, could not be the actual director. This is arguably the best of all haunted house horror movies, and tells the story of a family who have to deal with their home being haunted.
About the Author:
Need to catch up on horror movies starring your favourite actors? Fright Flicks has a variety of free movies to choose from with new arrivals coming in daily. From zombie movies to thrillers, you will find films perfect for you.
No comments:
Post a Comment