20 Favorite Horror Films Pt. 6

15) "The Exorcist" - I hesitated to include this one, for several reasons. It's such an unconventional horror film, for one. There's only one true "murder" in it, and most of the film deals more with the psychological and religious aspects of the possession, at least until the last 45 minutes or so. Also, my initial viewing of it was about a decade after it was released originally (and then in an edited for TV version), so its impact upon me was a lot less than it could have been. In the intervening years, I saw "The Omen" and "Rosemary's Baby" and others of this genre. Also I heard so much about it there was no way it could have lived up to the hype.

But I've just watched it again (unfortunately, again in the edited version) for maybe the sixth or seventh time, and I've decided it does deserve to be on this list. "The Exorcist" is horrifying more for it's non supernatural elements than it is for anything else, really. It's horrifying because it keys into a very basic human fear; seeing your child in increasingly dire peril and not being able to do anything about it. It's horrifying because it places its "monster" in an everyday, modern setting away from the Gothic castles and mist shrouded graveyards. It sets its horror in the world we see everyday and takes us through all the bland (yet all the more frightening for it) developments that would occur in such a case. We see a score of doctors baffled as each rational explanation for Regan's disorder is eliminated and the characters must confront the awful specter of the real explanation. It's terrifying because even in a world that compels us all to believe that such ancient outmoded concepts as pure good or pure evil don't really exist, we are doubly frightened by anything that presents evidence to the contrary.

Another reason I didn't initially include this one on the list is that I'm not even sure it was originally intended as a "horror" film. The more times I watch it, the more I'm convinced it's a story about a priest (Father Damien) who is losing his faith and ironically rediscovers his belief in God by being confronted by evil incarnate. But there are certainly enough elements of horror in this film to place it in the genre, and the pacing, mood, story structure and fine acting make it a superb drama in any event. The horror is just icing on the cake, really; but what sweet tasting "icing" it is.

16) "The Invisible Man" - Of all the classic Universal horror films, this one may have actually scared me the most. The special effects were ahead of their time. All the images of Dr. Jack Griffin disappearing and unravelling his disguise bandages to reveal nothing underneath, and moving tables and chairs around on their own really echo the later supernatural films like "Poltergeist" or "The Exorcist" or "Amityville Horror". Even though the film's fantasy element is scientifically, not supernaturally, based, the effect is the same. We are chilled to consider that there could be unseen, hostile forces in our midst.

Claude Rains does a superb job here, even though he only "appears" in the final scene. His strong, alternately sympathetic and megalomaniacal voice really defining the film in a way a lesser actor's couldn't hope to. And like Lon Chaney's Wolfman or Karloff's Frankenstein, Rains' Invisible Man has a strong sympathetic component to him. He was only a doctor trying to improve man's condition and didn't intend on hurting anyone. Like Dr. Frankenstein or Dr. Jeykll, however, he committed the sin of pride in delving into areas where man should perhaps never delve. He paid the price with first his sanity, and eventually, his life.

This is nearly a perfect film, with unforgettable scenes of horror (the car ride, the initial scene at the inn, the scene in the drawing room), fine acting and some dark, twisted but effective humor.

17) "The Blair Witch Project" - I've always liked horror films that had a documentary feel to them, and this one certainly fits that description. I love the way this film allows the horror to build gradually, as the kids' initial enthusiasm and optimism gives way to dread and depression when they realize they are not only lost, but being stalked by something they don't understand.

I've heard a lot of criticism that the film is too slow and many of the scenes are pointless. Yes, the dialogue is banal at times, and yes, there are scenes that seem to go on a long time. But real life is like that. People don't always end conversations with dramatic pronouncements or clever zingers. Sometimes they just fade away from the boredom of the participants. That's what the film is aiming for; a kind of everyday dullness that renders the horror that much more effective once it insinuates itself into the mind of the characters, and the viewers.

The film's ruse, that is was a real video found by someone who is just now "releasing it" for viewing, is a clever one, but I knew going in that it was a fake and it didn't harm my appreciation of the film for what it was; a unique way of exploring standard horror themes of being lost, confronting supernatural evil and everyday people trying to find the strength within themselves to confront such circumstances.

My Favorite 20 Horror Films Pt. 5

12) "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein" - This is probably the ultimate comedy/horror film. Unlike most of the subgenre, it really succeeds on delivering the goods on all levels. There are several scenes of gutbusting humor, none of which dilute or eliminate the scares. The acting was quite good and the special effects actually well done for the times. I've seen this film at least 30 times in my life and I've laughed and enjoyed myself every time. No one portrays abject fear like Lou Costello, and even though he was reportedly unhappy with the script, his natural likeability and charm shine through every scene. Lon Chaney plays it straight and never lets the jokes change his sad, doomed demeanor and Bela Lugosi plays Dracula for the final time with great flourish and obvious joy.

Favorite scenes...the candle on the coffin and the "SLIIIIIIIICK!!!!!...'junior..?" sequences. :)]

13) "Creature from the Black Lagoon" - It occurred to me that I hadn't included any films from the 1950s in my list. By this time, most of the Universal monsters had all faded from view, showing up only in Abbott and Costello movies. Unfortunately, there weren't many successors to their roles as the reigning kings of cinematic horror, at least not until 1953 when the Gillman came along.

The Gillman was an original creature, born not from the supernatural like most of the 40s monsters, but from pseudo science. Nature, evolution, the atomic bomb and radiation were all predominant themes 1950s horror flicks, and the Gillman fit right in. Living in the Amazon River, this creature was perfectly content to live out his days in obscurity until man happened upon his home. In this, he harkens back to the Frankenstein monster; a relative innocent who was thrust into conflict with man only because of man's lust for knowledge. Like the monster, the Gillman had a certain tragic air about him, as we come to realize that for all his savagery and power, he's ultimately doomed to fall when confronted with the inevitable march of human progress.

Needless to say, the creature's costume was, like the Wolfman's, groundbreaking and still easily identifiable and effective. The underwater sequences were really awesome to behold, mesmerizing, haunting, and fraught with danger all at once.

Two less successful sequels followed, but the original "Creature" remains indelible and classic.

14) "Jeepers Creepers" - Another rather odd entry, I admit, but I was so grateful to see a truly original creature with a unique origin and powers that this film really stuck with me. In this age of murderous masterminds and unstoppable serial killers, most of whom I find very boring, it's so refreshing to see someone take the time to create a new and chilling mythos for a movie monster. This creature is equal parts demon, gargoyle and cicada, and it keeps you riveted to the screen throughout

I also liked the way it eschewed the traditional romantic angle in favor of a brother/sister relationship, one that seemed realistic.

My Favorite 20 Horror Films Pt. 4

I had originally intended these to be the "top twenty" horror films, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized how arrogant that was. I can only speak to what I like; I don't want the pressure of selecting what everyone else should think are the top twenty. The original title was limiting as well; it made me feel as if my criteria had to be too clinical and remote and didn't leave enough room for the undefinable, personal elements that have to factor into each of our choices.

I'm leaving the first eight unchanged, because I realized I had already been using those factors as standards anyway. I just changed the title to be more honest.

Moving along, then...

9) "The Re-Animator" This was a truly original, berserk Stuart Gordon film made in 1985. Combining gore and humor and a modern Gothic atmosphere, it followed the exploits of two scientists obsessed with finding a formula for eternal life. I've actually only seen this film twice, but what stands out most strongly in my memory is Jeffrey Combs portrayal of Dr. Herbert West, a driven, Dr. Frankenstein type hero who battles an evil rival in pursuit of the formula. Somehow in all the moist, unsettling special effects, nudity and murder, the characters remain predominant and well defined. I can honestly say I've never seen a film like this, before or since.

10) "The Lost Boys" It's odd that this is the only vampire movie I've listed, since it's equal parts pop culture, humor and horror, and might put off horror purists. But I thought the combination of vampires and a (then) modern California setting really worked well; sort of a "MTV meets Dracula". All the old vampire myths are given interesting modern twists, the acting is good (most of the stars went onto much greater things, including Keifer Sutherland, Jason Patric, Corey Feldman, Corey Haim and Jamie Gertz), and the soundtrack is effective and well chosen.

11) "An American Werewolf in London" This is another example of a classic monster given new life by a modern setting and sensibility, while not scrimping at all on the scares. David Naughton is a likeable protagonist, who like Lon Chaney before him, plays a character cursed by lycanthropy, through no fault of his own. Novel twists liven this fast paced, humorous story; Naughton's best friend, murdered in the opening scenes, keeps coming back as an omen bearing zombie, in increasingly decayed states. The werewolf itself is not a the standard "wolfman" but a huge, prehistoric looking wolf. Director John Landis wisely allows us only brief glimpses of the creature until the very end, knowing that the imagination is much more powerful than the eye. The transformation scenes are heralded as being the new industry standard in werewolf pictures, and they are undoubtedly, awesome and jaw dropping, to this day.

Like "Lost Boys", "Werewolf" features a terrific soundtrack that perfectly compliments the sometimes scary, sometimes humorous mood of the the film. The English countryside is almost like another character, providing a great mood of foreboding and an alien quality that really catapults the film into the realm of the classic.

My Favorite 20 Horror Films Pt. 3

6) "The Omen" - For me, this was the strongest of the slew of the religiously themed possession flicks of the 60s and 70, which included "Rosemary's Baby", "The Exorcist" and "The Amityville Horror". All of them were effective, but "The Omen"'s air of unstoppable doom really sealed the deal for me.

I liked the notion of a child born of Satan that would oppose and counterbalance the birth of Jesus. The fact that its consistent with Christian mythology lends a type of cultural validity to it. The film's timing also couldn't have been better. The Cold War was at its height, with virtually everyone supposing that if/when the end of the world came, it would be from a nuclear holocaust. And there was a lot of apocalyptic literature out at this time, including "The Late Great Planet Earth". The film took advantage of, and benefitted greatly from, the general pessimism about man's future during the 1970's.

The cast, which included Gregory Peck, David Warner and Lee Remick, also lent an air of respectability to the proceedings. A less distinguished group could easily have allowed the film to plunge into the realm of the ludicrous or unintentionally humorous. Peck, in particular, did a great job portraying a powerful man caught up in what seem to be events foretold centuries ago, and his struggles to exert some kind of influence on them are riveting to watch.

The film's score by Jerry Goldsmith is also a perfect compliment to the mood the creators try to achieve. It's chilling and relentless, like the film itself and to this day it gives me the goosebumps just thinking about it.

7) "A Nightmare on Elm Street" - Like "Halloween" this original film is much stronger than any of the sequels (though in general, the "Nightmare" films are a lot better than the "Halloween"s). This film did what is becoming increasingly hard to do after nearly a century of horror movies; create an original, compelling monster. "Nightmare"'s Freddy Krueger successfully combines elements of the typical 80s slasher (unstoppable, merciless, and creative with his murders) and more supernatural foes like demons and incubi. Add to the mix Freddy's cruel taunting jokes while he murders and a group of teenage victims that seem a bit brighter than the standard cadre of oversexed, hateable 'victims to be' and you have a very riveting modern horror flick that shocks without sacrificing plot or character.

8) "The Wolfman" - In perhaps the most poignant portrayal in a horror film ever, Lon Chaney Jr. portrays Larry Talbot, a young man returning from school to his ancestral home and his stern, well meaning father. Talbot is really an Everyman, just a well intentioned fellow with a quick wit and an eye for the ladies who wants to start a new life for himself. Unfortunately, fate intervenes and he's bitten by a werewolf and is plunged into a nightmare of murder and madness. Chaney's performance is the strongest part of the film, as his bright, enthusiastic exterior slowly gives way to mounting dread and horror at what he's become. Claude Rains is also fine as Sir John Talbot, a protective, somewhat overbearing father who tries in vain to rationalize and explain away the situation.

The Jack Pierce makeup is, to this day, a true classic and the image that we think of when we hear the word "werewolf". Chaney was effective in this role as well, seeming frighteningly savage and deadly when in his "wolf" form, tiptoeing through the foggy marshes in search of victims and lashing out at them in the dark.

9)

My Favorite 20 Horror Films Pt. 2

4) John Carpenter's "The Thing" - This may seem like a bit of an odd selection, since technically it's about half science fiction and half horror; but the sci fi portion really is just the groundwork for the film's main emphasis; the terror of being isolated in a hostile environment with an even more hostile alien presence who has the ability to assume any form.

I love the gradually mounting air of doom about this picture, as all possible ways out of the ever deepening mess the men find themselves in slowly close off. I also thought the paranoia that grips the men was really well done, as one by one they are taken over by this murderous, seemingly indestructible alien force.

The cast of this film is also a huge part of its success. Carpenter's assembled a group of seasoned character actors who work well together and convince you of the reality of their lives; a boring, desolate, drudgerous existence interrupted only by the invasion of a life force that threatens not only them, but all of mankind.

5) "Halloween" - Though this spawned a bunch of awful sequels, the original tapped into something very basic about the holiday, particularly for someone who lives in the Midwest. The leaves, the 70s homes with the big front porches, the carved jack o lanterns, the popcorn popped while watching horror movies on trick or treat night, all of this local color only served to ground the horror that much more, and make its impact that much more powerful.

On one hand, its just a slasher film, but the atmosphere, the music, the pacing, the acting, and the supernatural aspect of Michael Myers all catapult it into something much more.

I remember the first time I saw this film, I was 17 years old and it was on NBC-TV on trick or treat night. Afterwards I dressed in my vampire outfit and walked over to my aunt's house. The movie had actually scared me; I had watched it in my bedroom with the lights out. On the way to my aunt's house I was very aware of each shadow and every rustle of leaves. It was one of those times before you have real things to worry about like money and love and a home and cancer and sense of purpose and the scariest thing in the world is the figure lurking in the darkness, just out of view.

God I miss those times.

My Favorite 20 Horror Films

Just for the hell of it (and because I'm strapped for blogging ideas), here are my top twenty horror films of all time. A few rules to keep in mind while reading the list: 1) I have to have actually seen the film, naturally 2) It might not be fair to lump older films in with newer ones, but ultimately both have attendant strengths and weaknesses so this list will be a mixture and 3) the films are being judged on their ability to scare the audience, as well as all the other elements normally deemed necessary for a successful theatrical film; an interesting, original plot, strong characterization and at least some sort of underlying theme.

With all that out of the way, let's get to that list!

In no particular order...

1) "Jaws" - I really have always seen "Jaws" as a horror film. You can call it "suspense" or "drama" or "thriller" or even "adventure" I suppose, but it really contains all the elements of a classic horror film; a monster that seems unstoppable and possessed of nearly supernatural powers, a slate of horrific murders, innocent victims, and a band of unlikely heroes who try to thwart the menace.

"Jaws" is really one of those films that's almost perfect to me. From the music, the scene selection, the acting, the writing, the moments of humor, the chair gripping attack scenes; it all comes together to produce a truly masterful work of modern horror that really only benefits from repeated viewings. And I will dispute anyone who contends that the antiquated special effects of 1975 have diluted the film's power. Any true horror fan knows that what scares us most is not what we see, but what we don't see and imagine, and "Jaws"s shark is onscreen a precious little amount of time. The theme of man vs. nature that "Jaws" so vividly depicts is a timeless one, just as relevant today as it was in 1975. We're still hopelessly ignorant of what the oceans really contain, and that ignorance fuels the mystery that is at the heart of "Jaws"s horror, i.e. "what if there are things in the water that are large and fierce enough to devour us whole, and how could we ever defeat such creatures?"

2) "The Son of Frankenstein" - Unlike many sequels, (particularly those past the first), this 1939 film is every bit as frightening (if not moreso) than the original. This film benefits tremendously from the Frankenstein myth created by the first two films ("Frankenstein" and "Bride of Frankenstein"). The very name Frankenstein is now associated with blasphemy and murder, so before the fabled creature even shows up on screen we have a gradually mounting sense of dread. Add to this the beautifully Gothic setting of the castle, and the once-in-a-lifetime casting of Boris Karloff, Lionel Atwill (as the one armed sergeant who was maimed as a child by the creature), Basil Rathbone as the arrogant, obsessed but somehow still heroic Frankenstein, and a truly brilliant turn by Bela Lugosi as the creepy, vengeful Igor (broken neck and all).

3) "Night of the Living Dead" - Like "Jaws", so much has been written about this film that it's difficult to say something original. For me, this film more than any other brought home the true horror of the zombie phenomenon. Unlike most classic monsters, the zombies had no shred of humanity left in them. They were not innocent victims of werewolf or vampire bites, they had no redeeming human consciousness to mitigate their evil. They were just shambling, flesh eating machines (not unlike sharks actually) that would not shirk for one second from devouring the brains of their own former loved ones. Add to this notion the black and white film, which made the whole effort seem more real, and the selection of heretofore unknown actors and you have a film that has the look and feel of of a documentary. This technique would be used again (albeit more knowingly) over thirty years later in another hugely successful horror film, "The Blair Witch Project".

More of the list tomorrow!

"Gazing at People...Some Hand in Hand..."

I watched a couple at the grocery store fighting today.

They were "fighting" fighting; their voices weren't really raised and their faces weren't red. But as they talked, walking by me, it was obvious from their tones that they were sniping at each other. I felt a bit guilty watching them as they argued, but I guess a certain amount of morbid curosity in other people's relationships is a universal human trait.

Later in my time at the store, I saw a man whose sweat pants were riding so low his butt crack was exposed to the tune of about three inches, a cashier whose sex I'm still not a hundred percent of (the name was "Amber", so it must have been a woman, but the hair was a crew cut and the body language was all male...though the voice was feminine..sort of). I saw a girl I used to work with, looking very beautiful in a summer top and shorts. I saw another couple, very average looking but also very happy looking.

I like people watching. It's not that I'm a voyeur (well, at least not any more than anyone else), but it's instructive and humbling to see and interact with all kinds of people. You get little glimpses into their lives from the snippets of conversation you hear, from their body languages, from their facial expressions, from the ways they treat others around them, the clothes they wear, the way they comb their hair. All of these things are clues into who and what they really are, and they are infinitely interesting.

People watching also serves another, more important purpose. It reminds me how very much alike we all are, ironically. Fat, thin, old, young, beautiful, homely...we all get angry and sad and happy and silly. We all worry about growing old and being sick and losing our jobs and not having anyone to love. And in the midst of all this visual complexity, these innate similarities shine through if you are looking close enough. It's really heartening in a very basic way.

Even in the midst of strangers, we can find ways to feel less alone. I just hope that as others look at me, they find my humanity reflected back to them, as I do when I look at them.