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.