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.

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