The Broken Chair

In the spirit of Halloween, I have decided to give you my top 10 horror movie list.  If you haven’t seen some of these, you might want to take a visit to your local rental store.  Let me know what your top horror movies are.

10. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)

What would you do if everyone you knew was suddenly changing? They became cold and unfeeling images of the people you cared about. A great look at the individual against the masses.

9. Hellraiser (1987)

What makes this movie work so well is they set up a history that you could believe. Violence with a purpose and a disturbing look at what our sins may cost us.

8. The Thing (1982)

I love this movie for its feeling of suffocation. The severe cold lends to the icy feeling between the characters. The ending is a wonderful departure from the norm.

7. The Shining (1980)

Is there any better movie that shows the downward spiral into insanity? All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. That scene alone is better than most movies.

6. Jaws (1975)

Generations have had their days at the beach ruined because of this movie. Honestly, can you go swimming in the ocean without thinking of the music? I can’t even take a bath without thinking of it. Also, Shaw’s monologue about the Indianapolis is masterful.

5. Alien (1979)

This movie single-handedly brought horror back to Sci-Fi. How many movies have copied this formula since? This is the complete opposite of the clean hospital look of Star Wars. The sets are like oil drilling platforms in space.

4. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

The birth of the modern slasher movie. Low budget, but that makes it even more believable. Tame by today’s standards, however quite disturbing in the images of the grotesque.

3. Evil Dead II (1987)

What happens when you mix the Three Stooges with Night of the Living Dead? You get the Evil Dead series. This is by far the best of the three. Its clever use of camerawork and awesome character, Ash, makes this a classic. Groovy.

2. The Exorcist (1973)

The deep seeded Christian beliefs in the American psyche were the launching pad for this incredible movie. Brilliant imagery coupled with idea of Satan manifesting itself in a 12-year-old girl is an endless source of chills.

1. Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Everything that every zombie flick wants to be is based on this movie. In fact, any movie where the characters are trapped somewhere while the antagonist looms about is based on this movie. What is so frightening is the realism, that this could happen somehow. Also, I love watching the psychology of the group trying to survive. Makes you wonder who is more dangerous, the zombies or the people right next to you.