Five Favorite Horror Movies Part IV

It’s no secret that I’m not the biggest fan of horror movies. Whether it’s ghosts and goblins, devils and demons, or slashers and…I don’t know, crashers?, the genre isn’t my jam. But it IS the jam of many a’Mad About Movies listener and since it’s October, and Happy Scare Time is upon us, I thought it prudent to lean into that Halloween feeling. Over the course of this month, we’ll be publishing several entries from both MAM hosts and MAM contributors discussing their personal five favorite horror movies. At the end of the month, we’ll also have a bonus episode available on our VIP feed talking to each blog contributor about a few of the films on their respective lists. Thanks for reading. -Brian

I would love to say that the cool autumn breezes of October have gotten me in the spirit for horror, but it is fully 95 degrees here. That being said, pumpkin spice waits for no weather, so crank up your AC and snuggle up in a blanket, it's spooky season. Here are my personal favorites!

The Shining (1980)
What is there to say that hasn't been said? The Shining is the standard to which I hold most modern horrors, because it has everything. I recently heard David Rees say on a podcast that "the best movies are either a puzzle or a dream" and The Shining is both. Well, maybe a nightmare.

Evil Dead II (1987)
This blew my mind when I saw it for the first time. Following up a down-the-line slasher film with essentially a parody of the same genre, while still being at times truly frightening, I think this is a masterful understanding of what makes horror scary and what makes comedy funny. While the effects have not aged beautifully, it is such a smartly made movie it brings me joy.

Halloween (1978)
The beauty of Halloween is in its simplicity. It ages well because it is not heavy on bad special effects, it just takes an unstoppable, unhinged villain, and sends him on a killing spree on the scariest night of the year. The definitive holiday horror.

An American Werewolf in London (1981)
I have two "horror comedies" on my list, but I can't help it. There are so many amazing things about Werewolf: the music is incredible, the visuals are haunting, and it has the ability to change the whole movie on a dime. I've seen it maybe five times and I still get the thrilling chills right before the real trouble starts.

Suspiria (2018)
I wanted to pull a recent one and saw that Sean had written about Hereditary and the original Suspiria, so I'm going to bump the remake! I stan Dakota Johnson and Tilda Swinton, and I think the combo of the dance/mutilation scenes just work so unbelievably well, it turns your insides.  

Bonus recommendation- If you want something seriously messed up, the French film Raw on Netflix. I made a whole frozen pizza and it sat on the counter all day. Absolutely disgusting. But effective.

Five Favorite Horror Movies Part III

It’s no secret that I’m not the biggest fan of horror movies. Whether it’s ghosts and goblins, devils and demons, or slashers and…I don’t know, crashers?, the genre isn’t my jam. But it IS the jam of many a’Mad About Movies listener and since it’s October, and Happy Scare Time is upon us, I thought it prudent to lean into that Halloween feeling. Over the course of this month, we’ll be publishing several entries from both MAM hosts and MAM contributors discussing their personal five favorite horror movies. At the end of the month, we’ll also have a bonus episode available on our VIP feed talking to each blog contributor about a few of the films on their respective lists. Thanks for reading. -Brian

I know, I know. As a well-documented scaredy-cat, I’m just as surprised to see my name on this list as you are. But of course: there are a number of horror films that are so good, even I can embrace the terror and enjoy the ride. Here they are, my top five horror films of all time. 

5. John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982)
Arguably Carpenter and Russell’s best work, this movie captures so well the sheer terror of not being able to trust anyone you thought you could. Skip the original from 1951, and the garbage remake in 2011, then enjoy this film made in an era without CGI. Incredible production design and Rob Botin’s masterful creature effects make this film a bona fide classic. MacReady’s response to the “thing” roaring during the climax of the film (which Is too vulgar to re-print here) is still one of the greatest comebacks of all time.

4. Paranormal Activity (2007)
This movie is filmmaking at its purest. It’s proof positive that you do not need stars or a huge budget to make a film that is deeply affecting and truly exceptional. This movie so expertly builds dread through repetition that by the time the climax arrives, it explodes off screen. More than any other movie on my list, this film gave me nightmares for days. 

3. Troll 2 (1990)
Usually, when a movie is “bad,” you can point to one or two aspects of the filmmaking process that aren’t working: the directing, the acting, the writing, etc. Troll 2 so successfully fumbles on every conceivable aspect of movie making at the same time that it inexplicably turns right back around to become one of the most enjoyable pieces of trash cinema has ever seen. If you have never seen this film, do yourself a favor and watch it with the largest group of friends possible. You will not be disappointed. (Bonus recommend: Watch Troll 2 as a double feature with Best Worst Movie, a documentary made by the film’s (then) child star about Troll 2’s current day cult status.)

2. JAWS (1975)
Although it ended up inventing what we now know as the “summer blockbuster,” Steven Spielberg’s JAWS was created as a horror film. Spielberg once said that he didn’t know if the movie was going to work until the opening day, when he attended a screening in a local theater and witnessed a man run out into the hall, throw up in a trash can, then sprint back inside the theater. In the last 40+ years, the film has become so iconic it is the still the reason thousands of beach goers (myself included) are scared to venture too far out into the water…

1. The Shining (1980)
What can be said about this movie that hasn’t already been said by people far smarter than me? It’s a masterwork of cinema and deserves all the praise it gets and more (with apologies to Stephen King)! One of Kubrick’s finest and a truly timeless tale of horror that still gives me goosebumps. (A quick note for all of the MAMFam home video enthusiasts: At the time of publishing, The Shining was just released on 4K UHD Dolby Vision disc, and the transfer was supervised by Steven Spielberg himself. The film has never looked or sounded better.)

Five Favorite Horror Movies Part II

It’s no secret that I’m not the biggest fan of horror movies. Whether it’s ghosts and goblins, devils and demons, or slashers and…I don’t know, crashers?, the genre isn’t my jam. But it IS the jam of many a’Mad About Movies listener and since it’s October, and Happy Scare Time is upon us, I thought it prudent to lean into that Halloween feeling. Over the course of this month, we’ll be publishing several entries from both MAM hosts and MAM contributors discussing their personal five favorite horror movies. At the end of the month, we’ll also have a bonus episode available on our VIP feed talking to each blog contributor about a few of the films on their respective lists. Thanks for reading. -Brian

As someone who had night terrors as a kid, I’ve never been a big horror movie fan. It’s not a genre that I usually seek out, but I’ve been subjected to my fair share over the years whether it be at Halloween parties or the awkward movie theater date. When choosing my top five, I picked based on which films I would also consider good movies, not just scary.

The Ring (2002)
The first real horror movie I ever saw. I watched this at a sleepover, which I think is one of those formative movie experiences we all had at one point. It may have inspired many parodies, but I remember being a very scared tween wanting to go home after watching this. The Ring definitely earned its place in the zeitgeist.

The Exorcist (1973)
A true classic with some great behind the scenes spooky history. Shout out to the other Catholic kids out there that still have a healthy fear of demons.

Sinister (2012)
I am a super Ethan Hawke fan and I honestly think this is one of his better performances. The mix of a super creepy fictional villain and the jarring super 8 footage makes this one of the scariest movies I’ve ever seen. 

Paranormal Activity (2007)
One of the few horror movies I’ve seen in theaters, this was such a unique movie at the time though it was immediately copied and over-referenced. The multiple sequels didn’t live up to it, but I still appreciate how simple and effective the original was. I’m always very pro-practical effects.

The Haunting of Hill House (2018)
I know it’s a mini-series, but Hill House deserves a place on this list. It may not be the scariest, but the overall story is pretty great for the genre. And I’ve gone back to watch a second time to try to see all the Easter eggs and hidden ghosts I missed the first time through. Episode six is almost one long tracking shot, which, when done right (as it is here), is something I love to see.