It’s that time of the year again, when people dress up as their favorite monster or villain and try to give everyone a scare!  And it’s that time of year when movie screens are flooded with horror tales, trying to do the exact same thing, because Halloween is the trademark of fear, gore, terror and horror.

It is the only genre that flourishes on precise plot-lines and twists. Lovable notions such as premarital sex that usually lead to systematically and creatively killing off characters one by one with lots of blood and gore. And all that is combined with a slasher-killer that never seems to die when he’s supposed to (or that simply is immortal). Horror is also an iconic genre for the male audience, who seek it rigorously.

And so, it’s time to reflect and compare how well classic horror films work in light of the modern ones. Let’s start the chainsaw!

Classic Horror

Halloween (1978)

We can’t start this post without naming one of the movies that started it all! And just as important, it’s the movie that introduced Jamie Lee-Curtis to the big screen. I can personally say that despite the fact that this movie is not up to par with modernized scares, it still is highly suspenseful and impressive with it’s storyline and with the legendary Michael Myers that will always be notoriously known for killing his own sister.

Scare-Meter: 6/10

The Exorcist (1973)

The AFI calls this the scariest movie of all time, and this humble writer thinks it’s for a good reason. For a movie that was made so long ago, the makeup is just unbelievable and I think nothing beats running down the stairs upside-down to give you a really good fright. This movie takes a great use of excessive profanity and the innocence of a young child to shake you off your seat.

Scare-Meter: 9/10

Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

A group of teenagers drive to the middle of nowhere only to find a bunch of inbred cannibals who terrorize their lives to the brink of sanity – sounds familiar? Of course it does! Since this is the movie that started the group-slaughter trend. Nothing says massacre better than a good chainsaw to slice people in half multiple times. Leatherface haunts his victims for several more sequels and remakes.

Scare-Meter: 8/10

Friday the 13th – (1980)

It’s become widely known in the horror genre that whenever you have sex it means you are probably going to die. This is the movie that started that common idea. A tragedy ensues in Crystal Lake when a kid drowns in the middle of summer camp. During the attempt to re-open the camp, the workers are terrorized by an unknown assailant. Another horror cult classic which in its merit we owe all the “Friday the 13’s” for being completely dedicated to horror.

Scare-Meter: 7/10

Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Undoubtedly one of the most original concepts for a horror movie. It’s the pioneer of psychological horror: the murderer is in your dreams making it impossible to run or hide anywhere, which triples the scare-meter for audiences. Kids resort to coffee to stay awake and sing frightening songs to keep the famous Freddie Kruger away from their dreams. For if they fail, it will turn into a nightmare that they will never wake up from.

Scare-Meter: 10/10

Since “classic horror” set the bar for the “conventional horror,” it was hard for modern horror to create films that aren’t predictable and corny. They had to resort to clever storylines, unconventional photography and even humor in order to throw the audience off-balance.

Modern Horror

Scream (1996)

Just when audiences thought Horror was completely dead, Wes Craven came along and re-invented it. He reflected the horror genre within itself, pointed out all the clichés and broke them with a great many twists and turns in this small town-serial killer flick that spawned 3 more sequels. I remember seeing this in the cinema and until this day I’ll never forget the startles and scares that this movie gave me.

Scare-Meter: 7/10

Blair Witch Project (1998)

One of the trendiest sub-genres today is the Fake Documentary, which was born through this magnificent film. It was so well-marketed that it was believed the actors in this movie were actually missing. Three film-making students travel to the woods of Maryland to investigate the mystery of the Blair Witch. When they get there, they get caught up in all sorts of trouble. This movie is also the highest earning movie in history. It was made with only 60 thousand dollars and earned 250 million in return.

Scare-Meter: 9/10

Saw (2004)

A movie that became just as big a franchise as Jason Voorhees or Freddie Kruger, this movie brought the definition of Torture-Porn into the movie vernacular. “Saw” revolves around a serial killer that plays mind games on his victims in order to psychologically force them out of their everyday depression and lack of purpose, although along the way there is a great deal of suffering, trauma and very often – you guessed it – death in a most disturbing ways.

Scare-Meter: 6/10

Dawn of the Dead (2004)

You didn’t really think I’d forget Zombies, did you? This remake revolves around a plague that inflicts human beings worldwide and turning them into flesh-eating zombies. A small group of survivors try to make a stand in a local shopping mall. It is one of the most visually stylized, suspenseful, and rough zombie movies of the 21st century coming from visually-emphasized director Zack Snyder.

Scare-Meter: 6/10

Cabin in the Woods (2011)

And we wrap up this modern fare with director Joss Whedon who is widely known for suspenseful and clever films that always keep the audience guessing. Despite this film following all the regular conventions of horror movies, it still manages to keep surprising you the whole way through. Unlike regular horror movies, it is more fast-paced and has a humorous side (take it from me, I couldn’t stop laughing throughout the entire movie.)

Scare-Meter: 7/10

Conclusion:

So let’s review: The classic horror movies have spawned 31 sequels combined, whilst the modern horror spawned only 13 (including 1 as a remake.)
The total scare-meter score for the classics is 40 points while moderns score 35. Pretty close, but still doesn’t cut it.
It’s safe to say that the classics knock this one out of the park. They introduced the formula, they proved it works, and have lasted till this day because of it.

Despite the classic film’s victory, it is this humble writer’s opinion that all of these movies are winners. None can exist without the other. Modern horror would never have been as clever and witty today without it’s predecessors to set up the groundwork. Yet they find ways to look better and feel scarier, and to me it’s always something to be thankful for. Have a Happy Halloween! And don’t let the Zombies get ya!

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Technorati Tags: Halloween, Horror, Jamie Lee-Curtis, The Exorcist, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, Scream, Blair Witch Project, Saw, Dawn of the Dead, Torture-Porn, Zack Snyder, Cabin in the Woods, Zombies, Wes Craven, Joss Whedon, Jason Voorhees, Freddie Kruger

Popularity: 1% [?]

Stephen King turns 65 tomorrow. Is it rude to wish someone a happy birthday the day before? I don’t know. (Happy birthday anyway Steve? Can I call you Steve? Thanks.) What I do know is that while Stephen King is most recognized with the horror genre, he has probably written every genre there is during his prolific career (which seems far from over). Under his belt you can find novels, short stories, scripts, comics, directions to his house and even grocery lists. His work has been adapted into feature films, TV films, mini-series, comics, theatrical plays and even video art installations (not really). It seems that every Stephen King novel automatically comes to a screen near you, as if there’s a machine that turns his written words into moving images. As such, you’re bound to have your hits and misses; and hey, that’s what we’re here for today: to celebrate the good and the bad of this great popular writer. I chose to leave out the obvious hits, like The Shining, The Green Mile, and The Shawshank Redemption, in favor of making things a bit more interesting. So let’s see the best and worst titles based on books or short stories by King, divided into arbitrary categories:

Future Dystopia

Best: The Running Man (1987)

Not only did Battle Royale beat The Hunger Games to the same idea, King wrote this book in 1982. Arnold Schwarzenegger stars here as a reluctant contestant in a futuristic TV show on which convicts are pitted against one another to see who survives. While it’s not as good or disturbing as the Japanese film, this sci-fi thriller’s campy look, Arnie’s one-liners, and fast pace will entertain you for sure.

Worst: The Stand (1994)

I wasted six hours of my life on this mini-series. Most of the time you see people walking in a post-apocalyptic world preparing for the ultimate showdown between good and evil. I am not opposed to slow films, don’t get me wrong, and I thought I would be compensated for my patience at the end, but the so-called ultimate battle was an utter disappointment. So do yourselves a favor, avoid this shocker.

Writer’s Life

Best: Misery (1990)

One of King’s best adaptations, without a doubt. Kathy Bates stars as a mentally unstable fan, who rescues her favorite writer (James Caan), after he’s involved in a car crash. Caan goes from being thankful to being held captive by a psychotic woman that can’t deal with the fact that her idol has killed off the heroine of her favorite novels. Bates’ performance of a lifetime (Oscar winning), the great tension build-up, and the minimalistic production all make for a very scary film.

Worst: Secret Window (2004)

I guess Stephen should have stopped writing about writers after Misery, but I also guess he couldn’t help himself. Starring Johnny Depp and John Turturro, one would think this film has a chance to be somewhat watchable, but the story is so predictable and recycled, that you find yourself just waiting for it to be over. It’s kind of the opposite of Rob Reiner’s modern classic.

Objects Come to Life

Best: Christine (1983)

The story behind this film doesn’t sound like much: A vintage car possesses the young man that bought it (Keith Gordon), changing his character from an insecure geek to a dark and arrogant youngster. Strangely, this is a very compelling horror thriller, with great atmosphere, that will make you wanna get in your car and drive.

Worst: Maximum Overdrive (1986)

He shouldn’t have super-sized from cars to trucks. King even directed this silly horror sci-fi about trucks trying to kill some guys at a diner in North Carolina. While this is a bad movie in every aspect, there are some unintentional comic elements that are perhaps worth an ironic viewing. Perhaps.

Youth

Best: Stand By Me (1986)

Another Rob Reiner film, and another modern classic. I guess he should direct all of Stephen’s adaptations. After all the horrors, suspense and supernatural stuff, King comes to us with a beautiful and touching coming of age story, revolving around a group of young friends who find a dead body (We’re still talking about Stephen King). To this day directors try to recreate its feel, cementing it as a timeless and essential film.

Worst: Carrie (2002)

Not that this movie is that bad, but it is a useless remake that pales so much comparing to the original Brian De Palma classic from 1976, that I had to put it in. This was a made-for-TV movie, that was supposed to be a pilot for a TV series. With an astonishing runtime of 132 minutes, an inferior cast, direction and production, you will not be able to decide whether you’re more bored or more disappointed from this film. (and a shout-out to the original, you should have been here.)

Animals Attacking

Best: Pet Sematary (1989)

I have only one problem with this film, and one message to viewers: Cats do not behave like this when they’re alive! Stop demonizing them! Aside from that, this is a creepy horror film (as horror films should be), that still holds some scare power. With a memorable role by legendary actor Fred Gwynne, and a great title track by The Ramones, you will not be disappointed.

Worst: Graveyard Shift (1990)

If you’re into guilty pleasure, this might make the cut, but otherwise just leave this one alone. So during a graveyard shift, people discover a deadly creature in the basement. Low budget, shoddy direction and a plain silly plot are the makings of this truly bad film. Brad Dourif’s character as a wacky exterminator is not enough to make it worth watching.

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Technorati Tags: Stephen King, horror, novels, short stories, scripts, comics, feature films, TV films, mini-series, comics, theatrical plays, The Shining, The Green Mile, and The Shawshank Redemption, based on books, short stories, The Running Man, Battle Royale, The Hunger Games, Arnold Schwarzenegger, futuristic TV show, sci-fi thriller, The Stand, mini-series, post-apocalyptic, Misery, adaptations, Kathy Bates, James Caan, psychotic woman, Oscar winning, minimalistic, scary, Secret Window, Johnny Depp, John Turturro, Rob Reiner, modern classic, Christine, vintage car, possessed, Keith Gordon, thriller, Maximum Overdrive, sci-fi, diner, North Carolina, Stand By Me, horror, suspense, supernatural, Carrie, remake, Brian De Palma, Pet Sematary, Fred Gwynne, The Ramones, Graveyard Shift, low budget, Brad Dourif

Popularity: 2% [?]

L.T. Niosi is a Blogger and Associate Editor for EpixHD.  She is a film fanatic and avid writer who currently lives and works in New York City.  A full collection of her blogs can be found on LTfeatures.

I learned a lot on my recent trip to San Diego’s Comic-Con.  I learned that spandex is not a forgiving fabric and unitards are best left to dolphin trainers, I learned that geeks can get feisty (as proved by the pencil-stabbing incident in Hall H), and I learned that horror movies are going to haunt the box office and your psyche for the rest of the summer. It wasn’t until I was boarding the plane heading back to New York that I realized I had been totally duped.  Did I really just spend four days at a “comic” fanatics gathering?  Had I gotten lost on the way to the convention center and accidentally stumbled into Fright-Fest?

Yes, there were super heroes here and there, but this year’s festivities were also littered with horror films.  Scary movies aren’t ideal for a girl who is still terrified of the Wicked Witch of the West… yeah she melted but a quick trip to the freezer and she could be back in fighting shape!  To make matters worse, the publicity theme of 2010 was interactive stunts.  The new film Buried really captured this insanity; their booth encouraged fans to be buried alive themselves, taped, and then posted their recorded panic to Facebook and Twitter.  I was able to avoid that terror by feigning a stomachache, but I wasn’t able to dodge every bullet, or rather, duck every swing of an ax.

I had the great… eh… pleasure of attending a preview screening of the first 8 minutes of Saw 3D and although I was just peeking through my 3D glasses, I reluctantly liked what I saw.  There was so much blood and guts in just those first few scenes that it made me wonder if Kevin Greutert, the Director, took any staging tips from the Emergency Room after a ten car collision.  It was gory and graphic, but being that this is the final film of the franchise I expected them to go out with a literal bang.  By the time my interview with Tobin Bell (Jigsaw himself) and Kevin rolled around I was shaking in my boots.  Once I came to my senses and ceased quivering I was able to appreciate the impact that the Saw series has had on films, especially the horror genre.  Tobin commented that Jigsaw ultimately wants to expose people’s flaws and force them to change their ways.  When you look at it that way, Jigsaw seems less like a murderous psychopath and more like an evil social worker.

I was also able to go to attend The Last Exorcism panel and interview the Director, Daniel Stamm, and Producer, Eli Roth.  They are nice guys – really nice guys.  So how do they come up with this stuff?  Just listening to them speak about the film made me have to silently chant to myself “it’s only a movie, it’s only a movie” while simultaneously smiling and nodding at both of them.  The movie looks terrifying but incredible.  It is one of those horror movies, like Rosemary’s Baby, that will haunt you for a lifetime but you will kick yourself if you turn away from the screen.

Leaving Comic-Con I exhaled a deep sigh of relief, knowing that the worst was over.  Then an enormous Piranha 3D poster rolled by on the flatbed of a truck, (the film was deemed too scary for the convention center and was banished to the streets of San Diego), and I realized that I can never escape the horror films.  Now every turning doorknob, every creaky step and every ominous cloud makes me feel like my days are numbered, but I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Technorati Tags: horror movie, Comic-Con, Buried, Saw VII, Piranha 3D

Popularity: 2% [?]

The rich selection of great blogs and sites on movies provides an endless source of enjoyment for movie lovers. I couldn’t possibly put together a comprehensive list, but here are 60 quality movie blogs I enjoy.

I’ve divided the blogs into six categories for ease of reading, though they’re a bit fluid and some blogs fit into several categories. If you think there’s a must-read I overlooked, feel free to add it in the comments!

NEWSY

Everything you’d want to know about the latest movies (mostly mainstream).

Cinematical
This leading film blog offers news, reviews and thought-provoking opinion pieces.
Recent post: Quick List: Canadian Movies That Are Cool

Film Junk
News, reviews, features, and entertaining podcasts.
Recent post: Skip Eclipse and Play The 8-Bit YouTube Game Instead

FilmSchoolRejects
Movie news, reviews, and interviews, often with an amusingly cynical edge.
Recent post: Review: Inception

Get the Big Picture
Movie news, reviews and trailers, presented with a good dash of personal opinion.
Recent post: 20 New Photos from Zhang Yimou’s ‘Noodle Shop’

Gordon and the Whale
High-quality news, reviews, interviews – and contests too.
Recent post: Writer/Director Rod Lurie says STRAW DOGS remake will carry a hard R-rating

HitFix
Up-to-the-minute news in entertainment (movies, TV, music).
Recent post: Oscar Watch: Is ‘Inception’ a lock for a Best Picture nomination?

JoBlo
This movie network is an all-in-one source of news, reviews, and trailers.
Recent post: Two cool new French posters for The Expendables and Piranha 3D

LatinoReview
A good assortment of movie news, reviews, and features, occasionally with a specifically Latino perspective.
Recent post: Summer Of ‘85: 25 Years, 25 Films

Slashfilm
This go-to source provides news, reviews and trailers with a fanboy angle.
Recent post: First Look: Viggo Mortensen and Michael Fassbender in David Cronenberg’s ‘A Dangerous Method’

TotalFilm
Movie news, trailers, and catchy feature articles.
Recent Post: The 26 Most Uninspirational Movie Speeches

BLOODY

Must-reads for horror lovers.

Arbogast
Meditations on horror, crime and more from an anonymous film buff.
Recent post: When your love affair has run its course

Bloody Disgusting
A premier source of horror news, reviews, trailers and more for movies as well as music, games and comics.
Recent post: FanTasia ‘10: First Images From ‘Jack Brooks’ Director’s ‘The Shrine’

Dread Central
Horror news with an underground focus.
Recent Post: Film4 Frightfest ‘10 - New Still: I Spit on Your Grave

FEARnet
This horror community features blogs and free movies to watch.
Recent post: Exclusive: Neil Marshall on His Bloody ‘Centurion’

Final Girl
A personal look at the horror genre, from the 70s and 80s to the present.
Recent post: The House of the Devil

Horrorsquad
Horror reviews, interviews, clips and club discussions.
Recent post: Interview: Rick Baker Opens Up About ‘The Wolfman’

Obscure Hollow
A go-to source for classic horror.
Recent post: The Scarlet Empress (1934)

Shock Till You Drop
Great source of news and reviews for the newest horror movies.
Recent post: The second trailer for Savage

Upcoming Horror Movies
Trailers and reviews for (obviously) upcoming horror flicks, with good, wide-ranging coverage.
Recent post: Let Me In teaser trailer

Vault of Horror
A broad, fun-to-read exploration of the horror genre.
Recent post: Tuesday Top 10: Favorite Ray Harryhausen Creations

EXPLORERS

Beyond the usual Hollywood suspects, these blogs offer coverage of indie productions and the international film scene.

Bad Movie Planet
Entertaining coverage of bad cinema: B-movies, cult flicks, and more.
Recent post: Who Killed Mary What’s ‘er Name?

Coffee Coffee and More Coffee
Thought-provoking analysis of film from around the world.
Recent post: One Million Yen Girl

CriterionCast
Quality podcasts and posts on new and classic film as well as cinema business/technology news.
Recent post: Blockbuster Plans To Expand Kiosk Availability In The South, Redbox Tests Higher Priced Daily Rentals

Daily Film Dose
A new film review every day – a mix of old and new, well-known and offbeat.
Recent post: Stranger Than Paradise

The Film Talk
Wide-ranging, thoughtful podcast and posts.
Recent post: Youngblood on Film: The Emerging Genre of Cinema Anima

GreenCine Daily
The blog of the online DVD rent-by-mail service is a widely-read source of indie film news and reviews.
Recent post: FILM OF THE WEEK: Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Celebration

IFC: The Independent Eye
Everything indie: news, reviews and features.
Recent post: The unexpected winners and losers at the indie box office

SelfStyledSiren
Smart, personal musings on cinema, especially classics.
Recent post: Women’s Costumes at the Movies

Some Came Running
Highly visual, intriguing explorations of film and entertainment.
Recent post: Digital Archery

Twitch
Extensive coverage of indie and foreign as well as basic Hollywood fare.
Recent post: Once Again, The Teaser For Eugenio Mira’s Gorgeous AGNOSIA - This Time In English

OPINION

More in-depth considerations of, and sometimes highly personal perspectives on, the world of film.

Andrew O’Hehir
This Salon blog offers up a thought-provoking analysis of a mix of mainstream and indie films.
Recent post: Restrepo vs. The Hurt Locker

A.V. Club
Pop-culture news, features, and particularly good interviews, sometimes with a dash of The Onion-style humor.
Recent post: George Miller, who hasn’t read the papers today, announces he’s making two Mad Max films back to back

FilmExperience
Always amusing and often provocative thoughts on film.
Recent post: Halfway Mark: Screen Hotties of 2010

Hollywood Elsewhere
A personal perspective offers fresh insights into Hollywood news and new releases.
Recent post: Tripping in Hollywood Hills

In Contention
Reviews and features, with a notably in-depth focus on film awards.
Recent post: Life Without Oscar

The Movie Blog
Amusing reads on (mostly big) movies and movie news.
Recent post: Inception’s Cool Outdoor Advertising Spots

Movie Mom
A smart parent’s perspective on movies, media, and what’s appropriate for children of different ages.
Recent post: Andrew Garfield Is the New Spiderman

Pajiba
The self-described “scathing reviews for bitchy people” site doesn’t skimp on personal opinion in movie reviews and features.
Recent post: 100 Greatest Movie Insults of All Time

Roger Ebert
Pithy, highly quotable reviews from the veteran film critic.
Recent post: The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

What Would Toto Watch
Thought-provoking reviews, interviews and analysis of the world of film.
Recent post: WWTW interview: University of Denver Chaplain talks ‘Twilight’

GEEKY

These blogs speak to the sci-fi, fantasy and comics loving geek.

Den of Geek
A go-to source of news, reviews and features on “geek” movies, TV, comics, games, both mainstream and cult.
Recent post: The Directors Who Took on Someone Else’s Franchise

Geekosystem
A collection of entertaining pictures, videos, links, news and observations to appeal to everyone’s inner geek.
Recent post: The Real Minority Report Interface

Great Geek Manual
Great entertainment roundups, geek quotes and history.
Recent post: Geek Media Roundup: July 5, 2010

Io9
A leading source of sci-fi news in movies, books, etc. along with a dash of reporting on futuristic-sounding science.
Recent post: The 15 lamest sea monsters to ever doggy-paddle into cinema

Mania
A diverse look at comic book, fantasy, sci-fi and anime entertainment, including movies.
Recent post: The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Movie Review

SciFiChick
Fun-to-read news and reviews from a sci-fi fan.
Recent post: Tonight on Syfy: MERLIN Season 2 Finale

SF Signal
An entertaining mix of sci-fi news, analysis, and pop culture.
Recent post: Ghostbusters Done Steampunk Style

SciFi Wire
Sci-fi and fantasy news from the SyFy network.
Recent post: New Potter trailer shows the beginning of the end—and more!

Superhero Hype
Superhero news, reviews, and trailers for movies and comics.
Recent post: Transformers 3 Set Photos and More!

Topless Robot
News, features, videos, contests and plenty of nerdy humor.
Recent post: TR Contest: Tweets from G.I. Joe HQ and the Terrordrome

FUTURIST

These blogs explore (at least in part) the future of cinema and media: how digital delivery services, online social networks, and more are changing the entertainment landscape. Offering perspectives from filmmakers, technology insiders, academics, and more, not all are strictly movie blogs.

Blog Maverick
The entrepreneur Mark Cuban often weighs in with controversial perspectives on the future of film and media.
Recent post: Netflix and the Future of the Entertainment Business

Cinematech
Always-interesting analysis of how technology is changing cinema, for filmmakers and viewers.
Recent post: Notes and quotes from the PGA’s 2010 “Produced By” conference

Confessions of an Aca-Fan
In-depth interviews and considerations of the future of media from a renowned professor at USC.
Recent post: The Image of the Journalist in Popular Culture: An Interview with Joe Saltzman (Part Three)

Gearhead Gal
Intriguing perspectives on the consumer experience, often with a focus on media and film.
Recent post: Will Consumers Be Better Than Broadcasters At Programming Online Video?

Hollywood Rewired
This Hollywood Reporter blog reports on news that reflects how technology is changing media.
Recent post: Games a Growth Area for Disney News Corp.

Justin Kownacki
A compelling collection of thoughts on social media, pop culture online, and more.
Recent post: Diversity in Media: How the Web Wins

Media Futurist
Wide-ranging thoughts on the future of media, with a good mix of videos and presentations.
Recent post: Short video on the future of branding & communication

NewTeeVee
The GigaOm blog focused on the technology and business of the new age of video.
Recent post: Reviewers Love Hulu Plus, But Will Anyone Pay For It?

Technotainment
A Variety blog reporting on news related to the intersection of Hollywood and technology.
Recent post: Disney Makes a Big Play in the Mobile Space

Zatznotfunny
A smart, technology-oriented look at the innovations that are changing media and entertainment.
Recent post: Popbox Gets a Launch Date (For Real)

Technorati Tags: movie blogs, film blogs, movie bloggers, top movie blogs

Popularity: 10% [?]

With a new version of A Nightmare on Elm Street coming out, it’s a good time to ask: What are the scariest movies of all time? Which movie gave heart attacks to millions? Which movie left entire countries sleep-deprived? After what movie did the entire population of a continent started seeing a psychiatrist?
If none of the following movies scared you, then you are either: 1.A very brave person 2. Someone who doesn’t watch movies or 3. Dead.

10. The Birds (1963)

It was so scary that: I never looked at big bird quite the same way again.

A wealthy party girl, Melanie, enjoys a brief flirtation with a lawyer (Rod Taylor) in a San Francisco pet shop. Bearing a gift of two lovebirds, she quickly strikes up a romance with him. One day, during a birthday party for his younger sister, a flock of birds attacks the children in what seems to be a random incident. In fact, it signals the beginning of a massive and unexplainable avian assault on the residents of the town, from which no one may emerge alive…

9. The Ring (2002)

It was so scary that: I sold my VCR, threw away all of my videotapes and moved on to using only DVDs.

Someone should check if this movie was funded by DVD manufacturers!
A group of teenagers all die suddenly and inexplicably exactly one week after watching a mysterious videotape. A journalist (Naomi Watts), who is a relative of one of the victims, begins an investigation that leads her to the tape, which contains footage of random and surreal images. After viewing it she receives a phone call stating that she, too, has seven days left to live. As the clock ticks away, she attempts to discover the significance of the cryptic tape before her time is up.

8. Paranormal Activity (2007)

It was so scary that: Now, one of the things that scare me the most is invisible things.

After a young, middle class couple moves into a suburban ’starter’ tract house, they become increasingly disturbed by a presence that may or may not be somehow demonic but is certainly most active in the middle of the night. Especially when they sleep. Or try to.

7. Saw (2004)

It was so scary that: After watching the movie, whenever I was asked, “Hello, would you like to play a game?” I replied, “NO!” – even if it was just backgammon.

Our story begins with… 2 strangers chained in a bathroom, separated by a bloody corpse holding a gun and a tape recorder. Their only way out is to use a saw left for them, and to cut one of their feet off. A serial killer who specializes in torturing immoral strangers is playing a game with them: One of them has less than eight hours to kill the other, or else his wife and daughter will be murdered. As the two alternately try to help each other and secretly attempt to win the game, a series of flashbacks reveals the history of the madman and the pair of detectives handling the case.

6. Psycho (1960)

It was so scary that: I immediately stopped all my friendships with psychopaths.

Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) is a lonely out-of-the-way motel keeper, living under the domineering specter of his mother. The young, well-intentioned Bates is introduced to the audience when Marion Crane (Janet Leigh), a blonde on the run with stolen money, checks in for the night. But Momma doesn’t like loose women, so the stage is set for this classic tale of horror, and one of the most famous scenes in film history.

5. Alien (1979)

It was so scary that: I’ve decided not to travel to space, even if the whole global warming thing continues.

Sigourney Weaver is Officer Ripley, a crew member on a spaceship that lands on a dying planet in response to an SOS call. They bring back to the spaceship a mysterious creature. Things gets out of hand when one of the creature’s offspring, in one of the film’s most infamous scenes, explodes horribly from a crew member’s stomach and runs away. The vessel’s captain leads the others in a search for the rapidly growing, acid-dripping alien before it can cut them down, one by one.

4. The Shining (1980)

It was so scary that: When I travel, I sleep at friends’ houses or in a sleeping bag. Never in hotels…

This title is justifiably #1 on Picturenose’s list of the 10 Best Horror Movies of All Time.

In this adaptation of Stephen King’s novel, Jack Nicholson gives a brilliant performance as Jack Torrance, a writer who works in a closed hotel as a winter caretaker, where he hopes to complete his novel. His wife and young son, who possess some unique psychic powers, accompany him. As the Torrances settle in for the long, lonely months ahead, isolated due to the snowy roads that deny access, strange, unexplainable things start occurring in the hotel, and in every scene Jack seems to be growing a little more evil and dangerous….

3. Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

It was so scary that: Even today, satanic babies scare me.

A young couple moves into a spacious apartment off Central Park and befriends the elderly couple next door. Shortly after a tenant in the building commits suicide, Rosemary begins to be plagued by disturbing dreams, including a hallucinogenic sequence in which she is raped by something “inhuman” while surrounded by a host of unlikely spectators. Rosemary discovers she is pregnant, falls violently ill, and when it’s unveiled that her the seeming neighbors are members of a witches’ coven, she realizes she’s a victim of a deeply evil conspiracy and that no one can be trusted, not even her own husband.

2. Jaws (1975)

It was so scary that: Not only did I avoid going to the beach, I also avoided taking baths for many years.

Steven Spielberg directed this thrill ride of terror. At the height of beach season, the Massachusetts resort Town of Amity Island is terrorized by surprise attacks from a great white shark. Three unlikely partners team up to hunt down the rogue and destroy it: the new chief of police from New York, a young university-educated oceanographer and a crusty old-time fisherman. Composer John Williams created the score to Jaws, which has since become a well-known theme of impending doom.

1. A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)

It was so scary that: Like Machiavelli, I tried sleeping only two hours each night. It didn’t work as I still dreamt, and since I slept so little I was starting to lose my mind. So reluctantly I returned to sleeping eight hours and hoped for the best.

A hellish, razor-fingered monster enters the dreams of the teenage residents of a rural town and systematically slaughters them in their sleep, until one courageous young woman does battle with the predatory creature.

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