Part 2 - 1970-2009
Hi again. For anyone who missed my previous post I had noted that Octopus books and General Editor Steven J Schneider recently released the newest, 5th anniversary edition, of the epic book "1001 Films To See Before You Die" I began presenting a list of the horror films which made the list (in chronological order) including my own very brief (no more than 3 sentence) review of those films on the list which I have seen, hopefully showing a pretty good cross section of one fan's (or type of fan's) opinion. This time we focus on the most recent crop of high quality horror, strap yourselves in. Are you sitting comfortably? ...
- The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970)
- Straw Dogs (1971) *** 3/5
Exploitation with high reach, undoubtedly powerful but with fudged messages and an ambivalent quality, often seeming fractured but with something to say, even if it's unsure what, and often visual flair and acting brilliance. I am sure Mr B will have a differing viewpoint though.
- Deliverance (1972)
- Frenzy (1972)
- The Wicker Man (1973)
- Don't Look Now (1973)
- The Exorcist (1973) *** 3/5
Overly schlock, over-hyped publicity stunt, relying too much on gimmicks over it's strengths: great acting, very good direction, and a sense of true mystery and mood. But nothing better than the make up. BUT see Mr B's earlier review for another take.
- The Texas Chain Saw Massacre **** 4/5
Seminal, important work, not just to the crop of 70's exploitation pioneered by the likes of Hooper and Craven (i.e Hills Have Eyes) but remains relevant to horror as a whole. Innovative plot, set design, lighting, gore, a true villainous icon and a very watchable film, horrifying but in the best way. Let down very slightly by some typical ropey final Hooper-esque effects (the family grandpa looks like a bad Cryptkeeper), a cliche conforming final girl and the most tedious and annoying chase scene in horror.
- Young Frankenstein (1974)
- The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) **** 4/5
A true dividing "Marmite" piece, in horror terms it invests such charm and has such fun with the iconography, conventions and cliches that, whilst it's possible not to be infected, those who are fall for its charms hard, it has chipped away at me until I acknowledged then admired it's cult sense of glee and love of sci-fi, and of course horror. And, yes, now I do own it and can quote it with glee.
- Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975)
- Jaws (1975) *** 3/5
More suspense than horror but with moments of greatness, not least the use of score to create fear, a couple of truly great jump shocks, and a director building up to the vastly superior (but sadly sci-fi) Jurassic Park.
- Carrie (1976) ***** 5/5
Still one of my favourite films. Gutsy direction perfectly depicting what it's like to be the abused, put upon outsider and the true horrors of people and the monsters they can create. Best ending in film too...
- Eraserhead (1977)
- The Hills Have Eyes (1977)
- Suspiria (1977) ** 2/5
I know it's just me but it's too disjointed and crazy, I'm told that's the point but I found it difficult to be swept into the narrative. Very brilliant imagery though, evoking nightmares and dreamscapes well, if not perfectly. One I want to rewatch and re-evaluate though.
- Dawn of the Dead (1978) **** 4/5
Widely considered the best of Romero's zombie output, a bitingly brilliant satire on consumerism and our nature, alive or dead, as true zombies. Great splatter effect moments, well acted, tensely cut and as bleak as it's precursor. Eerie and scary, even when issues of the living, not the undead, are the source of anxiety.
- Halloween (1978) ***** 5/5
First, and one of the best, true slasher films to truly cement the generic conventions associated. Carpenter never bettered it, fantastic camera angles and set ups, a grade A plot and killer, and a touch of class via Donald Pleasance. If you've never watched horror, start here.
- Alien (1979) **** 4/5
Tense and atmospheric, if a touch ponderous and slow-to-start, Giger's alien creation and cinema's feminist one compete to be most important and noteworthy and end up in a score draw for this and 3 sequels. Great meshing of genre, again top notch cast all round and a quality plot, if more for its sci-fi moments. Does effectively use lessons from expressionism to Spielberg though, making the creatures fleeting appearances all the more terrifying, not least in its, justifiably iconic and messy, birth scene.
- Nosferatu: Phantom of the Night (1979)
- The Shining (1980) **** 4/5
A master at work, adapting a great source novel and adding mood, tension, visual horrors of the highest calibre (blood gushes, ghosts stalk), a defining acting performance and a film that simply has to be experienced. Loses a star for some of the more preposterous plot ideas not quite working a hundred per cent (the bar ghosts and the concept of the psychic abilities) and a couple of very slightly muddled, confusing moments. Overall forgivable in the grand whole though.
- An American Werewolf in London (1981)
- The Thing (1982)
- Poltergeist (1982) **** 4/5
The memory is hazy but I recall loving it when younger, being quite disturbed and creeped out, some haunting visual flourishes, thinking outside the box. And lives on in parody form, the central TV locale being lampooned ever since (and utilised for its original scary purpose to great effect by the Japanese in Ringu).
- The Evil Dead (1982) **** 4/5
Camera as character, mad kinetic energy truly portraying the insane and demonic. Fast paced, accurately portrayed as tongue-in-cheek but with horrific moments of horror and gore. Immensely enjoyable.
- Videodrome (1983)
- A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) ***** 5/5
First film to effectively combine cutting edge, pre-CGI, sfx with expert camerawork to truly capture the look and feel of a nightmare, all wrapped up as a conventional slasher, enjoyable on that level too, cinemas best-acted villain and arguably one of the most recognisable, all of this AND an ingenious plot. Just do not fall asleep while reading this post...
- The Fly (1986)
- Aliens (1986) ***** 5/5
More of a war movie but with the aforementioned (see Alien) competing horror types, taking their fight for supremacy to new levels, my favourite director for so many reasons but primarily he makes everything so inherently watchable and enjoyable, and features a pissed off mother fighting a giant monster in a robot suit, 'nuff said!
- Fatal Attraction (1987) ** 2/5
Chick flick dressed up as horror.
- Alice (1988) **** 4/5
Creepy and affecting, haunting work of art which adequately realised the potential for grotesque strangeness in its source tale.
- Jacob's Ladder (1990)
- Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1990)
- The Silence of the Lambs (1991) **** 4/5
Darkly presented, highly psychological piece, unnerving because of its closeness to home and very human monsters, classy but twisted, stylish but captivating.
- The Kingdom (1994)
- Scream (1996) ***** 5/5
Trend setting, first post-modern horror, bred a slew of 90's slashers but was never equalled due to witty, clever script, direction that is unquestionably dedicated and great and the often overlooked concept of being the first film to effectively marry a slasher and a whodunnit mystery. One of my faves despite the stigma. Full review will follow soon...
- Ring (1988) **** 4/5
Another master at play, building tension gradually but with a pay off so cool its worth it, mesmerising and creepy images abound and the well conceived plot premise is also unsettlingly prescient, speaking to an ever present fear of our reliance on technology whilst being a simple and chilling ghost story.
- Audition (1999)
- The Blair Witch Project (1999) *** 3/5
Not as effective as it thinks at creating tension, often eliciting only boredom but the acting moments and some of the little tics are unsettling, great if watched with a suspension of disbelief or when in the right mood to want to be freaked out, a bit poor otherwise.
- The Sixth Sense (1999)
- Irreversible (2002)
- Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
- The Host (2006)
... and there we have it, hope its stimulated some feelings and the grey cells. But no italian Argento giallo? Only one Nakata ghost story? No Friday the 13th? agree? disagree? There's a section for comments right below this piece...
- Straw Dogs (1971) *** 3/5
Exploitation with high reach, undoubtedly powerful but with fudged messages and an ambivalent quality, often seeming fractured but with something to say, even if it's unsure what, and often visual flair and acting brilliance. I am sure Mr B will have a differing viewpoint though.
- Deliverance (1972)
- Frenzy (1972)
- The Wicker Man (1973)
- Don't Look Now (1973)
- The Exorcist (1973) *** 3/5
Overly schlock, over-hyped publicity stunt, relying too much on gimmicks over it's strengths: great acting, very good direction, and a sense of true mystery and mood. But nothing better than the make up. BUT see Mr B's earlier review for another take.
- The Texas Chain Saw Massacre **** 4/5
Seminal, important work, not just to the crop of 70's exploitation pioneered by the likes of Hooper and Craven (i.e Hills Have Eyes) but remains relevant to horror as a whole. Innovative plot, set design, lighting, gore, a true villainous icon and a very watchable film, horrifying but in the best way. Let down very slightly by some typical ropey final Hooper-esque effects (the family grandpa looks like a bad Cryptkeeper), a cliche conforming final girl and the most tedious and annoying chase scene in horror.
- Young Frankenstein (1974)
- The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) **** 4/5
A true dividing "Marmite" piece, in horror terms it invests such charm and has such fun with the iconography, conventions and cliches that, whilst it's possible not to be infected, those who are fall for its charms hard, it has chipped away at me until I acknowledged then admired it's cult sense of glee and love of sci-fi, and of course horror. And, yes, now I do own it and can quote it with glee.
- Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975)
- Jaws (1975) *** 3/5
More suspense than horror but with moments of greatness, not least the use of score to create fear, a couple of truly great jump shocks, and a director building up to the vastly superior (but sadly sci-fi) Jurassic Park.
- Carrie (1976) ***** 5/5
Still one of my favourite films. Gutsy direction perfectly depicting what it's like to be the abused, put upon outsider and the true horrors of people and the monsters they can create. Best ending in film too...
- Eraserhead (1977)
- The Hills Have Eyes (1977)
- Suspiria (1977) ** 2/5
I know it's just me but it's too disjointed and crazy, I'm told that's the point but I found it difficult to be swept into the narrative. Very brilliant imagery though, evoking nightmares and dreamscapes well, if not perfectly. One I want to rewatch and re-evaluate though.
- Dawn of the Dead (1978) **** 4/5
Widely considered the best of Romero's zombie output, a bitingly brilliant satire on consumerism and our nature, alive or dead, as true zombies. Great splatter effect moments, well acted, tensely cut and as bleak as it's precursor. Eerie and scary, even when issues of the living, not the undead, are the source of anxiety.
- Halloween (1978) ***** 5/5
First, and one of the best, true slasher films to truly cement the generic conventions associated. Carpenter never bettered it, fantastic camera angles and set ups, a grade A plot and killer, and a touch of class via Donald Pleasance. If you've never watched horror, start here.
- Alien (1979) **** 4/5
Tense and atmospheric, if a touch ponderous and slow-to-start, Giger's alien creation and cinema's feminist one compete to be most important and noteworthy and end up in a score draw for this and 3 sequels. Great meshing of genre, again top notch cast all round and a quality plot, if more for its sci-fi moments. Does effectively use lessons from expressionism to Spielberg though, making the creatures fleeting appearances all the more terrifying, not least in its, justifiably iconic and messy, birth scene.
- Nosferatu: Phantom of the Night (1979)
- The Shining (1980) **** 4/5
A master at work, adapting a great source novel and adding mood, tension, visual horrors of the highest calibre (blood gushes, ghosts stalk), a defining acting performance and a film that simply has to be experienced. Loses a star for some of the more preposterous plot ideas not quite working a hundred per cent (the bar ghosts and the concept of the psychic abilities) and a couple of very slightly muddled, confusing moments. Overall forgivable in the grand whole though.
- An American Werewolf in London (1981)
- The Thing (1982)
- Poltergeist (1982) **** 4/5
The memory is hazy but I recall loving it when younger, being quite disturbed and creeped out, some haunting visual flourishes, thinking outside the box. And lives on in parody form, the central TV locale being lampooned ever since (and utilised for its original scary purpose to great effect by the Japanese in Ringu).
- The Evil Dead (1982) **** 4/5
Camera as character, mad kinetic energy truly portraying the insane and demonic. Fast paced, accurately portrayed as tongue-in-cheek but with horrific moments of horror and gore. Immensely enjoyable.
- Videodrome (1983)
- A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) ***** 5/5
First film to effectively combine cutting edge, pre-CGI, sfx with expert camerawork to truly capture the look and feel of a nightmare, all wrapped up as a conventional slasher, enjoyable on that level too, cinemas best-acted villain and arguably one of the most recognisable, all of this AND an ingenious plot. Just do not fall asleep while reading this post...
- The Fly (1986)
- Aliens (1986) ***** 5/5
More of a war movie but with the aforementioned (see Alien) competing horror types, taking their fight for supremacy to new levels, my favourite director for so many reasons but primarily he makes everything so inherently watchable and enjoyable, and features a pissed off mother fighting a giant monster in a robot suit, 'nuff said!
- Fatal Attraction (1987) ** 2/5
Chick flick dressed up as horror.
- Alice (1988) **** 4/5
Creepy and affecting, haunting work of art which adequately realised the potential for grotesque strangeness in its source tale.
- Jacob's Ladder (1990)
- Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1990)
- The Silence of the Lambs (1991) **** 4/5
Darkly presented, highly psychological piece, unnerving because of its closeness to home and very human monsters, classy but twisted, stylish but captivating.
- The Kingdom (1994)
- Scream (1996) ***** 5/5
Trend setting, first post-modern horror, bred a slew of 90's slashers but was never equalled due to witty, clever script, direction that is unquestionably dedicated and great and the often overlooked concept of being the first film to effectively marry a slasher and a whodunnit mystery. One of my faves despite the stigma. Full review will follow soon...
- Ring (1988) **** 4/5
Another master at play, building tension gradually but with a pay off so cool its worth it, mesmerising and creepy images abound and the well conceived plot premise is also unsettlingly prescient, speaking to an ever present fear of our reliance on technology whilst being a simple and chilling ghost story.
- Audition (1999)
- The Blair Witch Project (1999) *** 3/5
Not as effective as it thinks at creating tension, often eliciting only boredom but the acting moments and some of the little tics are unsettling, great if watched with a suspension of disbelief or when in the right mood to want to be freaked out, a bit poor otherwise.
- The Sixth Sense (1999)
- Irreversible (2002)
- Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
- The Host (2006)
... and there we have it, hope its stimulated some feelings and the grey cells. But no italian Argento giallo? Only one Nakata ghost story? No Friday the 13th? agree? disagree? There's a section for comments right below this piece...
Poster courtesy of squidoo.com
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