i rekon Channel 4 should do a show about the greatest horror films ever. Lets do one ourselves first. The greatest horror film ever is: the texas chainsaw massacre (1974 or when ever it was made).
Haven't they already done it? Hate Ch4 list programmes as they're lighweight, have insights from idiots (for the most part) & err to populism. Twenty 'horror' films that I'd nominate would include:
*The Night of the Living Dead *The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (original) *The Haunting (original) *Psycho *The Night of the Hunter *Dead of Night *The Ring (original) *Peeping Tom *Carnival of Souls *The Wicker Man *Last House on the Left *Audition *Shivers *Halloween *Eyes Without a Face *Martin *Suspiria *The Shining *The Exorcist *Cronos
"See you on doomsday!"- Sadegh Hedayat's suicide note
Night of the Living Dead The Omen Exorcist Night of the Demon Dracula. Prince of Darkness Rosemary's Baby Don't Look Now The Birds The Wolfman American Werewolf in London Halloween Sixth Sense The Wicker Man Alien
I don't actually like horror films as instead of finding them scary, I normally find them silly or even comical. A few weeks ago however, my hubby was going out, and reccomended that I don't watch The Texas Chainsaw Massacre on my own as it was on tv that night. I laughed and said, "whatever"! However, I did watch it!.... I was in a bit of a state when hubby returned! I felt exhausted with all that continual screaming! (in the film, I actually wasn't screaming!) and hadn'y been to the toilet for hours! So this has to be my favourite horror movie!
The Exorcist III (underrated and magnificently creepy).
Absolutely agree
In my mind its 10 x better than the original. One bit scares the crap out of you, no matter how many times you watch it (and you know its coming).
Brilliant serial killer film and has one of the most intelligent murders ever put to film. Pity that its only talked about instead of seeing the actual act.
I agree with you Grapevine, it is many time superior to the original thanks to soem wonderful direction from William Peter Blatty (another of his movies, The Ninth Configuration is also worth a look, though it isn't horror) and superb central performances from George C. Scott and Brad Dourif.
*SPOILER ALERT!*
As for the moment, I assume that you are referring to the bit in the corridor with the nurse? Yep, gets me every time too!
^ I agree completely about Exorcist III, I found it terrifying to be honest, unlike the first film (though I do like that aswell). I just thought III was incredibly creepy and unnerving, a very well-paced horror film, and yes Brad Dourif is amazing in it....
***Spoiler***
The old woman on the ceiling bit still gives me utter chills when I think of it. *shudders*
"...if u wanna make a fuzz, boy, u gotta be a tease, uh-huh..."
Exorcist 3 is creepy and enjoyable in 'BOO!' kind of way but to suggest it a greater film than the original is just daft I'm afraid. The problem is, anyone under like 30 will be too young to remember the impact the original had on cinema goers. And no one under fifty will know what that first undiluted experience of The Exorcist at the cinema was truly like. And now we can only judge the film out of context and after we have been de-sensitized to its experience by the countless parodies of it. Exorcist 3, though a good scary movie, was no more or less shocking or groundbreaking than any number of scary movies around when it was released. Though it did have much much larger budget thanks to the huge 'Exorcist' brand importance due to the massive artistic and commercial success of the original which was vitually a low budget film
There's a good film somewhere in the Exorcist III, but I recall studio interference so you know it isn't the film it could be. It also had the pleasure of being a follow up to the awful Exorcist II: The Heretic, one of the worst films ever made. The original piddles (at a dinner party) over III IMO - haven't seen the Paul Schrader Exorcist-prequel - might have to add it to my amazon rental list.
"See you on doomsday!"- Sadegh Hedayat's suicide note
Originally posted by Wicker Man: Exorcist 3 is creepy and enjoyable in 'BOO!' kind of way but to suggest it a greater film than the original is just daft I'm afraid. The problem is, anyone under like 30 will be too young to remember the impact the original had on cinema goers. And no one under fifty will know what that first undiluted experience of The Exorcist at the cinema was truly like. And now we can only judge the film out of context and after we have been de-sensitized to its experience by the countless parodies of it. Exorcist 3, though a good scary movie, was no more or less shocking or groundbreaking than any number of scary movies around when it was released. Though it did have much much larger budget thanks to the huge 'Exorcist' brand importance due to the massive artistic and commercial success of the original which was vitually a low budget film
The original is a good film but I seriously think the 3rd film to me is better. Its more of a psychological horror than horror itself. The only letdown for me (Apart from seeing various killings and only being told) is the end. It happens too quick for my liking after the pace of the film before it.
Never saw the original in the cinema, only on VHS when it was released. I was around 10 at the time and the video shop guy even said "You sure you want to rent that?". I was a huge horror fan and daily rented out films but it was the only film he questioned about me renting. I can now see why but the shock value for me from it has now gone. Good acting but so has Exorcist III.
It was weird because after renting various horrors at 10 years old consisting of titles such as Cannibal Holocaust, Cannibal Feroux and I spit on your grave - this was the only one he warned me about. Dawn of the Dead was my most rented film of that time.
And yes Lord Moloch it is that part that gets me each time in Exorcist III. I know its coming and I'm thinking its coming and then BOOO!
Originally posted by sir juke: Seeing as we're spreading the love for the 3rd film in a crappy series, let me try Halloween 3 - Season Of The Witch. Anyone?
Starts singing "3 more days to Halloween, Halloween, Halloween"
Thats one weird film that has nothing to do with the rest. Its bad but I still (gulp) watch it when its on and have no clue why.
Because it's a good film! It's got absolutely diddley-squat to do with Michael Myers, and I reckon that's what makes it good. Unfortunately people expecting another slasher pic with the big man didn't appreciate it, and I don't think people give it enough credit as a film in its own right. I'm not trying to say it's a masterpiece, but it's certainly underrated.
Originally posted by Wicker Man: thats because it has the title Halloween. If it wanted to stand alone then it should have had an original title
I disagree. I believe the original plan was to carry on the series without Michael Myers (he died in Halloween 2) and using only Halloween related stories. When Season Of The Witch bombed, they brought him back. So what we're now left with is a series of slasher pics with Myers, with one glaring exception. As a result Halloween 3 gets dismissed as a bizzare sidetrack, WAS dismissed at the time of release because it didn't feature Myers, and deserves neither IMO.
then that original plan was a mistake, as much as if they decided to carry on the Alien movies with the alien. Audiences were bound to react the way they did.
Thats the thing. I dont like any other Halloween film apart from Halloween 3. The first one I find very slow and the rest with Myers are just unwatchable.
Halloween 3 did have a good concept and has watchability to me.
).
