NationStates Jolt Archive

So, what are your favorite Horror/Thriller movies, and why are they your favorite?

SAW I-IV:I like the SAW films because not only will you get to see lots of blood and guts, but it has an amazing storyline that runs through all four films. The guy who plays Jigsaw is awesome. Everything about the SAW films just screams epic, EVERYTHING! I give SAW I-IV 5 out of 5.

Halloween I, II, H2O: I like Halloween I, II because this is more of the classic serial killer horror film. You know, a madman breaks loose of a mental hospital or jail, and goes on a killing spree. I only chose I, II, H2O because the rest of the Halloween films are pretty much crap. Now the Rob Zombie remake, I did like the first part, that explains Michael Myers background and his time in the institution, but after he broke out and went back to the town, it just became a repeat of the original. 3 out of 5.

Friday the 13th:I like Friday the 13th for pretty much the same reason that I like Halloween, plus I find it funny that Jason only kills when someone is having sex, about to have sex, or just had sex. He should be the spokesperson for Abstinence!

So what are some Horror/Thriller films that NSG likes?

1) Hills have eyes (1977): I will never go on a road trip in the US

2) Signs: the only what would you do movie to ever really shock me

3) Fire in the sky: goodbye my childhood (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FEHP7JGego)

The Shining: Technically, in psychological and actual horror, I believe this is one of the greatest Horror movies of all time. The build up to what is in that hotel room, and the actual horror when revealed, is masterclass, same with the rest of the film with the claustrophobia and creepiness all building up. The way it's filmed, the way the story is told makes it a one of those rare things : A successful book-to-film transition.

Horror movies to me, should not be all about gore, because the very aspect of horror in itself can be merely in how the story is told and the psychological aspect it has.


The Wicker Man: The original. Christian Policeman goes to Scottish island to investigate a girl's disappearance, stumbles upon cult, and is increasingly horrified and outraged in equal measure, until the infamous, chilling finale.



Romero's Dead Trilogy: Thrills and gore but with intelligence behind it, with genuine tension in parts. Great films. I thought that the remake of Dawn of The Dead was a great effort as well


28 Days later: The setting, characters and the scenarios are very good, and creates an edge.


The Blair Witch Project: I know the film was not liked by all, but to me, the fact that the film gave hints and tidbits of horror through suggestion means your mind can fill the rest in. Three people alone in the woods, you know something happens to them, and the build-up to this is great.

The disapearance of one of them, and then the other two going into the house with again the suggestions: Child's handprints on the walls, after you have heard of the legend of the witch taking kids, leads up to a rather chilling finale.


The Last Broadcast, or is it Final Broadcast? (many years since I saw it): The film that inspired 'Blair Witch', about a group of people investigating The New Jersey Devil Legend. Their attempts at trying to reveal the blurred image they have on their videotape, right up to the very nasty ending, make for a stomach-churner.


Event Horizon: Haunted spaceship messes with astronaut's minds....I found this electrifying when I saw it.


Alien: The original nasty Alien-on-a-spaceship. The tension on the ship as people are picked off, the alien itself, and the finale, great stuff.


The Ring: The background of the legend, and the videotape, and the ghost girl combine to make a great horror film.


Man Bites Dog: Belgian film made in documentary style, about a documentary team who follow a Serial Killer on his rounds. The questions raised, such as the documentary team's increasingly drifting from documenting to standing by as people (and a child) are killed make for a film that disturbs more and more as it goes on, and asks questions about society at large.


From Dusk til Dawn: Great story, great acting, a real treat.


Jeepers Creepers: Great monster, good story.


The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (The original): The last 15 mins of this film is really something. You sympathise with her helplessness, and the dawn of the true horror dawns that she may not make it....


Dog Soldiers: Werewolves hunt down British soldiers on a training exercise in the woods. Great lines, great scenes.



Duel: My entry for the Thriller Category, the premise, a lone man in car gets chased by big truck across country, great stuff.



And I'll add Hellraiser, for the special effects.



I generally agree with Wilgrove on Halloween and Friday 13th, and on Saw I, although Saw II was okish and Saw III was rubbish. I've not seen Saw IV so I can't comment.


I've seen loads of horror movies, and those are the ones that stand out that come to mind.

The Saw movies all sucked to me.

The Wicker Man
This.

*dances round Maypole*

The Saw movies all sucked to me.

Why did it sucked for you?

Why did it sucked for you?

A horror movie has to actually scare me.

There has to be at least one moment in the movie when the movie itself forces me to suspend disbelief, and believe that something horrible is really happening.

I had a hard time not laughing during Saw I. It was that ridiculous. The send-up they did in the Scary Movie (with Dr. Phil in a Saw-like scene) was better than the original Saw movie, but only slightly funnier.

Most horror movies today also have the lamest plots and the worst acting.

A horror movie has to actually scare me.

There has to be at least one moment in the movie when the movie itself forces me to suspend disbelief, and believe that something horrible is really happening.

I had a hard time not laughing during Saw I. It was that ridiculous. The send-up they did in the Scary Movie (with Dr. Phil in a Saw-like scene) was better than the original Saw movie, but only slightly funnier.

Most horror movies today also have the lamest plots and the worst acting.

I dunno, I thought the acting in SAW was well done, and I could actually see some demented madman playing games with his victims. It may not be as extreme as we've seen in the SAW movies, but I think it could be done.

I liked Saw a lot, but I find that with each successive episode the surprise twist is coming across as more and more contrived.

My horror/thriller pick is Dawn of the Dead (remake) and George Romero's Dead generally.

For sci-fi/horror I go Alien, Aliens and Event Horizon.

(There is no Alien 3, Alien Resurrection, or Alien vs Predator. They do not exist in my reality.)

The Exorcism of Emily Rose. :shudder:

I liked Saw a lot, but I find that with each successive episode the surprise twist is coming across as more and more contrived.

SPOILER ALERT!

What was contrived about some of the twists?

Eh, one of the things you have to keep in mind about the SAW movies is that Jigsaw has several games running at one time. He has a back up in case a game fails, Hell he has a back up for a back up. He is the master of planning everything out.

My favorite twist was at the end of SAW III, when it was revealed that the test wasn't for the Surgeon, but for Amanda, and she failed.

SPOILER ALERT!

What was contrived about some of the twists?

Eh, one of the things you have to keep in mind about the SAW movies is that Jigsaw has several games running at one time. He has a back up in case a game fails, Hell he has a back up for a back up. He is the master of planning everything out.

My favorite twist was at the end of SAW III, when it was revealed that the test wasn't for the Surgeon, but for Amanda, and she failed.

I know but that's the thing... It doesn't feel as if that had been planned from the beginning... It's more like the writers found a way to fit the twist in using existing events and it just feels disjointed.

hmmm...

Feast
yeah, I don't like the blood and gore, but the amount of humor they had made me forget the blood and gore.

Alien
Classic hunter vs. hunted.

Eye (Original Chinese Version)
a woman who gains a peek to the spirit world. better than the American version where they HAVE to show some animostiy between the spirits and her.

One Missed Call (2) (Original Japanese Version)
a nice mixture of both psychological thriller and a touch of supernatural. Again better than the American version where yep... they have to show extra bits that have nothing to do with the story... seriously... why did the cat have to die?

Infection
An attempt to cover up a medical mistake leads the staff of an understaff and underfunded hospital into a night of terror. a great movie that makes you wonder if the terrors were real, or only in their minds.

Ju-on (2)
better than the American version where the only people to die are the ones who enter the house... not the USA version where the ghost kills anyone who enters the house... and anyone who sees her killing those that entered the house.

Ringu (2)
again, simplicity is better... no mad horses, no apparitions visiting the doomed, and definately no exposition. and I love the ending of 2 where the reporter is haunted by the spirit of the girl he lied to.

For sci-fi horror: The Thing (Carpenter version). I like the level of paranoia that you have at the very end.

In terms of fear, Jaws really did scare me (I saw it in the theater when it first came out). Partly because people really are eaten by sharks. But people might not think of it as a "horror" movie because there's nothing gothic about it.

Bits and pieces of the Final Destination movies were good (if only the accidental death scenes) - highly improbable, but vaguely probable, and they're mostly in slow motion.

What Lies Beneath - plausible plot, great acting

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) - sheer paranoia, well done

I never seen a horror that wasn't secretly a comedy.

Poltergeist (1982)

Steven Spielberg meets Tobe Hooper.

Scared the crap outta me and still makes me shiver.

I know but that's the thing... It doesn't feel as if that had been planned from the beginning... It's more like the writers found a way to fit the twist in using existing events and it just feels disjointed.

Yea, I can see where you're coming from, but I still think it's an awesome film. :D

Yea, I can see where you're coming from, but I still think it's an awesome film. :D

Well I'm no hater either... I'll still watch every single one that comes out for as long as they keep doing 'em ;)

Well I'm no hater either... I'll still watch every single one that comes out for as long as they keep doing 'em ;)

I can't wait till SAW V! :D

Neo Bretonnia, I want to play a game, the rules are simple.... ;)

For sci-fi/horror I go Alien, Aliens and Event Horizon.

(There is no Alien 3, Alien Resurrection, or Alien vs Predator. They do not exist in my reality.)


Heh - I'm the other way. 'Alien' good, 'Aliens' completely missed the point, and 'Alien 3' headed back in about the right direction.

Alien Resurrection, you say? When is that due out?

Heh - I'm the other way. 'Alien' good, 'Aliens' completely missed the point, and 'Alien 3' headed back in about the right direction.

Alien Resurrection, you say? When is that due out?

You missed it years ago.

Alien: A classic haunted-house-in-space kind of flick.

Aliens: GREAT characters, action, creatures, etc! My favorite movie of all time!

The Saw movies: I loved the story and mystery behind the whole thing.

Event Horizon: The only Paul Anderson film I actually like. Scary as hell!

The Blair Witch Project: The suspense was excellent and I liked how the characters were just simple ordinary people caught up in a bad situation. I couldn't stop thinking about it after I saw it for the first time. Goes to show how a low-budget horror film can turn out really good.

Pitch Black/The Chronicles of Riddick: Good story. Riddick kicks ass!

Alien Resurrection, you say? When is that due out?


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118583/

ELEVEN years ago....

The only horror movie that scared me as an adult:

"The Serpent And The Rainbow". *nod*

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118583/

ELEVEN years ago....

Yeah.

Think about it for a second...

The only horror movie that scared me as an adult:

"The Serpent And The Rainbow". *nod*

There's a gay porno with the same name. *nod*

I'm watching Saw III now :)

There's a gay porno with the same name. *nod*

:eek:

That would explain why my cousin won't talk to me after my last movie recommendation!

I'm watching Saw III now :)

I love the ending to that one. :D

:eek:

That would explain why my cousin won't talk to me after my last movie recommendation!

If that scared him, just imagine what he thought of "Deliverance"

There's one I forgot to mention.

Santa's Slay: 1,000 years ago, the son of Satan and an angel make a bet, and the son of Satan lost. So for a 1,000 years he has to be Santa Claus and spread cheer and good will. Well the 1,000 years is up, and he's going out for revenge and mayhem!

The movie is cheesy, it's corny, and the special effect sssssucccccccccckkkkkkkkk but it's just so damn awesome, I cream in my pants everytime I watch it.