Satan's Drinking Buddy ([info]mrstroppy) wrote in [info]horror_movies,
@ 2004-02-15 14:12:00
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The Best Horror Films of All Time
Here are the results of our poll on "Greatest Horror Films Of All Time" - I'll break it down by decade and also include the longer list behind the cut, but here's the top 20 overall as voted by us...


  1. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (USA, 1974)
  2. A Nightmare on Elm Street (USA, 1984)
  3. Halloween (USA, 1978)
  4. Night of the Living Dead (USA, 1968)
  5. Dawn of the Dead (USA, 1978)
  6. The Evil Dead (USA, 1981)
  7. Hellraiser (UK, 1987)
  8. The Exorcist (USA, 1973)
  9. Braindead (AKA Dead Alive) (New Zealand, 1990)
  10. Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn (USA, 1987)
  11. Suspiria (Italy/West Germany, 1977)
  12. The Thing (USA, 1982)
  13. Return of the Living Dead (USA, 1985)
  14. The Ring (USA/Japan, 2002)
  15. The Shining (UK, 1980)
  16. 28 Days Later (UK/USA/France, 2002)
  17. Friday the 13th (USA, 1980)
  18. Army of Darkness (USA, 1993)
  19. Poltergeist (USA, 1982)
  20. Alien (UK, 1979)



  21. Ring (AKA Ringu) (Japan, 1998)
  22. Cabin Fever (USA, 2002)
  23. Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (Germany, 1922)
  24. Re-Animator (USA, 1985)
  25. E Tu Vivrai Nel Terrore - L'aldilà (AKA The Beyond) (Italy, 1981)
  26. House of 1000 Corpses (USA, 2003)
  27. Day of the Dead (USA, 1985)
  28. Nightbreed (USA, 1990)
  29. Zombi 2 (AKA Zombie) (Italy, 1979)
  30. Psycho (USA, 1960)
  31. Batoru Rowaiaru (AKA Battle Royale) (Japan, 2000)
  32. Frankenstein (USA, 1931)
  33. Sleepaway Camp (USA, 1983)
  34. Ginger Snaps (USA/Canada, 2000)
  35. The Omen (UK, 1976)
  36. An American Werewolf in London (USA/UK, 1981)
  37. Black Christmas (Canada, 1974)
  38. Bio-Zombie (Hong Kong, 1998)
  39. Aliens (USA/UK, 1986)
  40. The Haunting (UK, 1963)
  41. The Lost Boys (USA, 1987)
  42. Child’s Play (USA, 1988)
  43. May (USA, 2002)
  44. The Fog (USA, 1980)
  45. Freddy vs Jason (USA, 2003)
  46. Bride of Frankenstein (USA, 1935)
  47. Ghost Ship (USA/Australia, 2002)
  48. Candyman (USA, 1992)
  49. Honogurai Mizu No Soko Kara (AKA Dark Water) (Japan, 2002)
  50. The Blair Witch Project (USA, 1999)


Just outside the top 50: Audition, Se7en, Scream, Ju-On:The Grudge, Dracula (1933), Thirteen Ghosts (2001), Wrong Turn, Ichi The Killer, The Eye, Bubba Ho-Tep, Two Thousand Maniacs, The Silence of the Lambs, Night of the Living Dead (1990), In The Mouth of Madness

The top 10 for each decade is as follows:

Pre-1970

  1. Night of the Living Dead (USA, 1968)
  2. Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (Germany, 1922)
  3. Psycho (USA, 1960)
  4. Frankenstein (USA, 1931)
  5. The Haunting (UK, 1963)
  6. Bride of Frankenstein (USA, 1935)
  7. Dracula (1933)
  8. Two Thousand Maniacs (USA, 1964)
  9. Rosemary’s Baby (USA, 1968)
  10. Triloga do Terror (AKA Trilogy of Terror) (Brazil, 1968)



The 1970s

  1. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (USA, 1974)
  2. Halloween (USA, 1978)
  3. Dawn of the Dead (USA, 1978)
  4. The Exorcist (USA, 1973)
  5. Suspiria (Italy/West Germany, 1977)
  6. Alien (UK, 1979)
  7. Zombi 2 (AKA Zombie) (Italy, 1979)
  8. The Omen (UK, 1976)
  9. Black Christmas (Canada, 1974)
  10. Phantasm (USA, 1979)



The 1980s

  1. A Nightmare on Elm Street (USA, 1984)
  2. The Evil Dead (USA, 1981)
  3. Hellraiser (UK, 1987)
  4. Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn (USA, 1987)
  5. The Thing (USA, 1982)
  6. Return of the Living Dead (USA, 1985)
  7. The Shining (UK, 1980)
  8. Friday the 13th (USA, 1980)
  9. Poltergeist (USA, 1982)
  10. Re-Animator (USA, 1985)



The 1990s

  1. Braindead (AKA Dead Alive) (New Zealand, 1990)
  2. Army of Darkness (USA, 1993)
  3. Ring (AKA Ringu) (Japan, 1998)
  4. Nightbreed (USA, 1990)
  5. Bio-Zombie (Hong Kong, 1998)
  6. Candyman (USA, 1992)
  7. The Blair Witch Project (USA, 1999)
  8. Se7en (USA, 1995)
  9. Scream (USA, 1996)
  10. Night of the Living Dead (USA, 1990)



The 2000s

  1. The Ring (USA/Japan, 2002)
  2. 28 Days Later (UK/USA/France, 2002)
  3. Cabin Fever (USA, 2002)
  4. House of 1000 Corpses (USA, 2003)
  5. Batoru Rowaiaru (AKA Battle Royale) (Japan, 2000)
  6. Ginger Snaps (USA/Canada, 2000)
  7. May (USA, 2002)
  8. Freddy vs Jason (USA, 2003)
  9. Ghost Ship (USA/Australia, 2002)
  10. Honogurai Mizu No Soko Kara (AKA Dark Water) (Japan, 2002)



Non-American

  1. Hellraiser (UK, 1987)
  2. Braindead (AKA Dead Alive) (New Zealand, 1990)
  3. Suspiria (Italy/West Germany, 1977)
  4. The Shining (UK, 1980)
  5. 28 Days Later (UK/USA/France, 2002)
  6. Alien (UK, 1979)
  7. Ring (AKA Ringu) (Japan, 1998)
  8. Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (Germany, 1922)
  9. E Tu Vivrai Nel Terrore - L'aldilà (AKA The Beyond) (Italy, 1981)
  10. Zombi 2 (AKA Zombie) (Italy, 1979)


Note in this last list, that The Ring is generally considered a USA film, whilst 28 Days Later is primarily British in talent and funding.


Thanks to everyone who took the trouble to vote, and don't ask how long this took to sort out and type out!

(Post a new comment)

wow
[info]somekindahate
2004-02-14 06:45 pm UTC (link)
That pretty much covers it!

But i'm absolutely amazed that Dellamorte Dellamore aka - Cemetary Man (Italy, 1994) wasn't in there. I wonder if its cus it wasn't that well received, or if people just forget about it.

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: wow
[info]robotronx
2004-02-14 06:51 pm UTC (link)
Oh, I LOVE that movie! I love the girl that says it's so sweet when the big guy pukes on her.

And great job mrstroppy!

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Re: wow
[info]mrstroppy
2004-02-14 07:11 pm UTC (link)
If the numbering kept going, Dellamorte Dellamore was number 66, equal with Kathryn Bigelow's tale of nomadic vampires, Near Dark.

Neither of my personal top two (Ichi The Killer and Kairo) made the top 50, either. Dammit.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
cool
[info]somekindahate
2004-02-15 11:53 am UTC (link)
thanks for taking the time to tally all this up!

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Re: wow
[info]cherriebomb
2004-02-17 04:22 pm UTC (link)
I was just thinking the same thing! 'Dellamorte' is one of, if not my most favorite zombie movie. It's beautiful in every way - funny, heartbreaking, gross, scary... I'm really in shock that it didn't show up here. Great choices otherwise, though.

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[info]sk1bt
2004-02-14 06:54 pm UTC (link)
Your hard work will not go unnoticed. I have added this to my memories, and will vow to use this as my source for renting movies until I have seen them all. Thank you.

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[info]falconcat
2004-02-14 07:30 pm UTC (link)
I can't believe I forgot to list "Nightbreed" as one of my favorites!

*bangs head on computer*

I love that movie!

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re:
[info]gangrel_pri
2004-02-15 01:45 am UTC (link)
Ack! Haven't seen that one in ages...*ponders digging out a copy*

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[info]imhappyn0wx
2004-02-14 08:01 pm UTC (link)
i think 28 days later was stupid

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[info]herince_emyn
2004-02-14 08:30 pm UTC (link)
I am in disbelief that TCM was #1 and "The Exorcist" is only #8. That's just wrong.

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[info]psykk0e
2004-02-14 09:35 pm UTC (link)
How in the hell did Dawn of the Dead beat out Day? Don't get me wrong, I love them both, but Dawn just had a tendancy to drag from time to time.

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Re:
[info]mrstroppy
2004-02-14 09:54 pm UTC (link)
I totally agree with you, bro. Day is my favourite of the three...

Personally I was more disturbed about House of 1000 Corpses ending up above it!

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Re:
[info]psykk0e
2004-02-14 09:58 pm UTC (link)
Too many people around here need a history lesson.

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Re:
[info]mrstroppy
2004-02-14 11:20 pm UTC (link)
Nah, don't say that, if people enjoyed a particular movie, more power to 'em. You likes what you likes.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]rock_a_my_soul
2004-02-15 02:36 am UTC (link)
Cool, thanks for doing this :)
Some of these movies shouldn't even have made it on a list, being as they're not scary, just cheesy.

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re:
[info]mrstroppy
2004-02-15 03:15 am UTC (link)
I think it's more a case of trying to find good films, regardless of whether they're "scary". Many of my favourite horror flicks aren't remotely frightening - I think horror is more than just a string of scare scenes, then it's more like porn for the nervous system. I'd like to think the genre has more to offer than that.

Hopefully, people find films to watch in there that they haven't seen before, and I'd add a link to this list in the userinfo for the community for any newcomers who are looking for recommendations.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
Re:
[info]rock_a_my_soul
2004-02-15 05:50 am UTC (link)
Yeah, I should have said "good", not "scary".

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Why?
[info]hyddenmynd87
2004-02-15 03:06 am UTC (link)
Why oh why did Cabin Fever even make the list? Sleepy Hollow & Stir Of Echoes are better. It's not even scary. It's funnier than it is scary. "Oh look dead guy in ressevoir, better climb down rickety ladder & poke him w/ stick to make sure he's dead" Gah~

TJm

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: Why?
[info]mrstroppy
2004-02-15 03:12 am UTC (link)
There are several comedy/horrors in there, such as Braindead, Army of Darkness and Return of the Living Dead, but I think these films are definitely enjoyable to fans of the genre, it would be a bit rash to leave them out.

Actually, there are a number of films I was surprised to see not turn up, like Stir of Echoes, Exorcist III: Legion, Jacob's Ladder, Dog Soldiers, The Wicker Man or more stuff from the likes of Hitchcock and Argento.

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[info]jone2tone
2004-02-15 04:20 am UTC (link)
TCM made number one! Yay! Thanks for the time and effort this took, mrstoppy, you're the man!

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[info]itsmeyo
2004-02-15 08:14 am UTC (link)
For the LOVE of GOD-- WHY?? How did Ghost Ship make the list!?
Granted, it's #47, but still! rubbish
I'm also a bit surprised about The Omen being so far down the list.
sigh

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[info]scaryqueen
2004-02-15 03:43 pm UTC (link)
thanks for compiling the list and tallying all the results up. Good work and i'm very pleased to see the Alien love action going on in this community.

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I tip my hat off to you sir...
[info]salems_lot
2004-02-15 04:54 pm UTC (link)
You did an excellant job! I love how you broke everything down into the decades also. I enjoyed voting in this poll more then anything ive ever done on LJ Thank-you again!

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Re: I tip my hat off to you sir...
[info]mrstroppy
2004-02-15 06:58 pm UTC (link)
You were the last one in, man! And given your username, I was surprised to see Salem's Lot only in the middle of your list...

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Glaring omission
(Anonymous)
2004-02-16 10:56 am UTC (link)
Any such list without a single David Cronenberg movie on it simply isn't worth further consideration.

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Re: Glaring omission
[info]mrstroppy
2004-02-17 12:46 pm UTC (link)
Perhaps you should've voted, then.

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[info]adjacentasylum
2004-02-17 08:52 am UTC (link)
SWEEET

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THE DAVES???!!!
[info]caleb009
2004-05-04 10:31 am UTC (link)
Where the fuck are the daves man??!! (cronenberg and lynch)

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Re: THE DAVES???!!!
[info]holyhackjack
2004-12-25 10:16 pm UTC (link)
The Brood was one intense movie.

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[info]sickyouth
2004-05-04 06:20 pm UTC (link)
ok...wait a minute. i know this isn't my community, but still...

the ring? house of 1000 corpses? the blair fucking witch project? GINGERSNAPS?

while i did immensly enjoy gingersnaps, i'm going to have to question the technical accuracy of you guys' list.

and come on...sleepaway camp is #33? geez..

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[info]fireofsorrow
2004-06-26 01:43 pm UTC (link)
I'm surprised The Beyond isn't on that list!!

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[info]holyhackjack
2004-12-25 10:15 pm UTC (link)
Exactly.

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[info]mrstroppy
2005-01-17 03:23 am UTC (link)
It is - #25, in fact.

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[info]pretorius
2004-12-19 02:42 pm UTC (link)
I like almost all the movies on the list but there is a stunning lack of older horror movies. There isn't a single hammer studios movie on there. What about the cabinet of dr. caligari? I guess some people don't consider it horror.

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THE LAST HORROR MOVIE
[info]nymus
2005-01-01 01:26 pm UTC (link)
I think this one just joined the list....

'The Last Horror Movie' is not so much a horror movie as a film about horror movies - a meta-horror whose charmingly bland (and thoroughly sociopathic) narrator provides his own integrated director's commentary for the events on screen. Drawing in viewers with the familiar clichés of an eighties-style slasher, before disrupting the proceedings with some altogether more mundane murders (and a jauntily confronting voice-over), the film reveals a relationship between director, killer, accomplice, victim and viewer that is a little too close for comfort. "We're trying to make an intelligent movie about murder while actually doing the murders" says Max, in an attempt to get an "interesting" reaction from one of his unwilling subjects - her only reaction, of course, is to die, but by then turning to camera and asking "Would you have sold your TV to save that woman's life?", Max reveals that he is far more interested in interrogating OUR reaction and exposing OUR collusion in his dark deeds - or as he later puts it "Now did you want to see that or not, and if not, why are you still watching?"

Slasher films have always exploited that strange, conflicted desire in the viewer to see the killer succeed, and 'The Last Horror Movie' takes this further by focussing almost entirely on the character of Max himself, and by not letting us know or care about any of his victims. There is nobody besides Max with whom the viewer can identify, and the sheer banality of his views and behaviour (apart from all the murders) makes such identification surprisingly easy - but there is a sting in this film's tail that reminds the viewer all too unpleasantly of what it is like to be a victim.

'The Last Horror Movie' gets away with its low-budget look by masquerading as a home video, while the diabolically professional central performance by Kevin Howarth dispels any notion that the film is at all amateurish. Like a combination of 'Funny Games' (1997), 'The Vanishing' (1988), and especially 'Man Bites Dog' (1992), Julian Richards' film is all about discomfiting the ready complicity of the viewer - by turns disturbing, funny, and grim, it cuts much deeper than your average slasher.

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NEW!
[info]oforeveryourso
2005-01-14 11:00 pm UTC (link)
I've been a horror movie freak since i was 4years old. I'd really like to know everyone's opinions on the best horror movies because I'd like to know which ones to see and which ones to not waste my 5$ on! I really loved Texas Chainsaw Massacre-new and old. I though Dawn of the Dead was good. The new one-I loved the gore of it..but personally-I though the acting sucked. They were all just hangin out at the mall and they didn't even cry or do anything when they realized all their families were dead! >:o! Anyways-the Excorsist is of course a classic..but..hmm...I always thought that nowadays it's not really scary at all.

I've been obsessed with the Halloween (Michael Myers) movies forever! But I hated the 3rd one! MM wasn't even in it!!! >:o! House on Haunted Hill-the old one was classic. The remake-not so much. I though the remake was pretty good all the way up until the end. The black stuff that was going through the house-what the hell was that? I though that was pathetic. But if any of you can think of a horror movie that is a must see-PLEASE PLEASE comment!!!!!

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Re: NEW!
[info]mrstroppy
2005-01-17 03:22 am UTC (link)
I'd say pretty much that whole top 20 above are must-sees. My personal favourite horror film of all time, though, is Kairo, a Japanese film from 2001 also known as Pulse, then A Tale of Two Sisters from 2003....

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Re: NEW!
(Anonymous)
2006-09-13 07:09 pm UTC (link)
Halloween 3 is not in the actual catalog of the Halloween movies. It was a cheap gimmick that the movie studios used to make money on a film by the advertising alone. After the second movie came out a different studio made a completely different movie and titled it Halloween 3 so people would think it was the third Halloween only to be greatly disappointed (like I was) to find out that I'd been hoodwinked.

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[info]sassyskunk
2005-03-24 06:50 pm UTC (link)
This is the fucking best list ever. I'm going to use this every time I go to the video store now.

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[info]zoltan66
2005-07-01 09:33 am UTC (link)
Unfortunatley i joined this community after way after the votiing for this took place, i wonder if it's possible to do one every year.
I'm sure everyone would find that a lot of fun.
Would be interesting to compare with the previous one.

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Zombie Honeymoon
[info]fjs20
2005-07-30 09:38 pm UTC (link)
Hey guys,

I thought you might be interested in this movie Zombie Honeymoon. It
has been getting really great reviews so far, and I thought it was a pretty
amazing movie. It's a zombie/romance/comedy, and it is a definite
reinvention of the horror movie. It's already done really well at
major film festivals so you guys should look for it. Visit the website
and check it out. http://www.zombiehoneymoon.com /

(Reply to this)

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