We must have read wildly different versions of Cell. The one I read had next to nothing in common with that Marky Mark abortion other than the fact that people suddenly became violent due to a then unknown cause.
I'm an absolute horror movie nerd. When I say that, I guess I should qualify it by going on to say that I've never seen Nosferatu or any horror movie produced pre-1960 for that matter. I've seen a few Miike movies (someone mentioned Audition), I've tracked down the original Japanese versions of The Ring, The Grudge, and the like, and I've sat through a couple of Italian cannibal exploitation films. Nothing too impressive, or off the beaten trail, in fact, I've probably not seen any more of the "classic" or "respectable" horror films than anyone with even a mild interest...BUT...when it comes to the 1970's and 1980's or the golden era of the "slasher", I'm something of a guru. Claiming behind me...here I go.
As cliche as it may be, Halloween really stands up to the test of time. In fact, as far as "mysterious, ominous, faceless killer stalks the unsuspecting from the shadows" movies go, this is bar none the best. Some may blurt out Black Christmas! but the truth is that John Carpenter essentially perfected this kind of film first time out the gate. It was made independently, cheaply, and most importantly, carefully. The steadicam tracking shots make this movie worth watching by themselves.
Hmm...one that hasn't been mentioned would be Candyman. Very scary.
Now...I've been bothered by some of the recommendations that have popped up more than once in this thread.
1.) It. Great book. Horrible, god awful, laughably bad made for TV miniseries. Just in case that doesn't paint a clear enough picture, just know that it's overly long (yet unsatisfactory in covering the 1000+pages of the book in it's 5 hourish running time), despicably acted (other than Tim Curry who has 2...nah, 3 great scenes as Pennywise the Clown), and well...let's just say "visually lacking" (giant spider anyone?). Do yourself a favor, and read the book instead.
2.) Dawn of the Dead. Ahhhhhhhhh. This is a really good movie. Great, amazing even. It is however, not a horror movie in any real sense. I feel like people who tout this as the scariest movie they've seen, simply haven't seen it but are aware that it's notorious for something. That something would be that it's probably the finest, and most scathing piece of satire aimed at consumerist culture...ever. Basically, this movie is a 2 hour social commentary about materialism that happens to manifest itself in the form of a zombie flick. It's funny, well shot, quirky, "action packed", and gory. There are however, almost zero "scary" elements. I can think of a handful of "jumpy" or anxiety inducing scenes, but the overall tone totally negates it. No question in my mind that any number of the trashy blatantly teenybopper aimed "horror" movies of the last decade are as scary as this movie.
I could easily continue, but I'll restrain myself...wonder if anyone made it this far. If so, ROWEN: check out antagonie.blogspot.com and read the "summer of blood reviews" this guy is on point.
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