Scary Movie Halloween Series Part 1
30 Best Horror Films of All Time
(Films that inspire Terror)
Continued...#11-20VIEW 1-10 VIEW 21-30
11) THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM
PG: 1961. Starring: Vincent Price, Barbara Steele, John Kerr. Director: Roger Corman. Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery. Awards None. Running Time: 80 min
DESCRIPTION: Edgar Allen Poe debuts on our list at number 11 and there are several film versions of this story. One appears on this list and another under the horror/slasher category. Of all of Poe’s stories, The Pit and the Pendulum and the Tell-Tale Heart are the two that always seem to get under the skin. The premise of this story is pure unadulterated horror masked by revenge and its costs. The 1961 version stays true to the original story and is both entertaining and horrific without the gore factor common in later versions.
RENT or BUY Now: Available for Streaming or Immediate Download.
12) DRACULA
R: 1992. Starring: Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins. Director: Francis Ford Coppola. Genre: Romance, Horror. Awards (12) including: Academy Award® for Best Costume, Sound and Make-up; Saturn Awards for Best Actor, Director, Costumes, Best Horror Film and Best Writing. Running Time: 128 min
DESCRIPTION:: Three versions of this story exist, the classic from 1931, this from 1992 and a newer version from 2000. Of the three, this is the best and a cinematic masterpiece in its own merit. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola of The Godfather fame, the film is scary and a sensual feast for the eyes. Bram Stoker would have been proud. The film stays true to his original vision and is a delight to watch.
RENT or BUY Now: Available for Streaming or Immediate Download.
13) FRANKENSTEIN
NR: 1931. Starring: Colin Clive, Mae Clarke, Boris Karloff. Director: James Whale. Genre: Horror, Sci-fi. Awards (1) inducted into the National Film Registry. Running Time: 70 min
DESCRIPTION:: This is the classic that solidified Boris Karloff’s portrayal of the monster Frankenstein into legend. The macabre story written by English author Mary Shelly follows a scientist who assembles a man from exhumed human parts of the dead and then becomes consumed by the monster he has created. The 1994 version of Frankenstein starring Robert De Niro, Kenneth Branagh and Helena Bonham Carter is also quite good and we recommend a double feature; see the original and the remake. You’ll enjoy both!
RENT or BUY 1931 Version or RENT or BUY 1994 Version Available for Streaming or Immediate Download.
14) THE FLY
R: 1986. Starring: Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis, John Getz. Director: David Cronenberg. Genre: Science Fiction, Horror, Romance. Awards (7) including: Academy Award® for Best Make-up; Saturn award for Best Horror Film, Best Actor and Best Make-up. Running Time: 96 min
DESCRIPTION: The version of The Fly featured is actually a remake of the 1958 sci-fi classic. Jeff Goldblum is very convincing, (and quite buff) in his role as a brilliant but a bit over-the-top scientist who, due to a series of coincidences and mishaps with one of his matter altering experiments, begins to change from a man into a human fly. It’s the ultimate biogenetic experiment gone wrong. The make-up and special effects in this film are amazing and it’s a great horror film for date-night at home. Both of you will enjoy it.
RENT or BUY Now: Available for Streaming or Immediate Download.
15) INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE
R: 1994. Starring: Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Antonio Banderas, Kirsten Dunst. Director: Neil Jordan. Genre: Drama, Horror, Fantasy. Awards (18) including: Saturn Award for Best Horror Film, Best Make-up, Best Costumes and Best Performance by a Young Actress. Running Time: 123 min
DESCRIPTION: If you were to find a horror movie that might also fall under the ‘chick flick’ category, this is it. Romance, historical context, action, sensuality, hot leading actors, great storyline and just plain fun to watch (though also very gross and creepy at times), Interview with a Vampire is a movie just about everyone will enjoy even if you’re not into vampire movies or horror flicks. It is based upon The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice who also wrote the screenplay.
RENT or BUY Now: Available for Streaming or Immediate Download.
16) THE LOST BOYS
R: 1987. Starring: Jason Patric, Corey Haim, Corey Feldman, Dianne Wiest, Jami Gertz and Kiefer Sutherland. Director: Joel Schumacher. Genre: Comedy, Horror. Awards (3) including: Saturn Award for Best Horror Film, Young Artist Award Corey Feldman and Teenage Favorite Horror/Drama Motion Picture. Running Time: 97 min
DESCRIPTION: This classic from the 1980s scares but also delivers some laughs and that’s part of its charm. It’s a vampire movie with some seriously hot guys and several majorly gross scenes. It’s also an amusing look back at 80s fashion. This is a great movie if you’re looking for something scary but need a little ridiculous thrown in. Corey Haim’s character provides the majority of the comic relief. The film works and remains a classic with Gen-Xers especially.
RENT or BUY Now: Available for Streaming or Immediate Download.
17a) THE BODY SNATCHER
NR: 1945. Starring: Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Henry Daniell. Director: Robert Wise. Genre: Drama, Horror, Thriller. Awards: Nominated for Hugo-Best Dramatic Presentation 1946 and Satellite Award for Outstanding Classic DVD 2005. Running Time: 77 min
DESCRIPTION: This is a story about good intentions gone awry and it’s based upon the classic The Body Snatcher by Robert Louis Stevenson. In an attempt to help a young girl who lost her leg, and Dr. MacFarlane with the help of his assistant chooses to use the leg of a cadaver and sew it on with his surgical skills. Soon he’s employing the assistance of a cabby to rob more graves for bodies to use in research and the problems begin.
RENT or BUY Now: Available for Streaming or Immediate Download.
17b) INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS
PG: 1978. Starring: Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, Jeff Goldblum. Director: Phillip Kaufman. Genre: Sci-fi, Horror, Mystery. Awards (3) including: Saturn Award best Director and Sound. Running time: 115 min
BUY Now: DVD and Blu-Ray only.
18) THE INVISIBLE MAN
NR: 1933. Starring: Claude Rains, Gloria Stuart, William Harrigan. Director: James Whale. Genre: Drama, Horror, Science Fiction. Awards (2) National Film Registry 2008; Venice Film Festival 1934 Special Recommendation. Running Time: 71 min
DESCRIPTION: Critics consistently point to this HG Wells film as one of the best horror films of all time and it is a pleasure to watch. Surprisingly it hasn’t been remade and I say surprisingly because it would be amazing with current technology. However, one of our readers did note that Hollow Man from 2000 with Kevin Bacon is similar. Unfortunately this rendition isn't that good.
The storyline is simple. A scientist (there seems to be a theme here) invents a way to become invisible. Rather than use this power for good, he goes on a murderous rampage. How can you catch what you cannot see? Great fun and it’s nice to see Titanic’s Gloria Stuart as a very young woman.
RENT or BUY Now: Available for Streaming or Immediate Download.
19) THE HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL
NR: 1959. Starring: Vincent Price, Carol Ohmart, Richard Long. Director: William Castle. Genre: Drama, Horror, Thriller. Awards None. Running Time: 75 min
DESCRIPTION: It had been about 20 years since I’d seen this film when I re-screened it for this list. I had forgotten what an absolute delight it is. In fact I wouldn’t be surprised if the game ‘Clue’ hadn’t been inspired by this story or vise-versa. If you’re looking for a haunted house story, this is it. Five people are invited to a millionaire’s mansion to spend the night. If they’re still alive in the morning, each will receive $10,000 dollars. The special effects are 1950s, which gives it a bit of a campy feel, but other than that, you’ll love it. Let the games begin! This film was re-made in 1999 starring Geoffrey Rush and Taye Diggs for those of you preferring more sophisticated special effects.
RENT or BUY Now: Available for Streaming or Immediate Download.
20) DR. JECKYLL & MR. HYDE
NR: 1941. Starring: Spencer Tracy, Ingrid Bergman, Lana Turner. Director: Victor Fleming. Genre: Drama, Horror, Science Fiction. Awards Nominated for Academy Awards in Cinematography, Editing and Music. Running Time: 113 min
DESCRIPTION: This is one of the best-known stories by Robert Louis Stevenson and the 1941 version is the second adaptation for the screen. A silent version also exists from the 1920s as well as a 1932 version and a modern update of the story from 2008 staring Dougray Scott, Krista Bridges and Tom Skerritt. The 1941 version highlighted here is considered the standard and the classic adaptation. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is the story of a man with two sides: good and bad. Mr. Hyde represents the evil that lurks between the surface of every man and the classic struggle of the also within every man to overcome it.
RENT or BUY Now: Available for Streaming or Immediate Download.
BACK: VIEW 1-10
