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Halloween 2009 (The best films to watch)
By an Amazon.com customer
HalloweenHalloween
Buy new: $9.99 / Used from: $3.24
Of course. Also check out part 2 to finish the story off(If you need it). The final half hour (The battle between MM and JLC) is a marvel. Great opening too. Many people forget, when this film first came out, people in the theater had no idea it was a little kid's POV they were watching. Carpenter pulled the rug out beneath everyone's feet and hooked them in.
The Fog (Special Edition)The Fog (Special Edition)
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To me, this film just feels like halloween. Great Atmosphere. Avoid the remake.
EraserheadEraserhead
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Not straight out horror. This is what nightmares are like. Influenced Kubrick's The Shining(He'd use it to put his cast in the mood). Scariest Sound Design ever? Maybe.
Black SundayBlack Sunday
Buy new: $14.99 / Used from: $8.76
One of my favorite films. period. Amazing opening(Youtube it, you'll be hooked). Tim Burton's favorite horror film. Francis Ford Coppola's favorite too.
The Mario Bava Collection, Volume 1 (Black Sunday / Black Sabbath / The Girl Who Knew Too Much / Kill Baby Kill / Knives of the Avenger)The Mario Bava Collection, Volume 1 (Black Sunday / Black Sabbath / The Girl Who Knew Too Much / Kill Baby Kill / Knives of the Avenger)
Buy new: $44.99 / Used from: $20.00
(Also includes Black Sunday) Black Sabbath is a great anthology horror film(yes, the band took its name from this film). Kill Baby... Kill! is Gothic horror at its finest. Love this atmospheric Gem. Underrated.
Dead of Night/The Queen of SpadesDead of Night/The Queen of Spades
Buy used from: $55.99
Dead of Night: First Anthology horror film. Inspired The Twilight Zone TV show Ripped off countless times. Beware of other movies with the same title. Looking for the DVD, try Turner Classic Movies site. They have it for $15. Or watch the full film on Youtube.
Invasion of the Body SnatchersInvasion of the Body Snatchers
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Hitchcock and Lynch probably loved this. The underbelly of Suburban America. Even not knowing the communist subtext, this film is still a great little horror film.
The Birds (Collector's Edition)The Birds (Collector's Edition)
Buy new: $10.49 / Used from: $9.52
Hitchcock's Bleakest film. Best scene: the final shot. Slow building, no explanation given, and an apocalyptic ending. One of the best monster movies ever.
Suspiria (2-Disc Special Edition)Suspiria (2-Disc Special Edition)
Buy new: $12.49 / Used from: $10.90
Beautiful horror film. I can't decide if this one or Inferno is more beautiful. You can really see Bava's influence on Argento here.
Night of the Living Dead (Millennium Edition)Night of the Living Dead (Millennium Edition)
Buy new: $13.49 / Used from: $4.87
Classic. The scene where the little girl kills her mother in the basement with a trowel might just be the most terrifying scene in this film.
Kwaidan - Criterion CollectionKwaidan - Criterion Collection
Buy new: $19.99 / Used from: $13.75
Kobayashi is a master storyteller, no matter what genre. This japanese anthology horror film is breathtakingly beautiful. Underrated.
Universal's Classic Monster Collection (Dracula/Frankenstein/The Mummy/The Invisible Man/The Bride of Frankenstein/The Wolf Man/The Phantom of the Opera/The Creature from the Black Lagoon)Universal's Classic Monster Collection (Dracula/Frankenstein/The Mummy/The Invisible Man/The Bride of Frankenstein/The Wolf Man/The Phantom of the Opera/The Creature from the Black Lagoon)
Buy used from: $189.95
Bride of Frankenstein is the best here. But all these films are classics.
The Evil Dead/Evil Dead 2 - Book Of The Dead CollectionThe Evil Dead/Evil Dead 2 - Book Of The Dead Collection
Buy new: $51.99 / Used from: $27.54
Part 1- Low budget, campy, and scary. Part 2- Nice blend of horror and slapstick.
German Horror Classics (Nosferatu (1922) / The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari / Waxworks / The Golem)German Horror Classics (Nosferatu (1922) / The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari / Waxworks / The Golem)
Buy new: $62.99 / Used from: $42.84
Nosferatu is a classic. Herzog's version is great too. The best Dracula film? Cabinet of Dr. Caligari changed horror films. Tim Burton's style is partially inspired by this(and Hammer Horror films). A brilliant film, dig that set design.
Carl Theodor Dreyer's Day of Wrath (Vredens Dag) ~ Digitally Enhanced Edition [Import, All-region] (Dvd)Carl Theodor Dreyer's Day of Wrath (Vredens Dag) ~ Digitally Enhanced Edition [Import, All-region] (Dvd)
Buy used from: $9.94
Dreyer might have been Certifiably insane. See Vampyr also. This underrated Gem will stay with you long after its over. Especially the burning at the stake scene.
Hour of the Wolf (Vargtimmen)Hour of the Wolf (Vargtimmen)
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Bergman's follow up to Persona. David Lynch's favorite horror movie. Insanity captured on celluloid.
Eyes Without a Face - Criterion CollectionEyes Without a Face - Criterion Collection
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A valentine to horror films. Made by a french theater owner. Sadly underrated.
The Shining (Two-Disc Special Edition)The Shining (Two-Disc Special Edition)
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Kubrick's chilling classic. Thematically disturbing. Your loved one has an axe and wants to kill you. Dig that Ligetti music. So many classic scenes. Infamous anti-climatic Hero death: All that build up to Halloran coming to save the day and...
The Val Lewton Horror Collection with Martin Scorsese Presents Val Lewton Documentary (Cat People / The Curse of the Cat People / I Walked with a Zombie ... / The Seventh Victim / Shadows in the Dark)The Val Lewton Horror Collection with Martin Scorsese Presents Val Lewton Documentary (Cat People / The Curse of the Cat People / I Walked with a Zombie ... / The Seventh Victim / Shadows in the Dark)
Buy new: $46.99 / Used from: $41.70
Cat people- intelligent low budget film. Plays with shadow and light. Great symbolism. I walked with a zombie- Jane Eyre meets Zombies in the West Indies. One of Scorsese's favorites. Atmospheric Gem.
The BeyondThe Beyond
Buy new: $22.49 / Used from: $14.50
you either like Fulci or you don't. This is his masterpiece. Love the ending scenes images. More Style then story, but what Style!
The HauntingThe Haunting
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Creepy.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Widescreen Edition)The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Widescreen Edition)
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Halloween is as much about fun as it is about being scared. This is one fun demented ride.
Young FrankensteinYoung Frankenstein
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Hundreds of classic gags. Universal Monster movie fans will especially get a kick from this.
Shaun of the DeadShaun of the Dead
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Very Funny. Zombie fans rejoice.
Them (a.k.a. Ils)Them (a.k.a. Ils)
Buy new: $17.99 / Used from: $12.37
Home invasions scare me more then most horrors because they could really happen to me. In the US, an eerily similar movie came out called The Strangers a year or two later. This film is much better. Check it out.
The Thing (Collector's Edition)The Thing (Collector's Edition)
Buy new: $8.99 / Used from: $4.93
Slow pacing, gross out effects, and an ambiguous ending. Grows on you. HP Lovecraft would of loved this.
The Bava Box Set, Vol. 2The Bava Box Set, Vol. 2
Buy new: $37.49 / Used from: $21.84
Twitch of the Death Nerve(AKA Bay of Blood) is the first film that had a large body count. This inspired Americans, who in response created the Slasher Genre.
Blood & Black LaceBlood & Black Lace
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Great Giallo. Awful DVD. Whats with the sound? Needs a new DVD.
The Whip and The BodyThe Whip and The Body
Buy new: $13.49 / Used from: $6.17
Sadomasochistic gothic horror. Underrated.
The Exorcist (The Version You've Never Seen)The Exorcist (The Version You've Never Seen)
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I'm not religious, maybe that's why this didn't scare me. But Its well made and it does scare TONS of people.
Carrie (Special Edition)Carrie (Special Edition)
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A whole movie building to one scene. And it pays off. The prom scene is a masterpiece.
Rosemary's BabyRosemary's Baby
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Polanski knows horror. One of his best.
Cache (Hidden)Cache (Hidden)
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Haneke maybe the greatest filmmaker when it comes to psychological thrillers. Although technically none of his work is horror. Memorable scene: The throat slitting.
Funny GamesFunny Games
Buy new: $22.49 / Used from: $12.73
Haneke's exploration of media violence is disturbing and frustrating film. This is a polarizing film, you'll either love it or hate it more then anything you ever seen. after seeing this film, you might be shocked to hear that no violence was shown on screen. memorable scene: 10 minute single shot on the parents.
Spider Baby (Directors cut)Spider Baby (Directors cut)
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $9.88
Cult horror fun at its best. younger audiences might appreciate this for its influence on Rob Zombie and his first 2 films. No coincidence this film features Sid Haig also.
Audition: Collector's EditionAudition: Collector's Edition
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Not as graphic as many make it sound, but one of the most intense torture scenes in a film. I love this movie, a classic. I'm sure there is going to be a remake.
Diabolique (Criterion Collection Spine #35)Diabolique (Criterion Collection Spine #35)
Buy new: $24.49 / Used from: $16.45
Clouzot's most Hitchcockian film. Remade in the 90's but lacked the punch this film provides.
OldboyOldboy
Buy new: $18.49 / Used from: $13.00
Not sure if this counts as a horror film. Certainly one screwed up revenge film. Wook is one of my favorite filmmakers working today.
The Exterminating Angel - Criterion CollectionThe Exterminating Angel - Criterion Collection
Buy new: $32.49 / Used from: $31.30
again, probably shouldn't be classified as a horror film, but if you've seen it, its appropriate for this list. Vintage Bunuel.
The Vanishing - Criterion CollectionThe Vanishing - Criterion Collection
Buy new: $20.49 / Used from: $13.95
For the ending. WoW! perfectly captures the despair of being buried alive. Avoid the remake.