Worst2First: My Top Ten Films to Watch on HBOMax This Halloween
Worst2First:
My Top Ten Films to Watch
on HBOMax This Halloween
**THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS**
#10
Malignant
James Wan is one of the best horror directors of this generation, and "Malignant" is one of his most unique, to say the least. The film follows a woman who sees murders being committed by a strange being known as Gabriel who has ties to her past. What follows is Wan's love letter to Italian Gaillo horror filled with bonkers twists, turns, and gory kills complete with a one-of-a-kind story that'll stick with you long after it ends. #9
It
Stephen King is the undisputed master of horror, and "It" is one of his most beloved masterpieces that's already been adapted into an acclaimed miniseries starring Tim Currey as the inter-dimensional demon known as Pennywise. When it came for the novel to be put to the big screen, Bill Skarsgard donned the clown makeup and put on a chilling performance as Pennywise, a demon who steals children from the small town of Derry, leaving it up to a gang of misfit kids to stop him - until he returns for the second chapter.
#8
The Conjuring
The paranormal exploits of Ed and Lorraine Warren are legendary, and whether you think them as the real deal or frauds who wanted to con needy people out of their money, there's no denying their lasting impact in the world of the supernatural. James Wan directed "The Conjuring" centering on one of the Warrens' most terrifying cases - the Perron haunting - and while obvious liberties were taken in order to tell a more terrifying story, "The Conjuring" remains one of horror cinema's most recent success stories, starting a "Conjuring" franchise that's been running strong ever since.
#7
The Fly
The name David Cronenberg is synonymous with body horror, and "The Fly" is his most commercially successful film to date, and also one of his most memorable. Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis (who were dating at the time) play a couple who's lives are turned upside down when Goldblum's character finds a way to teleport himself from one place to another, but things go wrong when a fly gets into the machine with him, and he slowly transforms into a hideous fly monster. Practical creature effects were in full display, earning makeup designers Chris Walas and Stephen Dupuis an Academy Award for their efforts. Even now, over thirty years later, there's a reason people still talk about "The Fly" in a positive light - it's withstood the test of time.
#6
Gremlins
If you're looking for a more family-friendly horror, "Gremlins" is one of the staples. Directed by Joe Dante, the film centers on a unique Christmas gift - a mogwai named Gizmo who is all cuddles and cuteness as long as you obey some rules: don't expose it to light, don't get it wet, and don't feed it after midnight (although I still don't understand what time you actually can feed it, since there's no set time on when to do so). If any of these happen - especially feeding after midnight - they turn into mischievous, murderous gremlins, so of course that's what happens in the film. What follows is an exciting and darkly humorous adventure as Gizmo's owner tries to find a way to stop the multiplying gremlins before they destroy the entire town. Showcasing 80s marionettes, puppets, and practical effects, "Gremlins" remains just as entertaining as it did back then, offering a sense of nostalgia along with the nightmares.
#5
The Omen
"The Omen" is one of the most cursed movies ever made (seriously, look up all the behind-the-scenes drama, it's really chilling) and it's no surprise why: the film itself is truly terrifying, complete with a heavily layered plot, gruesome effects, and an utter sense of hopelessness throughout. When Robert Thorn -a wealthy diplomat - and his wife give birth, he's shocked to find that it passed away. Not wanting to upset his wife, he switches the baby and they give him the name Damien, and he seems like a normal boy - until he grows up and strange events, including murders, start to happen around him. Robert begins to think something is wrong with Damien, and learns that he might be raising the actual Antichrist. World renowned actor Gregory Peck adds a sense of value to this film, but it's not needed because it's become a classic for a reason: it's absolutely terrifying.
#4
Poltergeist
When you mix the directing talents of Tobe Hooper with the production values equipped by Steven Spielberg, you'll get nothing short of perfection, which is what "Poltergeist" is. A young family finds themselves under attack by poltergeists (German for "noisy ghosts") in their new home, and this only scratches the surface of the horrors they'll face. Along with "The Omen," "Poltergeist" seems to have been a cursed production, with several of the cast members meeting unfortunate early deaths, which only adds to the mythos of the film. The terror seems real, the effects are top notch, and the performances are exactly what you'd expect to find from a family tormented by unseen entities, keeping the film in the annals of horror classics for decades more to come.#3
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
The original "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" came out in 1956, but in a rare moment in cinematic history, the remake turns out to be the better one. "Body Snatchers 1978" is exceptional in every way - from the performances to the effects and the downright creepiness - and very few alien invasion horror movies can parallel its success. When aliens invade a small California town, they infiltrate by taking on the forms, memories, and personalities of the townspeople while the real humans succumb to the alien force, but there's a tell-tale sign - they're devoid of emotions. A local doctor - played brilliantly by Donald Sutherland - and a ragtag group of survivors band together in order to find a way to stop the invasion before they take over the world. Including an all-star supporting cast including Leonard Nimoy, Jeff Goldblum and Brooke Adams, "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" will stick with you long after it ends, and will have you looking at your friends and family in a different light.
#2
A Nightmare on Elm Street
Wes Craven and horror go together like peanut butter and jelly, and his magnum opus easily has to be his iconic "A Nightmare on Elm Street," which is actually taken in part from a true story he heard of a child who literally died in his sleep. The 80s was filled with slasher features, and Craven set himself apart from the rest by focusing the slashing in the victims' dreams, which adds a deeper sense of fear: we can outrun a killer in real life, but we all need to sleep eventually. Craven gives birth to iconic slasher Freddy Krueger (which is also an amalgamation of real-life influences Craven had as a child), the horribly deformed demon who kills kids in their sleep with his glove full of knives. Carving out its own place in horror cinema history, "A Nightmare on Elm Street" will have you struggling to stay awake in fear of Freddy coming for you in your nightmares.
#1
The Exorcist
Often imitated, never duplicated, "The Exorcist" continues to reign supreme in the world of possession horror almost fifty years later, and for good reason: the practical effects, the plot, and the character development are elevated to traditional horror flare, earning the film an astonishing nine Oscar nominations (and winning two) including Best Picture, Director, Actress, Supporting Actor and Actress - a feat unheard of for a horror movie. The film follows the tragedy of young Regan MacNeil, who finds herself possessed by the spirit of Pazuzu. Two priests are brought in to exorcise the demon, and it becomes a fight for their lives. "The Exorcist" also holds the distinction of being the most cursed film sets ever, and you can sense the real fear in the actors' performances, as well as the state-of-the-art effects and sound design that sends shivers in the most hardened horror fans even to this day.
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