1. Rosemary’s Baby-A perfect movie. The acting, direction, screenplay, pacing, tone, editing etc. are just *muah* Italian chef’s kiss. Mia Farrow is fantastic as one of horror’s most sympathetic heroines, and of course Ruth Gordon is legendary as one of horror’s most unassuming villains. A perfect book to screen adaptation as well. And yes, I am well aware that R***n P******i is a pedophile. Just because I think he should be rotting away in a prison cell doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy the movie, so spare me the moralizing in advance cause I’m not interested.
2. Alien/Aliens-For the record, I think 3 is also pretty good. Resurrection...well, the less said the better. But nothing will ever top the first two. The original is obviously a classic and the one I’ve seen more. People always say it’s a haunted movie in space, I think thats an oversimplification. The critiques of corporate greed and male authority were there from the beginning. Also, Ash’s true nature isn’t discussed enough, but it’s easily in my top 3 horror movie twists. But if I had to choose between the two, I think I’d go with Aliens. Ripley really comes into her own as a character there, the critiques of corporate greed, male authority and now the military-industrial complex are even sharper, and it has the motherfucking QUEEN XENOMORPH EVERY GAY MUST STAN. Also, Vasquez is one of the best supporting characters of all time.
3. The Thing (1982)-The best John Carpenter movie. Sorry Halloween I still like you. This movie is literally the basis of Among Us y’all. There isn’t really much to say here. Obviously the effects/make-up are genius by TODAY’S standards, but even beyond that it’s just incredibly tense, immaculately paces, and perfectly plotted. Also please fuck me Kurt Russell circa 1982.
4. The Exorcist-Pooh on your name PrinceVans, because The Exorcist is immortal. That said, I didn’t even like it the first time lol. It really took seeing it twice (and on a big screen) for me to FULLY appreciate it. But once you go in without the unrealistic expectation of seeing the SCARIEST MOVIE EVER MADE it’s great. It’s the only religious-themed horror movie that genuinely wrestles with the question of faith. When will your fave be so philosophical. Great performances all around too. Linda Blair (and Mercedes McCambridge) really Did That. The director’s cut adds a terrible ending where the two guys sit around talking so skip that one.
5. It Follows-Too soon? The most recent film on this list, some may argue it hasn’t had enough time to cement its classic status. But for me, it’s already one of the all-time greats. From the unforgettable opening, to the legendary rotating shot at the school, and even to the divisive pool finale, it’s one classic scene after another. Plus: best film score this decade tell me otherwise. The concept is just so inherently intriguing and it captures a perfect tone and era...even though it’s not set in any specific time at all. Amazing.
6. Psycho (1960)-The granddaddy of all slasher films, even though I don’t consider it one in the truest sense. It’s not even Hitchcock’s best film, but it’s his best film that qualifies as horror. If you don’t know the twist by now I don’t know where you’ve been the last 60 years, but it’s great beyond that, with great work from Janet Leigh and of course Anthony Perkins. A boy’s best friend is his mother, after all. Also it has the best score ever period.
7. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)-Mostly this high for sentimental value, as certain aspects of it haven’t aged super well, but it’s still great. I honestly view it as more of a dark fantasy for teens/adults than a slasher movie. The film really is so much about Nancy and her journey/battle against Fred(dy) Krueger. The whole thing is like a metaphor for children confronting their parents’ demons, which I’m sure speaks to all of us since we’re fucked up enough to be on this site. Nancy is my favorite slasher movie final girl of all time bar none, and she really sells it as something like a coming of age story disguised as a slasher film.
8. Carrie (1976)-Carrie probably would not have made this list had I not rewatched it a few nights ago. I always remembered it as good, but I forgot just how good it is. I’m always surprised to find how much it isn’t a horror movie until it suddenly is. It’s basically an (admittedly dark) high school drama with a few supernatural moments but then the bucket of blood drops and BOOM suddenly Carrie is burning down gymnasiums, flipping over cars, dragging her house into the earth and reaching out from the grave. Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie both give legendary performances. And the entire prom sequence is a top 5 scene in horror history bar none.
9. Night of the Living Dead (1968)-This one suffers the most from me not having seen it for the longest time, and if I rewatch it could end up being higher. But the fact that I remember it so vividly having not seen it in years says everything you need to know. The first true zombie film, at least in the way we know zombies today, is arguably still the best. Casting a black man as the lead was incredibly bold at the time, and it paid off. Sometimes limited by its budget, but otherwise perfect. And yes it’s better than Dawn.
10. Sleepaway Camp series-These movies aren’t good, per se, but they’re my ultimate guilty pleasures. I love Angela played completely straight by Felissa Rose and the campy Angela played by Pamela Springsteen (and yes she is Bruce’s sister lmfao.) If you havent seen them, I’m not going to spoil the first one’s twist, but needless to say it’s something you’ll never forget. Bonus points for Aunt Martha, one of the best side characters in horror history.
Honorable mentions: An American Werewolf in London, The Silence of the Lambs (yes I know it was on my overrated list but it’s still great), The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), The Cabin in the Woods, The Shining (ditto the silence of the lambs), Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), Audition, and A Tale of Two Sisters
“ But once you go in without the unrealistic expectation of seeing the SCARIEST MOVIE EVER MADE it’s great.”
People have billed it up like that for years and act like itll legit give you a heart attack to watch so upon watching it everyone will find out “ah it wasn’t bad wtf”
This list was really hard to make!