Top 10 Horror Films (Part 1)

I used to avoid horror films as a child. I was easily frightened, apparently. Boy, that sure has changed. I think it probably had something to do with my huge interest in survival horror games. As I slowly overcame my fears of "scary" video games, so did the fear of horror films disappear as well. Or maybe I just grew up a little. Either way, horror films are among some of my favorites. This calls for a Top 10 list!

10. The Devil's Backbone

Guillermo del Toro directed this one in 2001. Though he's much better know for the Hellboy films and the excellent Pan's Labyrinth, The Devil's Backbone is an impressive work. The film takes place in a orphanage during the Spanish Civil War. Our hero, the young Carlos, is haunted by the ghost of a fellow orphan, Santi. The villain, Jacinto, is brilliant portrayed by the infinitely talented Eduardo Noriega. It's a tense, masterful work. The atmosphere del Toro creates with his shots, the underbelly of the orphanage, the doomed landscapes that surround it, and the story that unfolds, and everything else is wonderfully crafted.  If you haven't seen this one, which is likely, please do.


9. Hatchet

Hatchet is an exceptionally violent, exceptionally awesome horror film. Directed by Adam Green, you won't soon forget this film. It's gruesome, funny, and made by people who love the genre. Consider a scene where a large chunk of a character's body (including the entire neck and head) is hacked off by a hatchet. I counted about 11 swings. Or perhaps one where a sander is applied to a characters face. Or maybe that time when that old lady gets her entire head ripped in half... Yeah, I'm spoiling this for you aren't I? Just watch it.




Honorable Mention: The Tripper

"On 4.20, Hippie Blood Will Trickle Down" - Film tagline


The Tripper is directed by David Arquette. It features a psychopathic, Ronald Reagen obsessed maniac killing hippies. Do I have to say more? Didn't think so...






8. The Descent

Neil Marshall's second film, The Descent, is one of the most engaging and tense films I've ever seen. The film concerns a group of women who go spelunking in an unknown cave system. Once instead, they become lost and strange things begin to happen. It's claustrophobic, maddening, and nail-biting throughout its entire running time. However, make sure you watch the film's true ending. It was, for some reason, changed in the American theatrical run. I think the DVD that you can buy/rent now has the better ending. It's also not spelled out for the viewer and you get to decide what the ending means. A great film.



7. The Evil Dead

The Sam Raimi classic we all know and love! The Evil Dead is significant in my book for having a tree rape someone. Also, we have this film to thank for the introduction of Bruce Campbell into our collective unconsciousness. It's horrifying and a whole lot of fun. It also has a particular distinction of being one of the only horror film trilogies in which all of the sequels are great films as well, if extremely different. The film's plot follows a group of friends who visit a cabin in the-middle-of-nowhere and accidentally awaken demons. After this film, that should be a legitimate concern for people vacationing in isolated cabins.


6. Alien

The first film in the Alien franchise is visceral and throughly terrifying. So much is going on in its images that it begs multiple viewings. It's dark, foreboding, and immaculately paced. On the surface, it's the struggle to survive. Underneath that, the cornucopia of sexual imagery appeals to our senses. I didn't fully understand why the initial facehugger attack made me so uneasy until I got older and became a more perceptive viewer. Also, it's got my vote for the singular most frightening scene of all time: the "chestburster" scene. I don't think I was the same person after I saw that. An incredible horror and sci-fi classic.



That's all for now! Stay with me for part 2! Coming soon! :D