Renewed Top 10 - Slasher Films

Another edition of Horror Themes Top 10!

Already posted the Non-Slasher Horror Films... now it is time for the Slashers.

Some of these will mention whole franchises. Some will be an individual movie in a franchise. And some will be multiple movies in the franchise when I only liked a few of them. You'll understand as you go along.

Also... some of these franchises have had reboots... and sideboots... and Erasequels. And that may or may not factor in each franchise. Like I said... You'll understand as you go along.

Oh... and the killer MUST have been human at some point.

So......

Top 10 Slashers Films/Franchises

Here we go...

11. Child's Play: The franchise centered around a serial killer possessing a doll, and contining the killing spree. Very successful franchise... with a recent reboot with Chucky being voiced by Mark Hamill AND a new TV series.

10. Sleepaway Camp: During the dawn if the Campy Slasher film, here is another one about a killer... in a camp. This one makes the list because it contains one of the GREATEST twist endings in movie history. So great...... you have to watch it. You won't find it here.

9. Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Franchise... remake... prequel. One of the main franchises inspired by real life killer Ed Gein. The original film made for less than $140k($700k adjusted for inflation). All centered around a family of cannibals and the chainsaw wielding Leatherface.

8. Friday the 13th: Long standing franchise... machete... hockey mask. Iconic when it comes to the slasher genre. Not every movie in this franchise is gold... the idea of "Campy" horror... I associate with this franchise. And if you need proof of how Campy it is... look no further than Jason X, set... in space.

7. Candyman: Written by Clive Barker. Son of a slave murdered in the late 1800s comes back and spreads fear and terror. Tony Todd with one of the most iconic voices breathes life into this amazing Slasher Urban Legend. I haven't seen the new one yet, so for now... this is just for the original movie.

6. Scream: Wes Craven decided it was a good idea to start a franchise that lampoons the genre and the tropes. And one of the best openings, using a huge start like Drew Barrymore, and killing her outright. An enjoyable franchise with a new one coming very soon.

5. Hellraiser: Clive Barker directed inter-dimensional hellspace hellscape movie franchise(Barker directed the original... wrote the books). A lot to unpack about the franchise. But yes... even though the Cenobites are Extradimensionial beings, all of them but one were human at one time... even Pinhead.

4. Maniac(2012): A remake. But I will be honest, I didn't watch the original. This one though... stars Elijah Wood. And unless you knew that ahead of time, you would have a few small moments to see him... because he plays the killer, and the ENTIRE movie is filmed through the killer's eyes. Great idea. And the movie is a pretty good movie. It gets a high spot due to the uniqueness.

3. Psycho: Alfred Hitchcock's masterclass in horror. Psychological. Norman Bates has inspired many a parody and other copycats. And the shower scene is just as iconic and Hitchcock himself.

2. A Nightmare On Elm Street: Wes Craven. Freddy Krueger. The Razor Fingers gloves. The Boiler Room. A franchise about a man who was brutally murdered by the parents of children he was harming...... turning into a demon that can kill people in their sleep. Some very unique, over the top stories. Not all of them good... but still entertaining. New Nightmare was a very cool meta movie about Freddy coming to kill the ACTRESS that played Nancy. And then... a remake of the original film that was darker, and more fun(with Wes Craven's vision for Freddy's origin story). Plus... I share a birthday with Robert Englund.

And now... the Number 1 Slasher Film/Franchise

1. Halloween: THE Slasher. Michael Myers. This has had more than a few movies... some strange one. A remake helmed by Rob Zombie(2 movies... and I liked them). And we are in the middle of an Erasequel trilogy(as of posting, I haven't seen Halloween Kills yet). And you can point out any of the movies in this franchise that you want to...... but I want to focus on the original. As I said...... THE SLASHER. But look at this movie now, it gave birth to the modern Slasher, but this movie is NOT a Slasher at heart. It was a Psychological Thriller. Once Michael makes it to Haddonfield, his presence is in every scene. Not even just the obvious ones. Rewatch this movie. Look for the car. Even in scenes you shouldn't be thinking about the car... LOOK FOR THE CAR. Yes... Michael gets Slashy. But until then, it is 100% Subliminal for the audience. And this is why it takes the Number 1 spot!

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There you go... my TOP 11 Slashers. The pool I used was smaller this time, and Honorable Mention felt like it was disrespectful to whatever one got it. And they all belonged on the list.

Missing one? Different order? Leave a Comment. Share the post.

Happy Halloween and Spooky Season!

And don't forget...

Renewed Top 10 - Horror Films

It is time. It is that time of year. We are going to tackle TWO Best of Lists for the Horror genre. One for Slasher Flims... and one for Non-Slasher Horror films(just going to call it... Horror Films... hope you understand)

Disclaimer... there were ALOT of films that I had in the pools for both lists... and it was incredibly difficult to decide. If there is one on either list you think I'm missing, just know it was probably considered.

So...

Top 10 Horror Films

Here we go...

Honorable Mention 1: The Ring: Adapted from a Asian Film, about a tape(yes, VHS, scary I know) that if you watched it, you died in 7 days. Sad they made a sequel where it was a viral online video, and it FAILED. Great concept too.

Honorable Mention 2: The Amityville Horror: I'm citing both versions here. Brolin and Reynolds helming their respective versions. A well done psychological thriller. Smart, yet doesn't hold the hands of the viewers.

Honorable Mention 3: The Alien and Predator franchise: Yes, I am lumping them all together because it needs to be done. The penacle of the action horror genre, and they are one franchise, due to the Alien vs Predator movies.

10. Thir13en Ghosts(remake): Gory, more special effects heavy version. But this is the movie that started my love for Matthew Lillard. Enjoyed the lore that goes with this movie, but the overall story was weak... but the movie is goriously beautiful.

9. 1408: A skeptical author visits a supposed haunted hotel room and spends a night in hell. Based on a short story written by Stephen King. Oh... 1+4+0+8=13

8. The Exorcist: One of the most famous horror films of all time. And if you are reading this list, you most likely know about this film. Linda Blair... projectile vomit... "The Power of Christ Compells You"

7. The Silence of the Lambs: FBI Academy Student seeking counsel with Hannibal Lector to catch a killer. Iconic... Legendary... and Anthony Hopkins MADE this movie what it is.

6. Bram Stoker's Dracula: There are many version of Dracula in cinema. Including legends like Christopher Lee and Bela Lugosi. But none are as close to the novel as this one...... and talking about legendary Draculas, this is the movie that made me love Gary Oldman.

5. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein: Speaking of movies close to the books, this one was SO close, I got to use it as my book report in 12th Year English. It started my love for Kenneth Branagh. And when you think of Frankenstein, you think of Igor, Boris Karloff, a lightning storm, and "IT'S ALIVE!!!!!!!" But...... really, it is Robert DeNiro, electric eels, and a self taught "monster".

4. The Sixth Sense: The movie that made M. Night Shyamalan a household name. One of the greatest twists in movie history. "I see dead people." Who doesn't know that line at least?

3. IT Chapters 1 & 2: This one is where I might lose some people, but I really loved the IT remakes. Tim Curry and the original movie/miniseries(2 episodes) is legendary, and a stacked cast. But I have to go with the remakes for a reason. The book and the original relied heavily on the flashbacks. And I get it. That is the story, set in the adult era, the flashbacks are the members of the Losers Club remembering Pennywise...... but the remakes separated them. The era when they were kids, the era when they were adults... and they still made clever use if the flashbacks. But what we got felt like a complete story. Fluid... and easier to follow. Still had a stacked cast(and helped push Finn Wolfhard's star into outer space). And as much as I love Tim Curry and his Pennywise... I commend Bill Skarsgård in making Pennywise TRULY terrifying.

2. The Shining: Stanley Kubrick... Jack Nicholson... iconically noted for making Stephen King angry for changing the aesthetic of the story, but I loooooooooove this version. And simply... when I think of Jack Nicholson, I think of The Shining. 

And my Number One Non-Slasher Horror Film is...

1. Doctor Sleep: Did it surprise anyone? I really loved this film. A sequel to The Shining. Follows Danny when he is older. And it has one of the most unsettling scenes I've ever seen in a film... and I loved it. Story is solid. And... I didn't think it would do either the Kubrick film of the book justice, and I think it did wonderfully well.

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What do you think? Anything I missed you think I should've added? Any shock you?

Comment... share...

And check out the other Spooky List!

Until next time... remember...

Renewed Top 10 - Horror Directors

It is October again, time for Spooky season. And that means it is time do some horror related content!

So let's start with some directors. Those that make some spooky, creepy, scary stuff.

Now, the list is going to highlight the directors that have made an impact for my viewing. But it does not reflect those that director my favorite horror films overall(that list is coming). Maybe it is the overall portfolio influence, rather than one movie in particular. Consistency and legacy are key for. Body of work as opposed to one shining example. Get the rules?

Top 10 Horror Directors

Here we go...

Honorable Mention 1: Terence Fisher: British director who focused on Gothic Horror. Hammer Films versions of Dracula, The Mummy, The Curse of Frankenstein. Now, the movies are pretty good, but the reason he is here is because he launched the careers of LEGENDS Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee.

Honorable Mention 2: Stanley Kubrick: Kubrick is that one crazy, eccentric artist that just wants the masterpiece. A Clockwork Orange and The Shining are 2 of the greatest artistic movies of all time.

Honorable Mention 3: Guillermo del Toro: I enjoy Del Toro's work. Pan's Labyrinth is creepy as hell. And Hellboy is iconic. But while Hellboy is spooky, it is also a fun superhero movie. A visionary.

Honorable Mention 4: Tim Burton: Burton is one of my favorite directors. Period. But the secret to his spooky is that... it is his style. Famous for movies like Beetlejuice, Corpse Bride, Sweeney Todd, Alice in Wonderland...... it is more the art style, and less the content that makes it spooky, and thus more of his movies are family accessible. Sleepy Hollow was the only real horror movie Burton did. But creepy and spooky is just in his art style

Honorable Mention 5: Ivan Reitman: Ghostbusters. There really isn't anymore you need to say. Ivan Reitman is the reason the Ghostbusters franchise came to life. From an idea... to a realization. And I'm going to mention Jason Reitman, for tackling Ghostbusters Afterlife. It isn't out yet, but if it is a smash hit like the originals, then he deserves to be mentioned here.

10. Andy Muschietti: Responsible for the IT remakes and wonderful unique film called Mama. I personally think he did a GREAT job getting that done. The reason he isn't higher on the list... he is an up and comer. He is has only just begun. And that is what he did? Impressive.

9. Jordan Peele: Who would've thought this comedian would be a genius in horror? I didn't. But Get Out won him an Oscar and Us was a unique take on the doppleganger story. Another who has only just begun.

8. Mike Flanagan: He put out some really good stuff. Responsible for Oculus, Ouija: Origin of Evil. But the reason I'm a fan is simply... Doctor Sleep. Sequel to one of my favorite horror films off all time, and...... it felt like he made it as an homage to the Kubrick's classic AND adapted the book fairly well. I hope for more, and if he were to do more with King's works, I wouldn't be mad.

7. Tobe Hooper: So many good B horror movies; but also brought us The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Poltergeist, Salem's Lot, and Night Terrors. The resumé speaks for itself.

6. David Cronenberg: Dead Ringers, Stephen King's The Dead Zone, Scanners. All great movies. But... The Fly. The Fly is legendary. Why? Two words: Jeff Goldblum.

5. Tom Holland(no, not that one): The Father of Chuckie!! Created Child's Play... the original Fright Night, The Langoliers mini series, and Thinner! But he gets the spot for giving us such a twisted tale with Child's Play... and launching a franchise that is STILL putting out new content.

4. Sam Raimi: Before he was known for Spider-Man, Sam Raimi gave us BRUCE CAMPBELL. And how? The Evil Dead/Army of Darkness franchise. Sam Raimi also gave us Darkman, which was the first movie I ever saw of one Liam Neeson. But the really reason he makes the list is because...... post Spider-Man, he gave us one amazingly terrifying movie title Drag Me To Hell. If you haven't seen it, do it.

3. Alfred Hitchcock: The Master of Suspense. His own series, titles "Alfred Hitchcock Presents". But we are talking LEGENDARY movies: The Birds, Psycho, Vertigo, Suspicion, Dial M for Murder. If you don't know who Alfred Hitchcock is, then why are you here?

2. John Carpenter: Vampires, Village of the Damned, They Live(with Roddy Piper!), Prince of Darkness, Christine, The Thing, The Fog. Such diversity in his horror portfolio... but... he is also responsible for creating what we know as a Slasher Film, when he brought to us Michael Myers and the classic film Halloween.

This was a tough one to call... but here it is...

The Number One Horror Director is......

1. Wes Craven: The original version of The Last House On The Left. The People Under The Stairs. Shocker. Night Visions. Cursed. Red Eye. He is also responsible for The Hills Have Eyes... and he is the father of The Nightmare of Elm Street franchise. But the reason I put Wes Craven at Number 1 isn't because of those movies... it is for the Scream franchise. Freddy Krueger is my favorite slasher killer of all time... the movies are good, but Freddy is what elevated them. But Scream was different. It felt different. And the reason I feel that way is because the Scream franchise is a parody. I know what you're thinking... "No, that is the Scary Movie franchise". And yes... yes you're right. But look at what Scream set out to do. It purposely lampooned the horror franchise and things you are/aren't supposed to do. And then paid off for all of those rules/tropes but swerving the audience out of the killers' identity reveals. And I can appreciate Wes Craven do that in one of his own movies about the genre he helped make famous. That is pretty damn cool to me. And... Wes Craven is responsible for Swamp Thing getting its live action start. Swamp Thing may be an anti-hero now, but that original movie was absolutely a B level horror flick.

(Side note... one omission I have is Clive Barker. Yes... he created and directed Hellraiser... the first one... and with hits like Night Breed and Lord of Illusions... Clive Barker should be noted for his work in horror, but he isn't a director. His largest contributions to horror comes from putting pen to paper. Playwright, Screenwriter first, including Candyman. And his contributions do not go unnoticed. His directed movies are great, but so few.)

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There it is. Top 10 Horror Directors.

Anyone you think I left out? Anyone you are surprised I put in it? Let me know down below.

Don't like my list? Make your own.

And as always... share this thing...

Thanks for you time. More Halloween/Spooky themed lists coming this month, and some good reviews hopefully this week.

Until next time...

Don't forget...