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Post by Andy Turnbull on Oct 20, 2012 19:43:19 GMT
Prompted by a chat with Karl on twitter, and his posts here about possibly reevaluating horror, let's get some folks recommendations and build up a library for him to choose from and anyone else who hasn't seen them.
Gore/Splatter to be a minimum or at the least have some validity in the context of the story. (No Eli Roth basically).
John Carpenter's Halloween - no blame should be attached to this for the slasher genre it inspired. A masterpiece in tight, lean storytelling and effectively builds suspense.
Hellraiser 1 and 2 - while they are gory in places, there is substance to them and there is a point to the gore beyond shock value. Excuse me while I sound bollocksy for a moment - it's as much about sensuality as horror and that's why it works. Doug Bradley as Lead Cenobite is fantastic in both.
The Curse of Frankestein - the first Hammer Horror film really. Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee starring together. An absolute joy to watch, Cushing is fantastic as the Baron as you see him descend to the depths. Realises that the true villain of the piece is Frankenstein himself , not the creature.
Right that's enough from me, over to you Hubbers.
Andy
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Post by Toph on Oct 20, 2012 20:14:11 GMT
Agree, no Eli Roth. Gore is not scary, and excess gore is just a terrible idea.
For me, very little scares me, for movies. I guess I just never get too involved. Most horror movies have extremely weak plots, and a strong story is an absolute must.
So, I've found what really gets me, are directors and writers who play on your psychology. Things that are scary in concept, when done by a director who really knows how to build suspence and tell a good story, tend to be scary on film.
So for me, the number one film of all time in that reguards, is Signs.
Signs, really plays on my fears of alien abduction, for one. I don't honestly know if I buy into the beliefs that aliens are going around and abducting people in real life, but I honestly can't imagine anything more horrifying. (I always say, Aliens landing on the whitehouse lawn and saying "We come in peace!" is awesome. Aliens landing in your back yard and not declairing any intent? Terrifying). So, you've got the alien invasion in place, on top of Shayamalon's second best work of his career.
The Sixth Sense- Again, psychological. Again strong plot, with a twist only my mother saw coming (Thank god I didn't see it with her. She spoils everything).
Cloverfield- I never realized a kaiju movie could actually be borderline scary. But the "found footage" premise of it was done really effectively, and managed to really draw me into the film.
Jurassic Park- Not really horror in the traditional sense, but in the Jaws sense. Great suspence building, and at the time there had never been anything quite like it. Was just a brilliantly fun movie all around. Next year is the 20th anniversary, and I hope it gets a remastered Imax re-release.
Stuff that had a really good go at it:
Silent Hill- Mostly psychological, and I can't hear an airrad/weather siren to this day without a small fear of the dark time coming.
The Ring- Again, mostly psychological. Though once I got engrossed in the mystery aspect, I started to completely ignore the horror aspect as though it didn't even exist.
The Host- Brilliant movie. Absolutely love it. And was aaaaalmost scary for me. Might have done it had I seen it in a theater.
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Post by The Doctor on Oct 20, 2012 20:21:50 GMT
Jurassic Park- Not really horror in the traditional sense, but in the Jaws sense. Great suspence building, and at the time there had never been anything quite like it. Was just a brilliantly fun movie all around. Next year is the 20th anniversary, and I hope it gets a remastered Imax re-release. . It had a cinema re-release last year. It is due for another re-release in 2013 but in the 3D format. -Ralph |
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Post by Marc Graham on Oct 21, 2012 14:18:25 GMT
Britney Spears: Crossroads.
I was once threatened with a viewing of this movie (whilst doing stirling work as a wingman). The sheer thoughts of pounding terror still reverbarate to my very soul when I think back to those opening seconds of the movie before I demanded a change in the viewing arrangements.
*phew*
Don't get much more horrible than that.
I'll confess I usually end up laughing at horror movies - last one I saw in cinema was probably a Texas Chainsaw massacre prequel that was out 2007 I think.
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Oct 21, 2012 14:20:03 GMT
Oh you poor man. I saw that Texas Chainsaw prequel - it was rubbish.
Andy
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Post by Kingoji on Oct 21, 2012 15:09:38 GMT
John Carpenter's The Thing is always high on my list. More sci-fi than horror perhaps, but the closed space situation and the mounting tension and paranoia is something I have yet to see topped. And, yeah, kinda gory, but I wouldn't say it was so for gore's sake.
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Oct 21, 2012 18:31:39 GMT
The Thing is another excellent choice.
Over on the Twitter Mr Bodsworth of this parish suggested Prince of Darkness, In The Mouth of Madness, Halloween 3 and Quatermass and the Pit.
Andy
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Oct 21, 2012 18:50:38 GMT
Mark Gatiss' follow up to his A History of Horror, Horror Europa will be on tv on Tuesday 30th of October on BBC Four at 9pm. The previous documentary was good, and this should be too.
Andy
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Post by Marc Graham on Oct 21, 2012 18:55:53 GMT
Kurt Russell was awesome in The Thing remake, I guess thats horror in tone, but truly awesome movie, Forbidden Planet -does that count as horror? If so - awesome!
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Post by The Doctor on Oct 21, 2012 19:07:47 GMT
Magic (1978). Anthony Hopkins goes slowly mad as a magician with a doll that may or may not be alive. And evil! Bit hokey but fun.
-Ralph
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Post by legios on Oct 21, 2012 19:09:10 GMT
"The Thing" is one that I have already seen and I would agree that it is a fine, fine film indeed.
You have given me some food for thought gentlemen, and I have made some additions to my rental queue accordingly already. Please keep them coming though - I'm always open to considering new things.
Karl
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Post by The Doctor on Oct 21, 2012 19:11:47 GMT
Roger Corman's Masque of the Red Death is superb, also.
-Ralph
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Oct 21, 2012 19:13:19 GMT
As is The Raven.
Also The Masque of the Red Death pains Ralph!
Andy
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Post by The Doctor on Oct 21, 2012 19:16:14 GMT
Edward Scissorhands and Sleepy Hollow are both fun. When Burton is edited properly he can turn out good stuff.
-Ralph
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Post by Shockprowl on Oct 23, 2012 18:28:14 GMT
Totally agree in that gore is not scary at all. Suspense is the way!
M. Night Shyalaman's The Village. Scared the crap outa me. Actually made me shriek in the cinema!
And the classic The Exorcist. The harsh 70s audio and clever and creepy shooting put me right on edge. It's a horror film that doesn't rush itself, which is so fulfilling.
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Post by The Doctor on Oct 23, 2012 18:34:44 GMT
Phase IV.
Trailer:
Full film:
-Ralph
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Post by Jim on Oct 24, 2012 8:42:52 GMT
Phase IV! Blimey, haven't seen that since I was a teenager. I love dour 70s movies.
Gratifying to learn someone else in the world has seen In the Mouth of Madness! No time I've ever mentioned it has anyone known it. Not Carpenter's best, but still a very interesting horror movie. Probably the most truly Lovecraftian film yet made with its menacing atmosphere and mostly keeping the monsters off-screen. Good recommendation.
Polanski's Repulsion is a very creepy movie, which I suppose many don't consider "horror" but fits the bill for my tastes.
I would argue that Duel (Spielberg's finest to date!) could count, with its implacable, unknowable and near-unstoppable antagonist who remains anonymous to the end.
Alien is for me a horror movie, and one which really gets under my skin, but it of course is a bit gory (though less on screen than in my head).
The BBC mockumentary(? Not sure what genre it really is) Ghostwatch terrified me when it was first shown.
Then there's that episode of Space:1999 with the tentacled monster thing that dissolves people(?) - I may be misremembering something as it was some time ago, but I know it gave me a sleepless night or two.
Oh, and +1 for Quatermass and the Pit. Terrifying, especially the first half or so!
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Oct 28, 2012 22:35:21 GMT
The Kaptain has now been introduced to Halloween.
It met with approval.
Andy
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Post by legios on Oct 29, 2012 13:21:10 GMT
It did indeed. I was very impressed - it was a masterfully controlled and paced film, with some brilliant cineatomagraphic decisions.
Interesting to see the actual point of origin of so many things that have been imitated and misunderstood subsequently.
I have last years "The Woman in Black" sitting on top of the television to be watched at some point this week.
Karl
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Oct 29, 2012 13:38:19 GMT
You also experienced one of the better Hammer Frankenstein films - Frankenstein Created Woman.
Andy
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Oct 29, 2012 13:43:15 GMT
The stalk and slash genre is one of the best examples of Sturgeon's Law given form. Especially given how popular and prevalent the genre became.
The Friday the 13th films are ugly pieces of work, with little flair or imagination at least in story terms, Tom Savini's make up effects are always interesting.
Nightmare on Elm Street has two good films, 1 interesting film and breaks itself when they make Freddy the character you are interested in, he shouldn't be engaging. So bizarre to think that one of the most popular horror icons is a paedophile. Downplayed due to a scandal at the time, but it was there.
( I speak of course of the original, III - Dream Warriors and Wes Craven's New Nightmare)
Andy
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Oct 29, 2012 15:34:13 GMT
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Post by legios on Oct 29, 2012 20:24:50 GMT
You also experienced one of the better Hammer Frankenstein films - Frankenstein Created Woman. I did indeed, and very good it was too. Peter Cushing put in a fantastic turn as the good Baron. I liked the sense that he created of a character acting not from malice but from towering arrogance and the belief that the knowledge he sought put him above moral concerns. That sort of thing is much more interesting than cackling evil. Karl |
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Oct 29, 2012 20:37:25 GMT
The Hammer Baron is an interesting character and is actually far more interesting than any of his creations.
Andy
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Post by The Doctor on Oct 29, 2012 20:58:40 GMT
The only bad performance Peter Cushing ever gave was when he was Doctor Who. Otherwise he was a masterful actor and raised many a film beyond mediocrity.
-Ralph
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Oct 29, 2012 21:02:59 GMT
Not a bad performance, he played his role very well. A bad approach to the role I think is more accurate.
Andy
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Post by The Doctor on Oct 29, 2012 21:09:24 GMT
Hated him when I saw the Dalek films as a nipper (long before I saw any Hartnell DW eps). I just thought he was shit. Thankfully the hot Dalek action kept me distracted.
Those films introduced me to the Cushing*. It was only as I saw more films I found out that he was bloody brilliant and the Dalek films were a strange anomaly in his otherwise flawless performance style.
-Ralph
*No, not Star Wars. I was born in 1978 so my intro to those films was the Cushing-less Return of the Jedi in 1983.
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Post by legios on Oct 29, 2012 21:37:47 GMT
I first saw Peter Cushing in Star Wars, but subsequently saw him in a number of other roles before I saw him as Doctor Who. I do think that is a performance that just doesn't work at all and really works against all of Cushing's strengths. I do need to see more of his work for Hammer in due course - Cushing is one of those actors how can make me actually want to see a film just because he was in it.
Karl
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Oct 31, 2012 16:57:28 GMT
Thoroughly enjoyed Horror Europa with Mark Gatiss last night.
Time to track down a few of the films featured.
Andy
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Nov 1, 2012 17:54:46 GMT
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