Scary Movies Part V: All Time Scariest Movies

October 31, 2011 By Melissa Leave a Comment

It is here. Halloween is upon us.  We’ve spent the last week or so going over our Top 5 Scary Movie Lists and have but this one left. Let’s get right to it.  If you disagree, write us and tell us why.

Top 5 Scary Movies – PERIOD!

5. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Wes Craven’s jaunt into slasher films.  What makes this an especially scary movie is simply the premise. Bad things happen, ESPECIALLY if you fall asleep. A rational thinking person knows there are consequences for people who don’t sleep. No-one ever thought perhaps those people where being stalked by a monster in their dreams.  The movie messes with the perceptions of audience members, who are left trying to figure out what was real and what wasn’t.  As most good movies, there is the memorable line or jingle.  1, 2… Freddie’s coming for you…

The Shining Movie Poster4. The Shining (1980)
“Here’s Johnny!” – This is the tag line from Jack Nicholson’s character upon ripping through a bathroom door with an ax. As scary as Nicholson is, the real horror from this psychological horror is all over the place.  The movie is based on the popular Stephen King novel of the same name and brings to light many classic concepts of scary.  In my opinion, one of the bet movies of all time, not just scary movies.

3. Scream (1996)
Wes Craven makes the list for a second time with a movie that combines slasher horror with real life events of the Gainesville Ripper.  Throw in a little bit of horror movie sarcasm, classic styling slasher blood and gore, a house party full of teenagers up to no good and a villain called Ghostface and you’ve got the makings of lights on movie watching.

2. Halloween (1978)
Jamie Lee Curtis has the best scream in American film history.  But you would too if you kept seeing “The Boogyman” stalk you and your friends. John Carpenter’s Halloween brings many elements to the film that made it a success, from the music to the way it was filmed.  Halloween is not your common slasher film, though it certainly is often credited with being the first.

The Exorcist Movie Poster1. The Exorcist (1973)
Let’s start with the music. Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells sets the stage for this film. Bring in Linda Blair as the unfortunate child afflicted with demonic possession and add minimal but effective special effects. Now you have a movie that questions your beliefs in God, demons, modern medicine, the Catholic Church and humans.  If your child is sick and in bed, don’t watch this film. If your child’s head spins 360 degrees, call a priest and don’t watch this movie.

Agree or Disagree?  Comment!

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Scary Movie Series Part IV: Family Films

October 28, 2011 By Linda Leave a Comment

Halloween is one of those holidays that as you progress through your life, celebration styles change. Certainly, the Halloweens we all remember as exciting were when we were small kids and all the spooks were REALLY scary. As I’ve moved through different stages of my life, I am now back at a time of excitement, but it is excitement for the creation of Halloween for my kids. So as an adult, I’m just as excited for the great family time of this holiday.

The movies on this Top 5 List signify that rare combination that allows kids to be both scared and excited as well as give parents and adults fun entertainment that allows them to share in the fun with kids.

Our Top 5 Scary Movies – Family Movies are:

Addams Family Poster | Family Scary Movie5. Addams Family (1991)
The original Addams Family was a television show that made brought together all the creepy aspects of monsters and out of the ordinary characters and mixed it with life in the suburbs Father Knows Best family sitcoms. With some spooky moments, the movie is a return to that show that kids and adults alike will both laugh at as well. Christina Ricci plays Wednesday Addams and this role marks the first time we see her on the big screen.

4. Young Frankenstein (1974)
Classic Mel Brooks. Gene Wilder plays the distant relative to the famed Dr. Frankenstein. But this movie is a parody of other horror films and the topic matter is handled with comedy and even musical numbers with dancing “Frankenstein” monsters. Even though this movie was made in 1974, the style has enabled it to remain timely and entertaining. This one is a must see.

3. Beetlejuice (1988)
Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice! There. I said it. Undoubtedly what will follow will be a good time filled with comedic haunting. Michael Keaton, Geena Davis, Alec Baldwin, Wynona Rider and more bring to life Tim Burton’s classic that also engrained Harry Belafonte’s “Day-O” into a new generation of listeners. Beetlejuice is further proof that all good spook movies should contain a musical scene that kids and adults alike will hum the music from for years to come. Another must see.

2. Ghostbusters (1984)
If you have a ghost problem you need taken care of, who ya gonna call? Well of course! Ghostbusters! When the city of New York has a growing paranormal problem, that’s what they did. This movie brings to life many memorable characters, like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man and Slimer and is the brain child of Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. Full of visual effects, this movie is sure to be a hit without the nightmare aspect, to kids of all ages.

Sleepy Hollow Poster | Family Scary Movie1. Sleepy Hollow (1999)
The second Tim Burton film to make the list, Sleepy Hollow is the one to be wary of for small children, as it does have quite a few truly scary elements. Johnny Depp, Christopher Walken, Christina Ricci (her second movie on this list as well) and Miranda Richardson head up the cast that is the well known Washington Irving story of the headless horseman. Full of special effects, this movie is a good time for slightly older children. Still, a MUST see.

Next up, our Top 5 List of the Scariest Movies – PERIOD!

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Scary Movie Series Part III: Foreign Films

October 21, 2011 By Linda 1 Comment

Suspira | Italian Scary Movie PosterContinuing along in our October series of spooky movies is the Top 5 films d’épouvante, 공포영화 5위, Top 5 Otäck film – or in plain English: Top 5 Scary Movies – Foreign.

Different cultures find different topics scary. The top 5 come from every corner of the globe and should be a must see for any horror/thriller movie aficionado anywhere.  Some of these have spawned remakes for American film going audiences, but the original versions should be considered superior.

Here they are: Top 5 Scary Movies – Foreign

5. The Orphanage (2007 Spanish: El Orfanato)
Meeting with critical acclaim, this film does not rely on cheap scare tactics. The fright in this film comes from the ghost children, the realm of possibility and the fear of every mother when faced with the disappearance of a child.  New Line Cinema created and American version of this film , also in 2007, but the original has something the remake does not.  Perhaps it is soul.  This film focuses on story and acting, not special effects.

A Tale of Two Sisters | Janghwa Hongryeon4. A Tale of Two Sisters (2003 Korean: Janghwa Hongryeon)
The story of Janghwa Hongryeon has been adapted into film several times, since its first edition in 1924.  As with all good stories, it was also adapted for American audiences un the name The Uninvited (2009), which in itself was a remake of a remake of a version on this film. In my opinion, the best is the 2003 Korean version. A Tale of Two Sisters is a psychological horror film not to be missed.

3. Ju-On (2000 Japanese)
Ju-On has several versions. This one is the original, also considered The Curse. As it was the low budget version, it was also released first for television. It combines two horror movie themes, haunted house story and vengeful ghost, which is popular in Japan. The Grudge, which is the American version, was directed by the same director responsible for Ju-On, but yet once again proves there is more good scares with story and acting than with special effects.

2. Let The Right One In (2008 Swedish: Låt den rätte komma in)
Finally! A foreign vampire movie!.  Le the Right One In makes the list from Sweden and is the story of a boy and his vampire friend.  Classified as a romantic horror film, there is more about character development in this film than special effects.  Many killings abound, however.  One thing that makes this film so good is the soundtrack. See this one.

1. Suspiria (1977 Italian)
Now considered a cult classic, Suspiria was the first in a trilogy by director Dario Argento.  Praised for its stylistic performances, it is the story of a ballet student who goes to dance at an academy in Germany. Very quickly, she discovers this dance school is run by a coven of witches.  Watch for the extreme use of saturated primary colors to differentiate between real and nightmare scenes.  See this one too.

Next up is our Top 5 Scary Movie – Family list.

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Top 5 Classic Scary Movies

October 12, 2011 By Linda 1 Comment

Night of the Living Dead | Classic Scary Movie PosterIt’s heeeeerrrreee. That special time of year that inspires the spooky in us to relish in the adrenalin rush of frightfully good movies.  Since the 1920’s, movie going audiences have been treated to the imaginations of some of the best writers, directors and actors around the world.  Posterazzi would like to pay homage to what we consider to be the best of the best. Over the next couple of weeks, we will be offering up our top 5 lists, in different frightening categories.  We invite you to add to our list and see what other skeletons may come out of the closet during this spooky time of year.

Our first category for discussion is:

Top 5 Classic Scary Movies

Each one of these is considered a classic for different reasons.  One thing for sure, every one of these movies will make you jump, hide your eyes or make your heart race a little as you enter a dark room.

5.  13 Ghosts (1960)
When 13 Ghosts was originally released in theaters, audiences had the benefit of Illusion O vision, which enabled them to choose whether or not they saw the ghosts in the movie.  Today, as the movie is shown on television and DVD, you can see the effect only slightly.  The effect is what makes the ghostly figures seem bluish in comparison to the rest of the black and white film. Though it is the same storyline, this is not the same movie as Thirteen Ghosts. Watch 13 ghosts.

The Uninvited - 1944 | Classic Scary Movie Poster4. The Univited (1944)
Set in the naturally spooky English rocky coast in 1937, this movie details the events surrounding the haunting of the Winward House.  As movies from the 40’s often started out as radio plays, much of spookiness of this movie is in the subtle details.  In fact, it wasn’t until post production that the movie studio decided it should add a ghostly element to the film, which helped it cross over from mystery film to thriller.

3. The Haunting (1963)
With the current growing popularity of ghost hunters and paranormal investigators, this movie is the classic originator.  This is the story of the Haunting of Hill House, which centers around the conflict between a team of paranormal investigators and the house in which they spend several nights.  As with most good haunting stories, it too is set in England. Be not confused.  This is not the more recent version.  Viewers must give license to good story telling and less on special effects.

2. Night of the Living Dead (1968)
This is the one that scared me as a child.  This is the original version, shot in black and white, and directed by George A. Romero.  Considered the first of the true gore films, it pits zombies against a group of non-zombies hiding in a house. What better to scare you in the middle of the night than hundreds of zombies out for a midnight snack?

1. Psycho (1960)
1960 Classic Scary Movie Poster | PsychoThe master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock. This movie forever changed the way we feel about taking showers. Even today’s moviegoers know the familiar music and sound of someone being stabbed. But more than that, Psycho was instrumental in reminding us that the greatest horror of all may not come in the form of a creature from outer space or a supernatural creature of the night.  The scariest horror is that which can be real.  Isn’t that right, Norman?  “Yes, Mother.”

 

What movies make YOU sleep with the light on? What’s YOUR top 5?

Next up, our Top 5 Sci Fi Horror Films…

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