Saturday 27 October 2012

Halloween Horror Films For Those Who Love Horror: Part Two

Well, I was more enthusiastic than I had initially intended in Part One but there are just so many great horror films out there that I need to share.  However there are also a whole lot of bad horror films, probably more bad if I am being honest, so that is what makes these posts even more important.  People seem to be into the habit of watching horror films that are prescribed to them, such as Paranormal Activity (which is actually a guilty pleasure of mine) but there are so many better and scarier films out there, but of course everyone is scared by different things, so I have tried to keep my list as varied as possible.  I have grouped some films together in this post either due to being based on the same story or the being by the same director, and again the films are not in a particular order.

7.  The Collector (20009) (American Torture Horror).

This is one of the best films I have seen in recent years and I cannot recommend it enough, it is similar in plot to the Saw films and was considered to be a prequel to Saw but that idea was quickly dismissed.  I am glad, as although the films have similarities they're very different in regards to the perpetrators motives and that is what makes The Collector a scarier villain than Jigsaw in my opinion. I would have said 'killer' but that opens the whole is Jigsaw a killer argument. 

"Desperate to repay his debt to his ex-wife, an ex-con plots a heist at his new employer's country home, unaware that a second criminal has also targeted the property, and rigged it with a series of deadly traps". - IMDb


8.  The Orphanage (2007) (Spanish Supernatural Horror).

I could have swore that this film was by Guillermo del Toro but it actually by another Spanish director called Juan Antonio Bayona. It is clear that del Toro has influenced his work though and in researching Bayona I had found out that del Tero is a mentor to Bayona, that explains it.  Either way it is a fantastic supernatural film, don't let the fact that is in Spanish put you off watching it - it will captivate you until the end. The fact that this is Bayona's first feature film is terribly impressive and I really hope he makes more films in this creepy style.   It has some great twists and Tomas will chill you to the bone (oh how cliché).

"A woman brings her family back to her childhood home, where she opens an orphanage for handicapped children. Before long, her son starts to communicate with an invisible new friend". - IMDb

9. Julia's Eyes (2012) (Spanish Thriller Horror).

Another great Spanish supernatural horror, but I cannot take credit for finding this one, my ex-flatmate (victoriaspongepeasepudding) introduced me to this one and it terrified us both, even whilst drinking large glasses of wine.  This story of this film still chills me as it resonates with a recurring nightmare that I have, but in general if this does not scare you a little then you must be a pretty tough person.  Just thinking about one of the key scenes in the film freaks me out, a true thriller that does not need jumpy scenes to have you on edge.

"The story of a woman who is slowly losing her sight whilst trying to investigate the mysterious death of her twin sister". IMDb


10. House of 1000 Corpses (2003) (American Exploitation Horror), The Devils Rejects (2005) (Slasher Horror), Halloween (2007) (Slasher Horror). 

You will either love these films or you will hate them.  I am a little bias since I love Rob Zombie (the musician and director of these films) and his wife Sheri Moon Zombie who is one of my favourite horror actresses. I love the humour and horror geekery that comes with Rob Zombie films - you see his passion for horror in the films.  As both a musician and a film director he has a large cult following from the alternative scene but that might simply be because we are also very passionate about horror as a film genre and sub-culture.  

House of 1000 Corpses

"Two teenage couples traveling across the backwoods of Texas searching for urban legends of murder end up as prisoners of a bizarre and sadistic backwater family of serial killers". IMDb

My favourite Rob Zombie film because it almost has everything that I want in a horror film - gore, reference to serial killers, a clown, torture, humour, a wonder of 'what the fuck', a banging soundtrack and a little bit of slashing.


The Devils Rejects

The follow up to house of 1000 Corpses but it is quite different in plot and is more of a straight thriller/slasher film but it has some great punch lines and the same great characters. 

"The murderous, backwoods Firefly family takes to the road to escape a vengeful police force which isn't afraid of being as ruthless as their target". - IMDb


Halloween

A remake of course and I suppose I am a little hypocritical after expressing my distaste for remakes in the first post but I genuinely prefer the Rob Zombie presentation of the origins of Michael Myers to the original version. I do recommend the other original films though, I just prefer this as an introduction to what Halloween is about. 

"After being committed for 17 years, Michael Myers, now a grown man and still very dangerous, escapes from the mental institution (where he was committed as a 10 year old) and he immediately returns to Haddonfield, where he wants to find his baby sister, Laurie. Anyone who crosses his path is in mortal danger". - IMDb



11. The Exorcist (1973) (American Supernatural Horror)

I couldn't write a post about horror films and not include the classic horror that is The Exorcist.  The original demon possession film and one that shook audiences to the core when it was first released - ambulances on cue from people passing out.  Nowadays it is more funny than anything else, but I was scared the first time I seen the film when I was 9 or 10. 

"When a girl is possessed by a mysterious entity, her mother seeks the help of two priests to save her daughter". - IMDb


12. Funny Games (1997) (Austrian Psychological Thriller), Funny Games (2007) (American Re-make) & The Strangers (2008) (American Psychological Thriller).

All three films concern being held hostage and tortured.The Leopold and Loeb murder case is said to have influenced the film as it revolves around committing the 'perfect crime'.   The remake of Funny Games is based on the Austrian original and The Strangers is based loosely on those two films. 

Funny Games

"The plot of the film involves two young men who hold a family hostage and torture them with sadistic games". - Wiki



The Strangers

Not one to watch when you are in the house alone or live on your own, it will have you questioning every little noise you hear and making sure that your door is locked, but it is one of those films where you think 'hmm I would do that different and survive'. 

"A young couple staying in an isolated vacation home are terrorized by three unknown assailants". - IMDb


13.  Hostel (2005) (American Torture Horror).

Written by one of my favourite horror geeks Eli Roth, Hostel is essentially a world-wind of gore and raises some horrifying questions about the world we live in.  The gore does not phase me much but the story behind Hostel is safely in the back of mind whenever I go somewhere new - see horror keeps you safe. 

"Three backpackers head to a Slovak city that promises to meet their hedonistic expectations, with no idea of the hell that awaits them". - IMdb


I could have continued going all night but I didn't want to burden you with a massive list but I might write more horror film lists, about more specific genres if this post is popular. 

4 comments:

  1. I have had a love for horror films as far back as I can remember but Hostile gave me nightmares ..not because of the gore either but because I feel like it could really happen:)
    Sara xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is the really scary part, it probably does happen. Eeeek!

      xx

      Delete
  2. Great list . I'm a massive horror fan do you have any more recommendations? Always on the look out for new horror I haven't seen Xo

    ReplyDelete
  3. I adore horror films, however, I do not really enjoy slasher or thrillers like some of those you listed.

    Do you think there should be a clear distinction between horror and slasher films or are they best lumped into one big category.

    ReplyDelete