Awesome topic

Much the chagrin of the people I live with, I have a love for the mostly awful horror films that came out of the 70's and 80's and their many awful sequels - films like Halloween, Freddy Krueger, The Amityville Horror, Children of the Corn, Friday the 13th and Dawn of the Dead. My favourite of those is probably Halloween, people watch it now and complain that it's full of horror film cliches, but that's because it created most of them

Another I love from that era but can't be put under the same category is Kubrick's The Shining - beautifully, terrifyingly filmed. Many Stephen King adaptions are on my list, actually. Pet Sematary,IT, Misery and Carrie. Some better than others, since I seem to enjoy bad films I guess I'm entertained either way

Keep in mind that most of these films are 15 or 18 rated (R to NC 17 in the US), but I think if a lot of them were put in front of the board now they'd probably get a lower rating, people aren't so easily scared anymore.

This being said, what I can't seem to enjoy are more recent 'slasher' films like the Scream franchise, and the new trend for increasingly horrible and gory films.

And, I'm probably going to get lampooned for this, but I just couldn't enjoy The Village much. I had a bit "That's it?!" moment when it finished. Some of the cinematography was good but overall I was underwhelmed. Same goes for most of Shyamalan's film, except for The Sixth Sense which was both scary and touching.

The scariest film I've seen recently was a BBC adaption of M R James's story 'Whistle and I'll Come, My Lad' starring John Hurt. It was a perfect example of leaving most of the horror to the viewers imagination, very little actually happens until right at the end but it manages to be really quite terrifying. I realised when it finished that I'd spent the last twenty minutes with my hands clasped over my mouth

I have to go to bed now so I can't elaborate in detail, but my favorite pure Horror film is probably Alien. Part of what makes it so effective is that you never actually see much of the creature and yet throughout most of the film you can definitely feel its presence. For my money Captain Dallas in the air shafts was one of the most frightening things I've ever seen on the screen.

Despite its age Halloween is still an effective film, and who can forget the simple yet creepy score...I watched it for the first time when I was around 8 years old. Suffice it to say that was one that stayed with me for a year or two (I still need a nightlight. don't tell anyone . Night of the Living Dead was creepy (the old one, not the new one) with hordes of zombies trying to get inside an old farmhouse where the heroes have barricaded themselves in.

One of the most truly frightening films I've seen in my life was the old 1978-79 adaptation of Stephen King's Salem's Lot. It aired as a two part miniseries on regular TV and most parents, thinking that if it was on regular TV it must be ok, let their kids watch it. What followed was something of a generational horror experience...if you're my age (late 30's) or older and had cable you'll definitely remember this one. If you can find it it is definitely worth a look, especially if you want to see how a vampire film should be done. No glittery pretty boys here...these are malevolent creatures to be terrified of. I was terrified to go to my window and always had the shade down . Here's the trailer if you're interested. (three thumbs up!)

Night of the Living Dead was creepy (the old one, not the new one) with hordes of zombies trying to get inside an old farmhouse where the heroes have barricaded themselves in.

One of my favorite movies! I LOVE this one, but everybody I know makes fun of me when I watch it.

The Amityville horror is good, but I think the book is even scarier.

I'm not really into just plain gore, like Saw I like scary movies that get inside your head.

Here are some that I like:
Let me In
The Haunting in Connecticut (not really that great, but I really liked the end)
The exorcism of Emily Rose
The Sixth Sense
An American Haunting
The Skeleton Key

Out of all of them, the exorcism of Emily Rose was the only one that actually really creeped me out. I'd definitely recommend it. The Strangers was good, but it was pretty straightforward, and mainly disturbing. (At least to me.) I know I've watched some other really good ones, I'll try and think of them.

I typically despise Horror films, though I have seen a few that I actually enjoyed.

Halloween (1978)
The Howling (1981)
Dog Soldiers (2002)
Aliens (1986)

Now most of these I've seen on TV, so some of the rougher language and nudity has been chopped out.... except for Aliens and Dog Soldiers which I saw with my cousins thanks to their DVD collection.

I've seen bits and pieces of some of the films that are considered "great scary movies!" (Poltergeist, Amityville Horror, The Shining, etc.) and the only one that I found to be truly freaky was The Shining.

Side note: I know that Aliens is more Sci-Fi/Action with a bit if Horror mixed in, but I thought it would still fit.

In space no one can hear you scream.

I'm not really one for horror films, but I'm with Shadowlander. Alien is way up there on my admittedly short list. Like he mentioned, you don't see a lot of the monster; I think this only heightens the impact because your imagination can run wild with what might be lurking in the shadows.

...you don't see a lot of the monster; I think this only heightens the impact because your imagination can run wild with what might be lurking in the shadows.

Exactly. I've seen Alien at least 20 times but each time I watch it I find myself involuntarily looking over characters' shoulders or searching the background for some sign of the xenomorph. The alien may not get much screen time but it definitely has intense screen presence! The Nostromo was a rather creepy ship by default anyway, at least on the lower levels. PC004, if you haven't seen it yet I definitely recommend this one. It's an excellent film and a perfect companion piece for its sequel, although if you've seen Aliens you probably already have a good idea of what happens here. Although I think of Aliens as primarily a war movie there are definitely elements of horror in it as well...the scene where the xenomorphs chop the electricity ("They cut the power?! How can they cut the power, man, they're just animals!"...ahh Hudson, had some of the best lines in the movie ) and the Marines can see the critters on their motion trackers but can't see them with their eyes is downright unnerving. But when Hicks has to climb up and look in the ceiling...there was a solid gold wet-your-pants moment if one ever existed. *sigh* I love that movie.

I've not heard of Dog Soldiers...but I'm assuming it has to do with Native Americans. Given my taste in movies do you think I'd like it?

I've been wanting to see Alien for a while now, but I haven' had the spare cash to go out and rent the DVD. Also it seems they only show Aliens and the dreaded sequels on TV and not the original. Whenever I get the chance, I plan on watching the first film. I can only how good it must be if it's sequel was so great.

"Game over, man! Game over!"

Dog Soldiers is actually about a team of British soldiers out in the wilds that get attacked by werewolves and have to hold-up in a little farm house. It's equal parts Predator, Night of the Living Dead and Aliens with a werewolf edge. I think you would really enjoy this one, Shadow.

Another Night of the Living Dead fan here, just a really ahead of its time film, perfectly done.

I too can't hear the Halloween score without getting a bit spooked, Shadowlander Another musical highlight of that film is the scene with Myers driving along while 'Don't Fear the Reaper' plays in the background.

I've not seen that adaption of Salem's Lot, only the newer one with Rob Lowe (needless to say, it's awful). I'll try and get my hands on the other version soon.

The Amityville horror is good, but I think the book is even scarier.

I'm actually reading that at the moment, it's turning out to be a good read if you think of it as a work of fiction. One major irritation though is the author's obsession with exclamation marks. "George went to check the door, and it was open! He had closed it earlier! George was terrified!" and so on, for 300 pages

I saw Alien when I was about 6 years old courtesy of my older brother. I couldn't sleep for week and even now I have trouble watching it

Great topic, Booky!

I'm partial to scary movies that mess with your mind, rather than the ones that are cheesy or really gorey. I enjoy stories with ghosts and ones that could be explained either by psychological hallucinations or activities in the spiritual world.

My favourite movie monsters are little ghost girls, people's own personal psychosis and Alien's face-huggers.

I find that horror movies are scarier if you watch them alone in the dark (well, duh). I'm not the brave fearless-type, nor do I hide the screen from my view. I'm somewhere in-between. I watch everything unfold but I'm scared or creeped out much of the time (it's a great adrenaline rush).

I'm partial to Asian horror movies. My least favourite horror movies are those which glamourise witchcraft and anything that is overly gorey or cheesy.

I don't know if I have a favourite, but here are some of my favourites (not in order):

Session 9 is terrifying. It takes the old abandoned mental hospital story and whittles it down into a carefully-timed nightmare.

Rosemary's Baby - this movie is truly scary but I don't recommend it. There's something very wrong about the whole thing (and not just in a scary movie way).

Se7en is truly disturbing but also very well-done. It's not a pleasant movie but you come away with no doubt that the wages of sin is death.

28 Days Later - I'm not one for zombie movies but I really enjoyed this one. The focus was on the characters and building the tension and telling a great story. This is probably one of the scariest movies I've seen.

The Ring - I've only ever seen the American remake but I thought it was great. Scared the stuffing out of me. (I've also seen the original Japanese The Grudge and it freaked me out big-time but I didn't enjoy it).

Dark Water - I've seen both the Japanese original and the American remake and as controversial as this is, I have to say I mostly prefer the remake. It just seemed scarier and had a better-developed story.

A Tale of Two Sisters - this is a thought-provoking Korean horror movie/drama. Messed up and fractured beyond belief but intelligent and well-done.

Picnic at Hanging Rock - an Australian classic. I find the movie scary because it's a giant mystery, hugely eerie with no solution in sight. The real star of the movie is the Hanging Rock in Victoria, Australia.

Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho - the one which pretty much started it all, not much more to say. A terrifying exploration of evil.

Stanley Kubrick's The Shining - I haven't read the Stephen King novel but I loved this movie so much. It was quite scary at times. Jack Nicholson was brilliant and the atmosphere was beyond intense.

Ridley Scott's Alien - the facehuggers are the stuff of nightmares!

OldBoy - this Korean movie is brilliant but highly disturbing. I won't be watching it ever again but it's so well-done.

Finally, Children of Men. This movie is horrific in another way. A future without children, without hope, makes for a very bleak and disturbing movie. Great but very intense.

Dog Soldiers is actually about a team of British soldiers out in the wilds that get attacked by werewolves and have to hold-up in a little farm house. It's equal parts Predator, Night of the Living Dead and Aliens with a werewolf edge. I think you would really enjoy this one, Shadow.

That. Sounds. Epic! *quickly adds that to his 'must see' list*

"Is this gonna be a stand up fight, sir, or another bug hunt?"

I think most people will generally say Aliens is better than Alien, but it's not really a fair comparison. Aliens, like I said before, is more of a war movie while Alien is horror/sci-fi, but the two films are directly related so there's no escaping the comparison. I wouldn't say it was apples and oranges...more like apples and pears.

I'll try and get my hands on the other version soon.

I really recommend it! As a word of warning though...that version was designed to be on TV and as such it's not really cinema quality fare (no widescreen), but despite this Tobe Hooper (who did Texas Chainsaw Massacre) really brought the film together. The first time you see Mr. Barlow...well, I'll let you discover that on your own.

I'd argue that Aliens is still pretty horrifying at times. I found the scenes with the Queen and the face-huggers to be highly intense and the stuff of nightmares.

My friend and I watched 1408 tonight and we got really creeped out. I watched that movie years ago and I remember thinking it wasn't that scary, so it was weird that we couldn't handle it It was probably because we were alone in her very large, very empty, very dark house.

One of these days I need to watch the original Halloween. I've only ever watched the schlocky sequels and those were about as scary as cold oatmeal. Alien is on my list too, I've seen the second one, but not even parts of the first.

W4J: I've only watched the American version of The Ring too and was incredibly creeped out by it. A good example of the fact that you don't need buckets of gore to make a film scary.

Very true, Booky!
The scene in the well terrified me, as did the scene where the girl climbs out of the well and out of the TV (even scarier when you're watching the movie on your computer and your face is only 1 foot or so away from the screen!) Psychological horror is the best.