Horror 101

I am starting this discussion for anybody who is developing a growing appreciation for the horror genre, but doesn't know where to look for recommendations. Submissions are welcome from anybody who can recommend titles that are genre standards and common horror fan favorites or "must see's." Also, I am sure it would be useful for readers if you would like to submit filmmaker recommendations or definitions for popular horror subgenres.

A helpful guideline for this format might be to give a one word or sentence discription for titles, as well as approximate release dates and to say whether it is a foreign film. In this way, viewers who haven't cared for slasher flicks won't get stuck watching Prom Night, and fans who prefer more modern titles won't recieve an unwelcome lesson in Bela Lugosi films.

In addition, please link your film title recommendations to the relevant Netflix page. To link movies, just go to the movie page on Netflix and copy the URL. Then, come back here, highlight your typed movie title recommendation, click the hyperlink button on the toolbar in the reply window, (it's the one just left of the "add an image" tool,) and paste the URL.
(thank you UncleBob, NetflixJunkie, and Baff)

Tags: common, fan, favorites, genre, horror, standards

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by clockwork983 on April 18, 2008 at 12:23pm: I'll kick off the discussion by listing some fairly obvious titles from two of my favorite horror directors.

John Carpenter's:
Halloween(1978) - Horror standard from the genre later referred to as the "slasher film."
The Thing(1982) - Gooey sci-fi thriller, unique special effects, one of my favorite films.
In the Mouth of Madness(1995) - Creepy Lovecraftian horror.

David Cronenberg's:
Videodrome(1983) - Strange multilayered sci-fi horror.
The Fly(1986) - Gross yet beautiful dramatic horror film.

These are just a few of my favorites, I didn't want to dominate the discussion with a massive list as I am eager to see what others might suggest.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Criss on April 18, 2008 at 1:38pm: To you John Carpenter list, I will add...

The Fog (1980) - A moody ghost story with some great casting and atmosphere.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by The Real Uncle Bob on April 19, 2008 at 7:28am: guys, guys...if you want to spare me the trouble, please please link your film titles to the appropos Netflix page.

Halloween (1978)
The Fog (1980)
The Thing (1982)
In the Mouth of Madness (1995)
John Carpenter: The Man and His Movies (2004)

Videodrome (1983)
I'd not recommend anybody start on Cronenberg with this one.If you do, you'll have to view it again after you've learned his language...

The Fly (1986)

Directors: David Cronenberg An American Film Institute documentary, the whole series is worthwhile.

My own recommendations:

Tod Browning

See all of his films that you can. The silents, too; he made Lon Chaney's best films.

James Whale

Not the cracked genius that Browning was, but even more influential.
Frankenstein (1931)
The Old Dark House (1932)
The Invisible Man (1933)
Bride of Frankenstein (1935); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by horrorfan247 on April 19, 2008 at 6:34pm: i loved the fog. At first i didnt want to see it then it played on tv and i decided to watch it. It was so worth it.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Headcheese on April 20, 2008 at 7:07am: Re-Animator

The Evil Dead

The Changeling

The Exorcist 3

Dawn of the Dead

Murder Party

Black Sheep

The Sentinel

Here's a mix of some old and new to start with. If you have seen The Evil Dead or Dawn of the Dead, then check out The Evil Dead 2 and Army of Darkness in that series if you haven't seen those and same with Romero's Dead series. All have much to offer in this genre.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by horrorfan247 on April 20, 2008 at 9:29am: ok here are some of my favorites, no matter how old or new:

The omen
The fog (original)
Nightmare on elm st
Halloween(original)
Amityville horror(original)
Amityville horror 2:the possession
Rest stop(to me it was more of a thriller than horror but whatever lol)
the shinning
Suspiria

hope those help. if i listed some that were already said im sorry. my computer is being stupid and i cant see the other posts right now.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Firewater on April 21, 2008 at 3:21am: The Exorcist

Carnival of Souls (original)

Nightmare on Elm Street

Night of the Living Dead (original)

Jaws (some may argue not a horror story, but I disagree)

Texas Chainsaw Massacre (original); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Thornton on April 23, 2008 at 2:17pm: I've tried not to list anything that someone already posted:

Silence of the Lambs (1991) - Classic
An American Werewolf in London (1981)
Carrie (1976) - The first Stephen King adaptation and probably one of the best.
Near Dark (1987) - My favorite vampire movie
Cronos (1993) - Great twist on the vampire genre. Early Guillermo del Toro.
Gremlins (1984) - Horror for the kids! Classic
Jacob's Ladder (1990) - Creepy, disturbing, mind-bending.
Poltergeist (1982) - Classic, written by Spielberg
Psycho (1960) - Hitchcock!
The Hitcher (1984)
Dead Alive (1992) - Crazy, all over the place, probably gets more credit than it deserves, early Peter Jackson.
Child's Play (1988)

I'll be paying close attention to this thread, as I know I'm missing a lot of movies that are probably considered staples. For example, I've just added the following movies to my queue:
The Brood (1979) - Cronenberg
Scanners (1981) - Another Cronenberg
Hellraiser (1987) - I've seen some of the sequels, but never the original
Phatasm (1979) - Just have never gotten around to renting it.
Zombie (1979)
Cannibal Hollocaust (1985) - This movie gets mentioned so often, that I guess I'll finally have to watch it.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by clockwork983 on April 23, 2008 at 4:23pm: I've always enjoyed the first two Hellraiser movies. I hope you like the first one, it has two of my favorite sequences in horror cinema and Christopher Young's score is beautiful. Cronos was an awesome movie and a refreshing alternative to most horror where the terror is coming from uncontrollable outside sources.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Headcheese on April 26, 2008 at 6:45pm: Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 - I love this, it's a must view
Fright Night
Zombie, Fulci's
Rosemary's Baby
The Amityville Horror
The Lost
The Legend of Hell House; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by clockwork983 on April 27, 2008 at 9:09pm: It's nice to finally see that someone else is a Fright Night fan besides me.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Abby on April 30, 2008 at 7:00pm: Theses are some of my Favorite horror movies...
1.Texas Chainsaw Massacre
2.Suspiria
3.Rosemary's Baby
4.Evil Dead
5.An American Werewolf in London
6.The Exorcist
7.The Sentinel
8.Phantasm
9.Audition
10.Hellraiser
11.Don't Look Now; ▶ Reply to This