Top 50 Scariest Movies of All Time

Skipped a week of posts, so I'm catching up.

(Week 3: 40-36)

40. Nosferatu (1922)

- The original vampire, and the scariest to this day.

39. The Fly (1986)

- One of the most visually disturbing films of all time.

38. Pet Sematary (1989)

- An innocent family is turned slowing into the living dead.

37. Night of the Living Dead (1968)

- A horror classic that still packs a significant punch.

36. Suspiria (1977)

- A terrifying secret lies with the head of a boarding school for dancers.

Top 50 Scariest Movies of All Time

(Week Two: 45-41)

45: The Innocents (1961)

- A creepy ghost story set in a remote mansion.

44: The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)

- A court drama with a chilling demonic twist.

43: Stir of Echoes (1999)

- This movie will get inside your head and won't let go.

42: The Changeling (1980)

- A slow-building supernatural tale set mostly in an old manor.

41: Prince of Darkness (1987)

- A story of the Devil coming to Earth that you won't forget.

2012

I did not get to see 2012 (2009) in theaters, but I feel if I had then I might have been more disappointed. Even sitting at home on a 32" TV, some of the special effects seemed like they may have not been finished. Overall, the movie looked good.

The story follows a limo driver who literally goes to the ends of the Earth to save his family during the 2012 end of the world scenario. But a movie like this really isn't about the story and even the director seems to acknowledge that. If you're going to watch a movie about the end of the world either you want to become intimately close to a character and get involved with how they survive, or you just want to see the end of the world. In this case, the bulk of the money and special effects are used to show you the end of the world as you've never seen it before. And that part is amazing. The rest of it wasn't important to begin with.

For what it set out to do, this was a great movie. As far as it's cinema value is concerned, it won't be well remembered even five years down the road. (6.9/10)

Top 50 Scariest Movies of All Time

Halloween's only about a month away, so I thought I'd make a list of what I think are the scariest movies of all time. I looked through every horror movie on IMDB rated 5.0/10 or higher and ranked the ones I thought were the scariest. Here we go...

(Week One: 50 - 46)

50: The Bad Seed (1956)

- A really disturbing story of what children are capable of doing.

49: Child's Play (1988)

- The classic tale of murder told through the eyes of a child.

48: Dark Water (2002)

- A really creepy Japanese mystery about death in an apartment building.

47: The Birds (1963)

- A very slow building horror film in a quiet seaside town.

46: Dawn of the Dead (2004)

- A remake that was dead on in its comedy and terror.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

I've seen The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) so many times that I could quote most of it and sing along with about every song. It's not the best musical ever made, but it's so damn quirky and catchy that you can't help but love it.

The story follows newlyweds Brad and Janet as their car gets a flat tire near a creepy old castle. They decide the best thing to do is see who's home and ask for help. Upon entering the castle they find a party going on, but nobody at the party is quite normal and they haven't seen anything yet. They stumble upon a twisted transvestite doctor's diabolical plan to create the perfect man. While distracted by this, others in the group hatch a plan to overthrow the doctor and Brad and Janet become caught in the middle of it all. The movie is paced very well and the music keeps the mood upbeat through most of the movie. Things get a little jumbled toward the end, but by the time it's all done that doesn't really matter. It's really a movie that is experienced rather than just watched.

A personal favorite of mine, even with its obviously low production values. (8.6/10)

The Little Mermaid

I think The Little Mermaid (1989) is one of the monsters of Disney cinema. Before there was Pixar, Disney had a really good run of films from about 1989 to 1994. This was the beginning of that run.

The story follows Ariel who is the mermaid daughter of the king of the sea. She finds her life boring and wishes to experience what it would be like to human and walk on land for a while. To do this she asks for help from the sea witch Ursula who changes her into a human for a short time. The only catch is that if she cannot find true love during that time, she will forever become a twisted slave in Ursula's collection. The story is a simple fairytale that is well executed and brought to life in an extraordinary way on screen. My only real complaint about the movie is that it felt very rushed. Everything happens so fast as though if they made the movie longer than 80 minutes everything would fall apart.

This is a great classic Disney film that will live on even if the company decides to scrap their 2D animation studio again. (8.8/10)

The Hurt Locker

I felt like I had missed something when I watched The Hurt Locker (2008) because everyone was hailing it as one of the best movies ever made. I just didn't get it. The movie never came across to me as anything more than your basic war movie.

The story follows a young soldier in the middle east who is somewhat of a thrill seeker. He's constantly putting those around him at great risk and seems to have no regard whatsoever for his own life. As he goes through different experiences, you think his outlook is going to change, but all that goes out the window in the end where he's still just as reckless as ever. I tried to find something to like about this movie, but I just couldn't. The acting isn't really that great, the story is choppy and struggles to stay together, and the hand-held direction of the movie is absolutely atrocious. When Kathryn Bigelow won Best Director last year, I almost cried. Not only should Sofia Coppola have been the first female winner of that award for Lost in Translation years ago, but it should have gone to James Cameron last year for the amazing movie Avatar.

All around this movie was lost on me and the intense critical praise it received made me like it even less. (5.4/10)

Singin' in the Rain

The first time I saw Singin' in the Rain (1952) was in a small corner of my computer screen as I kept busy with other work. Needless to say, the movie soon drew me in and I ended up putting off the work to finish the film.

The movie keeps a very interesting story for a musical. I find that sometimes either the story gets lost in the songs (Nine) or the songs get lost in the story (Dreamgirls.) Singin' in the Rain is one of those rare musicals that balance both perfectly. The story is a complicated drama of old cinema where silent film stars had trouble transitioning to talking films. The songs are classic tunes that were weaved into the storyline and serve as a break for the storytelling in the film. The performances are spot on for the most part and the movie is entertaining as a whole. My only problem is Gene Kelly's showboating throughout the film. If he's not the focus of a scene, he finds the quickest way to make himself the focus - even by adding a ludicrous and unnecessary extended dance number near the end of the film that doesn't further the story by even one second by the time it's done.

Overall, a very enjoyable film, but Kelly brings it down a notch from what it could have been with a little creative editing. (9.0/10)

Last Tango in Paris

I put off watching Last Tango in Paris (1972) for years because I didn't feel I was old enough to appreciate it. I'm glad I waited because there are so many things in this movie meant for an adult mind to process, that I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it as much when I was a teenager.

The movie is as much about love as it is about fleeting romance. Two people meet, they talk, they become physically close, but through the whole movie they do not become mentally close. You see them share moments together that do not fill their potential because though they may show love for one another, they are not in love. This theme is played through to the end when they finally share a moment that feels real and genuine, only to leave the film as an open-ended romance. I think this movie represents so much, but for me it's the only film to question the uncertainty of love and whether it's possible/necessary at all to live your life with that emotion.

Really an extraordinary movie in its frank portrayal of the relationship between the main characters. (7.8/10)

Meet the Spartans

While looking over previous posts I've realized that even though I've reviewed some movies I didn't like, I never reviewed an absolutely terrible movie. That's where Meet the Spartans (2008) comes in.

Even though it was universally panned when it was released, I got suckered into watching it for myself. And I couldn't believe what I was seeing. The story made barely any sense, as though it were just a thin line of ideas to string pop culture references together. I could picture people in the audience going "haha, Paris Hilton is totally like that" or "wow, that was a spot on Britney Spears impression." It was the same filth from the same people who killed the once-great MadTV and I can't say enough terrible things about it. The only redeeming factor was the eye candy that is Sean McGuire. Beyond that I couldn't take watching the movie.

A 0.0/10 film gets a slight bump up for including a hot guy. I guess I'm just that shallow. (1.5/10)

Harold and Maude

For years I had heard of a quirky older comedy named Harold and Maude (1971) and I finally decided to rent it to see what I'd been missing out on. I soon found out that I wasn't missing out on much. The story itself was okay, but they really needed a better musical supervisor for the film.

The story follows a young boy named Harold as he lives day to day thinking about death and the meaning of life. His family is unimpressed with is antics and he doesn't have any friends to speak of. That is, until he meets Maude while they both attend a random funeral in town. The eccentric pair play together and try to establish meaning in each other's worlds. It's a very cute idea that doesn't quite work. I do love Ruth Gordon in the movie, but she's about it. And the music is horrible. I know a lot of people love the Cat Stevens songs in the film, but they are repeated to death and almost made me turn the movie off.

A nice enough idea for a movie that wasn't pulled off particularly well. (6.7/10)

Rosemary's Baby

I absolutely love Rosemary's Baby (1968) and I think it is one of the most perfectly executed horror films of all time. There are so few movies that keep you at the pace of their main characters, where you don't know what's going to happen next, that it makes this stand out even more.

Rosemary Woodhouse is a newlywed, married to an up and coming actor in New York City. They move into a new apartment and are immediately welcomed by the neighbors after a tragedy puts them in the same place at the same time. But is this fate? Strange things soon begin to happen to Rosemary and she soon starts to question who around her is on her side and who is out to hurt her. In the end she discovers the truth, something truly chilling and terrifying with an ending that blows the viewer's mind.

They just don't make horror movies like this anymore, I could watch this film a hundred times. (9.2/10)

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

I went into Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) I didn't know what to think. The overall atmosphere seemed to be more playful in this version of the story, but I wasn't sure that anything had improved. And, in my mind, why remake a movie unless you're improving on the original?

The story is essentially the same: Charlie finds the elusive golden ticket and is whisked into Willy Wonka's dream of a candy factory. Many of the rooms in the factory are essentially the same and the movie moves at essentially the same pace from place to place. Johnny Depp makes Wonka less outwardly creepy, aiming his creep factor toward adults that wouldn't want him around their kids as opposed to kids that would enjoy his friendly awkwardness. My biggest problem with the remake are the unnecessary and overly long musical numbers all performed by the same person playing hundreds of Oompa Loompas. They are terrible to say the least.

I just can't bring myself to like this movie as much as I wanted to. It's not Tim Burton's worst, but it's far from a good film. (6.5/10)

Jennifer's Body

There's something about Jennifer's Body (2009) that I like, but after two viewings I still can't put my finger on it. I'm not a huge fan of the plot, the acting isn't spectacular, and the way the film is shot leaves something to be desired. But, there's still something about it I like.

The story follows a girl named Needy who has to put up with Jennifer, the best friend from Hell... literally. After a botched virgin sacrifice (because she is not one), Jennifer now has to stay alive by killing people and drinking their blood. It's up to Needy to make sure Jennifer stays in line and stops killing people she knows. The whole thing is kind of stupid, but it come across as a horror film version of Mean Girls. That may be why I like it, there's dark humor and it's enough to keep my interest.

Not a movie I would watch over and over, but definitely a fun movie. (6.9/10)

Showgirls

If I had to make a list of movies that were personal favorites, movies I could watch over and over as opposed to movies that I thought were made well and acted well, I would put Showgirls (1995) in the top five.

From the moment you meet Nomi Malone in the opening scene, you know you're in for a trip. The story follows a female hitchhiker who makes her way to Las Vegas. After being abandoned by her ride she meets the tailor for one of the glitzy, adult Vegas shows. Long story short, Nomi gets into the show and that's when all of her new troubles start. The movie itself is not all that bad. The direction and cinematography are wonderful and most of the acting is above average. The problem comes with the overall feel that things are pushed too far in the wrong directions and with the editing choices including several cuts and scenes that are wholly unnecessary.

Despite its faults, I think Showgirls will come to be seen as a classic and I cross my fingers that one day studios will embrace the NC-17 rating as an open door for creative filmmakers. (8.3/10)

United 93

I don't think there has been a film that has ever been made so soon after a major tragedy depicting it on the big screen. Gone With the Wind was 50 years later, A Night to Remember was about 40 years later, and there were some Vietnam War classics, but those were years and years after the beginning of the war. In the case of September 11, 2001, United 93 (2006) was made less than 5 years later.

The movie itself is pretty basic, but that was really the only way to go about the subject matter. Unknown actors make up the cast of the film and handheld cameras make the viewer feel like they are another passenger in the plane. The story is well known by now as the plane that was thought to be headed for the U.S. capitol building that was brought down by the passengers on the plane before it reached its target. Watching the movie on opening weekend was an intense emotional experience that I will never forget. I don't think there will ever be another movie with the power that this one had just years after something the country experienced together.

This is still a powerful, raw film and I am still shocked that it was not nominated for Best Picture on a year when Little Miss Sunshine and The Queen were up for the prize. (9.1/10)

Sunshine Cleaning

I love movies that are all about the acting and Sunshine Cleaning (2008) is a perfect example of that. Even though the story is interesting, it's really all about character interaction and how the actors choose to portray the parts they play.

The story follows two sisters who, after both being at low places in their lives, begin a cleaning business. This sounds kind of boring until the cleaning turns out to be crime scene clean-up. They run into many troubles along the way, but in the end everything works out all right. The back and forth that occurs between Amy Adams and Emily Blunt is amazing and I can't believe these two hadn't worked together before. There is also some subtlety added to certain scenes by one of my favorite small-time actors Clifton Collins Jr.

Even though this movie won't go down as a classic, or even be remembered a few years from now, I really enjoyed the experience of watching it. (7.6/10)

The White Ribbon

Ever since the Golden Globes I had been hearing great things about The White Ribbon (2009). Too bad I live in the Midwest where we have to drive 2 hours to the nearest art house theater to see anything like this. So, when the movie was released on DVD I went out to buy it.

The movie is slow, very slow. You don't find out much of anything as it plods along and even in the end, nothing is really resolved. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing. (You read that right.) The movie is more of a study of attitude than a story with a beginning, middle, and end. You get to see the kind of tensions and logic that played into the German psyche just before the World Wars. And what a weird psyche that was. By the end of this movie you'll understand how Hitler came into power just on the basis that bad things can be covered up if it seems like it's in the better interest to forget about them.

I loved the idea behind the movie and the cinematography is beautiful, but the excruciatingly slow pacing and long running time really keeps it from being a perfect film. (7.8/10)

Zombieland

I put off seeing Zombieland (2009) for a while because I'd heard it was good and I was waiting for the post-Oscar season lull to catch up on some good movies from the year before. I wasn't let down by this one.

The story takes place after the zombie apocalypse, where most of the world has been turned into the walking dead and those who are still human have to deal with their new surroundings. We follow a 20-something boy who has created a list of basic rules he uses to stay alive in the new world. He meets up with a man, and eventually two girls, as they come and go from each other's stories and, in the end, decide it's better to stay together. The stand-out part of the movie involves the group taking shelter in a certain movie star's mansion and discovering that the place isn't exactly empty.

The movie is constantly and consistently funny while bringing some perspective into how real people might deal with being placed in a zombie film. I loved it. (8.7/10)

The Night of the Hunter

The first time I saw The Night of the Hunter (1955) I thought it was one of the greatest older thrillers I'd ever seen. All of the tension was there and the story was clever enough for me to consider it on the same level as Psycho.

However, upon watching it the second time I realized there was one big flaw with the movie, one I cannot and will not overlook. That problem is Shelley Winters. Now, I love Shelley in other movies and was saddened by her recent passing, but her character in this movie is so overacted that it makes it hard to enjoy the movie. She plays the new wife of the murderous pastor and not only turns a blind eye to absolutely anything wrong about him, but doesn't even care when it looks like her kids are in trouble... because she's in love. Whatever.

What could have been the most well-crafted thriller ever is lost on a character that steals each scene she appears in, and doesn't give it back to you so you can enjoy the film. (6.7/10)

This Is Spinal Tap

I feel like I missed out on the joke when I saw This Is Spinal Tap (1984) a couple of years ago. I had been reading online that it was one of the funniest movies ever made and I was excited to finally get to see it. I have to say, I was really disappointed.

I think that on paper the movie is comedy gold. I remember reading some of the lines from the movie and cracking up laughing by picturing how the scenes would play out. Upon watching the movie, however, the way the actors played the parts and the way the movie was set up really didn't allow the jokes to roll in a way that tickled my funny bone. I understood what was going on, but I wasn't there with them in the way I needed to be to end up laughing as hard as a lot of other people did. It was disappointing, because the movie could have really worked had I felt a bigger connection with anything that was happening on screen.

Maybe a re-make would be a good idea for this one, though I know fans of this movie would probably kill me for suggesting such a thing. (5.0/10)

Ghostbusters

I may be a little biased in this review because I've loved Ghostbusters (1984) ever since I was a little kid. Back then it was so cool to see all the ghosts and ghouls flying around New York City, but as I grew older I began to comprehend the storyline of the movie and it eventually became one of my all-time favorites.

I can't talk about this movie without gushing about the opening sequence. I can think of very few movies that suck you in the way Ghostbusters does. By winding through a spooky library basement only to find a terrifying floating librarian - the movie sets itself up well for both the scares and laughs to come. My only real problem with the movie (looking back in it years later) is that they decided to use claymation in some scenes that really aren't necessary and sort of lose the real-world feeling of some of the out-of-this-world special effects.

Other than that small complaint, I love the film and will always keep it near the top of my list of favorite comedies. (9.0/10)

The Sixth Sense

I was never an M. Night Shyamalan fan and The Sixth Sense (1999) was where that started. Even at my young age upon seeing this in theaters for the first time, everything seemed overacted or forced.

The story is something everyone knows by now: "I see dead people." Yes, the little boy can see spirits (something that has been popularized by every ghost show on late night cable) and they play a part in his everyday life. He doesn't tend to react to them in any way a child should; maybe he's used to them, or maybe it's bad direction - either way it all got nominated for undeserved Oscars. I decided to give M. Night another chance as I thought Unbreakable was good enough, but after getting completely sucked into Signs only to be let down, I put in the towel for this director.

I am willing to give Devil (2010) a chance when it comes out, but that one is only produced by M. Night. (5.8/10)

The Blair Witch Project

The first time I saw The Blair Witch Project (1999) was years after its debut. By that time I'd read up on the movie and nearly ruined my experience by knowing as much as I could ahead of time. That is, until I decided to try watching it as though I'd known nothing about the movie in advance.

The movie is paced like a bad late-night cable documentary. You're following some people along to find out about an urban legend you've never heard of. They interview locals and try to find some people with a connection to the legend. Then, after failing to come up with much more than they already know, they decide to go straight to the source of the legend... the middle of the woods near the town. By now you know they get lost and all hell breaks loose as the legend comes alive around them. My only hesitation is the near-constant swearing which distracts a bit from the creepiness of the movie.

I do think this is a solid horror film and one of the top 5 to come out of the '90's. (8.6/10)

Polyester

My first time watching Polyester (1981) was not that long ago. Being a big John Waters fan after viewing Pink Flamingos, Serial Mom, A Dirty Shame, etc. I wanted to see one of his lesser known films. What I got was confirmation that even with only the most basic necessities needed to make a film, Waters still creates an enjoyable movie.

The story itself is highly dramatic and over-the-top. The main character, Francine Fishpaw as played by Divine, is married to the owner of a porn theater who wants nothing more than to embarrass and put down his wife. Her kids are a mile on the wrong side of the tracks, and her only friend in the world is a mentally retarded rich woman named Cuddles. The story progresses where Francine thinks she's found a way out of her horrible life, only to discover it's all been a set-up. Waters presents the whole movie in a way where I kept laughing from one scene to the next.

I would put this in my top 5 John Waters films, a great comedy any way you look at it. (8.1/10)

Misery

I think Misery (1990) is one of the greatest horror/thrillers ever made. I love simplicity in movies, especially when it works out to feel like there is a deep complexity, which, there is in this movie.

The story, by now, is well known. An author is abducted by his biggest fan after he crashes his car on a snowy road and after she is angered by his new novel, she does everything she can to keep him captive and make him rewrite it. The claustrophobic atmosphere almost chokes the viewer throughout the movie. The only breaks come in the form of comedic pauses provided by updates from the local sheriff as we see his investigation into the matter progressing through the movie. In my opinion, this movie is among the top Stephen King adaptations we've ever seen.

A great film and a well-deserved Oscar for Kathy Bates's performance. (9.0/10)

Machete

I was kind of hesitant about going to see Machete (2010) just because I wasn't sure how it would turn out. I mean, changing a 3 minute fake trailer into a 90 minute movie takes some effort, and I didn't know if it could be done. I was way wrong.

The movie bounces around through characters, but keeps a consistent storyline. The movie is meant to look like a poorly made grindhouse flick, and the effect comes off beautifully. Also, in the "over-the-topness" that Piranha 3D (2010) failed at going all the way with, Machete goes above and beyond. Just when you think they're not going to go further, they do. It's an amazing combination of a good movie and a good time and I'd recommend it to anyone.

Overall, a very satisfying movie experience (8.1/10)

Bring It On

I remember being back in middle school and seeing Bring It On (2000) for the first time. I was on the floor laughing because I'd never seen anything so funny before. Although some of the jokes have gotten old and the movie now looks a little dated, it's still a very funny film.

I think the mix of serious drama and slapstick humor is what makes Bring It On a success. There is a real story and, even though the story isn't necessarily about something you care about, to the characters, it's their world. The end of the movie is probably too easily resolved, but I'll give it the benefit of the doubt in saying that it wouldn't have ended better any other way.

Still a very funny movie and great to watch with friends. (7.8/10)

Piranha 3D

Well there's not too much to say about Piranha 3D (2010). You can pretty much see every plot twist coming and the over-the-top gore was a little over-the-top for me. I didn't really see anything redeeming about this movie, for me it wasn't even enjoyable.

I know it was supposed to go above and beyond what most movies would find acceptable and I know it was supposed to be just for the fun, but I don't think it went far enough in either direction for me to go along for the ride. It wasn't slap-happy gore like The Evil Dead, and it wasn't just a fun ride like Grindhouse. It's like there's this grey area in between, and that's where this movie sits.

Overall, not enjoyable in any sense of the word, but at least I didn't walk out. (3.8/10)

Gone With The Wind

I recently had the pleasure of viewing Gone With The Wind (1939) at a local movie theater. The theater was packed full of people, both old and young, who wanted to view the movie on a big screen; the way it should be seen. I was blown away and enjoyed every minute of it.

I really see this as a near-perfect movie. The story sucks you in and makes you care about the characters even though some of them can be shallow at times. My only real gripe is its racial insensitivity. I'm sure it's almost accurately depicting the way African Americans were treated at the time, but everyone's such a caricature of a human being that it sometimes takes away from the believability of the film. That said, the rest of the film is beautifully presented and you really don't mind that you've spent four hours of your time visiting this fairytale.

A great film that deserves to be watched time and time again. (9.5/10)