Has anybody watched any good horror movies?

[RedPhoenix]

For horror junkies not completely a horror but a love letter to the genre I say Cabin in the Woods.

Okay I just watched this on Netflix. I really liked it, thanks for the recommendation. Very 90s. :)

[someinheritthewealth]

Okay I just watched this on Netflix. I really liked it, thanks for the recommendation. Very 90s. :)

Glad could provide some good entertainment. Another horror comedy is Dance of the Dead it has Bruce Campbell cameo in it :).

[Mathim]

Here are some must sees.

Alien. The original one.
The Apocalypse Trilogy by Carpenter: The Thing, 1982 version (don't you dare watch the new version); Prince of Darkness, 1987; and In the Mouth of Madness, 1994.
Let the Right One In (NOT THE AMERICAN VERSION, FOR HADES SAKE!)
The Ring (This is a rare case of an American remake being good.)
No One Lives (One of the only slasher movies I enjoyed, and the only one I recommend.)
Ju-on - The Grudge, subtitled, and only the Japanese version.  While the American remake was good due to using the same director and actress for Sadako, there are nuances in the original are missed.
Infection (Japanese, Subtitled).  You will never go to a Japanese hospital again.
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark.  Tooth Faeries.  Yeah. 
An American Werewolf in London.  Don't bother with the sequel.
Slither, for humor with your horror.
Evil Dead 2 (Note the number! It's important!), for horror with your humor.
Evil Dead, 2013  Yikes.  Just yikes.

Once you've seen these, you'll have a good grasp of the genre.  Go forth, be scared.

We appear to have similar tastes. Gotta love the Apocaplypse trilogy (not overly fond of re-watching Mouth of Madness but it's still damn fine Carpenter) and I never thought I'd hear anyone else mention No One Lives since I didn't think it was too proliferate.

I know it's not exactly horror but Pitch Black was fun. Kind of an action-y, sci-fi as opposed to direct horror. Still good though.

Anyone see the Vanishing on 7th Street? Seemed like a good premise they just really dropped the ball with during the scriptwriting and production.

[someinheritthewealth]

See I don't understand how an American director can do as solely Easten Belief that of being the Hungry Ghost, this is what the the main Japanese horrors originate from, the idea that the ghost or the spectre in them is hungry for something, the Grudge is Revenge as is The Ringu, but Dark Water is more naunced in the sense it's about love the ghost is a young girl who just misses her Mother. It actually has a rather a dark ending. To add to this Kairo is another movie that does not transplant to America well because the original the people who die come across as burnt shadows on the walls, rather reminscent of the wall in Hiroshima and Nagastaki after the bombings.

The Hungry ghost is based in Asian lore and even trying to explain this American audience or even bring forth the idea makes Japan come across as being afraid of TVs and Videos... I am of course referring Ringu. This is why I will never watch an American remake of Japanese movie. It be like Americans trying to redo Suspira but in English... oh wait... go fucking figure...

[Oniya]

A 'vengeful' ghost is something that I think Westerners can grasp (it's more or less your classic haunting.)  The 'yearning ghost' is a bit more difficult to translate into horror - although it did fairly well in the movie 'Ghost', and I think 'The Sixth Sense', which weren't exactly horror.  The Entity did a fairly decent job of translating a 'ghost that hungers for something' into something horrific, but again, the 'hunger' was something forceful and unsubtle.

[RedPhoenix]

I think the problem isn't so much understanding other culture's ghost stories as it is what American movie companies consider a remake.

Here is the formula:

1) Copy story word for word
2) Add a love interest for the main character
3) Add a happy ending.

If you want to see a great example of this, watch The Golden Egg followed up by The Vanishing. Neither are particularly great movies but the American remake completely guts any impact the original had.

[someinheritthewealth]

A 'vengeful' ghost is something that I think Westerners can grasp (it's more or less your classic haunting.)  The 'yearning ghost' is a bit more difficult to translate into horror - although it did fairly well in the movie 'Ghost', and I think 'The Sixth Sense', which weren't exactly horror.  The Entity did a fairly decent job of translating a 'ghost that hungers for something' into something horrific, but again, the 'hunger' was something forceful and unsubtle.

Yes but unlike Western Ghosts the Hungry Ghost is usually never able to gain peace because of what happened to them in Western beliefs a ghost can gain peace and move on the happy ending that post below mentions.

I swear though if they put a happy ending in Suspira I will be raging, the girl survives the original but hardly the same.

[Oniya]

*nods*  Movies where the ghost 'wins' and the victim is lucky to escape with their lives get closer to that archetype.

If you want to see a great example of this, watch The Golden Egg followed up by The Vanishing. Neither are particularly great movies but the American remake completely guts any impact the original had.

Or one of the black-and-white versions of 'Hunchback of Notre Dame', followed by the Disney version. 

[XxDark AngelxX]

I'm sure most of you have seen the Human Centipede right? Well I watched it and it wasn't disturbing..I laughed through most of the movie. Anyways, I watched the sequel and god was it horrible. I couldn't even watch the whole thing I slipped through most of it.

[RedPhoenix]

I couldn't bring myself to watch it. I felt like reading the synopsis was all I needed. Didn't seem like there was much more to the movie than the central idea.

[Oniya]

I couldn't bring myself to watch it. I felt like reading the synopsis was all I needed. Didn't seem like there was much more to the movie than the central idea.

This.  I saw the synopsis on 366weirdmovies.  (Which is also a good source for some actually interesting flicks, some of which can be viewed online for free.)

[Mathim]

*nods*  Movies where the ghost 'wins' and the victim is lucky to escape with their lives get closer to that archetype.

Or one of the black-and-white versions of 'Hunchback of Notre Dame', followed by the Disney version.

Ghost Ship was kind of like that and worth seeing despite doing very poorly and getting lukewarm reviews. It's like some of those movies where even though the survivor escapes, there's always something that suggests that the malevolent spirit(s) aren't through yet right at the very end.

[XxDark AngelxX]

Awesome. Well thank you all for the suggestions :3

[Mathim]

There are some collections out there (Ghost House series and After Dark Horrorfest and whatnot) where the bulk of the films within those are actually quite good. I recommend The Subsitute (I think it's a Danish film); it's about a substitute elementary school teacher who the children suspect is an alien (think tamer version of The Faculty but still well-done). Mulberry Street is a great alternative take on zombie invasions, with rat-mutant zombies as a twist on the normal genre that looks fantastic and is extremely well-made despite its low budget. The Deaths of Ian Stone is also a cool one that has a mystery vibe to it. There's a bunch more. Just look up these series and you'll see all the films listed within them, at least half of the movies are worth watching.

[Inkidu]

There are some collections out there (Ghost House series and After Dark Horrorfest and whatnot) where the bulk of the films within those are actually quite good. I recommend The Subsitute (I think it's a Danish film); it's about a substitute elementary school teacher who the children suspect is an alien (think tamer version of The Faculty but still well-done). Mulberry Street is a great alternative take on zombie invasions, with rat-mutant zombies as a twist on the normal genre that looks fantastic and is extremely well-made despite its low budget. The Deaths of Ian Stone is also a cool one that has a mystery vibe to it. There's a bunch more. Just look up these series and you'll see all the films listed within them, at least half of the movies are worth watching.

I thought Mulberry Street was more like a fresh take on the werewolf (were-creature) genre (reason spoilered just in case):

Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide

The ending is not one normally associated with zombie mythos

[Palbatross]

My buddy and I are working on a horror script, and we're still in the idea phase.  We're both competent writers who are doing this for fun.  I've been trying to cram horror films, or parts of horror films to internalize the style and feel of horror.  To answer the question this thread poses, I saw most of The Shining, and felt transported to that Kubrickian world of fear that hits so subconsciously.  For example, in one scene the boy is riding his tricycle on the hardwood floors of the hotel, and the focus is on the image of him moving forward, and the loud sound of the hardwood.  Then there are several rugs spaced out about four feet apart, and the sound change to the rug is almost nightmarish in context with the degeneration of the boy's father etc...  I've also seen a bit of Hellraiser, which is awesome.  I'm not a horror guy, so if any die hards want to post about how horror films make them feel in relation to the images, the subtext, whatever.... I would love to peruse your answers and put on your feelings and experiences like a really scary shirt. 


Thanks Everyone

[Oniya]

Ironically, I've heard that Stephen King wasn't thrilled with Kubrick's interpretation of his novel.  I personally think that it was one of the better King products I've seen/read.

[Inkidu]

Ironically, I've heard that Stephen King wasn't thrilled with Kubrick's interpretation of his novel.  I personally think that it was one of the better King products I've seen/read.

He did not like it at all. Honestly, it's okay, but the the book is leaps and bounds better, and that's accounting that I hold the two media under separate lenses. By that I mean King is a better writer that Kubrick a director in this instance.

[Crimson Caine]

He did not like it at all. Honestly, it's okay, but the the book is leaps and bounds better, and that's accounting that I hold the two media under separate lenses. By that I mean King is a better writer that Kubrick a director in this instance.

I don't know about that.  I think accounting for it being a visual medium, I think Kubrick brought a visual element to the storytelling that is so detailed and intricate it actually requires a documentary to point out how much genius went into it.  There's a great documentary, I can't remember the name of it, that was on Netflix, where they detail all the little things and notes that Kubrick put into the film that you never notice.  Ok, looked it up, the doc is Room 237.  It gave me a whole new appreciation for what he did.  I've not been a fan of all his movies but seeing how much detail and then rewatching the film, I think it gave it whole new depth. 

[DawningBlue]

I enjoyed, and got lots of frights from Mama and The Fourth Kind.

[Oniya]

The film 'Jacob's Ladder' just came to mind.  There's something about the slow progression from 'slightly off-normal' to 'completely off the rails' that always draws me in.

[Nachtmahr]

Sinister: For some reason, this is the most utterly horrifying movie I have ever seen, and I've got quite the catalog I should like to think. From start to finish this movie truly masters the art of creating an unsettling atmosphere, and by absolutely astonishing audio it keep you on your toes all the way through. It seems to love luring you into these situations where you expect some big, scary monster to pop up on your screen - And your heart races long after you realize that it's just not going to happen!

A must see for anyone who wants something other than just a bundle of cheap jumpscares and cliche monsters and murderers.

Hellraiser 1-3: Absolutely amazing series. Even thought that their old, they have aged far better than most horror films of the same era. Yet when compared to ol' Myers or Jason, Pinhead is quite the hidden gem - The guy unfortunately shoved to the back of the line when it came to getting attention. The movies, especially the first two, are generally based around extremely dark eroticism, with demons who seek to inflict so much pain and pleasure on their victims that they won't be able to tell them apart anymore.

Hellraiser - Bloodlines: If you're feeling adventurous - I actually like this one, but it's very much a hit'n'miss story.

Hellraiser - Deader: If the weird sci-fi themes of Bloodlines isn't your thing, Deader is honestly the only addition to the franchise that feels like it belongs. This is mostly because that most of the later parts of the franchise weren't actually Hellraiser-scripts to begin with, but started out as completely different IP's, which then got Pinhead slapped on the box to sell some extra copies. Hellworld, Revelations, Hellseeker - I wouldn't recommend bothering with them, but if you get really into the series, you might want to. (But.. Yeah, you'd probably be disappointed.)

Insidious: Amazing horror film, with a very interesting and unique twist on a classic ghost story. A series of great twists and turns lead to one of the best cliffhangers I've ever clung to!

Insidious 2: Luckily, unlike me, you won't actually have to wait to have your curiosity satisfied - This film is far more horrifying than the first, but just as great a watch! It'll definitely leave you feeling quite uneasy throughout.

[Mnemaxa]

The Shrine.

What you think it is, it isn't,, and what you expect, is turned inside out. 

Not many horror movies can make me do a double take.  This one did and it did it amazingly well.

[Inkidu]

Sinister: For some reason, this is the most utterly horrifying movie I have ever seen, and I've got quite the catalog I should like to think. From start to finish this movie truly masters the art of creating an unsettling atmosphere, and by absolutely astonishing audio it keep you on your toes all the way through. It seems to love luring you into these situations where you expect some big, scary monster to pop up on your screen - And your heart races long after you realize that it's just not going to happen!

A must see for anyone who wants something other than just a bundle of cheap jumpscares and cliche monsters and murderers.

This is the only horror movie to give me nightmares as an adult.

[Nachtmahr]

This is the only horror movie to give me nightmares as an adult.

I'm so glad you said that - Boosts my confidence to know that I'm not the only one who felt the urge to curl up into a ball and whimper at night after having watched that masterpiece.

Let me take this moment to once again state just how great Sinister is!