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If you want more info on any of the horror movies featured on my countdown, then please visit: http://www.imdb.com/. Anything you want to know about these movies, or any other movie, can be found at IMDB.com. It's one of my favorite websites. It has all of the information you could possibly want about a movie; cast list, synopsis, video clips, pictures, filming locations, reviews, discussion boards, and so much more. I highly recommend it!

1.) Halloween

Here it is, my number one favorite horror movie! John Carpenter's Halloween is by far the greatest horror movie of all time. What sets this movie apart from all other horror films is the fact that it doesn't rely on over-the-top scares and mass amounts of gore, but rather it's the simplicity of the film that makes it so creepy. I think one of the major driving forces behind this film and whats makes it so scary is the music that they use in each scene. I'm sure almost everyone has heard the Halloween theme and has been creeped out by it. I know it's creeped me out on more than one occassion. But anyway, the music is extremely haunting and just fits each scene so perfectly. The music really adds to the tension and builds up the suspense.

This movie is also simple in the sense that the plot it very basic, yet scary, the killer, Michael Myers, doesn't usually run after his victims, he sort of just watches them from a distance and approaches slowly (VERY creepy), and also there is probably only one scene in which blood is shown. Oh, and the killer never talks and we never see his face, which only makes him more mysterious and more terrifying. I love the fact that this movie can be so scary without even having to try.

So, for those of you who have never seen Halloween, first of all, shame on you, and second of all, here's what it's all about...

The storyline is very simple. The movie opens with a young boy in clown costume on Halloween night who is being babysat by his older sister. While the sister is upstairs in her bedroom, the young boy grabs a very LARGE knife from the kitchen and proceeds to walk upstairs with it. You can probably guess what's going to happen next, but I'm going to tell you anyway. Yes, he kills his sister. Why? I don't really know. All I know is that he is a very young boy with A LOT of pyschological issues.

Flash forward about 15 years and we're introduced to Michael Myers' doctor, Sam Loomis. Dr. Loomis is having Myers transferred to a maximum security prison because he is still extremely dangerous. Before Loomis can take him anywhere, Michael somehow manages to escape the facility, steal Loomis' car and drive away before anyone can stop him.

Then the movie takes us to Haddonfield, Illinois on Halloween day. We're introduced to Laurie Strode, a 17 year old girl who also happens to be Michael Myers' half sister. Laurie doesn't know she's his half sister, but she will soon find out. Basically, the majority of the movie revolves around Michael Myers stalking Laurie Strode. He kills a bunch of her friends, and poor Laurie doesn't have a clue as to why this is all happening to her. By the end of the movie Dr. Loomis comes to her rescue and ends up shooting Michael six times, which causes him to fall out a second story window. Then Laurie asks Dr. Loomis, "What's the boogeyman?" to which he replies, "as a matter of fact, it was." Loomis goes over to the window to look below, BUT he sees in horror that Michael is gone.

Halloween 2 picks up right where Halloween left off, so if you want to find out what happens then you'll have to watch the original and then the sequel. Halloween 2 is probably one of the very few sequels that I actually like. It's almost as good as the original. I also really like Rob Zombie's remake of the original. He stays true to the storyline, while adding his own personal touches to it and elaborating more on Michael Myers' background, so we get a better understanding of why he turned out the way he did. However, Rob Zombie's remake of Halloween 2 was absolutely HORRIBLE. It's not even worth mentioning beyond that.

So, to sum it all up...Halloween is the best, classic horror movie ever. Plain and simple. End of story. Thanks for reading!

2.) The Shining

"Heeere's Johnny!" The Shining is so much more than just a simple horror movie. It is a psychological thriller that will have you engrossed in the film and thinking about it during and long after the movie has ended. I've seen this movie numerous times, and even though it's one of my favorites, I still find myself asking questions about it. The story goes so much deeper than what is seen on the surface. There are a lot of little details, mostly in the dialogue, that you need to pay attention to during the movie in order to formulate an understanding of the film's underlying concepts. The Shining may seem straightforward on the surface, but there also exists quite a bit of ambiguity within the storyline, which allows the viewer to form their own interpretation of what's really going on. When Stanley Kubrick created The Shining, he not only created a movie, but a masterpiece as well.

The Shining is based on a novel written by Stephen King, but it was Stanley Kubrick who wrote the screenplay and directed the film, thus giving King's novel a vision. The movie focuses on the Torrance family and their time spent at the Overlook Hotel. Jack Torrance, the father, takes on the task of being the hotel's caretaker during the long winter months, while the hotel is closed for the season. His wife, Wendy, and his son, Danny, accompany him to the hotel. Things start out alright and the Torrance family seems to adjust quickly to life at the hotel. However, Danny starts to see very disturbing visions of the hotel's gruesome past through a telepathic gift known as "The Shining."

Meanwhile, Jack Torrance finds himself slowly slipping into a world of isolation and insanity caused by cabin fever. He also starts having conversations with the ghosts of former hotel guests and staff. Jack's poor wife, Wendy, is trying to make sense of everything that is happening to her son and husband, but things only go from bad to worse. Wendy comes up with the logical solution that the family should leave the hotel immediately, but at this point Jack has gone completely insane and has become extremely violent. He refuses to leave the hotel because he "likes" it there and doesn't see anything wrong with this current behavior. Jack's violence and insansity culminates at the end of the movie in a series of scenes in which he chases his family around the Overlook Hotel with an axe. The Overlook Hotel's haunted, disturbing past consumes the Torrance family and turns them against each other...but are they able to escape the insanity before it's too late? Watch The Shining to find out! It's the type of movie you'll have to watch over and over again in order to fully understand it, but it's so good that you'll want to see it again.

Also, Jack Nicholson's portrayal of the disturbingly insane Jack Torrance is one of the most kick ass performances ever! He is totally mesmerizing; it's scary how convincing he is in this role. His acting is absolutely perfect in this film.

3.) A Nightmare on Elm Street

If I had to pick my favorite horror movie villian I would definitely go with Freddy Krueger. He's undeniably creepy with his burnt skin, sharp knives on his hand, and the ability to haunt/kill his victims while they are sound asleep. He may be creepy, but he also possesses a very dark humor that makes him very entertaining to watch onscreen. Freddy Krueger may be my favorite villian, but he is not the only reason I love A Nightmare on Elm Street. I find the entire story very intriguing. I wouldn't be a true horror fan if I didn't include this classic among my all time favorites.

A Nightmare on Elm Street is the creation of Wes Craven (the director of another one of my favorites, Scream). The story centers around a young girl named Nancy, and her three friends. They soon discover they have all been having similar dreams, in which they are stalked by a creepy guy who has knives for fingers. Unfortunately, their nightmares quickly become reality when the friends start dying off in their sleep. They are killed while they are in their most peaceful and vulnerable state, and they can't do anything to stop it. Nancy and her boyfriend, played by Johnny Depp in his first ever movie role, have to figure out who is killing their friends and why they are doing it before they become the next victims. Nancy figures out that the man that has been terrorizing their dreams is Freddy Kreuger, a child molester that was killed in a warehouse fire started by an angry mob of parents. But what does that have to do with Nancy and her friends? Well, Kreuger was killed by the parents on Elm Street, aka Nancy's parents and the parents of her friends. So Kreuger is out to get his revenge on those parents by killing their children...in their dreams. A Nightmare on Elm Street will definitely leave you creeped out and afraid to go to sleep. Luckily, it's only a movie!

Many sequels followed in the success of the first film and there is also a "remake" set to come out in early 2010. But no matter how many sequels or remakes are made, there won't be one that can surpass the greatness of the original. A Nightmare on Elm Street will forever be a classic.

4.) The Silence of the Lambs

I'm sure most people have either heard or have quoted the line, "I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti." It's definitely one of the most memorable quotes from the perfectly disturbing and highly intriguing film, The Silence of the Lambs. The movie exposes its audience to the inner workings of a psychopath's twisted mind, the desperation of young FBI agent, and a glimpse into the terrifying world of a serial killer. The easiest way to describe The Silence of the Lambs- great movie, great villian, and great acting. The detailed description of the movie goes something like this...

The Silence of the Lambs is about a young FBI agent, Clarice Starling (played by Jodie Foster), who is assigned to take on the case of the infamous serial killer, "Buffalo Bill." She must find the missing woman who is being held captive by Buffalo Bill before he kills her...and takes her skin (I know, it's f****d up). In order to track down Buffalo Bill and to grasp a better understanding of the messed up mind of a killer, Clarice looks to Hannibal Lecter, a psychopath who was formally a respected psychiatrist, for help. I just want to say that Anthony Hopkins does an absolutely stellar job of portraying the creepy, manipulative, and disturbing character of Hannibal Lecter. His win for Best Actor was well deserved. But anyway, as the movie progresses Clarice starts to form more of a relationship with Lecter in order to gain his trust, so he will help her catch the killer. And even though Hannibal Lecter is held behind bars, he still finds ways to revert back to his cannibalistic tendencies. You'll have to watch the movie in order to find out if Clarice catches the killer and to see what becomes of Hannibal Lecter! The Silence of the Lambs is a highly suspensful dramatic thriller that will keep you both disturbed and entertained until the last minute.

For more info on The Silence of the Lambs please visit:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102926/

5.) Scream

I. love. this. movie. I love everything about it! This is probably the only movie that I could watch more than once a week, which I often do, and never get sick of it. Scream came around at a time when horror movies weren't as popular as they once were, and this movie sort of re-booted the horror genre. It is the greatest horror movie of the 90s. Ever since the release of Scream there have been a multitude of mediocre horror movies to follow in its footsteps, but none of them have even come close to being as original, entertaining, scary, or as well written as Scream.

The movie opens with everyone's favorite flower child, Drew Barrymore, being harassed by some creeper on the phone. He keeps asking questions like, "what's your favorite scary movie?" and "do you have a boyfriend?" Basically, this guy is just wicked creepy. So, she keepes hanging up on him, but he just keeps calling her right back and he gets progressively more angry. The phone tag goes on for a little while, but eventually it becomes known that he has been outside her house the entire time...CREEPY! And unfortunately for Ms. Barrymore her big scene in the film consists of her hanging from a tree after the killer is done with her. This all takes place within the first fifteen minutes of the film, so automatically you're hooked for the rest of the movie.

Then we're introduced to Sidney Prescott, a high school student whose mother was brutally murdered a year earlier. As if she didn't already have enough tradgedy in her life, she quickly becomes the "Ghostfaced" killer's next target. She starts receiving the same creepy phone calls as Drew Barrymore's character from the beginning of the movie. Pretty soon more and more people around her start dying and no one in town has any idea who the killer is. At first, the police and Sydney thought that maybe the killer was her pyscho-ish boyfriend, Billy, until he was released because his phone bill was clean. So if it's not the boyfriend, then who is it?

The audience finds out who it is in a twist ending that you couldn't see coming. So, if you've never seen Scream then I HIGHLY recommend that you check it out. It's excellent! There's not too much more I could say about this movie, except that I love it and it's the type of movie that you can enjoy over and over again. Oh, and thank you Wes Craven, the master of horror, for creating an instant classic for the horror genre.

On a side note, they are making a Scream 4. It's sort of odd since it was supposed to be a trilogy, meaning only three films, but apparently they just couldn't stop there. I have mixed feelings about this. I've read that all of the original cast members are going to be in it, Kevin Williamson, the writer, is on board, and I'm pretty sure Wes Craven will be directing it, but even though everyone is back on, that doesn't necessarily mean the story itself will be any good. Hopefully I'm wrong because the other three movies were good, so maybe this one will have potential. We'll have to just wait and see!

6.) An American Werewolf In London

When I was younger I remember being terrified of werewolves. I had this crazy notion that they actually existed, but that was only because I was young and I let my imagination get the best of me. I thought that everything about werewolves was creepy- the way they transformed during a full moon, how they lurked deep in the woods, the loud howling, their sharp claws, big teeth, speed, strength, and of course, the fact that they are so damn hairy! I suppose I had watched one too many movies about werewolves, which resulted in both a fear and fascination for them. And even though they scared me, I still especially loved watching An American Werewolf in London. It's easily the best werewolf horror movie in existence.

I first watched An American Werewolf in London with my dad many years ago. The fact that I was completely irked by the thought of a werewolf only made my interest in the movie that much stronger. I think the more we are afraid of something, the more curious we are about it. But anyway...the movie was released in 1981 and it tells the story of two American tourists in England who have a very unfortunate encounter with a werewolf. One of them is killed, while the other is viciously mauled. The one that survives starts to have nightmares about hunting and he is also having visions of his dead friend. His friend warns him about the danger that his coming his way. He doesn't want to believe he is becoming a werewolf, but soon enough his transformation is complete.

The scene in which he completely transforms from man to wolf is quite terrifying. It has a very realistic feel to it and you really get a sense of the pain he is going through at that very moment. Usually in werewolf movies they use animation or CGI to create the look of the werewolf, but this is one of the few movies when the werewolf doesn't look fake and that makes it even more entertaining. Another aspect of this movie that I really enjoy is the fact that it is both a horror and a comedy. There are so many scary/tense scenes throughout the film, that it's nice to have some comic relief to add dynamic to the movie. Overall, An American Werewolf in London is a highly entertaining horror classic. Check it out!

P.S. There is a remake of this movie in the works...cause' apparently there aren't enough remakes already in existence and they felt it necessary to make yet another one. How original.

7.) Se7en

The seven deadly sins- greed, gluttony, sloth, lust, pride, wrath, and envy- are the basis and driving force of the plot for the movie Se7en. The film tells the story of two homicide detectives, played by the always good looking Brad Pitt(Pre-Angelina days) and the always excellent Morgan Freeman, who are tracking a deranged serial killer who chooses his victims based on the seven deadly sins. He picks people that he feels are the most shameless representation of each sin. With each murder the two detectives get closer and closer to finding the killer known as "John Doe" but they don't necessarily get closer to understanding his twisted motivation behind each murder. It's not until the very end of the movie that we understand John Doe's reasoning for doing what he did. We also see his plan unfold even more in an ending that is sure to disturb and shock anyone who watches this film. Not only is Se7en one of my favorite horror movies, but it's just one of my favorite movies in general. It's that good.



What sets this movie apart from most of the other campy horror movies included on my list is the fact that it is smart, well written, and keeps the audience guessing the entire time. As you're watching it you get the feeling that someone could actually be messed up enough to do what John Doe is doing, which adds a touch of reality to it and makes the movie that much creepier. Once John Doe is finally revealed to the viewer it becomes apparent that the two detectives are dealing with someone so wrapped up in his own delusions and misconceptions of the world around him, that he chooses to only see the bad in people. I don't want to give away who John Doe is because the mystery of his identity helps build tension throughout the film and allows the viewer to create their own image of killer. I won't say who it is, but I will say that he is played by a very well known actor and even though he has minimal screen time he still gives one hell of a performance; it's scary how well he portrays a deranged serial killer.

I honestly can't stress enough how much I love this movie and how good it is. You've just got see it for yourself! So go watch it...now. :)

If you want more information on the film you can visit this link:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114369/

8.) Friday the 13th

Take one very large machete, plus a wicked creepy hockey mask, add superhuman strength and what do you get? Jason Voorhees, of course. He is one of the most iconic movie villains of all time. And although his name is directly associated with the Friday the 13th franchise, oddly enough he isn't even in the first film! But that didn't stop the original Friday the 13th from making my list of favorite horror movies.

Friday the 13th, released in 1980, centers around the camp counselors at Camp Crystal Lake and the person that is killing them off one by one. In the beginning of the movie we find out that Camp Crystal Lake is known to the locals as "Camp Blood" because in 1957 a young boy drowned there and then a year later two counselors were killed. Over 20 years has passed by and Camp Crystal Lake is reopening with hopes that all the terror will be left in the past. Too bad that isn't the case.

A slew of new camp counselors arrive to Camp Crystal Lake, one of which is played by a very young Kevin Bacon (before his Footloose days). Things start out alright for them, but then on a stormy night they start to disappear one by one. If Jason isn't the one killing...then who is? Well, it's Jason's mother, of course. Mrs. Voorhees has a vendetta against all camp counselors because they let her son drown. She succeeds in killing off all the counselors (Yes, even Kevin Bacon), except for one girl who ends up surviving. She only survives because she is able to snag Mrs.Voorhees' machete and decapitate her with it. Which really doesn't do any good because all camp counselors from that point on will have to feel the wrath of Jason.

Friday the 13th is definitely a classic and highly entertaining, but the main reason I like it so much is because I'm a sucker for any horror movie that takes place at a summer camp. The summer camp setting usually spawns a wide array of interesting characters, unique death scenes, the creepiest villains, and nice scenery to balance it out.

9.) Saw

Each year right before Halloween a new Saw movie is released. And each year they seem to get progressively worse. I'm not sure as to why they continue to make these movies and beat the storyline to death, but I do know that they should have stopped after the first one-the only decent one in the series.

Saw, in my humble opinion, is one of the greatest horror movies to come out in recent years. It's one of those movies that keeps you guessing right up until the very end, only to reveal a twist that you could NOT have seen coming. Not only is the ending great, but from the very beginning of the film the audience is thrust into a world of horror, graphic violence, and brutality

The movie starts with two men, Adam and Dr. Gordon, who wake up at opposite sides of a dirty bathroom chained by their ankles to pipes. As if their situation didn't already suck enough, there is also a dead man lying in the middle of them holding a tape player and a handgun. Both men find tapes in their back pockets. It is revealed on Dr. Gordon's tape that he must kill Adam by a certain time, or his wife and daughter will die. They both come to the realization that they are the newest victims of the Jigsaw Killer. The movie then goes on to show flashbacks of Jigsaw's previous victims.

What sets the Jigsaw Killer apart from other movie villains is that he doesn't actually kill his victims. Instead, he puts them in situations where they are forced to test their limits and see how far they are willing to go to stay alive. But he puts his victims in the most extreme situations, so they are forced to either kill themselves or take the life of another. For Jigsaw it is all just a "game."

As the movie unfolds we learn more about why Adam and Dr. Gordon have been selected by Jigsaw to play his "game." We're also introduced to the detective who is trying to catch Jigsaw and put an end to his antics. The tension builds throughout the entire movie until it all culminates in the final scene. Everything is revealed-the identity of Jigsaw, why Adam and Dr. Gordon are in this situation, Dr. Gordon's decision to kill Adam or let him survive, the fate of Dr. Gordon, and of course the big twist in the end. If you haven't seen the movie you'll have to watch it to figure out what happens...I wouldn't want to spoil anything for you!

I went to see this movie when it came out back in 2004. I went into the theater not really knowing too much about the movie, but I wanted to give it a chance because it looked like it was going to be a lot better than the generic horror movies they had been pumping out. And I was right. It actually ended up exceeding my expectations. I left the theater with a mix of emotions that ranged from disgust and shock to excitement and giddiness. Saw is absolutely disgusting, gory, sick, and twisted. Yet, at the same time it has a great plot, good acting, originality, and enough suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat. Over time it's sure to become a classic.

10.) Dead Alive

The one word that comes to mind when I think of this movie would have to be...DISGUSTING. This is easily the most disgusting, goriest, and completely outrageous movie I have ever seen. But at the same time it's quirky and the perfect blend of comedy and horror. Dead Alive was directed by Peter Jackson, the guy responsible for the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but you will find no hobbits in this film. What this movie lacks in hobbits, it makes up for with an abundance of flesh eating zombies.

I first discovered this film when my friend and I decided we wanted to have marathon (because we love horror movies and we're totally weird) of the "goriest" films ever made. So, we looked online to get some ideas as to what movies should be included in our marathon. The one movie that most people agreed on as the "goriest film of all time" was of course Dead Alive. We immediately got our hands on a copy so we could see what all the fuss was about. And I must say, neither of us were disappointed nor did we expect it to be as gory as it actually is. It definitely lives up to the hype of the"goriest film of all time."

So, what's it all about? Well...it's about a guy named Lionel who lives with his mother, takes care of her, and basically caters to her every need. He is the very definition of a mama's boy. Things get even worse for Lionel when his mother is bitten by an infected rat-monkey, (Yeah, I know, it's weird.) gets sick, and dies. But she isn't dead for long because she comes back to life as a zombie. How lucky for Lionel.

She begins eating and killing virtually everyone she comes into contact with, except Lionel because he is the only one trying to stop her. It's up to him to save the day and he does just that, but in the most gruesome, over the top, and unconventional way imaginable. But really, there's absolutely nothing conventional about zombies, so it makes sense. So, when it comes time for Lionel to kill every zombie in sight in the climactic showdown his weapon of choice...a lawnmower! I would go into details, but it's too gory and it's something that has to be seen to believed. I've actually seen the movie and I still can't believe it.

This movie has so many elements to it-comedy, horror, gore, some romance, action, gore, and more gore. When you have a movie that incorporates this many elements it's hard not to like it. Dead Alive makes my list of faves because never before has a movie had me laughing hysterically one minute and then the next have me covering my eyes out of sheer disgust. That's hard to find in a movie. So, if you have a strong stomach and the sight of people losing their limbs doesn't bother you, then Dead Alive is worth a watch. But it won't be easily forgotten. Trust me.

11.) Hellraiser

'Hellraiser' is a 1987 horror movie based on Clive Barker's novel, 'The Hellbound Heart.' The movie starts off with a man named Frank, who purchases an antique puzzle box (think Rubiks cube) from a dealer in Morocco. But what Frank doesn't know is that the box encompasses all things evil...literally. This little box just so happens to be the doorway to hell. Go figure. So, when Frank is back at home he solves the puzzle box, which magically shoots hooks and chains at him, ripping his body to pieces. YUCK! While all of that is going on these nasty looking demons from another realm called Centobites show up to see who opened the doorway to hell. The leader of the Centobites is none other than "Pinhead"himself. "Pinhead" twists the box into its orignal form, the room goes back to normal, and everyone disappears. Then the movie is over.


Just kidding!


The rest of the movie centers around Frank's brother Larry, who moves into Frank's abandoned house with his second wife, Julia, who previously had an affair with Frank...sounds a lot like a soap opera, huh? Anyway, the entire movie is totally bizzare. Frank's ghost/body remnants hide in the empty attic of Larry's house and he tries to convince Julia(his former lover) to help restore him back to his physical form. The fact that she doesn't immediately run away from Frank's talking remains is completely beyond me. So, how does Julia go about restoring Frank's form? It's simple. Since it's a horror movie and all the only way for Julia to complete this task is to kill innocent men. She seduces them, lures them into the creepy attic, and kills them so Frank can have their blood. Wow, what a woman.

At this point, Frank has three strikes against him. (1) He has knowledge of the puzzle box,(2) he violated his deal with the Centobites by restoring his body, and (3) he actually HAS the "beloved" puzzle box. So this can only mean one thing for poor Frank...the Centobites are coming back to raise hell. While this is going on, Larry's daughter, Kirsty catches Julia bringing men home and decides to investigate. It isn't long before she gets caught up in the mess that Frank so kindly created for everyone.

With the Centobites on their quest for the puzzle box, pain, blood, and terror are sure to ensue. By the end of the movie, which I'm not going to give away, many casualties are had, while some make it out alive...barely. And of course, "Pinhead's" puzzle box is still at large somewhere waiting for another poor sap to solve it. From this movie came a slew of sequels, seven to be exact, in which "Pinhead and his posse of Centobites raise more hell for innocent, unsuspecting victims.

You're probably thinking, "why the hell does she like this movie?" The answer is quite simple. This movie made my list of favorites because of its originality, nastiness, and for the mere fact that the villain has pins coming out of his head. C'mon, how badass is that? But in any case, 'Hellraiser' is one hell of a movie and should not be missed by any true horror fan.

Hey, Folks!

With Halloween right around the corner it's the perfect time for me to begin the countdown of my favorite horror movies! With each post I'll give a brief synopsis of the film and reasons as to why it's among my all time favorites. Hopefully my posts will encourage some of you to check out a few of the movies!

Horror movies have been around for many, many years and still continue to scare audiences today. All of the movies featured on my countdown in no way lack scares, gore, action, suspense, and the occasional comedic relief. Most of the movies on my list are considered "classics," but some recent horror movies that have been released have also made the cut (No pun intended). Each film is unique in its own way, but no matter how different they are there is still one common thread between all of them (besides the fact that they're all horror movies..Duh)-I love them all! Slashers and thrillers and gore fests..OH MY!

Let the countdown begin...