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...