SilverTrain
Legendary Member
Many (most?) of the gorefests, I don't consider to be very scary at all. I would put a great many of them in the category of "exploitation" rather than "horror".
But, semantics...yawn...I know!
For me, a couple of "classics" reign supreme. Some may consider them old hat. I do not.
Rosemary's Baby is "classy creepy" to a degree that I consider genuinely masterful. Great script, wonderful casting, virtuoso perfomances, and direction that approaches perfection. There's not an ounce of gore in the film but it achieves a degree of horribleness that is almost unmatched. A "10".
The Exorcist is a film that I find completely fascinating. Throughout, it has that un-self-conscious melancholy aura that films from the 70's captured so well. Amongst a film full of great ones, Ellen Burstyn's performance (in conjunction with Blatty's story and Friedkin's direction) brings a humanity to the proceedings that translates into a realism that manages to legitimize the ultimately shocking and supernatural goings-on. Although at the time of its release it was considered outrageously gratuitous in it's portrayal of demonic horribleness, to me the filmmakers seem to have got it just right. I find its every move to be an essential step toward the truly brilliant climax.
For anyone who has not seen it, nor been spoiled of its charms(!) by exposure to its infamous elements, it offers a magnificently horrific viewing experience. I call it the greatest horror film ever. I once watched this alone on a foggy autumn evening in a Victorian row house in San Francisco and I've never been so scared in my life. I had to get out of the house and take a walk at midnight, just to find some other people to be around!
Horror films are an area where I cut more slack to the notion of subjectivity as relates to "greatness". But that's a topic for another day....
But, semantics...yawn...I know!
For me, a couple of "classics" reign supreme. Some may consider them old hat. I do not.
Rosemary's Baby is "classy creepy" to a degree that I consider genuinely masterful. Great script, wonderful casting, virtuoso perfomances, and direction that approaches perfection. There's not an ounce of gore in the film but it achieves a degree of horribleness that is almost unmatched. A "10".
The Exorcist is a film that I find completely fascinating. Throughout, it has that un-self-conscious melancholy aura that films from the 70's captured so well. Amongst a film full of great ones, Ellen Burstyn's performance (in conjunction with Blatty's story and Friedkin's direction) brings a humanity to the proceedings that translates into a realism that manages to legitimize the ultimately shocking and supernatural goings-on. Although at the time of its release it was considered outrageously gratuitous in it's portrayal of demonic horribleness, to me the filmmakers seem to have got it just right. I find its every move to be an essential step toward the truly brilliant climax.
For anyone who has not seen it, nor been spoiled of its charms(!) by exposure to its infamous elements, it offers a magnificently horrific viewing experience. I call it the greatest horror film ever. I once watched this alone on a foggy autumn evening in a Victorian row house in San Francisco and I've never been so scared in my life. I had to get out of the house and take a walk at midnight, just to find some other people to be around!
Horror films are an area where I cut more slack to the notion of subjectivity as relates to "greatness". But that's a topic for another day....
