Lucio Fulci's Zombie (1979)- According to many, this is Lucio Fulci's masterpiece. Banned in several countries because it was so excessively violent, Zombie (or Zombi 2 overseas) gave us a few of the most memorable scenes in horror history; A zombie fighting a shark underwater; A mass of zombies walking across the Brooklyn Bridge; and most famous of all, the eyeball gouging scene, involving a closeup of an eye and a splintered piece of wood. The zombies look great, the music is typical Fulci atmosphere, and overall, this is one of the best zombie epics ever made.
The Shining (1980)- Not only was The Shining written by insane-genius Stephen King, directed by insane-genius Stanley Kubrik, and starred insane-genius Jack Nicholson as a man driven slowly insane by ghosts, but it was one of the most culturally important horror films of it's time. "Here's Johnny!", "Redrum" and "All work and no play make Jack a dull boy" are all phrases that caught on in the mainstream, and have been repeated many times since, the world over. Also, room 237 and the twins in the hallway gave us two of the most terrifying and memorable horror scenes ever. A classic in every sense of the word, though different from the book, this movie belongs in every horror collection.
Misery (1990)- How in the world can Kathy Bates be terrifying? Easily; imagine her kindapping you, drugging you, making you her "lover", and hobbling your ankles with a sledgehammer. Annie Wilkes is one of the most terrifying characters of all time, even earning Bates an Oscar for best actress for her depraved portrayal. Many look at this film as a thriller or drama, but make no mistake, this is horror, even if Rob Reiner did direct it. If you fear stalkers or the thought of being kidnapped by unattractive middle aged women, this one will make you cry.
Haute Tension (2003)- Many people poo-poo this movie because of its "Twist" ending. While I didn't particularly like the ending either, I can't ignore the brilliance of this film. I got this one on region 2 DVD before it came out here, and when I watched it, I was blown away by the sick and unrelenting blood and gore, and the fact that it was actually a well made movie. It was something that American horror hadn't given us in quite some time. The French have been on a twisted role this decade, bringing us a bunch of messy, well made, and disturbing horror flicks, and this is the one (in my mind) that began it all. Not for the squeamish.
See you tomorrow with the beginning of the top 10!!!!
