See No Evil (942 hits)
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Submitted by kaos-king (antius777) (View user info) at 2006-07-21 09:46:22 EDT
Horror movies are wonderful things. They allow us a special kind of escape that no other type of film does. We find ourselves in a situation where we feel for the protagonist, their very struggle to stay alive and yet we root for the malevolent being that stalks them. Horror movies pull back that curtain of mystery on death, on the repulsive, on the evil and force us to take a look at it eyes wide open.
Below are a collection of movies that have inspired, influenced and haunted me in some way. Most of them I saw at an early age, setting up my profile later on as a writer of the genre. Some I've seen recently and have been overwhelmed by.
"Halloween" scared the shit out of me as a kid. Both the scene of him breaking in through the closet and, of course, the classic moment when Jamie Lee Curtis is in the foreground and Michael Myers suddenly sits up behind her. Fuck yeah... Myers was always my favorite among the '80's slasher gods, that mask that showed zero emotion and those dead eyes. 1 & 2 were excellent, and 3 was an experiment. 4 & 5 returned him to his glory, and 6 offered us a glimpse of things going on behind the scenes. Alas, they bailed on that remarkable storyline to bring back an aged Jamie Lee Curtis.
Speaking of John Carpenter, his original "The Fog" freaked me out as a little kid, too. The figures that moved through the mist showed just enough to terrify and their glowing red eyes left an impression on young Brian. The remake, while it had some interesting plot devices, lacked the emotional pack of the original thanks to massive CGI nonsense and an ending that was perhaps one of the worst in cinema that year. Carpenter's films have all been getting lighter and lighter as he grows older, the only exception being "Ghosts Of Mars," but they cast fucking Ice Cube in that...
I can remember watching "Hellraiser" and finding PinHead absolutely fascinating. Never before had I seen anything like him. He was so much more influential on me at age 12 than a silent guy in a hockey mask, or a burn victim tossing out puns with a razored glove. I honestly can't remember if I had read "The Books Of Blood" yet when I saw this film for the first time, but I know that "Hellraiser II: Hellbound" is one of my favorite movies of all time. The journey into the strange infernal dimension of the Cenobites has forever warped my fragile little mind.
"Candyman" was another brilliant villain from Clive Barker. Set apart from his contemporaries as that he was a black man, Tony Todd is just scary no matter what role he plays. An eviscerated torso filled with bees and a bloody hook for a hand? Excellent! "Nightbreed" was another of Barker's great movies, not so much for the film itself, but for what it represented visually. I have often returned to that movie in search of more meaning and purpose in what I do now.
Yes, "Event Horizon" is a terrifying movie. So much just wasn't shown to you, they relied on lighting and sound. And those sounds in the recording... far more gruesome than people without eyes. Besides, a spaceship that travels through a blackhole, accidentally ending up in Hell? Grrr... wish I woulda thought of that! Another great movie that will chill it's audience with sound alone is the indie film "Session 9." So much done just with so little. Set in an abandoned insane asylum where five workers are removing asbestos, one worker becomes obsessed with listening in to the tapes of a schizophrenic little girl, possible possessed by the Devil.
I enjoyed both "Texas Chainsaw Massacres," the original and the remake, each for different reasons. The original by Tobe Hooper had such a documentary feel to it, so stark and rigid. The final scene where Leatherface is swinging his chainsaw in the sunrise as the lone survivor is whisked away in the back of a pickup truck is perhaps some of the most beautifully brutal imagery ever caught on celluloid. The remake examined more characters and the town, driving home a deeper sense of the inescapable. The girl with the gun in the first 15 minutes? Leatherface's "new" mask when he comes in front of the truck, the headlights blazing? Hehehe...
And while "House of 1000 Corpse" was a bloated, messy affair, the sequel "The Devil's Rejects" I though was just perfect. More streamlined, it succeeded in portraying three of the most depraved pieces of human trash ever conceived. And it made us love them. These were not monsters or masked slashers, but flesh and blood maniacs. We were stunned at the final scene, the only time I will ever condone the use of the song "Freebird" in a film.
"Hostel" was ridiculous.
"The Blair Witch Project." I know it's trendy to hate the movie now, but when it first came out it was utterly captivating. We saw it when it was still an unknown variable. I remember watching it at the theater miles from home and having to drive through the woods to return. Never before had a movie so caught the minds of America in the way this had. At least not since "The Exorcist," which, strangely, I did not get around seeing until I was in my mid-twenties. Unfortunately by then, it had lost all shock appeal.
There are about eighty million Stephen King movies out there and most of them suck. But I think we can all agree that "Carrie" along with "The Shinning" and "It" were pretty damn good. And in each case it came from stellar performances. Sissy Spacek, Jack Nicholson and Tim Curry just took those roles and forced them to be good.
There are some movies, while possibly terrifying, I do NOT consider Horror. The indie brilliance of "Cube" was fascinating, but the film does not really fit the genre for me. Nor does "Silence Of The Lambs" or any Hannibal Lector movie. As much as I love it, "Se7en" is not a horror film, either.
In the end, it comes down to one defining moment in my childhood. My dumb ass watched "Night Of The Living Dead" when I was around 10 years old. I sat there, absorbing this grainy, B&W footage as the sun went down at my neighbor's house, his parents away somewhere. When it ended, I ran home so fast, I near collapsed when I reached the front door. That terror I felt as a youngster has morphed into glee when I watch the film now, and no Zombie flick will ever hold up against it.
I know I'm forgetting at least 3 movies here... but I've rambled on like an idiot long enough.
User Reviews
Submitted by UnderOathMeal (user info) at 2006-09-04 18:34:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by LeaderOfMen (user info) at 2006-09-04 18:25:09 (#)
Ranking: 2
Is this coincidental that I am hit #666 on this?
Fucking eerie.
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Y HALO THAR NOOB
Submitted by LeaderOfMen (user info) at 2006-09-04 18:25:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Is this coincidental that I am hit #666 on this?
Fucking eerie.
Submitted by Maltese (user info) at 2006-08-01 22:39:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
You +2ed my last post. Your reward? +2s on your five most recent posts.
Submitted by Kent_Weirdo (user info) at 2006-07-24 19:30:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Regarding Halloween: In my opinion, the only good Halloween films were the first two.
I once read somewhere that the people who eventually gained control of the Halloween franchise (had nothing to do with Carpenter) thought of doing a different story for every Halloween film after 3 was released, but everyone was so unhappy with the third film that they brought Myers back.
Now, Rob Zombie is directing a "reimagining" of Halloween (with Carpenter's blessing, even). Hope it doesn't suck ass.
Submitted by Kent_Weirdo (user info) at 2006-07-24 19:24:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
"In the end, it comes down to one defining moment in my childhood. My dumb ass watched "Night Of The Living Dead" when I was around 10 years old. I sat there, absorbing this grainy, B&W footage as the sun went down at my neighbor's house, his parents away somewhere. When it ended, I ran home so fast, I near collapsed when I reached the front door. That terror I felt as a youngster has morphed into glee when I watch the film now, and no Zombie flick will ever hold up against it."
Dude, I wish I could give you a +10 for this. I know exactly what you mean, although I personally found 'Dawn' to be a more terrifying flick. You can read why I feel this, in a post of mine called "Thanks, George" (no linkwhoring).
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2006-07-22 00:40:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Session 9 was creepy but it's not really horror. Good movie though.
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2006-07-22 00:37:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
The Thing freaked me the fuck out.
I only saw the one with Kurt Russell. Was that the remade one?
Either way.
Prince of Darkness was pretty creepy.
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2006-07-21 22:07:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
You are one of the few other people that I know of who enjoyed "Event Horizon," I can see why people wouldn't like it, you really have to be "into" it to enjoy it.
My all time favorite horror movie to watch in the winter is the thing, kurt russel version. Unknown enemy, isolation, harsh environment, don't know who to trust.
It fucking rocks.
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2006-07-21 20:23:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
No, they're not. I hate horror movies.
Comedies and movies based on true stories are the truth.
Hooror movies are for those with limited active brain waves.
Submitted by runswithscissors (user info) at 2006-07-21 18:26:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I absolutely love this genre. As a general rule, I will either be creeped out in some way, or,
due to a very sick sense of humor, I will laugh my ass off.......Something about sheer over
the top gore that just does it for me. "Se7en" made me nautious. "Saw" seriously disturbed me.
The original Nightmare on Elm Street, as well as Halloween and Halloween II are always good. The
Exorcist and The Omen, good standbys. Event Horizon didnt quite work for me, as I found, for me,
the movie relied a bit too heavily on loud noises/sounds, but the voices in the video from the 'lost'
ship, definately creepy......I know i am leaving out many others.....
However......I more than agree with this:
"Hostel" was ridiculous.
If any uber users are curious about this movie but havent seen it, I have three words of advice
for you:
DONT FUCKING BOTHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Quite honestly the worst piece of shit movie I have ever seen in my life. I could go on, but will spare you the litany.........
Submitted by MyTeeOne (user info) at 2006-07-21 17:43:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I haven't seen Session 9 yet, but I will put it on my list of things to do.
I watched the Excorsist when I was 9, which may have been a little young. The song still sends chills down my spine.
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-07-21 15:35:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by The_taste_of_Monkeys (user info) at 2006-07-21 09:59:58 (#)
Ranking: 2
Event Horizon is ace
Submitted by GetNakeddd (user info) at 2006-07-21 15:30:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Miller: Just get your gear back onto the Lewis and Clark, doctor, or you'll find yourself looking for a ride home.
Weir is swallowed by the darkness.
Weir: I am home.
Submitted by B-17-F (user info) at 2006-07-21 14:31:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Don't forget Ju-On (in the original Japanese, not the remake with SMG/Buffy), Alien, and The Legend Of Hell House with Roddy McDowell.
+2 for the memories.
Submitted by Coleslaw_Murphy (user info) at 2006-07-21 12:13:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm not into slasher flicks, but I'm with you on Event Horizon. And Session 9. The little girl with multiple personalities on the tapes = C R E E P Y.
Submitted by loki (user info) at 2006-07-21 11:33:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Plus, we learned all about the dangers of teenage sex through horror movies. Oh come on, you see a couple of kids going at it and you know something bad is going to happen.
I think the most frightening part in the Blair Witch Project for me at least was when they realized that they didn't have a map. I have a real fear of not having a map, you should see the glove compartment in my Jeep. Hey, I NEED that map of California in the Jeep, you just never know when you're going to be driving around and thing "gosh I wonder how far it is from Lake Tahoe to Napa Valley" and then where would you be. Well, you'd still be 3,000 miles away but that it not the point.
Submitted by alwayspeach1 (user info) at 2006-07-21 11:10:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
1975. 8 years old. Grandma's house, approximately midnight. Watching The Trilogy with my sister. First thriller/horror I'd seen. When that little doll was thrown into the oven and Karen Black's character opened the oven...you just knew what was going to happen. Possession. That movie scared the bejesus out of me. Good times.
Submitted by ubetidid (user info) at 2006-07-21 11:03:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
The Bad Seed
Psycho
Submitted by sicosemen (user info) at 2006-07-21 10:58:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
The book was fucking awesome, I guess because I'm a whole generation behind you, BAMF, that when I saw the movie it was scary as fuck. Reading the bood afterward probably cemented the deal. Oops on (S)ematary...hahah
Submitted by badassmofo (user info) at 2006-07-21 10:36:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Pet Cemetary as a book was so frightening I had to put it down...as a movie it sucked.
Submitted by sicosemen (user info) at 2006-07-21 10:34:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Dude, there was no better choice than "Freebird" for the ending of "Devil's Rejects." I thought that whole fucking soundtrack was awesome, almost my favorite movie soundtracks ever. Also, how could you forget about Pet Semetary?
Submitted by professorfuckface (user info) at 2006-07-21 10:20:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
http://gabbly.com/www.ubersite.com
Submitted by The_taste_of_Monkeys (user info) at 2006-07-21 09:59:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Event Horizon is ace
House of 1000 Corpses is the worst film I ever paid to see
Submitted by w_t_a_y_s_t_r_m (user info) at 2006-07-21 09:53:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Night of the Living Dead
There has been no horror since, nor was there any before.
Submitted by badassmofo (user info) at 2006-07-21 09:52:56 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
There was a movie I saw as a kid called 'Don't Be Afraid of The Dark' still freaks me out till this day.
Also I thought the first "HOwling' was scary.
And I think I was 11 or so when Freddy fucking scared the shit out of me.
Submitted by Antioxident (user info) at 2006-07-21 09:52:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
goddamnit I'm sorry Anti
Submitted by Antioxident (user info) at 2006-07-21 09:51:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
and another
Submitted by Antioxident (user info) at 2006-07-21 09:51:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
have another
Submitted by Antioxident (user info) at 2006-07-21 09:51:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
NO I FORGOT TO RATE
Submitted by darko (user info) at 2006-07-21 09:50:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Antioxident (user info) at 2006-07-21 09:48:18 (#)
Ranking: 0
House of 1000 corpses was insane
ly awesome
Submitted by Antioxident (user info) at 2006-07-21 09:48:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
House of 1000 corpses was insane
ly awesome
Submitted by professorfuckface (user info) at 2006-07-21 09:46:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
does anybody remember laughter