After the vigorous discussion that the last column generated, it only seems fair to post up the horror flicks that are my personal favorites so that ya’ll can nod along or scoff to your hearts content.
Now let’s be clear, I’m not saying these are the ten best ever, or even what I think on balance are the best. These just happen to be the top 10 genre movies, that for one reason or another, I enjoy watching the most.
So check it out, and then spit bullets on what you love the most. ‘Cause whether we all agree or don’t (hint: we don’t), it’s good times for all watching the debate.
WARNING – SOME SPOILERS BELOW! 10. JASON X This falls into the category of guilty pleasures, but I could probably watch this flick every day for the rest of my life. It’s gory, stupid fun with lots of nods to the series and tons of hot chicks to look at. And it’s IN SPACE! I’m a sucker for franchises that jump the shark right into space. Not a great flick, but a great time nevertheless.
9. MAY
I’ll check out anything that Lucky McKee or Angela Bettis do for the remainder of our shared time on earth because of this movie. It’s rare to find a slow burn genre flick that has this depth of pathos and twisted character growth. From the tenuous lesbian urges involving Anna Faris, to the moment when Jeremy Sisto realizes he’s a minor leaguer trying to keep up with a pro, this is a dark, romantic, thorough mindf*ck that made me smile the whole way.
8. THE BELIEVERS I love this movie and think the first 3/4’s of it is some of the creepiest pseudo-religious horror mingling ever. Unfortunately the end of it is a stupid mess, which is why it’s not in my top 5. Still, a flick that can send Jimmy Smits to the ground with snakes in his stomach and make any woman terrified to use a compact again is aces in my book.
7. PRINCE OF DARKNESS Sticking with the religious horror theme, POD is my second favorite Carpenter pic. It’s got ancient texts, impossible math, God vs. Anti-God, and a big vial of green viscous fluid that is locked
from the inside! Seriously, if you’re at all into mushy intelluctualosity in your horror it doesn’t get better than this. Oh, and did I mention Alice Cooper makes an appearance as a creepy homeless dude? Sweet!
6. INSIDE When you’ve been a horror fan for as long as I have, it starts to get a little bit like being a heroin addict. You’re always chasing those early highs, but it seems harder and harder to get there. And I’ve seen some amazing horror flicks over the last decade, but rarely have I had the gut-wrenching reaction that this f*cked up cat and mouse game creates. A pregnant woman trapped by a psycho bitch with a mean pair of scissors. Brutal, unrelenting, and unbelievably good.
STAY TUNED FOR PART 2!