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Author
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Topic: Four Most Influential Horror films!
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Osi Osgood
Film God
Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted July 13, 2009 09:47 AM
The title of this post will say it all. Note: this will not be a list of what are necessarily the greatest horror films, but those which have been most influential. Since there are so many people that love Horror on this forum, opinions may vary widely, and I'll love to hear them.
First, I wish to offer as "honorable mention", the "Unholy Trinity" of the 1930's ...
The Mummy/Frankenstein/Dracula
These three, literally released within a few years of each other, really defined film horror for at least thirty or so years or so, but also set the standards rather high. These were not quickies, cheaply put together, the pieces of celluloid
craftmanship, lovingly put together by some of our favorites "ghouls"! Aaaah, Karloff and Lugosi!
Alrighty, enough with the love in, time for some horror!
THE HAUNTING
1963. Researchers investigate a reportedly haunted house. This was an adaptation of "The Haunting of Hill House", that blended truly great special effects, both sound and visuals to make a trendsetting film. Also, the acting in this really puts it over.
It's interesting to look at this one compared to the remake by Gus Van Sant, and this original is still the better film, (though the remake does have some great special effects).
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD
1968. How could this one be left out. There were zombie movies before this one, of course, but this one truly redefined the genre! Zombie movies before this film, had lumbering living dead, who wouldn't threaten a baby! These zombies, however, are hungry, and they want you! They are voracious and "hell bent"
on eating every delicious bite of you. George Romero (though mostly due to budgetary restraints) shot this film in an almost documentary style. Grainy black and white that still grabs you by the jugglar vein and won't let go!
THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE
1974 Love it or hate it, it was a trendsetter! While "Night" was gory, few films were as in your face with relentless gore than "Texas" This made Tobe Hooper a "household name" when it came to horror, (he would direct another great horror as well, "Poltergeist" as well as the creepy "Videodrome". This film just drips with horror and while it is rediculous, the gore is so in your face that you don't have much of a chance to realize just how rediculous it is while watching it. Quite repellent.
FRIDAY THE 13TH
1980 There may be some people who will look upon this one as "Are you kidding?", but it really was a trendsetter. Friday gave us all the elements that would make up later horror to a great extent.
1. Incredibly attractive, horny as hell and incredibly stupid young people.
2. A camp/house ect with a tragic past and a crazy relative.
3. Assorted attractive, horny as hell and incredibly stupid young people being sliced/diced and quisinarted in various fun ways!
4. Oh, whether the villian is sliced diced or quisinarted, he comes back for more sequels than you can imagine!
This film really redefined, perhaps lowering the bar, for nearly all horror for the next thirty years. NOTE: This was Kevin Bacon's (Tremors) first film and yes, he dies!
So, there is my list of the four most influential horror. What is yours?
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"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "
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