Weinberg's Top 100 Horror, So Stop Asking Already!
08.20.09 By: Scott Weinberg
The second-best thing I'm asked over the course of my colorful career is this: "Can you give me some good horror movies to rent?" (The first is: "Would you like cheese fries, Scott?" but that only comes up in Austin.) I usually keep a short list of "damn good but underrated" titles in my mental back pocket, but then again ... how do I know how "experienced" a horror-watcher this person is? I don't want to recommend Cloverfield if they haven't seen Godzilla (or The Host), nor do I want to strap someone down for Martyrs if they can't make it through Tremors. Although it would be hilarious.So now, in an effort to make things easier when I'm asked the flattering but inevitable question, I offer the following list of 100 horror titles. Call 'em my "favorites" (although I'm sure I left some out) or call 'em "required viewing" for an aspiring horror freak. I'm cool with either. And while I'm the manager of a scary movie blog and the film critic for an excellent horror outlet, the only thing that really qualifies me to MAKE such a list ... is that I cared enough to see all the flicks (and hundreds more) and then rank 'em. You should try it sometime. Feedback and outrage is, of course, welcome ... although I'll tell you right now that I'm already working on list #2, so don't get too crazy.
Here you go!
Also, here's a spreadhseet version, should you wish to flatter me by saving the list for future reference. Also, I was just kidding in the headline. You can re-ask me about this sort of stuff anytime. On the Twitter.
Filed under: Discussion Posts, Movies We Love
Reader Comments (1 of 2)
Peter Hallat 8-20-2009
Of that list I am, to my own surprise, only out 29 titles:
The Amityville Horror, Asylum, Basket Case, Black Christmas, Bride of Frankenstein, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Cat People, Cruse of Frankenstein, Deep Red, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Dracula, Frankenstein, Freaks, Godzilla, The Haunting, House of Dracula, The Innocents, The Invisible Man, King Kong, Kwaidan, The Mummy (both '32 and '59), Night of the Living Dead, Nosferatu, Peeping Tom, Raw Meat, Repulsion, The Return of the Living Dead, The Wolf Man.
I was expecting to have missed more.
Brianat 8-20-2009
Oh shoot...wait to watch RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD until we visit. That is one of my favorites.
MssJennat 8-20-2009
Great list! i haven't watch most of them, i'll take this as reference next time i'm getting some movies, i never know what to get. Thanks for sharing
Adam Charlesat 8-20-2009
Huh, I've only not seen 13 titles. I think adding in a film like Silence of the Lambs should open the door for Se7en. I never see Se7en on any horror lists, but I think it qualifies. I'm glad one Lewton title (Cat People) made the list, but despite it being the more recognized title I think it's one of the mid-range ones from the library. I prefer Tourneur's I Walked With A Zombie, and Wise's The Body Snatcher is one of my all-time favorite films. Also surprised to see the The Blob remake (which deserves to be there) but not the original (which I also think deserves to be there). I would have included Killer Klowns somewhere, but that's me. Also really liked Midnight Meat Train. Lastly, Eyes Without A Face should be on every list. Regardless of what the list is about Eyes Without A Face should be on it. Baby names? Yeah, Eyes Without A Face.
Jason Murphyat 8-20-2009
Fantastic list. Kudos for the undertaking. I kept wanting to argue at points, but that would be folly. And I salute you for putting 'the Brood' in your top 20. Damn, I love that flick. To my dismay, though, I've seen all of those except for Asylum (and so the hunt begins). Here's hoping list number 2 is "100 Movies Scott Likes But You Probably Haven't Seen."
sleestakkat 8-21-2009
so love the range... from Universal to giallo to slasher to modern (all points in-between). Glad many of my favorites made the list (some too obvious and few others nice surprises) and yet looks like around a dozen I still need to make the time for. definitely bookmarking for further reference & rewatches. look forward to the 2nd list. thanks Scott!
Jason Arnoppat 8-21-2009
Loving the list - and especially loving Session 9 making the grade. It's the kind of film that's a continual pleasure to recommend, whenever someone asks for a scary movie suggestion.
Anneat 8-21-2009
Martin.... really?
I have owned this movie for years, and to this date, cannot get through it.
joshat 8-26-2009
you missed NIGHT OF THE DEMONS!!!!!
Beauat 8-23-2009
Awesome list. I'm missing 25. Will definitely check them out though. No love for David Lynch? I don't know if it really qualifies as horror but Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me still scares the shit out of me and I've seen it a half dozen times. Lost Highway's pretty creepy too.
Beauat 8-23-2009
Awesome list. Haven't seen 25 but I'm going to work on that. No love for David Lynch? Don't know if it qualifies as horror but Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me scares the shit out of me and I've seen it a half dozen times. Lost Highway's pretty creepy too.
Beauat 8-23-2009
My bad. Didn't think the first one posted.
jenniat 8-26-2009
YESSS! Session 9 still gives me the chills when I think about it.
Ericaat 8-26-2009
44 left to see, although I think my horror tastes will mean that I never see a handful of these (e.g. Hostel, Cannibal Holocaust).
weetigerat 8-26-2009
Some bold choices on this list. "Deliverance" as a horror movie? I suppose the case could be made, especially if you're a white male.
Lindaat 8-26-2009
Nice list. I don't consider myself much of a horror fan, but I've seen 19 of these. And films like The Host, Cloverfield, Jaws and King Kong are some of my all time favorites. Good list for rental reference, thanks!
Manfred Arcaneat 8-26-2009
What? No "Curse of the Demon" (1957)? And Fisher's 1958 film is "Horror" not "House" of Dracula ("House" being the 1945 Universal "monster rally"). And Fisher's "The Devil Rides Out" (The Devil's Bride) is at least as good as half a dozen films on the list.
jeffat 9-08-2009
Ehh... probably about 90% on your list is made up of very old horror movies. Being a gore fan i really can't appreciate most of them being that almost all except for hostel, 28 days later, saw, and a few others were made in the time period where people thought you could make a horror movie without gore. Now i can already tell that many people will disagree with me but i think you need gore to make a successful horror movie. So i'm sure all these movies were good at the time but im too used to the remakes of all the movies that you listed with gallons more gore in them.
Shockedat 8-30-2009
Wow. Just wow. Are you 14? I respect the right to an opinion... but just... Is your imagination so shallow? Can you not experience the horror of an idea? Something that relies on "gallons of gore" for it's frights is the worst kind of horror movie, IMO. It's sloppy, immature, basic, and unimaginative. There's a difference between "horrifying" and "disgusting" and I think it's really sad for you (and for the generation I am assuming you come from) that this distinction has been forgotten by recent filmmakers, and your palates have become so jaded.
Danaat 8-26-2009
Now, if only you would have been so kind as to post in what you (or readers) consider scariest to downright frightening, instead of having the list in alphabetical order, would be supurb. :)