Shoot the Projectionist: 31 Films that give you the Willies

As my humble blog is currently dedicated to silent cinema, I hope my fellow chicks don’t mind this brief comment on 31 Films that Gave me the Willies! Although I missed the nomination process, I did vote despite my rather limited knowledge of horror cinema. I’ve seen most of the list from 20-31 but barely any of the top 10… I suppose I have a lot of work for next year! I’m just going to comment on the ones I’ve seen

31. The Bride of Frankenstein
A favourite of mine, it’s horror without the scares. Wonderfully baroque, it’s beautifully executed and is a lot of fun. I’m happy to see it make the list, as it seems many of the early horror films were looked over.

29. Poltergeist
I’m not really a fan, I didn’t like the fish lens thing, and with the exception of the melting face nothing really scared/drew me in. It became all too ridiculous towards the end.

28. Se7en
I probably wouldn’t consider this a horror first and foremost, but it is far more visceral and gripping than most films that call themselves horror these days. All around an excellent film.

27. The Night of the Hunter
An all time favourite of mine, I don’t think a villain has ever been so menacing as Harry Powell. Borrowing on German expressionism, and leaning heavily on biblical themes and motifs was a stroke of creative genius.

26. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
I love this film, more than I thought I ever would. It’s genuinly scary, always compelling and interesting as a reflection of the times.

25. The Ring (2002)
I was bored by it.

22. The Fly (1986)
It’s been a very long time since I’ve seen this, I was very much eewwwed.

20. Rosemary’s Baby
Another favourite of mine, even outside the genre of horror, Polanski manages so effectively to build up anxiety and horror that you never know when it really hits you. Everything about it works.

19. 28 Days Later
One of the best I’ve seen in recent years, I am even one of the few who likes the third act. It’s chilling and exciting. I think people will be talking about this in 20 years, in the same way we talk about Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

18. The Wicker Man
I own this, and should rewatch it because I first saw it when I was 14 and was like WTF.

18. Les yeux sans visage
Very scary, and surprisingly “realist” for a horror film. The operating scenes are almost too much for me, and I had to look away.

17. Nosferatu (1922)
I loves it, Shreck was one freaky looking dude.

17. The Descent
Another very scary recent film, I wish I had caught this in the theatres because I think it would have been even better. I love how it slowly builds up anxiety and claustorphobia, and long before the monsters appear you’re terrified.

13. Don’t Look Now
An all around great film, but I’d probably put it closer to thriller. Features one of the best sex scenes in cinema, and is visually stunning.

11. The Birds
I need to rewatch it, and while last time I saw it I didn’t find it particularly scary I’ve always loved it for the characters and their interractions. Hitchcock was da man.

10. Jaws
I like it, but never found it scary in the least. The only part that got me was when the head appears in the water.

6. The Exorcist
Like most of my favourite horrors, this one really builds up to it’s “terror”. There is so much uncertainty involved, and a lot of complex character development. It’s a great film.

5. Psycho
I don’t have to go into how much I love Hitchcock, and while far from a favourite Psycho always thrills me. I actually read a while back a very interesting case in defence of the “psychiatrist rant”, that came close to changing my mind on it. I wish I rememebered where I read it.

4. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
Saw it this month, pretty damn freaky.

Ten Great horror films that didn’t make the list:
Nosferatu (Herzog, 1979)
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (Wiene, 1919)
The Innocents (Clayton, 1961)
Les Diaboliques (Clouzot, 1955)
The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945)
Repulsion (1965)
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Mamoulian, 1931)
I Walked with a Zombie (Tourneur, 1943)
The Body Snatcher (Wise, 1945)
The Unknown (Browning, 1927)