Top 10 Horror Movies

Where there is no imagination there is no horror. ~ Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Although it is a fact that I have spent many a sleepless night owing to several horror movies, I won’t deny the fact that horror movies are very gripping and entertaining as well. Of course I’m not talking about the poor quality horror films, which are sad attempts at creating horror with repeated massacres, and bloodshed, which make these movies disgusting rather than scary. So which are these horror masterpieces that I’m talking about? I know everyone will have their own different top ten horror favorites, but here is my version of top ten horror movies…

1. The Shining

It's just that, you know, some places are like people. Some ‘shine’ and some don't. I guess you could say the Overlook Hotel here has somethin almost like "shining".

If you haven’t heard that quote before, you haven’t seen the best horror movie ever! The Shining is undoubtedly the scariest and the best horror movie! Although the initial response to the film had been lukewarm, it is one of those classics, which attained gradual critical acclaim and is now considered as a masterpiece in the horror genre! The Stanley Kubrick directed 1980 film based on Stephen king’s novel; The Shining stars Jack Nicholson as the tormented writer Jack Torrance and Shelley Duvall as his wife Wendy and Danny Lloyd as their son Danny. The film talks about the writer who takes up a job as a winter caretaker at a hotel where his family looks after the hotel. The psychic hotel cook discovers Danny’s psychic abilities to detect ghostly presences in the hotel. Further in the movie, Jack Torrance is driven mad by the ghosts and he tries to murder his wife and son.

2. Psycho

We all go a little mad sometimes.

The academy award winning Alfred Hitchcock movie about the psychotic killer ranks at number two. Based on Robert Bloch’s novel, this film depicts the encounter between a Marion Crane (played by Janet Leigh), who checks in a motel after stealing money from her employer. The motel's owner, the lonely Norman Bates is played by Anthony Perkins. It is regarded as one of Hitchcock's masterpieces and has gained worldwide acclaim as one of the best movies in the horror genre. The most notable scene that people associate with this movie remains to be the shower scene, which has been considered as one of the scariest scenes ever.

3. Rosemary’s Baby

Come with us quietly, Rosemary. Don't argue or make a scene. Because if you say anything more about witches or witchcraft, we're gonna be forced to take you to a mental hospital. You don't want that, do you?

This is one of the best horror movies that blends super-natural powers with an element of dark reality to create a tale that is sinister and terrifying. Adapted from Ira Levin’s horror bestseller, this Roman Polanski movie ranks at number three in my list of top ten horror movies. Mia Farrow stars as Rosemary Woodhouse who with her struggling actor husband Guy (John Cassavetes) move into an old New York apartment with an portentous reputation and elderly residents. The shifty neighborhood couple ( played by Sidney Blackmer and Ruth Gordon) starts interfering and mingling with the Woodhouses despite rosemary’s reservations about them. The suspicious homemade chocolate mousse that the neighbor starts bringing in lead to a series of events which create a dark and sinister tale about deceit and dark realities of life. Rosemary becomes pregnant after a nightmare of being raped by the Satan and her neighbors take a special interest in her welfare. The devilish truth is revealed when Rosemary gives birth. Ruth Gordon won an Oscar for her role as the sinister neighbor Minnie.

4. The Exorcist

He's a liar. The demon is a liar. He will lie to confuse us. But, he will also mix lies with the truth to attack us. The attack is psychological, Damien, and powerful. So don't listen. Remember that, do not listen.

The deadly demon-possessed girl walking down the stairs is one sight from the movie, which has caused many a sleepless nights for me. This 1973 American horror film, adapted from William Peter Blatty’s novel ranks at number four on my list of top ten horror movies. The movie deals with the satanic possession of a young girl, and her mother’s attempts to win back her daughter through an exorcism with the help of two priests. The film features stars like Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair, Max von Sydow, Kitty Winn, Lee J. Cobb, Jason Miller and Mercedes McCambridge. The film became one of the most successful horror films of all time and also won as many as ten Academy Award nominations.

5. Jaws

You're going to need a bigger boat

The Steven Spielberg directorial venture based on Peter Benchley's best-selling novel, inspired by the Jersey Shore shark attacks of 1916 ranks at number five on my list of top ten horror movies. The movie revolves around the police chief of Amity Island (played by Roy Scheider), who tries to protect beach-goers from a giant great white shark by closing the beach. However his decision is reversed by the town council and the beach is kept open to draw profit from tourists during the summer season. After several attacks, the police chief enlists the help of a marine biologist and a professional shark hunter played by Robert Shaw and Matt Hooper respectively. It is regarded as one of the benchmark movies in motion picture history and has inspired many sequels and video games as well.

6. Poltergeist

Poltergeist disturbances are fairly short duration. Perhaps a couple of months. Hauntings can go on for years.

The Tobe Hooper directed movie, which was co-written by Steven Spielberg ranks at number six position in my list of top ten horror movies. The movie plot revolves around the haunting of a suburban family home by poltergeists. The movie is also been labeled as a cursed movie because of the murder of Dominique Dunne and early death of Heather O'Rourke.

7. Carrie

The 1976 American horror film directed by Brian De Palma based on the Stephen King novel comes seventh on my list of top ten horror movies. The plot revolves around a socially outcast teenage girl, who discovers she possesses psychokinesis abilities after being harassed by her peers, teachers, and her mother. It is also regarded as a masterpiece in the horror genre and was a major success for United Artists, grossing over $33 million at the U.S. box office. It also inspired a sequel as well as a major television series thereafter.

8. The Omen

The child is dead. He breathed for a moment. Then he breathed no more. The child is dead. Dead.

This 1976 horror flick starring Gregory Peck and directed by Richard Donner, ranks at number eight on my list of top ten horror movies. David Seltzer's original script was titled The Anti-Christ and although the movie began production under the title The Birthmark, the name was finally changed to The Omen during filming. The Omen is similar to the Exorcist in a number of ways and led to a trend of ‘demonic child’ movies. A remake of the movie was also made in the year 2006, on June sixth – a release date that reinforced the 666 motif. The movie is particularly famous for one of the most disturbing scenes included in the plot. The scene shows a character willingly hanging herself at a birthday party attended by young children.

9. Les Diaboliques

The keys in the pool, the husband in the morgue! You dream too much about water in this house!

This 1954 movie is a black-and-white flick directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot, starring Vera Clouzot and Simone Signoret ranks ninth on the list of top ten horror movies. It is a French film and the title is in French, the translation of the title reads as 'The Devils'. The movie is based on a novel Celle qui n'était plus(She Who Was No More) written by Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejac. The movie has resemblance to Hitchcock’s style wherein the director was able to create a sinister effect blended with dark reality throughout the movie.

10. The Sixth Sense

I see dead people

I remember hiding behind my pillow while Haley Osment was seeing and talking to dead people. The Night Shyamalan psychological horror film ranks tenth on my list of top ten horror movies. The film revolves about the troubled isolated boy named Cole Sear who claims to be able to see and talk to dead people. Bruce Willis plays the character of a psychologist who helps the boy. The film was nominated for six Academy Awards and is certainly one of the best horror movies.