I decided to do something a little different for my blog this time. Instead of blogging about any one particular horror film I decided to give you my personal top 10. The movies in this list are the ones that I can watch over and over and each viewing is as fresh as the next.  So, here, in order from 10-1, is my list. If any of the films are on your list then please, write me and let me know.

10. Hellraiser-1987-directed by Clive Barker and starring Andrew Robinson, Clare Higgins, Ashley Laurence and Doug Bradley. Written by Peter Atkins. Based on the novella ‘The Hellbound Heart’ by Clive Barker.

From IMDB.com-Clive Barker’s feature directing debut graphically depicts the tale of a man and wife who move into an old house and discover a hideous creature – the man’s half-brother, who is also the woman’s former lover – hiding upstairs. Having lost his earthly body to a trio of S&M demons, the Cenobites, he is brought back into existence by a drop of blood on the floor. He soon forces his former mistress to bring him his necessary human sacrifices to complete his body… but the Cenobites won’t be happy about this.

I picked Hellraiser for number 10 mainly for the fact that although I own a copy on DVD I find myself riveted to the TV every time I’m channel surfing and it just happens to be on.  There are just so many things that make it worth recommending.  But what makes it truly special is that it introduced the world to Pinhead and the Cenobites. Demon to some, angel to others. Although for the life of me I can’t figure how anyone could see them as angels.

Best line-Pinhead to Kirsty: “No tears, please. It’s a waste of good suffering”

9. Paranormal Activity-2007-Written and directed by Oren Peli and starring Micah Sloat and Katie Featherston.

From IMDB.com-After a young, middle class couple moves into a suburban ‘starter’ tract house, they become increasingly disturbed by a presence that may or may not be somehow demonic but is certainly most active in the middle of the night. Especially when they sleep. Or try to.

When I saw Paranormal Activity in the theater I thought it was a very good horror film with a lot of scare potential. Then, I bought it on DVD and realized that location means everything. I took the film home and watched it in my bedroom with the lights off and the house quiet. Big difference than when I was watching in a neutral theater with about 70 other people. Never have I been as creeped out by something as simple as a bedroom door and the hallway outside of it. Oren Peli takes the haunted house tale out of the old gothic mansions and plops it right down in the middle of our living rooms; or bedrooms if you prefer.

Best line-Katie to Micah: “I think we’ll be okay now.”

8. The Fly-1986-Directed by David Cronenberg and starring Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis and John Getz. Written by George Langelaan (original story), Charles Edward Pogue and David Cronenberg (screenplay)

From IMDB.Com-Seth Brundle, a brilliant but eccentric scientist attempts to woo investigative journalist Veronica Quaife by offering her a scoop on his latest research in the field of matter transportation, which against all the expectations of the scientific establishment have proved successful; up to a point. Brundle thinks he has ironed out the last problem when he successfully transports a living creature, but when he attempts to teleport himself a fly enters one of the transmission booths, and Brundle finds he is a changed man. This Science-Gone-Mad film is the source of the quotable quote “Be afraid. Be very afraid.”

The Fly remains Jeff Goldblum’s best film despite the fact that it is now almost a quarter century old. The funny thing about the film is that it’s about a human who becomes a monster. But while he’s turning into a monster he becomes more human than he’s ever been in his entire life. In my opinion the fact that Goldblum did not even receive an Oscar nomination is a crime of major proportions.

Best line-Seth: You have to leave now and never come back here. Have you ever heard of insect politics? Neither have I. Insects… don’t have politics. They’re very… brutal. No compassion, no compromise. We can’t trust the insect. I’d like to become the first… insect politician. Y’see, I’d like to, but… I’m afraid, uh…

Ronnie: I don’t know what you’re trying to say.

Seth: I’m saying… I’m saying I – I’m an insect who dreamt he was a man and loved it. But now the dream is over… and the insect is awake.

Ronnie: No. no, Seth…

Seth: I’m saying… I’ll hurt you if you stay.

7. Candyman-1992-Directed by Bernard Rose and starring Virginia Madsen, Tony Todd, Xander Berkeley and Kasi Lemmons. Screenplay by Bernard Rose. Based on the story ‘The Forbidden’ by Clive Barker.

From IMDB.Com-Helen Lyle is a student who decides to write a thesis about local legends and myths. She visits a part of the town, where she learns about the legend of the Candyman, a one-armed man who appears when you say his name five times, in front of a mirror. Of course, Helen doesn’t believe all this stuff, but the people of the area are really afraid. When she ignores their warnings and begins her investigation in the places that he is rumored to appear, a series of horrible murders begins. Could the legend be true?

Take away the hook and all the gory scenes where people are ripped from groin to gullet. Take away the mouth full of bees. Okay, now, what do you have left that’s scary? That’s right, kids-atmospehere. This movie gives you the feeling that something is going to happen even if it doesn’t. When Helen and Bernadette are looking through the hole in the wall of Helens’ apartment you get the feeling that someone is in that empty room. When they’re exploring Cabrini Green the same feeling returns, only this time they really were being watched as Helens’ camera will later testify to. Candyman is a very atmospheric ghost story disguised as a slasher film.

Best line-Candyman-“They will say that I have shed innocent blood. What’s blood for, if not for shedding?”

6. Inside aka À l’intérieur-2007-Directed by Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury and starring Beatrice Dalle and Alyson Paradis. Written by Alexandre Bustillo.

From IMDB.com-Four months before Christmas, Sarah and Matthieu Scarangelo were in a car crash, of which Sarah and her unborn baby were the only survivors. On Christmas Eve, Sarah stays home alone, where she grieves her husband and prepares to go to the hospital the next morning for the delivery. As night falls, a woman knocks on Sarah’s door asking to use the phone. When she refuses, the woman reveals that she knows Sarah and tries to force her way in. Sarah calls the police; they inspect the home and determine the woman has left, but promise to keep watch over Sarah through the night. The woman returns and tries to take Sarah’s unborn child, but Sarah locks herself in the bathroom. The strange woman torments Sarah through the night and kills all who try helping her.

Inside doesn’t fall into the category of ‘it could happen’. Instead it falls into the category of ‘it did happen’. Does anyone remember Bobbie Jo Stinnett? She was a 23 year old girl who was murdered by Lisa Montgomery when Lisa decided that she wanted Bobbie Jo’s baby for herself. So she decided to kidnap the child. Only problem is that the baby wasn’t due to be born for another month. But that didn’t stop Lisa Montgomery. She just ripped the child right out of the womb, killing Bobbie Jo in the process. All that happened in Skidmore, Missouri. Inside is a French film about a woman who is terrorized in her home by a woman who wants her unborn child and will take it from her at any cost. My question is did something similar to the Stinnett incident happen in France; or did the news make it all the way overseas? Either way Inside is a near masterpiece of a horror film and also one of the most disturbing.

5. Jeepers Creepers-2001-written and Directed by Victor Salva and starring Justin Long, Gina Philips, Eileen Brennan and Jonathan Breck

From IMDB.com-On their way back home during the spring break, Darry and Patricia Jenner witness a mysterious person dumping something down a tunnel. Deciding to discover what was dumped down there, Darry discovers a huge disturbing hideout full of modified bodies. Darry and Patricia set off to get help, unaware that the individual is now aware of who has been down the tunnel. Darry and Patricia soon realizes that their pursuer is not just a mysterious person, but something even more horrifying, who has more in store than they could possibly imagine.

I despise ‘Hollywood’ happy endings.  No matter how dire the situation the characters find some way to get out of it and live yet another day. Save it for Disney.  Unless there is a plausible reason for it there is no room for them in horror films or any other genre of film for that matter. This brings me to Jeepers Creepers. This film completely and with great authority bitch slaps the ‘Hollywood’ happy ending right out of its Tinkerbell shoes. The main characters in this film, Darry and Trish, are on the run from a mysterious creature that wants ‘something’ from one of them. It knows no remorse and it cannot be bargained or reasoned with. The two of them may as well be standing still for all the good it does them to run. A word of warning: The director, Victor Salva, is a registered sex offender in both Florida and California. If this is something that offends you then do not watch the movie unless you can download it or get it on eBay. The last thing I want to do is encourage someone to put money in the pocket of someone like that.

Best line-Darry to Trish: “She did lose her head that night, Trish, and you wanna know what he did for her? He sewed it back on.”

4. Let The Right One In-2008-Directed by Tomas Alfredson and starring Kare Hedebrant and Lina Leandersson. Written by John Ajvide Lindqvist (novel and screenplay).

From IMDB.com-Oskar, a bullied 12-year old, dreams of revenge. He falls in love with Eli, a peculiar girl. She can’t stand the sun or food and to come into a room she needs to be invited. Eli gives Oskar the strength to hit back but when he realizes that Eli needs to drink other people’s blood to live he’s faced with a choice. How much can love forgive? Set in the Stockholm suburb of Blackeberg in 1982.

I could go on and on about how great this film is, but I won’t. In fact, all I want to say about this film is that it is, to me, the most original and amazing vampire film to ever be made. It is a film about friendship first, vampires second. I urge everyone to see it. You will not be disappointed.

Best line-Eli to Oskar:I’m twelve. But I’ve been twelve a long time.

3.The Howling-1981-Directed by Joe Dante and starring Dee Wallace, Dennis Dugan, Patrick Macnee, Belinda Balaski and Elisabeth Brooks. Written by Gary Brandner (novel) and John Sayles and Terence Winkless(screenplay).

From IMDB.com-Eye-popping special effects highlight an updated werewolf story. TV newswoman, Karen White, goes on a retreat after a traumatic incident with a serial killer. But is she really safe? And what should she fear more: regaining her memory or the creepy residents of “The Colony”? Followed by many unsatisfying and unconnected sequels. Helped launch shortlived werewolf craze in early eighties

The Howling is my favorite werewolf movie of all time. I’ve seen werewolf films that are great (Dog Soldiers, Ginger Snaps) , but it is this little gem of a horror movie that I have been coming back to for years and years. It will always be in my top three horror films of all time.

Best line-Erle Kenton to Dr Waggner-“You can’t tame what’s meant to be wild, doc. It just ain’t natural.”

2.Hostel-2005-Written and directed by Eli Roth and starring Jay Hernandez, Derek Richardson, Eythor Gudjonsson and Barbara Nedeljakova.

From IMDB.com-3 backpackers are in Amsterdam where they get locked out of their youth hostel. They are invited into a man’s house where he tells them of a hostel somewhere in eastern Europe where the women are all incredibly hot and have a taste for American men. When they get there, everything is too good to be true – the hostel is “to die for”

You can say what you will about this movie and how it is responsible for the whole ‘torture porn’ movement of films. You can say that it’s ‘gore-nography’. I will say that it is one of the best horror films I have seen in a long time and that although it is criticized now, it will go down as a classic in the years to come. I have watched this film countless times and am never bored with it. It is that damn good.

Best line-Natalya to Paxton: “I get a lot of money for you, and that makes you my bitch.”

1.The Thing-1982-Directed by John Carpenter and starring Kurt Russell, Keith David, Wilford Brimley and David Clennon. Written by Bill Lancaster. Based on the novella ‘Who Goes There?’ by John W. Campbell, Jr.

From IMDB.com-An American scientific expedition to the frozen wastes of the Antarctic is interrupted by a group of seemingly mad Norwegians pursuing and shooting a dog. The helicopter pursuing the dog crashes leaving no explanation for the chase. During the night, the dog mutates and attacks other dogs in the cage and members of the team that investigate. The team soon realises that an alien life-form with the ability to take over other bodies is on the loose and they don’t know who may already have been taken over.

John Carpenter’s The Thing has been my favorite horror film ever since I first saw it in 1982. I personally believe that it is an almost perfect horror film. The film was ridiculed by critics and ran out of theaters when it first appeared but it is now considered a classic. The question I have is what the hell took people so long to realize something that I’ve known since 1982?  The thing is, back then people wanted their aliens to be cute and cuddly like E.T.; not ugly and menacing like the constantly shifting creature in The Thing. Personally I’ll take ugly and menacing any day of the year. The Thing is a masterpiece of a horror film and will be remembered long after E.T.

Best line-Garry (after passing the test to determine who is still human):  I know you gentlemen have been through a lot, but when you find the time, I’d rather not spend the rest of this winter TIED TO THIS FUCKING COUCH!

So there you have it. My top ten list of  horror films. I apologize for it being so long winded. Stay scared, everybody!

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