Jaws (1975)
The three times Oscar winner was directed by Steven Spielberg. Based on Peter Benchley's bestselling novel, "Jaws" centers around the fictional North Atlantic resort island of Amity, which finds itself terrorized by an enormous great white shark. The most suspenseful parts of the movie are when the shark is hunting from below and the swimmers don't have the slightest idea that they are going to be killed. The music score also contributed a lot in regards to scaring people.
Misery (1990)
Kathy Bates made this movie shine to its full extent. In fact, she also won an Oscar for her role. Misery is a dark, but witty venture into Stephen King's territory. It's about a popular novelist who crashes his car on a snowy mountain road and is rescued by a nurse who claims she is his number one fan. As the time goes by, he realizes she has no intention of letting him leave. The scary thing about this movie is that it is so real. I mean what happened to the novelist can happen to anyone and I don't think it is a very pleasing experience.
Psycho (1960)
This movie left such a huge impact on the people who saw it that some of them were terrified to go in the shower for a long time. A genius movie that was directed by Alfred Hitchcock and it was nominated for 4 Oscars. The score is a part of pop culture. The domestic conflict is well-known. But nothing shocks like the experience itself. If you have not seen this movie, do yourself a favor, GO TAKE A SHOWER and go buy the movie. Don't rent it as you will regret it later.
The movie has arguably the best mid-plot point and climactic twist in thriller history, and certainly the best-directed ending. The last few shots are chilling and leave a lingering horror in the viewer's mind.
Scream (1996)
"Don't Answer The Phone. Don't Open The Door. Don't Try To Escape". I am not sure whether I decide to love or hate Scream. I mean because of Scream we got movies like I Know What You Did Last Summer and Urban Legends which BOTH were terrible. Scream is responsible for a lot of garbage. But the truth of the matter is, `Scream' is also a phenomenal movie. The movie was directed by Wes Craven, the genius that also directed Nightmare on Elm Street.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
Yes I will be talking about the one shot in 1974, not the recent one. It all started with an idyllic summer day which ended up with nothing but fear and blood. The movie has a weak, though functional storyline, one that has since became the staple for slasher movies; a group of teenagers get lost, stumble across evil and get stalked and killed. But Chain Saw isn't about storyline and plot; it's about creating an experience, a sensory overload. The cast and crew work tirelessly to create scenes and images that are raw and powerful and ultimately, against all expectations, beautiful.
Leatherface's travesty of motherly domesticity as he prepares dinner, his child-like dance in the dawn light, the open door at the gas station, the van making it's slow turn off the road towards the derelict and ivy clad Hardesty residence are all images that burn themselves into your consciousness after just a single viewing. After the movie, there was a period that people totally avoided going to general tools store as they completely could not face the chainsaw department. Funny but it is true.
The Exorcist (1973)
Probably the sickest movie you will ever see in your life. Directed by William Friedkin. It is interesting to notice that blood is totally not present in this movie. But people in theaters were still screaming, shaking and trembling throughout the movie. During the opening, a woman got up a left after seeing that part where the possessed girl twists her head 360 degrees. Some people also stated that the Devil might have be present in the celluloid of the film.
For me, The Exorcist has always been more about the never ending conflict between pure evil and pure innocence than about being an average horror story. There are many more levels to this film than what initially meets the eye. There is no doubt that while the main story revolves around an innocent young girl, Regan McNeil (Linda Blair), being inhabited by Satan himself, Blatty enhances it greatly by adding different characters in various stages of conflict. Another movie that is a must see, so go get it now.
Aliens (1986)
Directed by James Cameron and won two Oscars, this movie is something that nobody expected back in 1986. A highly intelligent storyline, excellent effects, and one Bitch of all aliens in the form of the deadly alien Queen. From the moment it begins you are taken on a chilling action packed ride into a part of movie history, and a true example of greatness. One has to notice that not once during the movie we see a full monster. We only see parts of their body.
Carrie (1976)
Another movie based on a novel from Stephen King. Carrie starts off at a gym locker room, where we find out how much the other kids hate Carrie. But, we find out that Carrie has some powers. Like in other Stephen King book-movies, the supernatural aspect is only minor compared to the rest of the story, but it comes into play at the end. Carrie's mom (Piper Laurie) is an over-protective religious zealot who makes The Royal Tenenbaums seem normal. So Carrie tries to cope with her horrible life, but it's getting tougher and tougher. During this movie I found myself smiling when she smiled. Emotions were so raw and you can't find this in every movie.
Night of The Living Dead (1968)
This movie had a low budget, creepy and unique. It is a legendary for a reason. The plot is easy to follow and the story starts with two children visiting their mother's grave but had to leave shortly because they were being attacked by a group of cannibalistic zombies. I strongly recommend this film to anybody interested in the art of film making, and to those who enjoy the horror genre, though it is hard to imagine any serious horror fan who hasn't already seen this.
Audition (1999)
This movie is one of my favorite movies of all times. Audition is also found by the name Odishon and it is one of those perfectly executed Japanese movies. If you have seen Hardy Candy and liked it, then I suggest you get this one as I can guarantee you that you will love this one. The story is basically starts when a lonely Japanese widower whose son is planning to move out of the house soon expresses his sadness to a friend and fellow film producer, who becomes inspired to hold an audition for a non-existent film so that the widower can select a new potential bride from the resulting audition pool. The widower ultimately becomes enamored with and fascinated by one particular young woman, but first impressions can often be horribly wrong.
