Scaryyy mooviiies... OooooOOOOoooo...

[Mytical]

Texas Chainsaw does not fit in the 'torture porn' section. Things like Saw, Hostel, and things like them do. They are not 'scary', they are all about the grossest/worst ways to die. 1000 faces of death, etc, also. I can't claim credit for the term 'torture porn', because I heard the term and it fits. It's not about scary, it is about the visual/visceral watching of somebody getting maimed and killed.

[Eireann]

The Haunting, 1963. Don't even wipe your feet on the 1999 version; it's THAT bad.

The Twilight Zone. NOT the movie. The series. There are plenty of really eerie episodes in that show.

Frenzy. Not a horror film per se, but a tense, nail-biting thriller about a series of murders in London - and a man who finds himself accused of being the killer.

The House on Haunted Hill. Vincent Price. A true master of the genre.

[Pixilated]

The movie I was trying to think of earlier is titled Beyond the Grave. Peter Cushing is the proprietor of a shadowy little shop called Temptations.

Somebody mentioned Roddy Mcdowall earlier ... I don't remember in what connection, but there's also The Legend of Hell House. A minor amount of blood and sex, but nowhere near enough (IMO) to qualify it for a torture porn label. I've also read the book; the violence and sex (what there is) is germane to the plot.

I saw clips from Hostel. Wouldn't watch it for all the gold in Fort Knox.

[telecom_goddess]

I tend to like the psychological thriller more than gore or anything really gross. But here is a list.

The Exorcist -- classic for all time and must be watched repeatedly

Rosemary's Baby -- same thing

The Ring -- gets points for being original at the time.

Carrie -- just a classic damn story.

Now for one that is done really well, it was directed by William Friedken who also directed The Exorcist. However it's creepy and scary as hell and I will never do a repeat of it.

Another couple that are also done really well but I will never repeat because I just can't deal with them...Novocaine with Kevin Bacon and Steve Martin (it's NOT a comedy) and Boxing Helena.

ETA: I forgot about a great film and great book as well -- Let The Right One In. The original Swedish subtitled version. Not the american remake. Also for a series try The Hunger, based on the film. David Bowie is in the second season.

[auntiem]

Quoth telecom_goddess

Also for a series try The Hunger, based on the film. David Bowie is in the second season.

Wha!!! How did I not know about this! off to imdb...

[MamaMootz]

Quoth Merriweather

I remember all of us being freaked out by one called "Let's Scare Jessica to Death" - watched it on cable a while back, and it seems to have lost a bit with age Some of the old ones, Hitchcock and others as well, were good about having you sitting there holding your breath, you just knew the terrible thing was about to happen - then it didn't. Psych. The really good ones are like riding a roller coaster.
Just wish I could remember a few more good titles, sorry.

OMG - I remember "Let's Scare Jessica to Death"! I loved that movie. And someone else mentioned "Stir of Echoes" which I thought was really well done also.

I have to laugh because (and I know I'm dating myself here) but when I was a kid there were a series of short movies that starred Karen Black called Trilogy of Terror. I was completely and utterly freaked out by the Devil Doll movie and could not sleep for weeks and weeks after I caught it on Chiller theater. I had this doll that used to stare at me in my room that I was convinced was possessed and was going to kill me in my sleep and this movie did NOT help that at all.

When I saw Poltergeist and the scene where the kid keeps throwing a blanket over his clown doll because it's freaking him out? Yeah, that was me.

The funny thing is, I got the Trilogy of Terror on DVD and I was watching it with now 10 year old DD. Who was looking at me cockeyed and saying "THAT movie scared you? Seriously? WHY?"

I will admit, it's cheesy now. But back then it freaked me out.

And no one, so far, has yet mentioned the Holy Grail of scary movies yet (at least to me): Night of the Living Dead, 60's version. I love that movie. Yes, it's dated and black and white but it's such a classic. DD watched that one with me and also thought I was nuts.

[AccountingDrone]

Quoth MamaMootz

And no one, so far, has yet mentioned the Holy Grail of scary movies yet (at least to me): Night of the Living Dead, 60's version. I love that movie. Yes, it's dated and black and white but it's such a classic. DD watched that one with me and also thought I was nuts.

That is probably the best of the zombie movies. Though I was very disappointed when they shot the black dude.

So many good horror movies and so little time.

I adore the old ones - I don't need to see gore to be tittilated. I also like quirky.

Masque of the Red Death
Prince of Darkness
The Fog [1980, Adrienne Barbeau]
I Sell the Dead - quirky
Parents - quirky
Strigoi - quirky
Nosferatu
Lord of Illusions
Psycho [1962]

All currently available from Netflix.

[telecom_goddess]

Quoth auntiem

Wha!!! How did I not know about this! off to imdb...

It's on instant Netflix I didn't know about it either! Just found it by accident. It's gooooooooood.

And I just realized that I didn't mention the name of the second William Freidken film, it's called Bug. Ashley Judd is in it. Good job but damn it's disturbing.