Spfx Masks

Best Horror Films of All Time

A list of the best horror films of all time; however, I feel that sex hurts horror films in terms of both reputation and morality - thus, you aren't going to see some "famous" horror films on this list - because they violate this rule.

1. The Thing (1982)
   
   
   Overall best horror film incorporating stunning suspense, graphic gore, and cute dogs. Another nice thing is there were no women in this film, so you can concentrate on the acting instead of the girls. My personal #1 favorite for Horror films.
   Overall Great Film: 9/10
   Character Development: 10/10
   Cinematography/SPFX: 9/10
   Violence/Gore: 9/10
   Sex: 0/10
2. Alien (1979)
   By far the best of the Alien films. This is a fundamental film in the horror film cupboard: and I loved watching this film. Gore was everywhere, but the acting was stunning, and you are guaranteed to love this one. Really creepy, but seems so real.
   
   Caution - Check this guide before viewing.
3. Aliens (1986)
   Another 'Alien' film. This one, like its predecessor was stunningly good, and since it was later on the gore was even more abundant in this one. But the plot was still very good; this is a must see as well.
   
   Caution - Check this guide before viewing
4. Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010)
   
   
   By far, better than RE2 and RE3, and slightly better than RE1, Resident Evil: Afterlife (the fourth installment in the series based on Capcom's video game) is one of my absolute favorite horror films. The reason why. It isn't low quality - hey this had a 60M budget. Secondly. The acting was fantastic. Thirdly, it had a plot; fourthly, the gore was massive and the violence was awesome. At one point, I started laughing when Mr. Umbrella started Matrix-like dodging bullets. This was one awesome film. Very, very highly recommended.
   Overall Great Film: 10/10
   Character Development: 8/10
   Cinematography/SPFX: 10/10
   Violence/Gore: 9/10
   Sex: 1/10
   
   Caution - Check this guide before viewing
5. Alien

   ³

   (1992)
   One of the amazing Alien films; in this one an alien who has attached itself to her ship, causes the ship to crash; and she lands in a penal colony with sexually crazed individuals. Eventually she gets out and comes in contact with a Bishop-like clone, and ends up with an alien bursting out of her chest, but she jumps into a molten pit and ends her life and its life. An amazing film in this breathtaking Alien series.
   
   Strong Caution - Check this guide before watching
6. The Descent (2005)
   A breathtaking story of a young woman whose husband was tragically killed. Her friends take her spelunking to cheer her up, and they meet up with an ancient race of underground dwellers who try to devour them. For the latter three quarters of the film you are always on the edge of your seat and frequently watch gory scenes; there is no sexual behavior in this film (huge plus), great emotional anxiety, and amazing cinematography. Like its followup, "The Descent: Part 2", we have a masterpiece. I slightly prefer this over the second one, but both are excellent.
   
   Overall Great Film: 8/10
   Character Development: 8/10
   Cinematography/SPFX: 7/10
   Violence/Gore: 9/10
   Sex: 3/10
7. eXistenZ (1999)
   
   
   By far one of the strangest horror films in here. By David Cronenberg, this film is about people 'playing' a videogame by plugging game consoles into their bioports (holes in their spinal cord). They go through some extremely weird and gross situations. I highly, highly recommend this film. The music is great too!
   
   Overall Great Film: 10/10
   Character Development: 7/10
   Cinematography/SPFX: 9/10
   Violence/Gore: 8/10
   Sex: 6/10
   
   Strong Caution - Check this guide before watching
8. The Descent - Part 2 (2009)
   One of those films that doesn't use sex as a substitute for quality (a big plus). This film had tons and tons of gore and very realistic at that. The idea is a rescue mission in some abandoned gold mines where some 'dwellers' are encountered. You will be literally scared in some places, and justly so: this film is a thriller/horror at its best. It seems like they replaced the sex with extra gore and extra character development. You will not want to miss this film.
   
   Overall Great Film: 8/10
   Character Development: 7/10
   Cinematography/SPFX: 7/10
   Violence/Gore: 9/10
   Sex: 1/10
9. Shaun of the Dead (2004)
   
   
   A comedy and a horror film at the same time, a minimal amount of sexual innuendos and gore everywhere. Shaun and his buddy are suddenly found in the midst of zombies everywhere; they lead a group to the local pub to hole up, and everyone except Shaun and his girlfriend get killed (though his friend is zombie-ified) and at the end of the film the troopers show up and save them all and they live happily ever after. Very funny in parts because it plays loud music and Shaun reaches for (what?! not a knife?! A Coca-Cola bottle?!!!). Or when it shows Shaun's legs and you think he's a zombie, but he's really just yawning. If you enjoy a nerdy kind of zombie humor this is the film for you. Hilarious and scary!
   
   Overall Great Film: 9/10
   Character Development: 7/10
   Cinematography/SPFX: 9/10
   Violence/Gore: 8/10
   Sex: 2/10
10. 30 Days of Night (2007)
    A very impressive film in the horror genre: a surprising gem in today's list of films that degrade a true horror. A sense of darkness pervades the whole film, and the character development leading up to the climactic sacrifice at the end of the film in defense of the others is astounding. I highly recommend this film: you'll get your fill of horror, thriller, gore, and tenseness. You won't get sex, nor will you get a creepy film (it's not creepy, it horror). This is one amazing film, which seems like it should've come from the 80s not from 2007. Watch this!
    
    The Plot: (Select the text to see the plot)
    A group of people in an Alaskan town survive 30 days of darkness with no sun during which many of them are killed off by Vampires. A sheriff trainee leads a group of them along with his girlfriend who was going to dump him but got stranded since her plane left before she arrived at the airport.
    
    They stay in various buildings in the town with vampires wandering around killing people here and there. Graphic but believable gore, a very chill feeling throughout the film. And in the climatic end, the vampires set fire on the town which would lead to the death of the hero's girlfriend. He injects himself with vampire blood and in seconds becomes a 'friendly' vampire, and then he has a battle with, and kills, the chief vampire, his cohort of vampires fade into the dark. Sun comes, and our hero dies in his girlfriend's arms, they are reunited: he dies, she lives. Bittersweet ending to an amazing film. I love this one.
    
    Overall Great Film: 8/10
    Character Development: 9/10
    Cinematography/SPFX: 7/10
    Violence/Gore: 8/10
    Sex: 0/10
11. Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
    A 'Matrix' of horror films. This film has a lot of gore, I kid you not; however, it is done in a heroic way so to speak. You have a real heroine seeking a real revenge for a real reason, not a contrived one (she thinks they killed her unborn child). Also, you don't have machine gun battles - it's all samurai swords. Tarantino really is a master in horror films, and you are strongly recommended to watch this one. Again, this is not a low-class film, don't be scared by it's rating. Wow! I'm impressed. If you enjoy a good kung fu film with a plentiful amount of blood in a tasteful manner and a fantastic plot, you can't miss this one.
    
    Caution - Check this guide before watching
12. Army of Darkness (1992)
    
    
    The third film in the Evil Dead (not recommended) series. This is a hilarious comedy/horror film which has gore going everywhere, but instead of being scared the entire film, you are laughing yourself to tears in this one. The hero has some serious problems and treats the girl who loves him as a mere annoyance, laughs at death, and fights against zombies as though he had been trained in doing so since childhood. Eventually, he makes it back to his home; but he mis-pronounces the magic spell (for the second time!), and once back home, he discovers that the evil of the Necronomicon has followed him back! He shoots the zombie a thirty or so times, and the film ends with him triumphantly embracing his girlfriend. A very funny horror film, and I highly recommend you see it.
    
    Overall Great Film: 7/10
    Character Development: 6/10
    Cinematography/SPFX: 8/10
    Violence/Gore: 8/10
    Sex: 2/10
    
    Caution - Check this guide before watching
13. Warlock (1989)
    In this haunting film Julian Sands plays a convincing Devil's son wannabe in his hunt for the book that could undo all of God's creation: the Devil's Bible. With breathtaking music and 80s special effects, this is a great horror with little gore except for the final two minutes when a corpse is burnt (I won't say who!). This film rises up above many other horrors I've seen because of the stunning character development and its ability to be a horror film without sex and almost no gore. Tip of the hat to director Steve Miner for this awesome film.
    
    The Plot: (Select the text to see the plot)
    In the 1600s, a warlock is about to be hanged and burned over a box of living cats; but he escapes into the twenty-first century and is followed through time by a warlock hunter. The warlock molests and kills the boyfriend of Kassandra, who then assists the warlock hunter Redferne (a comic mix of piety, 1600-era King's English, and chivalry), to hunt down the elusive warlock.
    
    Finally, when all seems lost, and the warlock is about to speak the name of God in reverse, destroying all creation; Kassandra stabs the evil warlock in the neck with insulin and he dies a gruesome death (by far the most gory thing in the film) by graphically burning up in about five seconds. The film ends with Kassandra burying the Devil's Bible in a humongous salt flats which makes it obvious it won't be found anytime soon. But let's hope for a sequel!
    
    Overall Great Film: 9/10
    Character Development: 10/10
    Cinematography/SPFX: 7/10
    Violence/Gore: 5/10
    Sex: 0/10
    
    Caution - Has a satanic theme (the devil's son): but in the end the "witch-hunter" vanquishes him and God's will is accomplished. Clean film, and I highly recommend.
14. Dawn of the Dead (1978)
    No list would be true without putting this in there. It's a pretty interesting movie about a shopping mall setting with zombies. This was one of the 'founders' of the modern graphic horror films. And the final group taking off at the end in their helicopter. Watch this, you won't regret it.
15. Deep Red (Profondo Russo) (1975)
    
    
    Dario Argento at his best! This is a fine movie from the Italian filmmaker. Part in Italian, part in English, this film is very good. Features a demonic killer who is followed through an abandoned castle, and finally down the the climatic killing by being decapitated by an elevator. Highly recommended horror / detective film!
    
    
16. In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
    A very interesting film. This is about a person who wrote a story, and the story subsequently 'became' real. A horror story, naturally. This film was a real creeper, and I looked over my shoulder once or twice during it. Again, as usual, John Carpenter was doing it again: making a real horror film for people who like good ones. Watch this, you'll love it.
    
    Overall Great Film: 8/10
    Character Development: 7/10
    Cinematography/SPFX: 7/10
    Violence/Gore: 8/10
    Sex: 1/10
17. Prince of Darkness (1987)
    
    
    Well who knew it? Christianity is a joke, and the real god is the devil. The main premise of the film seemed very weird, but if you manage to overlook that it is a fantastic film; and it ends like a breaking mirror .
    Overall Great Film: 9/10
    Character Development: 7/10
    Cinematography/SPFX: 8/10
    Violence/Gore: 6/10
    Sex: 2/10
    
    WARNING: This film has a satanic theme and no good theme. Just understand that it has a satanic theme involved. However, it is a good film with no explicit sex involved; the guy on the right in the picture does, however, "quick-date" and is shown in bed under the covers with his girlfriend (no clothes on from shoulders up) - but no nudity is shown. Check this guide before watching.
18. Shatterbrain (The Resurrected) (1992)
    This movie cleverly blended horror (but only enough, but very gory) with creative characters and a strong adaptation from the original book. It started out a little dry, but by the time I'd gotten into it, I was wishing I'd watched it long before I finally did. Throughout the film, the director used dark lighting to create suspense, and the idea of resurrected corpses was horribly compelling just like Re-Animator (also a H.P. Lovecraft adaptation, incidentally!). This is a great find.
    
    Overall Great Film: 8/10
    Character Development: 7/10
    Cinematography/SPFX: 8/10
    Violence/Gore: 9/10
    Sex: 2/10
19. Scanners (1982)
    
    
    A really fine film by David Cronenberg, again with the strange qualities that accompany the Canadian directors films. The exploding head scene was gross, and the plot was pretty cool.
    
    Basically this guy has qualities that help him sort of 'make people' do what he wants against their will through brain-power. Very interesting and great horror film! Recommended.
    
    
    
20. Resident Evil: Extinction (2007)
    The latest Resident Evil film was pretty cool; basically a bunch of survivors go out into the desert where they meet the heroine from the previous film who after harrowing struggles leads them to Umbrella's base (surrounded by zombies). They escape in a helicopter while she heads down for a little chat with Umbrella.
21. They Live (1988)
    Perhaps one of the more unique horror films I've seen: we are actually being duped by aliens who are among us in the shape of other human beings. Highly creative, and by John Carpenter the horror film master director.
    
    WARNING: Watch this movie on YouTube. When you get to a segment you need to log in to watch, don't. It contains the only R-rated part of this film: a scene of graphic nudity and sex (about 10 seconds long). The problem is, I knew about this... but once I got to the end of the film, I'd forgotten about it... until ("uh oh... that's why I needed to log in").
22. Bad Taste (1988)
    
    
    Another of Peter Jackson's films has an irresistible charm to it. Even though it's a B movie (and just barely!), I've watched this film about 4 times from start to finish and the only reason it isn't higher on my list is because it has lousy visual effects. But the acting and script are hilarious, and the vomit-drinking scene has risen to infamy among fans.
    
    Overall Great Film: 6/10
    Character Development: 4/10
    Cinematography/SPFX: 6/10
    Violence/Gore: 10/10
    Sex: 0/10
23. Predator (1987)
    While this isn't exactly a horror film, this early addition to my list can't be deleted. It does have horror elements; such as the chilly atmosphere felt throughout parts of the film; and especially with Schwarzenegger's magnificent fight with the Predator. I recommend this highly as a fantastic Action/Adventure, and while it ranks rather low on my horror film list, it's also a rather good horror film if you're interested for that reason.
    
24. The Frighteners (1996)
    Almost a comedy horror film, Jackson's pre-Lord of the Rings horror film is funny and at the same time scary. A demon is haunting an old house and a man and his two ghost-friends need to go and de-demon the house. This leads through a breathtaking adventure and up a long tube to Heaven and you see some people go down a tube to Hell. A very scary and frightfully funny film. A horror film to its finest.
25. Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist (2005)
    I liked this much better than "The Exorcist" because this was less of a religious film and more of a horror film. Those familiar with the story or those without it can equally enjoy it. Extensive graphic gore (and a yucky dead baby being born/covered with maggots scene; not necessary to watch), not much sexuality, and fantastic character development throughout. A fine film.
    
    Caution - This film has a satanic theme (but good conquers over evil). For sexually related material, check this guide before watching
26. The Woods (2006)
    
    
    Harry Potter for girls. This is a boarding school where girls go for school, but the headmistress and her fellow teachers are witches who are really are there to kill the girls they teach. The woods 'come alive' in a very real way just like in 'Evil Dead'. I am a Harry Potter fan, and thus a Harry Potter-like horror film was very appealing to me.
    
    Caution - Check this guide before watching
27. Steven King's Silver Bullet (1985)
    
    
    A fine story showing the determination of children to overcome evil in a local neighborhood that is being terrorized by a werewolf. Only, they can't convince the adults that there really is a werewolf. Finally, they manage to half convince their uncle of the werewolf threat, and he helps them in their struggles. Really, a good movie, though it can drag out at times. An excellent Steven King movie that conveys the same mysterious themes in others of his films (not recommended by this list) including Carrie (1976) and The Shining (1980).
    
    The Plot: (Select the text to see the plot)
    A young boy discovers strange happenings in a town - he is a wheelchair bound boy - and his uncle who is a bit of a drunkard, makes him a new wheelchair named the Silver Bullet. Townsfolk start to be killed in gruesome ways. The young boy has a squabble with a young girl (both are, maybe 13 or so). Anyway, the uncle fashions a new wheelchair that can go extremely fast for the boy.
    
    The boy discovers that it is the local church minister who is the werewolf who is killing people, and after some harrowing adventures, the film culminates in the death of the minister by a silver bullet, constructed from jewelry of the boy and girl. The film ends on a slightly happier note, as they profess love for each other, as the uncle watches on. The girl narrates with an older voice and implies their sometimes troubled relationship continues into the future as marriage eventually.
    
    Overall Great Film: 6/10
    Character Development: 10/10
    Cinematography/SPFX: 6/10
    Violence/Gore: 8/10
    Sex: 0/10
    
    Caution - Has a satanic theme: (select the text to see why -- it spoils the part of the plot) the local minister IS the werewolf who is terrorizing the locals. He claims to be part of some secret order (presumably, werewolves) who cannot kill themselves and must wreak havoc among people. In the end he is killed with a silver bullet, thus another superstition adding to this cautionary warning.
28. Alien Raiders (2008)
    A good horror film, the first half was rather boring (only relatively speaking) and the second half was a true horror, very scary and horrible, mainly from 'when's it gonna happen'. But blood was everywhere, awesome plot, and a sad ending: a hero was killed by the girl he had loved.
    
    The Plot: - (Select the text to see the plot)
    A group of 'terrorists' seize a shopping center and begin conducting horrific experiments (cutting off fingers) from the shoppers/clerks. Soon it is discovered they are searching for the "king", an alien invader who has terrible powers. Eventually, an infected is found: her finger re-grew once cut off. Then the police showed up outside and started hostage negotiations. The chief came in, and in a 'climactic' ending, they killed the king. Unfortunately, their 'spotter' discovered it wasn't the king. A valiant young man who had volunteered to undergo the operation instead of the girl he admired (both worked at the store) suddenly realized his girl was the 'king.' So he points his gun at her; she said in a strange voice, "I always loved you Benny, " he screams, and the movie ends.
    
    Overall Great Film: 8/10
    Character Development: 8/10
    Cinematography/SPFX: 6/10
    Violence/Gore: 8/10
    Sex: 0/10
29. Night of the Living Dead (1968)
    The oldest film on my list, this is one of the great horror films. The people trapped in the house with the attacking zombies, hundreds of them! And the final part with an 'almost' rescue by the sheriffs - and then the last survivor is mistaken for a zombie and shot. Great film and worth watching; however, you need to understand that this is almost a "drama" instead of a "horror" film by modern standards, there being little gore. Suspense and horror are strong themes though.
30. Pans Labyrinth (2006)
    
    
    This film was in Spanish with English subtitles which makes it even better (don't watch an English translation). Very creepy story of a young girl who is in the middle of a war with her mother and her boyfriend, the general of the house.
    
    The girl finds a maze in which a devil resides, and in the end she meets a, well, I shall let you see for yourself. This is one of the best.
    
    
31. The Exorcist (1973)
    This was an interesting film from a different perspective: the satanic possession of someone... and the subsequent exorcising of the demon. It was more a thriller, strictly speaking, than a horror film though, but it's still a very entrancing watch. You get scared watching this one!
    
    WARNING: this film has a satanic theme in it (obviously; though good prevails in the end - sort of), as well as a good amount of sexual references and visual material (check this guide for info).
32. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
    The first word that comes to me when I think back on this film is, "Yawn". Oh, you hear about this being a hugely influential horror film and all, but it's just not very good by modern standards - in fact, the mentally retarded person seemed to have the most character in the whole film. I recommend watching this for historical value, but not if you want gore... and definately not if you want an awesome thought-provoking story.
    
    The Plot: (Select the text to see the plot)
    Two guys/girls in relationships and a handicapped man (Franklin) in a wheelchair go on a vacation. They go to Franklin's grandfather's abandoned house - and nearby, two by two or one at a time, they discover "Leatherface", a man with a mask on who loves attacking people with a chainsaw and hanging girls on gigantic meathooks. However, there's really not that much gore since it's a 70's film.
    
    The surviving girl gets to have dinner with the "family" - a grandfather who loves to drink blood from living people, the demented BBQ/gas station owner; and his two sons; the film ends with everyone getting killed except one of the girls who is saved in probably one of the most energetic parts of the film when Leatherface is chasing her around with his chainsaw and she finally manages to flag down a passing car.
    
    Overall Great Film: 7/10
    Character Development: 6/10
    Cinematography/SPFX: 6/10
    Violence/Gore: 5/10
    Sex: 3/10
33. [Rec] (2007)
    
    
    [Rec] is essentially the "original" TV crew that follows some firemen into an apartment infected by a bunch of zombies who start 'eating' and spreading the disease. Problem is, it's in Spanish, with English subtitles. Quarantine (2008), the English 'version' of this film was very similar to this one (though with slightly better cinematography), but this one had the 'charm' in a perverted sense of the word.
    
    This one didn't end quite so dismally as the other; you actually feel that there might be a sequel. (I actually think [Rec 2] came out recently). Watch this one, it's optional to watch Quarantine, but this is a must see. Be prepared for a moving camera with no steadi-cam, very jerky, but it makes it much more lifelike. Good film; lots of better ones, but good horror hour and a half.
    
    Overall Great Film: 6/10
    Character Development: 6/10
    Cinematography/SPFX: 5/10
    Violence/Gore: 7/10
    Sex: 5/10
    
    Strong Caution - Check this guide before watching
34. Tamara (2005)
    I'm surprised not very many people like this film; two years after watching it I still remember a good amount of the plot: a teenage girl is ridiculed, shamed, and killed by a bunch of teenage thugs and she resurrects and wreaks revenge upon them. Some graphic gore is employed during her 'revenge', and she suddenly discovers that one of the people she thought was her enemy had tried to protect her. In a very touching scene, the man she had loved when she was human kills himself, completing the curse, and Tamara dies. While not a great horror film, this is certainly a good one. Recommended.
    
    Caution: Check this guide before watching
35. Village of the Damned (1995)
    A mediocre feature film by John Carpenter; the first 7/8th of the film was merely something to watch while shoveling in the popcorn, the last segment much better.
    
    The Plot: (Select the text to see the plot)
    A village of 2000 people is blacked out and during that time some alien species impregnates ten women; they give birth to "normal" children who soon show their inhumanity by ruthlessly forcing their surrogate parents to commit suicide. Eventually the police become involved, and the film winds up with one parent learning how to block the children's brain superpowers by concentrating on a brick wall or an ocean (Occlumency anyone?).
    
    He takes a bomb, puts a timer on it, and him and his wife collaborate to rescue one child who has developed a human characteristic: sympathy (something the others lack). The husband, 8 demonic children go up in flames; the wife and her implanted 'child' drive off into the distance, making for a great ending for the film.
    
    Overall Great Film: 6/10
    Character Development: 5/10
    Cinematography/SPFX: 7/10
    Violence/Gore: 5/10
    Sex: 3/10
36. Quarantine (2008)
    This film was amazing because it was so terrifying. I hated it after I watched it because it doesn't end in a 'satisfying' way, but it was so creepy throughout; about a strange virus infecting people in a skyscraper (the marines had sealed outer entrances). Creepy! Not for a nighttime showing.
    
    Strong Caution - Check this guide before watching
37. El Orfanato (The Orfanage) (2007)
    
    
    The beautiful and thrilling story of a young child with HIV who finds friends in the 'other' world. All throughout this in-Spanish film. In the terribly beautiful end of the film, there is a stunning conclusion.
    
    Watch this film, which, though mainly a thriller, stands in the horror list.
    
    
    
38. Saw II (2005)
    Saw II was slightly better than Saw, but just slightly. The film was still trying to get in as much gore as possible with minimal character development, and I found this quite distasteful in a horror film.
    
    Overall Great Film: 2.5/10
    Character Development: 3/10
    Cinematography/SPFX: 7.5/10
    Violence/Gore: 10/10
    Sex: 6/10
39. Saw (2004)
    While it is true that this film is truly disgusting, it has little to nothing else. I even think that Cannibal Holocaust is better because while that film is disgusting, it also has a plot (a good plot), not a contrived one to fit in as much gore and gross material as possible. Thus, I give Saw (and all its sequels a very, very, very low rating). Only watch a Saw film if you have a lot of spare time. They just aren't worth your time.
    
    Overall Great Film: 2/10
    Character Development: 2/10
    Cinematography/SPFX: 7.5/10
    Violence/Gore: 9/10
    Sex: 6/10
    
    Strong Caution - Check this guide before watching
40. Misery (1990)
    I got about 3/4 of the way through this film; this was one-boring-film. Forget Saw or Jaws, Misery was just plain boring. The basic gist of the film is an author who gets hurt and is found by an obsessive fan of his books. I think she was slated to be killed at the end of the film... but... gosh, I watched like an hour and a half of pure finger-nail peeling up agony of boredom.
41. Help me find another film on this list by suggesting one to me in the comments! Thanks!