The Deaths of Ian Stone (2007)

I couldn't find any really great pictures of the monsters anywhere on the Internet. I assure you they're much more chill-inducing in action than they are just hanging out next to a hot chick.

“The Deaths of Ian Stone” reminded me of nothing so much as an episode of “The X-Files,” but without the benefit of already having affection for the main characters. This type of nostalgic monster-of-the-week horror doesn’t bother me, but the film makes it abundantly clear early on that it’s going to answer all possible questions (rather unlike “The X-Files”), and that drains the suspense right out of it.

Night of the Demons (1988)

Don't watch this movie if you're squeamish about blood. Seriously.

Here’s the exact point when I knew I was going to have a great time watching the fondly remembered “Night of the Demons“:  The female lead, virginal good girl Judy, is on the phone with preppy Jay, who’s trying to convince her to attend a party at spooky Hull House. As he’s trying to talk her into it, he reaches for a box of Vanilla Wafers, and I was completely sold. Any horror movie this snarky is bound to be a fun ride.

Death Bed: The Bed That Eats (1977)

Rather than demanding an old priest and a young priest, Death Bed settles for a middle-aged priest.

In my research for movie reviews, I generally check out the cast and crew listings on IMDB to see if the names seem familiar. I try to keep track of the credits when I see them, but sometimes I forget, so bless the Internet. For “Death Bed: The Bed That Eats,” an unusually high amount of names appear in no other listings, but this is by far not the most shocking information on IMDB. No, the most shocking information is the fact that out of 10 stars, IMDB users have bestowed five upon this film, and that, my friends, is five stars too many.

Don’t Look Now (1973)

This shot is the climax of the amazing opening sequence. It's beautifully filmed, extremely atmospheric and a masterpiece from an editing standpoint.

“Don’t Look Now” may be the most adult horror film I’ve ever seen. By that, I don’t mean it’s a film full of nudity (although there is some) or cursing (what foul language there is is quite mild) or over-the-top violence. Rather, it’s a horror film that creates its scares through emotions uncommon to most young people — true grief, despair, the hope of an end to such emotions. It isn’t the most heart-pounding horror film I’ve ever seen, but it’s certainly the most heart-breaking.

The Innocents (1961)

 

One of the creepiest scenes in this film has relatively little to do with the plot. It's just another in a long string of relentlessly odd shots that serve to completely unnerve the viewer.

Both visually stunning and relentlessly creepy, “The Innocents” proves a film needn’t be gory to be scary. This is a movie of which one can honestly say, “They don’t make ’em like that anymore,” and know it’s too bad they don’t. Modern horror movies could not help but benefit from the type of intensely focused plot and filmmaking artistry that set this movie apart as a true classic.

The Devil’s Backbone (2001)

 

Carlos' beatific reaction to seeing a bomb stuck in the courtyard of his new home is beyond weird.

 

“The Devil’s Backbone” is another genre-bender from visionary director Guillermo del Toro. Del Toro’s films tend to be beautiful and poignant while at the same time suspenseful and terrifying, an uneasy marriage of art and horror. With this film, he adds another layer — a coming-of-age story — and creates an altogether different interpretation of what at first appears to be a traditional ghost story.

Venus in Furs (1969)

 

She's pretty for sure. But in film, as in life, sometimes pretty just ain't enough.

 

I kept waiting for the horror in “Venus in Furs.” It’s listed as a “horror classic” on Netflix, and the premise seems supernatural if less than spooky. Little by little, I became quite aware of the true terror of this film: With every monotone voice-over, I shuddered. With every hamfisted musical exclamation, I cringed. With every wooden expression, I gnashed my teeth. Yes, the true terror of “Venus in Furs” is in how mind-meltingly bad it is.

The Dunwich Horror (1970)

 

There is a lot of this business with the rings in "The Dunwich Horror." Also a lot of Sandra Dee's outer thighs.

 

I’ll admit it: I’ve got a soft spot for any bit of visual media involving those Lovecraftian Old Ones. It’s almost like since I know these movies, video games and what-have-you are sort of doomed to failure from the beginning, I don’t sweat the small stuff and just enjoy the ride. Roger Corman was one of the producers behind this particular adaptation of “The Dunwich Horror,” and it’s full of the same type of charm (or “charm” depending on how you feel about Corman) as his other features.

The Last Exorcism (2010)

At least two of the people in this picture are not what they appear to be.

I’ll be upfront here and say this is a movie deserving of its considerable buzz. Presenting a new take on a subgenre that tends to cliche is difficult enough, but “The Last Exorcism” manages to through its remarkable performances and slow-building atmosphere. That said, part of the reason this film is generating talk is that it is divisive. This film won’t please everyone.