Top 100 Horror Movies List

New list, a bit random, some push the limits but it’s my list. Subject to change almost every couple of years.

1. The Thing (1982)
2. The Exorcist (1973)
3. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
4. Alien (1979)
5. Halloween (1978)
6. Jaws (1975)
7. Night of the Living Dead (1968)
8. Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
9. Predator (1987)
10. Dead Ringers (1988)

11. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
12. Dawn of the Dead (1978)
13. Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979)
14. The Phantom of the Opera (1921)
15. Lost Highway (1997)
16. Godzilla Minus One (2023)
17. Thriller (1983)
18. Nosferatu (2024)
19. The Phantom Carriage (1921)
20. Re-Animator (1985)

21. Nosferatu (1922)
22. Phantom of the Paradise (1974)
23. Sinners (2025)
24. Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989)
25. Tenebre (1982)
26. Us (2019)
27. The Cremator (1969)
28. The Omen (1976)
29. Peeping Tom (1960)
30. Dead Alive (1992)

31. Nope (2022)
32. Mandy (2018)
33. Mother! (2017)
34. Images (1972)
35. Antichrist (2009)
36. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
37. Kill List (2011)
38. Get Out (2017)
39. Aliens (1986)
40. Manhunter (1986)

41. Train to Busan (2016)
42. Godzilla (2014)
43. Cuckoo (2024)
44. Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975)
45. The Changeling (1980)
46. Dead of Night (1945)
47. Evil Dead II (1987)
48. Cemetery Man (1994)
49. Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
50. Videodrome (1983)

51. The Masque of the Red Death (1964)
52. The Innocents (1961)
53. Carrie (1976)
54. 28 Days Later (2002)
55. The Devil’s Backbone (2001)
56. Possession (1981)
57. Frankenstein (1931)
58. Häxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages (1922)
59. Spoorloos aka The Vanishing (1988)

60. Session 9 (2001)
61. The Fly (1986)
62. Perfect Blue (1998)
63. It Follows (2015)
64. Creepshow (1982)
65. The Man Who Laughs (1928)
66. Night of the Creeps (1986)
67. Them! (1954)
68. The Wicker Man (1973)
69. Shaun of the Dead (2004)

70. Ginger Snaps (2000)
71. What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)
72. Tucker & Dale vs Evil (2010)
73. The Cabin in the Woods (2012)
74. We Are Still Here (2015)
75. Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror (2019)
76. Repulsion (1965)
77. The Sixth Sense (1999)
78. Last Night in Soho (2021)
79. The Mist (2007)

80. Monsters (2010)
81. Straw Dogs (1971)
82. A Quiet Place (2018)
83. MaXXXine (2024)
84. Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
85. Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992)
86. The Demon (1963)
87. The Exorcist III (1990)
88. Audition (1999)
89. In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
90. The Witch Who Came from the Sea (1976)

91. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
92. Slither (2006)
93. A Field in England (2013)
94. The Lords of Salem (2012)
95. The Fury (1978)
96. Candyman (2021)
97. Misery (1990)
98. It (2017)
99. Zombie (1979)
100. The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958)

Yeah, Joey. Yeah, ha ha.

Movie Log 2025 Presents: August

Time to press on, should be a good month for cinema.

1. (146) Terrifier 2 (2022, Damien Leone)-90, Tubi
2. (147) Sette note in nero aka Seven notes in black (1977, Lucio Fulci)-80, Tubi
3. (148) The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025, Matt Shakman)-90, Theater Viewing
4. (149) Tomb of Torture (1963, Antonio Boccacci)-75, Tubi
5. (150) Cave of the Living Dead (1964, Ákos Ráthonyi)-64, Tubi
6. (151) Jurassic World Rebirth (2025, Gareth Edwards)-73, Theater Viewing
7. (152) Sasquatch, the Legend of Bigfoot (1976, Ed Ragozzino)-70, Tubi
8. (153) Drop Zone (1994. John Badham)-84, Pluto TV
9. (154) Balls of Fury (2007, Robert Ben Garant)-75, Tubi
10. (155) Terrifier 3 (2024, Damien Leone)-92, Public Library
11. (156) Men (2022, Alex Garland)-80, Public Library
12. (157) Saint Maud (2019, Rose Glass)-91, Public Library
13. (158) A Better Tomorrow (1986, John Woo)-100, Tubi
14. (159) Vampire’s Kiss (1988, Robert Bierman), Public Library
15. (160) Scared To Death (1981, William Malone)-82, Tubi
16. (161) The Strangler (1964, Burt Topper)-86, Tubi
17. (162) Night Fright (1967, James A. Sullivan)-40,  Tubi
18. (163) Dead Space (1991, Fred Gallo)-53, Tubi
19. (164) The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974, Tobe Hooper)-100, First Time Theater Viewing
20. (165) Scream (1981, Byron Quisenberry)-30, Tubi
21. (166) Honey Don’t (2025, Ethan Cohen)-87, Theater Viewing
22. (167) A Better Tomorrow II (1987, John Woo), Tubi
23. (168) The Believers (1987, John Schlesinger), Tubi
24. (169) Gargoyles (1972, Bill L. Norton)-84, Tubi

Leaves Blowing Over Your Grave: Horrorfest 2025

Sam is always watching. Always.

So I’ve been doing this since 2008, when I was skinnier and had more hair. That’s a long time, and my love of horror movies has grown a lot since then. The way I view them has changed with streaming, the demise of video stores and movie theaters often either surprising me by getting something or once again passing, causing me to have to view it by streaming, the library or other means I won’t mention. Anyways, no list, I’ll be trying to finish old backlogs and viewing whatever comes my way, while making attempts to review them on time. I don’t get paid for this, so enjoy, or don’t read them, either way full speed ahead.

We Watch Horror All Year Round:

1. Terrifier (2016, Damien Leone), Tubi
2. Terrifier 2 (2022, Damien Leone), Tubi
3. Sette note in nero aka Seven notes in black (1977, Lucio Fulci), Tubi
4. Tomb of Torture (1963, Antonio Boccacci), Tubi
5. Cave of the Living Dead (1964, Ákos Ráthonyi), Tubi
6. Terrifier 3 (2024, Damien Leone), Public Library
7. Men (2022, Alex Garland), Public Library
8. Saint Maud (2019, Rose Glass), Public Library
9. Vampire’s Kiss (1988, Robert Bierman), Public Library
10. Scared To Death  (1981, William Malone), Tubi
11. Night Fright (1967, James A. Sullivan), Tubi
12. Dead Space (1991, Fred Gallo), Tubi
13. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974, Tobe Hooper), Theater Viewing
14. Scream (1981, Bryon Quisenberry), Tubi
15. The Believers (1987, John Schlesinger), Tubi
16. Gargoyles (1972, Bill L. Norton), Tubi
17. Dead of Night (1977, Dan Curtis), Tubi

Bodies Falling All Around:

1. (18) Scream and Scream Again (1970, Gordon Hessler), Tubi
2. (19) Vampire Academy (2014, Mark Waters), Tubi
3. (20) Scarecrows (1988, William Wesley), Tubi
4. (21) The Last House On The Left DC (1972, Wes Craven)
5. (22) The Last House On The Left (2009, Dennis Iliadis), Blu-ray
6. (23) Shadow Builder (1998, Jamie Dixon), Public Library
7. (24) The Faculty (1998, Robert Rodriguez), Public Library
8. (25) The Initiation of Sarah (1978, Robert Day), Public Library
9. (26) Link (1986, Richard Franklin), Public Library
10. (27) Night of the Demons 3 (1997, Jimmy Kaufman), Public Library
11. (28) The Amityville Horror II (1982, Damiano Damiani), Peacock
12. (29) The Monolith Monsters (1957, John Sherwood), DVD
13. (30) Fright (1971, Peter Collinson), Tubi
14. (31) Weapons (2025, Zach Cregger), Theater Viewing
15. (32) After Death (1989, Claudio Fragasso), Tubi

Music Log 2025

Maybe this one will go better. Onwards.

Top Albums of the Year So Far:

1. Sunflower (1970, Public Library), The Beach Boys
2. The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan (1963, YouTube), Bob Dylan
3. Fetch the Bolt Cutters (2020, Public Library), Fiona Apple
4. Birth of the Cool (1949, Public Library), Miles Davis
5. Billion Dollar Babies (1973, Public Library), Alice Cooper
6. The Great Impersonator (2024, Public Library), Halsey
7. Nashville Skyline (1969, Walmart), Bob Dylan
8. Prelude to Ecstasy (2024, Barnes & Noble), The Last Dinner Party
9. The Graduate Soundtrack (1968, Half-Price Books), Simon & Garfunkel
10. Wings Over America (1976, Public Library), Wings
11. ZZ Top’s First Album (1972, Half-Price Books), ZZ Top

January:

They actually featured this track in the movie, I didn’t expect that

1. Birds of Prey: The Album (2020, Public Library), Various-8.5
2. Blue World (1964, Public Library), John Coltrane-9.5
3. Paradise State of Mind (2024, Public Library), Foster The People-9.0
4. Jesus Was a Capricorn (1972, Public Library), Kris Kristofferson-9.0
5. Radical Optimism (2024, Public Library), Dua Lipa-8.5
6. Waterloo (1974, Public Library)-9.5, ABBA
7. Alright, Still.. (2007, Public Library)-9.0, Lily Allen
8. Fetch the Bolt Cutters (2020, Public Library)-10.0, Fiona Apple
9. The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan (1963, YouTube), Bob Dylan-10.0

February:

Now I know what to play if we ever have elections again

1. (10) Billion Dollar Babies (1973, Public Library), Alice Cooper-10.0
2. (11) Dreamer (2020, YouTube), Atomic Blue-9.0
3. (12) Punisher (2020, YouTube)-9.5, Phoebe Bridges
4. (13) Sound Ancestors (2021, YouTube), Madlib-8.5
5. (14) Birth of the Cool (1949, Public Library), Miles Davis-10.0
6. (15) Maze of Sounds (2020, YouTube), Janko Nilović and The Soul Surfers-9.0
7. (16) Fun Times (2021, YouTube), Josh Fudge)-7.5
8. (17) The Great Impersonator (2024, Public Library), Halsey-10.0
9. (18) Faith (1987, Public Library), George Michael-9.0
10. (19) Nashville Skyline (1969, Walmart), Bob Dylan-10.0
11. (20) Youngblood (2018, Public Library), Five Seconds of Summer-6.5

March:

These guys invented modern dreampop before it was ever thought of, wow

1. (21) Moon Safari (1998, YouTube), Air-9.0
2. (22) American Utopia (2018, Public Library), David Byrne-8.5
3. (23) case/lang/veirs (2016, Public Library), case/lang/veirs-9.5
4. (24) Here (2012, Public Library), Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros-9.0
5. (25) Illmatic (1994, Public Library), Nas-9.0
6. (26) Sunflower (1970, Public Library), The Beach Boys-10.0
7. (27) Prelude to Ecstasy (2024, Barnes & Noble), The Last Dinner Party-10.0
8. (28) Union (1991, Half-Price Books), Yes-9.0
9. (29) Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas: Music From The Motion Picture (1998, Half-Price Books), Various-9.5
10. (30) The Graduate Soundtrack (1968, Half-Price Books), Simon & Garfunkel-10.0

April:

1. (31) Midnight Madness (2021, YouTube), Moderator-9.0
2. (32) Los Angeles: Critical Mass (1998, YouTube), Mindspore-9.0
3. (33) One More Time… (2023, Public Library), Blink 182-8.0
4. (34) In These Silent Days (2021, Public Library), Brandi Carlile-8.5
5. (35) Untourable Album (2021, YouTube), Men I Trust-9.0
6. (36) The Clash (1977, Public Library), The Clash-9.5
7. (37) This Land (2019, Public Library), Gary Clark Jr.-9.0

May:

1. (38) Crystal Castles (2008, Public Library), Crystal Castles-9.5
2. (39) Space 1.8 (2021, YouTube), Nala Sinephro-9.0
3. (40) Lux Prima (2019, Public Library), Karen O and Danger Mouse-7.5
4. (41) Magnetic (2013, Public Library), Goo Goo Dolls-5.5
5. (42) Pure Comedy (2017, Public Library), Father John Misty-8.0
6. (43) Good Intentions (2020, Public Library), Nav-3.5
7. (44) Instinct (2012, Public Library), Niki and the Dove-8.5

June:

1. (45) Head or Heart (2014, Public Library), Christina Perra-7.0
2. (46) Petals for Armor (2020, Public Library), Hayley Williams-8.0
3. (47) Western Stars (2019, Public Library), Bruce Springsteen-9.0
4. (48) Mind Hive (2020, Public Library), Wire-9.0
5. (49) Mind over Matter (2014, Public Library), Young the Giant-9.5
6. (50) Back in the High Life (1986, Public Library), Steve Winwood-9.0
7. (51) Wings Over America (1976, Public Library), Wings-10.0
8. (52) Dirt (1992, Barnes & Noble), Alice In Chains-9.5

July:

1. (53) ZZ Top’s First Album (1972, Half-Price Books), ZZ Top-10.0
2. (54) Lotus (2012, Public Library), Christina Aguilera-5.5
3. (55) Kelsey (2020, Public Library), Kelsea Ballerini-8.0
4. (56) The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We (2023, Public Library), Mitski-8.5
5. (57) Jenny From Thebes (2023, Public Library), The Mountain Goats-9.0
6. (58) Les Liaisons Dangereuses 1960 (1960, Public Library), Thelonious Monk-10.0
7. (59) South of Here (2024, Public Library), Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats-8.0
8. (60) The Album (1978, Public Library), ABBA-10.0
9. (61) Coco (2007, Public Library), Colbie Caillat-7.0
10. (62) Camila (2018, Public Library), Camila Cabello-8.0
11. (63) Timeless: The Classics (1992, Public Library), Michael Bolton-8.0
12. (64) Born This Way (2011, Public Library), Lady Gaga-9.0

August:

1. (65) Terrifier 2 Synthwave Soundtrack Extended (2022, YouTube)-9.0
2. (66) The Idler Wheel… (2012, Public Library), Fiona Apple-9.5
3. (67) Rock America (1980, YouTube), Rick Gilder-9.5
4. (68) Sea Change (2002, Public Library), Beck-8.0
5. (69) Use Your Illusion I (1991, Public Library), Guns ‘N Roses-8.5
6. (70) Tejas (1976, Half-Price Books), ZZ Top-9.5
7. (71) El Loco (1981, Half-Price Books), ZZ Top-8.5
8. (72) American Stars ‘n Bars (1977, YouTube), Neil Young-10.0
9. (73) Afterburner (1985, Half-Price Books), ZZ Top-8.5

September:

1. (74) Licorice Pizza OST (2021, Public Library), Various-9.0
2. (75) Sour (2021, Public Library), Olivia Rodrigo-9.5
3. (76) Guts (2023, Public Library), Olivia Rodrigo-10.0
4. (77) The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess (2023, Public Library), Chappell Roan-10.0
5. (78) Talking Book (1972, Public Library), Stevie Wonder-10.0

Let’s Get Criterion

Recently I decided to go through my collection of Criterion films, a total number of which I can’t remember as I have lost track due to buying so many. It’s probably over a 150 at least. I haven’t viewed all of them yet either, and some of them have already been reviewed so a fresh perspective would be nice. I’ve also decided to do this after viewing several ones I purchased during Barnes & Noble’s 50% Criterion Sale. I hope they keep holding those sales again and again, and I am registered as a member of the Criterion website and follow them on Twitter. Here’s the list so far:

1. Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (1970, horror/fantasy)
2. Repo Man (1984, satire)
3. I Married a Witch (1942, comedy/fantasy)
4. Häxan (1922, horror movie/documentary)
5. Onibaba (1964, Demon Hag)
6. The Cremator (1969, Evil Incarnate)
7. The Devil’s Backbone (2001, Spanish Ghosts)
8. Design For Living (1933, Artists!)
9. Rules Of The Game (1939, Rich People! The Help! Satire!) 
10. Foreign Correspondent (1940, Pre-War Spy Games)
11. Detour (1945, Never Pick Up Strangers)
12. Black Narcissus (1947, Nuns Go Crazy!)
13. A Matter of Life and Death (1946, Trial For Your Life)
14. Cure (1997, Evil!)
15. Targets (1968, Gun Crazy)
16. WALL-E (2009, Robot Love)
17. Sisters (1973, Twins Can Be Murder!)

Horrorfest 2025 Presents: Dead Space (1991, Fred Gallo)

Usually remakes dial up the extreme factor because the original is an older movie that was more tame, or at least seen that way decades later. Dead Space is the opposite, where the original Forbidden World has more gore, nudity and sci-fi horror violence. Dead Space would be fine if it wasn’t also a pale imitation of a better 1980s movie, and Marc Singer was never convincing as the leading man. Bryan Cranston has an early role in this movie and he’s much better despite the script giving him very little to do with, and Laura Tate hangs around to be the love interest.

The rest of the cast exist to be victims, the robot was better in the original, and the monster is too cheesy to be memorable. Some remakes work, others such as Dead Space exist as reminders that you are usually better off coming up with original content or something less derivative of previous movies. I found myself wishing that I was playing the video game series of the same name instead of watching this movie, and that’s a bad thing.

Horrorfest 2025 Presents: Night Fright (1967, James A. Sullivan)

Poor John Agar, the man got stuck forever in cheesy sci-fi horror movies but he actually was a likable actor. He tries his best in Night Fright, a mostly forgettable exercise in 1960s sci-fi horror that needed more gore. This is a largely slow movie that is neither creepy nor atmospheric, and the solid cast is unable to bring life into what is a turkey. James A. Sullivan’s movie would be improved as a turkey, because turkeys are useful and his movie is not. They also taste better.

Bill Thurman, Dorothy Davis, Ralph Baker Jr., Carol Gilley and others appear in this movie, and then either run from the monster or become the victim. How they dispose of the monster is rather neat, yet it fails to save the rest of the movie. If I saw this at a drive in theater back in the 1960s I would regret not having beer with me, or a date at least. Without either, this is a slog, offering little of value, and I’m glad I didn’t pay to see this like so many probably did back in 1967.

Horrorfest 2025 Presents: Scared To Death (1981, William Malone)

Frightening!

William Malone’s Scared To Death is a fun, well paced monster flick that has some decent gore and the creature looks freaky enough. In fact I liked the creature effects, a relic from a bygone era where practical special effects reigned supreme and you had people working overtime to make the creatures look scary. The plot has the cliched troubled hero, but John Stinson plays the part as both smart know it all and likable enough haunted asshole. His comrade is David Moses, who is a good straight man for this kind of material, and the love interest is Diana Davidson, who is smarter than your typical one for this kind of movie.

Oddly enough the finale has material that later popped up in the first Terminator movie, thus confirming that either the movie that came out 3 years later ripped it off, or that idea is just one that has been used a lot in horror and sci-fi movies. I’m not sure, but Scared To Death has plenty of mayhem and fun moments to engage the viewer, and I did enjoy this quite a lot. I’m surprised no one has remade it, and apparently there was a sequel in the 1990s, which I guess I should check out. Maybe that is also on Tubi.

There’s Nothing Like College: Week 5

6-4 last week (yey positive lol), 18-22 overall (still sad):

*USC over Illinois

*ND over Arkansas

*Minnesota over Rutgers

*UCF over K-State

*Kansas over Cincy

*Louisville over Pitt

*Ole Miss over LSU

*Oregon over Penn State (Big Ten GOTW)

*Georgia over Bama (SEC GOTW)

*BYU over Colorado

There’s Nothing Like College: Week 3 Picks

Last Week: 2-8 (I suck at this, ha ha ho ho), 12-18 overall

*Utah over Texas Tech (Big 12 game of the week)

*Memphis over Arkansas

*TCU over SMU

*Michigan over Nebraska (yeech)

*UCF over UNC (loser has to ditch the c)

*NC State over Duke (this is not basketball)

*Miami over Florida (rivalry!)

*Illinois over Indiana (Big Ten game of the week)

*Baylor over ASU

*BYU over East Carolina

Tie breaker is total points for Miami v Florida, I said 73 cause why not

Horrorfest 2025 Presents: Vampire’s Kiss (1988, Robert Bierman)

Twin Towers spotted

Nicolas Cage freakouts are legendary, and while he’s capable of playing normal human beings we go to the movies to see him freak out. He can play unhinged so well, and his character in this movie was already unstable, wandering around partying, sleeping with multiple women, mixing drugs and booze. His latest partner may have turned him into a vampire, or maybe he’s finally completely lost it. Vampire’s Kiss is a comedy and a vampire movie, those were common in the 1980s and it is fun to watch.

Not a great movie, but still fairly well shot and directed by Robert Bierman, who along with his cinematographer Stefan Czapsky capture New York City in all it’s late 1980s glory. Jennifer Beals actually plays a fantastic vampire, one who you can believe seduces Cage’s character, however the movie’s real hero is Page’s long suffering secretary, played by María Conchita Alonso, who he berates in one of the movie’s bleakly funny crash out scenes.

Everyone knows the famous “I’m a vampire, I’m a vampire!” scene, and it is funny, but I’ll never forget Cage eating cockroaches and wearing those fake plastic fangs people use for Halloween parties. This movie is truly something else, and the finale manages to stick the landing and be more than the rest of the movie. But the rest of the movie fits the ending all too well.

There’s Nothing Like College Week 3

Last Week: 5-5, overall record: 10-10 (MEH)

*Clemson over Georgia Tech

*Troy over Memphis

*Tennessee over Georgia

*WSU over North Texas

*Pitt over WV

*App State over Southern Miss

*Texas A&M over ND

*South Carolina over Vandy

*Tulane over Duke

*Minnesota over Cal

Tie Breaker of Total Points Between Georgia and Tennessee: 52

There’s Nothing Like College: Week 2 Picks

5-5 overall (ouch)

*Iowa over ISU (Game of the Week!)

*Syracuse over UConn

*Illinois over Duke

*SMU over Baylor

*NC State over Virginia

*Mizzou over Kansas (Border War!)

*West Virginia over Ohio

*Oklahoma over Michigan

*Arizona State over Mississippi State

*V-Tech over Vandy

Points Tiebreaker for Wolverines vs Sooners: 57

Prompt of the Day

Are you more of a night or morning person?

Night, easily. Give me night time every time, I’m not a morning person. Especially now that I work overnights, I’ve become a vampire now, but the idea of coming in at 6 am sounds godawful. Working overnights is not fun either, yet I prefer that to coming in early and being grumpy that it’s still dark outside. Either way, neither one is good, I actually was happy working 2-10 pm most days. Night is really pretty though on walks.