In the lead up to the release of THE EVIL DEAD remake this Thursday. With all things horror, I have put together a top 5 of films that have scared me the most.
The films in my top 5 may not be listed as the scariest films on IMDB or in JB HiFi’s lists, but they had truly freaked me out and left me filled with curiosity after the first time I watched them. I admit, I haven’t watched every horror film every made, but I enjoy a good scare every now and then. After an anxious wait for the remake of the classic 80s EVIL DEAD horror film, I have put together this list and will be sitting front and centre on opening night this Thursday.
5. The Ring (2002)
Directed by Gore Verbinski, starring Noami Watts. This film has been mocked by parody films – one being SCARY MOVIE 3. THE RING made me a little nervous to answer the phone once the credits started rolling. The art department and visual effects were done so well. My eyes were glued to the screen even though I wanted to look away.
4. Dawn of the Dead (2004)
Directed by Zack Snyder. This film is definitely one of the best zombie films (that isn’t a comedy or rom-com) I’ve every seen. The zombies were so realistic and the dramatic tension mixed with blood and gore was pretty awesome. The thing that scared me the most was the way the zombies acted and how aggressive they were. And the eyes, I must not forgot those eyes! Talk about freaky.
3. Paranormal Activity (2007)
Directed by Oren Peli and made for approximately $15,000. This film was done so very well, added tension and suspense where it was needed and kept the audience on edge the whole time. I loved the fact it was filmed with hand held cameras and had a ‘video surveillance’ feel. The sequels or prequels or what ever they are meant to be have obviously had a larger budget, but there’s just something about the first film. It was different, it wasn’t Hollywood with pretty girls in bikinis and tank tops. It felt like reality.
2. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Another independent film made for a minimal $60,000.
This film had elements of realism and had a documentary feel. I watched this film when I was quite young, 14 or so, and I never really wanted to go camping since. The film made almost $250,000,000 worldwide.
And number 1 is…
1408 (2007)
Starring John Cusack and directed by Mikael Håfström. I guess if you don’t believe in spirits and ghosts you would have most likely thought this film was more of a thriller. However, I do believe in ghosts and spirits, so I found this film chilling. It isn’t like most horror films, in that you see the ‘evil’ and there isn’t dark shadows covering the spirits faces and strange camera angles to make the audience feel sick. The ‘evil’ in the film was more of the unknown. We didn’t know what would happen to Mike Enslin next and we didn’t know how he could escape. The evil exists within the walls of the hotel room. “Hotels are a naturally creepy place, just think, how money people slept in that bed before you? How many of them were sick? How many… died?”
Are any of these films in your top 5? Comment below to let us know which film’s have scared you the most!
