"Carnival of Souls" (1962)

While recently remade, Carnival of Souls is a spooky film set in the early 1960's.  After emerging as the lone survivor in a terrible car crash, a woman named Mary becomes increasingly disturbed.  When she finally accepts a new job as an organist at a church (scary enough, eh?), she begins to be haunted by a menacing ghost.... (insert creepy ghost noise here)

Oh, the horror!

Carnival of Souls is available to watch instantly on Netflix, Hulu, AND Youtube (it's a pretty old flick).  Therefore, there's no need to buy it-- instead, just watch it for free!  In the meantime, check out this trailer:

P.S. This film didn't get stellar reviews when it first was released, but in the late 1980's it was regarded as a cult classic!  However, the director of the film never worked in the industry again and lead actress Candace Hilligoss was dropped promptly by her agent.

P.S.S. The evil ghoul/man creature that Mary sees throughout the flick is actually director Herk Harvey in makeup.  He actually wore his ghost makeup to interviews later on-- talk about dedication....

"Rec 2" (2010)

In the original Rec (which is a classic, wonderful zombie flick, I might add), viewers witnessed an apartment complex become quarantined by the government and all the people inside of it turned into zombie-like creatures, with one exception-- a journalist who was dragged by her feet in a dingy attic by some unidentified creature.  While I will refrain from commenting too much (and possibly spilling major spoilers), I will say that Rec 2 picks up where its predecessor left out, with a bunch of government agents examining the remains of the apartment complex.  Add in a dash of spirituality and you have yourself a nice, thoughtful sequel.

You can purchase Rec 2 from Amazon or rent it via Netflix-- either way it is an entertaining flick, especially for Rec fans.  In the meantime, get a load of this teaser:

P.S. The lead actress, who was in the original film, actually wore the exact same clothes she did in the first film-- talk about some pit stains, right?

"The Haunting" (1963)

Don't let the original G rating fool you-- The Haunting is a terrifying classic ghost story that is a classic among horror fans.  The film centers around a doctor who is hell-bent on proving that ghosts exist.  Using a stereotypical haunted house (named Hill House-- scary, eh?), he employs the help of various individuals who have had previous experiences with the supernatural.  One young woman, Nell, becomes particularly involved in the experiment and finds herself drawn deeper and deeper into the history of Hill House.

Seriously, spiral staircases are never NOT creepy....

While you can likely find the full-version of The Haunting online for free if you do a little digging, if you have Amazon Prime you can also watch it for free.  You can also purchase The Haunting from Amazon for a few bucks-- not a bad deal for such a great movie....

P.S. This film was adapted from the 1959 novel The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson (a great book if you love ghost stories!).  Also, it was remade in 1999 starring Catherine Zeta-Jones.

P.S.S. Talk about famous fans-- director Martin Scorsese has named The Haunting as his favorite horror film of all time.

"Night of the Demons" (2009)

I have a confession, y'all: I had a ginormous crush on Edward Furlong back in his T2 days.  Unfortunately, his career is leading him down the path of B-level horror flicks-- although, I must admit, Night of the Demons is actually a fun little ride.  A bunch of rowdy teenager/young adults (all of who strangely resemble porn stars) have a wild Halloween party in an old mansion.  Accidentally, they release a slew of evil demons who kill them off one by one in order to take over the world.

You can buy Night of the Demons from Amazon or watch it for free if you have a Netflix subscription.

P.S. This movie is actually a remake of the 1988 film of the same name.  They only difference is that the original flick took place in an abandoned mortuary instead of a cool mansion.

P.S.S. Monica Keena and Edward Furlong actually started dating after being in this movie together.  And yes, I was slightly jealous.... just kidding!

"Species" (1995)

I'm not gonna lie-- I really just don't get Species.  Don't get me wrong-- I love thrillers that deal with hot, killer aliens, but it's the premise I have problems with.  Basically, a bunch of scientists receive a message from space detailing how to splice an alien's DNA with a human's.  They decide it would be an awesome idea (although I have no clue why), and the result is Sil-- an alien/super model who goes crazy and homicidal looking for a mate to birth more babies with.  I don't really blame Sil for all of this, but instead the wacky scientists who decided to treat genetics like a piece of Ikea furniture.  Didn't there moms tell them not to listen to life-altering messages from alien strangers?  Sheesh.

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You can rent Species from Netflix or you can buy it from Amazon.  Know what else you can do?  Check out the trailer below, of course!



P.S. Calling all Alien fans-- H.R. Giger, who designed the monstrous, eggplant-head-shaped creature also designed Sil for Species, as well.  In fact, H.R. Giger was so into this flick that he actually spent $100,000 of his own money to make sure an expensive scene was shot.

P.S.S. This film was actually adapted from a Dark Horse Comics series of the same name.  Apparently, in this case, the book-- er, comic book-- was better....

"Omen IV: The Awakening" (1991)

What happens when two attorneys adopt the granddaughter of Satan?  Unfortunately, this isn't some bar joke ripping into the legal profession; instead, it's the story behind the third sequel of The Omen.  Omen IV: The Awakening is a made-for-TV movie that replaces Damien with Delia, a young, angelic 8 year old who was adopted by her successful yuppie parents.  However, when Delia's mother suddenly becomes pregnant, she begins to fear for her and her unborn child's life as the truth behind Delia's upbringing unravels....

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Unfortunately, you can't watch or rent Omen IV: The Awakening from Netflix yet.  However, you can purchase a copy from Amazon for reasonably cheap.  Additionally, for all you frugal folk, you can watch it for free on Youtube, starting with this video.  You can also check out the trailer while you're at it:



P.S. Does the actress who played Delia seem familiar, old school Nickelodeon fans?  The actress, Asia Vieira, guest starred in an episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark? in the 90's.  Talk about being typecast, eh?

"Carrie" (1976)

Whenever you hear the phrase, "Pull a Carrie," you can assume they are talking about one thing-- embarrassing a nerdy girl by the use of pig blood on prom night.  This is the exact premise of Brian De Palma's cult classic Carrie.  Based on the novel by Stephen King, the story revolves around a bullied, mousy girl named, appropriately, Carrie.  While two kind-hearted students try to repent for their evil ways by showing Carrie a good time at prom, other popular kids have something entirely different in mind.  When you combine relentless bullying, an overzealous religious parent, and a slew of telekinetic powers, well.... you'll just have to watch, won't you?

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You can watch Carrie instantly on Netflix, or you can buy the classic from Amazon.  Make sure to check out the clip below:



P.S. Even though this is a well-known piece of trivia, the pig's blood dropped on Carrie's head was actually karo syrup and red food coloring.  Yum!

P.S.S. Tons of actresses were considered for the title role before Sissy Spacek.  Melanie Griffith, Linda Blair, and Farrah Fawcett all auditioned for it.  Before Sissy Spacek's husband, who was the art director for the film, convinced director De Palma to see his wife's screen test, he was set on Amy Irving for the title role.  Later, she was bumped down to a smaller role and Carrie went to Spacek.

"Rosemary's Baby" (1968)

If you haven't heard of the film Rosemary's Baby, then I suggest you turn away from this post, because I will tell you exactly what the movie is about: Satan.  That's right, folks.  When a young, hip couple move into a shady apartment complex, they are thrilled to find out that they are pregnant.  However, as Rosemary's bump begins to grow, so do the strange occurrences around her-- people die, nightmares occur, and the neighbors are all too friendly.  Soon, Rosemary learns that a paternity test may be in order for her previous bundle of joy....

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You can rent Rosemary's Baby from Netflix or you can just buy it from Amazon.  Make sure to check out the following clip below, as well:



P.S. There were several rumors floating around that Anton LaVey, the Church of Satan founder, actually played Satan in one of the scenes.  However cool that would be, it was unfortunately false.  Boo.

P.S.S. Rosemary's Baby was director Roman Polanski's first American film, as well as his first non-original script.  Many people say this film stays true to the book more so than any other movie ever made-- this was likely due to the fact that Polanski didn't know he could stray from the book in the script.

"Poltergeist" (1982)

"They're heeeeeere...."

Seriously.  Am I the only one who gets goosebumps when I hear this phrase?  Thanks to Poltergeist, a film directed by Tobe Hooper (of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre fame) and written by Steven-frickin'-Spielberg, millions of people worldwide now fear snowy television sets, scary clown dolls, and closets that suck you into another life.  When the Freeling family moves into a cheap ol' house (seriously, people need to read up on this real estate gimmick), they soon learn that their abode was built over an Indian burial ground.  Now, the spirits torment their family and even stole their youngest daughter, and the only person who can stop them is a little person with a loud, squeaky voice.....

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You can rent Poltergeist from Netflix or you can buy it from Amazon.  Know what else?  You can also check out this trailer:



P.S. The infamous Poltergeist house was an actual house in Simi Valley, California.  Apparently, it's not at all haunted, since the people who lived there during the filming still reside in it.

P.S.S. While Poltergeist is technically directed by Tobe Hooper, the film cast and crew state that Steven Spielberg actually directed the majority of the film.  Since he was directing E.T. at the same time, he had a clause in his contract that disallowed him from directing any other film at the same time.  Therefore, I guess you could call him a "backdoor director."

P.S.S.S. There is speculation that a "Poltergeist curse" exists.  Heather O'Rourke, who played the youngest child, died at the age of 12 from congenital intestinal stenosis.  Dominique Dunn, who played the oldest sister, was sadly murdered by her boyfriend the same year the movie was released.  Oliver Robins, who played the brother, also almost died on the set from being choked by the clown doll.  When his face finally turned blue, Steven Spielberg rescued him.

"Jennifer's Body" (2009)

While Jennifer's Body got lukewarm reviews at best, I happen to be a pretty big fan of this cheesy horror-esque flick.  Written by famous screenwriter Diablo Cody, Jennifer's Body tells the story of two best friends-- super-gorgeous/popular/sociopathic Jennifer and nerdy Needy (pun intended, much?).  When a vicious man-eating demon inhabits Jennifer's body, she becomes a man-eater-- literally.  She keeps going after all of Needy's favorite dudes, proving that mean girls still existant in the demonic world.  Needy, however, isn't going to take much more of it....

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Rent Jennifer's Body from Netflix, or simply buy it from Amazon for mere pennies.  Also, don't forget to check out this trailer, 'k?



P.S. The film's title was named after a Hole (Country Love's band) song of the same name.

P.S.S. While the name of the demon is never mentioned, it is highly suspected to be a succubus, a demon that apparently seduced and destroyed men.  Fitting, eh?

"Phantasm" (1979)

Just when you thought that funeral homes couldn't get any creepier, Phantasm adds a whole new, bizarre level of horror.  This film is a classic among horror fans, and involves a young boy who stumbles upon a creepy dude with some extraordinary powers at a funeral.  Known only as Tall Man, he has a tendency to reanimate the dead into elf-like creatures for eternal slavery.  Oh yes-- he also has some cool toys, like balls (don't get any ideas, you dirty-minds out there) that can project spikes into a victim, living or dead....

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Phantasm is available for rent on Netflix. However, if you're like me, you can also buy it from Amazon for nearly nothin'.  In the meantime, enjoy this preview:



P.S. The original running time was 3 hours long-- yikes!  Needless to say, some smart guy estimated that 3 hours is about 1 1/2 hours too long for an average horror geek's attention span.  They cut it down substantially.

P.S.S. This is infamous for the Tall Man's favorite torture device, a silver sphere that protruded spikes.  They actually were thought up by director Don Coscarelli, who said that the idea came to him in a dream.  The craftsman in charge of making the spheres sadly passed away before the movie was released.

"The Evil Dead" (1981)

The Evil Dead is one of those films that everyone knows about, regardless of whether or not they consider themselves to be a horror movie fan.  It singlehandedly launched two celebrities into fame-- star Bruce Campbell and director Sam Raimi-- with its campy, yet creepy, storyline.  When 5 teenagers go to a cabin in the woods, they discover an ancient book (the Necronomicon) and a corresponding tape recording of the text.  When they get nosy and play the tape, they release an ancient spirit that possesses 4 out of 5 of the teens.  Making them into zombies, there is only one kid that remains, and uses a chainsaw in a bizarre way to stop it....

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You can watch this gem on Netflix instantly, or you can man up and simply buy the film from Amazon.  Regardless, you won't be sorry.  Don't believe me?  Check out this cool trailer, then:



P.S. Bruce Campbell apparently really, really believed in this film.  He put up his parents' house as collateral for the film to be released.

P.S.S. Stephen King was one of the first people to watch the film.  He publicly expressed his liking of The Evil Dead, and soon it was bought by New Line Cinema.

"Videodrome" (1983)

I won't lie, y'all-- Videodrome is one creepy, weird film.  Directed by David Cronenberg (the same man responsible for Shivers and Crash), it tells the story of a television network's CEO, who is constantly searching for better material.  Although he's got lots of gratuitous violence and sexuality on his programming, he wants more shock value.  After discovering a remote show seemingly from Malayasia called Videodrome, he decides to air it-- with terrible consequences.  Basically a snuff film, Videodrome captures the attention of the masses, and James Wood starts to hallucinate.

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You can watch Videodrome instantly on Netflix for free, or you can buy it from Amazon for dirt cheap. Before you dedicate 1 1/2 hours to this, check out the following trailer:



P.S. Andy Warhol was apparently a huge fan of this flick.  He called Videodrome "A Clockwork Orange of the 1980's," likely due to its underlying message of violence in society.

"The Entity" (1982)

Some ghosts possess young children; other, more friendly spirits do crazy things, like stack chairs in your kitchen.  Then, there is the ghost in The Entity, a 1980's movie that focuses on Carla, a single mother who is targeted by a malicious spirit.  This entity doesn't just torment her by following her around and making loud noises.  Instead, it beats, rapes, and sexually abuses her.  Based on a supposedly true story, this film is certainly controversial and will forever alter the way you look at the term "haunted house"....

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The Entity was previously available to watch instantly on Netflix, but unfortunately isn't available in DVD or streaming form.  Make sure to keep an eye out for its return, or you can buy it straight from Amazon.  To get a taste of the movie, check out the following clip:



P.S. As stated previously, The Entity was based on the true story of Carla Moran.  In one particularly violent instance, her teenage son attempted to intervene when the ghost was sexually assaulting his mother.  In the process, his arm was broken.  Strangely enough, when filming the scene for the film, the actor who played the son actually broke his arm, as well.

"A Nightmare on Elm Street" (1984)

A Nightmare on Elm Street isn't just one of Wes Craven's first horror movies, or Johnny Depp's introduction into cinema.  Instead, it is a pioneer in the genre known as "slasher films."  What makes this film so frightening is that, as opposed to other slashers of the day such as Halloween and Friday the 13th, is that it has a supernatural twist.  Years ago, Freddy Kreuger, a pedophile/child murderer, was burned alive by disgruntled parents who feared for their children's safety.  As the children become teenagers, Freddy, adorned in an ugly striped sweater and metal claws reminiscent of X-Men's Wolverine, haunts their dreams, killing them both while asleep and in real life.

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Rent A Nightmare on Elm Street on Netflix, or buy it on Amazon.  Regardless, if you consider yourself a horror fan, you must add this classic to your collection.  Check out the following trailer for a sneak preview:



P.S. Unlike other famous film killers, like Jason or Michael Meyers, Freddy Krueger is not simply a large, silent monster.  Instead, he is dark, demented, and somewhat funny.  Originally, Freddy was supposed to follow the others' examples, but actor Robert Englund successfully created a novel character.

P.S.S. Freddy Krueger was named after Wes Craven's schoolyard bully.  He apparently tormented him relentlessly during their shared paper routes.  Talk about poetic justice....

"Pumpkinhead" (1988)

Most non-horror fans have heard of several famous villains throughout their lives: Jason, Freddy, Michael Meyers... however, even a good percentage of horror geeks have not heard of Pumpkinhead.  Although his head is technically not shaped like a pumpkin, the film Pumpkinhead deals with a father's thirst for revenge for his dead son.  A group of teenagers accidentally kill the boy in a dirt bike accident, and soon the father seeks the aid of a local witch for vengeance.  They both unleash Pumpkinhead, a monster who is buried in the local pumpkin patch and will stop at nothing to kill its targets.  However, when the father has a change of heart, he must go to incredible lengths to stop the monster....

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Rent Pumpkinhead from Netflix, or take a gamble and buy it directly from Amazon.  Before you make a decision, check out the trailer below:



P.S. The punk band The Misfits actually released a song called "Pumpkin Head" in 1999.  It basically told the same story, and was even on an album entitled Famous Monsters.

"Puppet Master" (1989)

At first glance, Puppet Master seems like a film that has no redeeming factors-- I mean, puppets?  That come to life?  Really?  However, it's campiness is its saving grace.  Basically, a puppeteer learns some Egyptian trick to give life to inanimate objects, so he tries it out on his clan of puppets.  However, when the Nazis try to sieze his powers, he kills himself and buries the puppets in an old hotel.  Years later, four psychics arrive at the hotel to mourn the suicide of their friend, another psychic.  Soon, though, the puppets awaken and apparently have all sorts of evil goodies, including a drill for a head, a leach that pops out of a doll's mouth and into a person's, etc.  Considering I am deathly afraid of worms, you can guess what the most horrifying part for me is....

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Luckily for all you killer doll lovers, you can watch Puppet Master instantly on Netflix.  However, if you really, really like funny horror flicks from the 1980's, you can buy it directly on Amazon.  In the meantime, check out this spooky trailer:




P.S. Apparently, to avoid an X rating, the director had to replace red blood which supernatural-esque green blood.  Yuck!

"Hellraiser" (1987)

I won't lie, folks-- I am slightly partial to all the Pinhead movies, especially the original Hellraiser.  Perhaps it's because it is an original, semi-intelligent horror movie involving supernatural elements and S&M-obsessed demons; or, it could be that I met Doug Bradley (a.k.a. Pinhead himself) once and he was super nice and complimented me on my top.  Regardless of the reason, I think Hellraiser is a horror film that even non-scary movie fans should watch.  The premise is slightly confusing, so let me try to put it in layman's terms: a sociopathic man fiddles with a magical box, gets sucked into the inner realms of Hell, is tortured excessively, escapes, and now is on the run from Pinhead, the leader of these crazy demons (a.k.a. Cenobites).  However, since he is literally just a pile of bones and blood, he hides out in his brother's attic, where he has an affair with his sister-in-law, kills some neighbors, and ultimately has to face his captors.  Are you exhausted yet?  Yah?  Me too.

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Rent Hellraiser on Netflix, or do yourself a favor and buy it from Amazon.  Watch the following trailer if you don't believe me on how supremely awesome this film is:



P.S. This movie is actually based on a novella by Clive Barker called The Hellbound Heart.  Additionally, the working title of this movie was Sadomasochists From Beyond the Grave.  I'm thinking they made a good choice....

P.S.S. Pinhead wasn't the character's official name until the second movie-- originally, it was simply The First Cenobite, but fans dubbed the character fondly as "Pinhead."  The rest is history.

P.S.S.S. Guess who has a signed, framed picture in her room that reads, "Dear Katie, See you in Hell.  Love, Doug Bradley." Oh yah, that's right... it's this girl!

"The Guardian" (1990)

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After William Friedkin directed the horror classic The Exorcist, he apparently decided to have a little bit of fun dabbling in, shall we say, less prestigious movies.  The Guardian is one of those films.  Despite the fact that it is corny and sometimes odd, it is definitely an intriguing concept and a fun watch.  The story begins with a young, yuppie couple popping out a baby, Jake, and wanting to return to work immediately after.  They hire a lovely British nanny named Camilla who becomes instantly like family.  However, there are a few things not mentioned in her background check-- not only does she have a love for trees, she also tends to have a habit of sacrificing young babies in her care to them.  If you put aside the cheesy Ferngully-esque references and the random nudity, it truly is an entertaining, campy flick.

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The Guardian is available to watch instantly on Netflix, or you can buy it from Amazon.  The trailer is presented below for your viewing pleasure:



P.S. Apparently, this film went through several elements of rewriting.  They originally wanted to make it about a nanny who simply kidnapped babies, but they decided that making her a pagan-worshipping tree was more appropriate.  Additionally, Sam Raimi was supposed to direct, and when William Friedkin signed on, the original writer became so overwhelmed with rewrites that he suffered a nervous break down.  Fun.

"Suspiria" (1977)

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When it comes to Suspiria, there are two elements in the film that you know will make it a good watch: it contains ballet (always creepy in horror flicks), and it was directed by Dario Argento.  Seriously, Argento is a rock star in the scary movie world.  While he has gained notoriety for other classics, such as Opera and Phenomenon, he is best known for what many call his finest film-- Suspiria.  Taking place in an exclusive, Italian ballet academy, the film centers on the arrival of a young American girl and her feelings that the school may be harboring a deeper secret beyond dance classes and strict diet regimens.... murders of beautiful young ballerinas occur, people fall through glass ceilings (a notorious Argento trademark), and, oh yes, the school may just be run by a pack of witches.

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Grab Suspiria from Amazon or rent it from Netflix.  Regardless, check out the first, creepy scene from the classic horror flick:



P.S. Suspiria is considered to be the first movie in a trilogy of films about the "Three Mothers," followed by Inferno and La terza madre.