6. Halloween (John Carpenter, 1978)

The camera, unstable and in motion, takes on a subjective perspective in the scariest of John Carpenter’s horror films, Halloween, creating a dreadful realization that the psychotic killer is stalking his victims. Jamie Lee Curtis shines as Laurie, the chaste and studious teen who may become Michael Myers’ next victim.

5.  Theatre of Blood (Douglas Hickox, 1973)

In this campy cult classic, a delightfully Machiavellian stage actor (Vincent Price) gets revenge on the snide theater critics who have written bad reviews of his performances. Making the revenge even sweeter, Price carries out each elaborately- planned murder in the style of a different Shakespearean play, making each violent act a splendid performance.

4. Scream (Wes Craven, 1996)

Wes Craven manages to make horror both terrifying and fun in Scream, his cool and ironic response to the teen slasher flick. Winking to the audience, the movie mocks the conventions of the horror genre, yet manages to keep us white-knuckled and on the edge of our seats until the end.

3. The Exorcist (William Friedkin, 1973)

Two priests attempt to free a 12 year-old child of demonic possession in William Friedkin’s tour-de-force of horror cinema. Earning ten Academy Award nominations, The Exorcist features terrific storytelling and outstanding performances, some so chilling that you may never sleep peacefully again after watching the movie.

2. The Shining (Stanley Kubrick, 1980)

Stanley Kubrick’s iconic adaptation of Stephen King’s novel still ranks as one of the most terrifying movies ever made. Isolated for the winter in the empty Overlook Hotel, Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) slips further and further into madness, threatening the lives of his wife and son. The only thing more frightening than a crazed Jack Nicholson brandishing an axe is Kubrick’s depiction of the haunted hotel itself—old, cavernous, and full of terrible secrets.

1. Psycho (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960)

Hitchcock’s classic psychological thriller has made us all think twice about pulling over at a roadside motel for the night, or stepping into a shower behind the curtain. Featuring one of the best performances in the horror genre (Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates), Psycho continues to frighten us 55 years after its date of release. 

So what do you think? How does this compare to John Bruns’ list from yesterday?

Colleen teaches courses in the film studies program and English department. Her research interests include film history, masculinity on film, cultural studies, film industry studies and twentieth-century American literature.