Horror films have long been the favorite of many moviegoers due to the excitement and surprise on offer. The horror genre is pretty loose, but a key guideline is that a film creates panic and alarm for the audience. Horror movies play on the worst fears of the audience by taking something from everyday life and turning it into something scary. Most horror films have one key character that personifies evil in some way or has the ability to put the fear of God into others. Typical horror films include one of a ghost, vampire, or zombie that lives among the general population and causes as much havoc as possible. It may also be the case that violence is included in a horror movie in order to scare the audience further. Within the horror genre are many sub-genres, such as comedy horror, zombie horror, and supernatural horror. Because the vast majority of horror films include horrific scenes, most of these films receive a rating that forbids younger audience from watching. This may not be a bad thing because it is important that children are protected from seeing scary movies until their parents feel it is appropriate for them to do so. Listed below are five of the most enthralling horror films of all time.
"The Exorcist"
Based on a 1971 book of the same name, "The Exorcist" is thought of by many as the greatest horror film of all time. Directed by William Friedkin, this 1973 classic gets its inspiration from the 1949 exorcism case involving Roland Doe. The main premise of the film revolves around a young demon-possessed girl whose mother uses exorcism to get her true daughter back. The film was a critical success and earned ten Academy Award nominations. At the time, the film was ranked one of the highest-grossing films ever for any genre. "The Exorcist" was also the first horror movie to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
"Scream"
"Scream" is a typical slasher film that follows the fortunes of a group of teenage friends who are targeted by a mystery killer. Featuring young stars such as Drew Barrymore, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette, the film was widely considered a success and became a forbearer for slasher films of the future. Although the film was highly censored, it was able to reach a wide audience due to the inclusion of several mainstream actors and actresses. "Scream" was able to reach a female audience like no other horror film had done before. Since its release, "Scream" has become somewhat of a cult film due to its fanatical following. Many sequels have been spawned since, with the franchise now established as the benchmark for the horror genre.
"Godzilla"
A loose remake of the 1954 film of the same name, "Godzilla" is more of a science fiction horror movie. The plot revolves around a nuclear event in the South Pacific that causes an abnormally huge reptile to spring up. The monster makes its way to the North American continent and chooses to wreak terror on Manhattan. At the time of making the film, a trilogy was in the pipeline, but it never occurred. However, in 2010, Legendary Pictures picked up the rights to the franchise and planned a new film of the same name to be released in May 2014.
"The Texas Chainsaw Massacre"
"The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" is a remake of a 1974 slasher film of the same name. The 2003 film was directed by Marcus Nispel and produced by Michael Bay but was co-produced by Kim Henkel and Tobe Hooper, who also worked on the original film back in the 1970s. Despite many negative reviews, this film grossed over $100 million worldwide, considerably more than the $9.5 million budget that was allocated to the film. After this film, other two films followed: "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning" and "Texas Chainsaw 3D."