Must-See Horror Films Part 5

"Candyman"

Clive Barker's other great creation, "Candyman" is about a grad student (Virginia Madsen) investigating the reality behind the urban legend of the Candyman, a hook-handed killer. Thinking it's nothing more than a legend, she inadvertently releases the Candyman, and finds he's even more horrifying than she imagined.

"The Exorcist III"

It's hard to follow-up to one of the scariest films of all time, and "The Exorcist II: The Heretic" absolutely failed, despite Linda Blair returning to the role that made her famous, and despite adding Richard Burton, one of the most acclaimed actors of all time, in the other leading role. That should have made for a great film, but it was one of the worst sequels ever. Years later, "The Exorcist III" made up for it, with excelellent acting by George C. Scott, and some of the scariest sequences I've ever seen in a film, I literally jumped in my seat at least once and was geniuinely scared.

"Sleepwalkers"

"Sleepwalkers" is a very rare Stephen King film in that it's not breased on a novel or short story, but is an original screenplay written by King. It's about a mother and her teenaged son, who are both monsters that feed on the energy of female virgins. While they appear to be attractive humans, these creatures actually resemble some sort of werecat, and in fact cats are their weakness, because the animals can see their true form, and do lethal harm to them quite easily.

"Bram Stoker’s Dracula"

Francis Ford Coppola's adaptation of Bram Stoker's novel claimed to be the definitive version, and it is closest to the format of the novel, which is told though a series of letters and journal entries, not as pure narrative. However, Coppola does add some material and speculate, primarily Dracula's origin. While not a perfect film, it is quite good, with a flawless, haunting performance by Gary Oldman as Dracula, as well as excellent work by Anthony Hopkins as Van Helsing and Winona Ryder as Mina. Stylish and beautirfuly directed the film honors past adaptations of Dracula while forging new ground.

"Silence of the Lambs"

Tieing for one of my top three favorite films of all time, this may be a perfect film. I can't think of a poor lead, supporting, or cameo performance in the film. Excellent music, cinematography, and effects. A riveting plot. There isn't a wasted scene in the whole film.

"Jacob’s Ladder"

One of the most mentally disturbing films I have ever seen. There are many films, such as "Inception", where it's a dream within a dream and you're not sure what reality is. This film tops them all. Tim Robbins plays a Vietnam vet who after the war has been suffering flashbacks to his time in combat, as many vets do. But he has also been having visions when he's awake of tentacles coming out of people and other things that can't be real. He's also dreaming of his time before the war, the family he lost. His dreams and flashbacks merge more and more with his reality until he doesn't know what's real. Sometimes he dreams his dead family is still alive, or maybe they are. When he talks so friends from his old unit, they say the same thing has been happening to them. Was something done to them? Or, like a palm reader has told him, is he already dead?

"Nightbreed"

Written and directed by Clive Barker, based on his novella "Cabal," this is a different kind of horror film, about a young man who finds a place called Midian, home to an assortment of strange people with various deformities and abilities. They accept him as one of their own, despite his normal appearance, and he finds some of them are kind, some actually are horrifying. But the real terror is the serial killer who would love to blame his activities on someone else.

"Arachnophobia"

Executive produced by Steven Spielberg, the film depicts an invasion of a small California town by a deadly species of spider imported from Venezuela. They breed rapidly and soon begin taking over the town. John Goodman has a memorable role as a pest exterminator who suits up to fight back against the deadly but oddly cute mini-monsters.

"Raising Cain"

If you've watched "Dexter" you'll know the most memorable, deadly, chilling villain to ever appear on the series was a serial killer played by John Lithgow. If you've only ever known him as a warm, intelligent funny guy from "3rd Rock from the Sun" and soup commercials, you haven't seen there, or in this film, where he plays multiple roles - each one a different personality of a very disturbed man.

"The Craft"

An almost iconic film, or at least a snapshot of the late '90s, this film is about a teen who falls in with a group of awkward but beautiful girls at her school, each of whom have magical powers they use to strike at those who have wronged them. One of the films that made Neve Campbell an It Girl.

"Cube"

Another unique concept for a horror film, with a sci-fi aspect as well. Several strangers awaken in a room, not knowing why they're there. The room is part of a maze, with deadly traps at every turn. Without knowing where they are or how to get out, they look for clues in hopes to survive.

"Nightmare Before Christmas"

It's not a horror film, really. It's a holiday film, covering two holidays, so you can watch it twice a year. But there are certainly horror elements in it, it's a complete blast to watch, it's a must-see film, and there are some tense and comicly disturbing scenes.

"Army of Darkness"

True, I didn't list "Evil Dead 2", yet this one is in here. That's because the original film starts the story, the second one continues it, but you don't really need to see it. There's enough of a flashback to get the gist when you get to this unique entry featuring Ash in the past featuring many, many more undead. I can't think of another zombie film like this one.

"I Know What You Did Last Summer"

Based on the novel by Lois Duncan, this movie is 90s teen gold. Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze, Jr., Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Ryan Phillippe star as 4 friends united by a tragic accident who come together when someone begins hunting them down, claiming to know their secret.

"The People Under the Stairs"

Another unique creation by Wes Craven, this film is about a boy and two robbers who become trapped in a house owned by a strange couple. Full of hidden spaces and deadly secrets, the house is unlike any other.

"Prophecy"

Acting icon Christopher Walken stars as the archangel Gabriel, on Earth as part of a mission in the ongoing angelic war between Heaven and Hell. There's a lot to love about this film, in particular the way Walken gives Gabriel traits and movements like a bird, such as perching on the back of a chair rather than sitting on it. Brilliant stuff.

"Scream"

By the mid 90s, horror films as we knew them had been around for almost two decades, at least in terms of the slasher genre. They had gotten to be repetitive, and some of the franchises were running out of gas. Others were already done. In a brilliant move, Wes Craven acknowledged this in his new series "Scream", where the rules of horror films are spelled out, and turned on their heads over and over again.

"From Dusk til Dawn"

Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez are great when they do films on their own, when they do films together, they're even cooler, as evidenced by this film, which features Tarantino and George Clooney as criminal brothers who take hostages in order to try to cross into Mexico, but find themselves in a bar full of vampires.

"Urban Legend"

Continuing to break the mold of teenage slasher films and venture into new ground, this film is about a group of college students who try to survive as murders occur on their campus, each linked to a popular urban legend. With another cast of young 90s all-stars including Tara Reid, Jared Leto, Alicia Witt, and Rebecca Gayheart.

"Misery"

An excellent adaptation of one of my favoite Stephen King novels, this film has outstanding performances by James Caan and Kathy Bates in a story that's a rarity in King's fiction - no supernatural elements whatsoever, just horror and psychological terror. Caan plays a best-selling author who is injured in a car crash in Colorado. He wakes to find himself in the home of a nurse, who is his biggest fan. Rather than taking him to get medical attention, she keeps him in her house and tends to him while forcing him to write a new book in her favorite series the way she wants to see it done. The ultimate illustration of the difference between what an artist wants and what the people demand.

"Stir of Echoes"

Based on the novel by Richard Matheson, the film stars Kevin Bacon as a man who is hypnotized by his sister-in-law, and afterwards begins to see images of a little girl around his house. Is she real, or was she somehow implanted in his mind as a prank?

"Stendahl Syndrome"

A lesser-known entry from horror master Dario Argento, the film is noteworthy for being the first Italian film to use CGI. It stars Asia Argento as a policewoman who tracks a murderer-rapist, slowly losing her grip on sanity as she falls victim to the criminal's obsessions. The title and plot refer a syndrome the director says he has, in which certain types of art can overwhelm his senses to the point of breakdown.

"The Sixth Sense"

The fist film from acclaimed direct M. Night Shyamalan, the film stars Bruce Willis as a child psychologist who is trying to help a boy (Haley Joel Osment), who says he talks to dead people.

"Audition"

There are few Asian films in this list, but this one is well-deserved. "Audition" is about a widower whose son suggests he holds a phony audition in order to find not an actress for a role, but a new wife. One of the women who responds has other plans for him, namely torture and possibly death.

Next: 2000-2009