The Top Horror Films You Need to See: The Big Wrap-Up

In the other installments in our series we covered Vampires, Werewolves, Zombies, Slasher films, Ghosts, Creatures, and Supernatural horror. In this article we'll feature the films that are still horror that may not fit into a specific type, as well as a few we forgot to include.

"Island of Lost Souls" (1932) (Gene pick)

Based on the legendary sci-fi novel, "The Island of Dr. Moreau" by H.G. Wells, which was adapted at least two more times in later decades, the film involves a doctor who has been experimenting with animal-human hybrids as part of a study of genetics and evolution. The cast includes Charles Laughton as the doctor, and Bela Lugosi, fresh from his portrayal of Dracula, as one of the leaders of the beast men. Both actors due an amazing job, and the film asks serious questions about morality and what it is to be human, while showing disturbing depictions of the treatment of the animal men in the doctor's "house of pain."

"Freaks" (1932)

While referenced in the film "The Dreamers," and a season of "American Horror Story," this film could not be made today, and in fact probably couldn't have been made even 20 years later. The plot is irrelevant - what makes the film historic and fascinating is that the cast actually does include many people who had been making a living being displayed or performing as sideshow attractions, aka "freak shows" in traveling carnivals due to medical conditions and birth defects ranging from dwarfism to microcephalia.

"Duel" (1971) (Gene pick)

Some of the best films are the result of the culmination of effort between an amazing director and a talented writer. This is one of those films, the first full-length feature from Steven Spielberg, adapting a story by writer Richard Matheson, who became famous as a writer for "The Twilight Zone" as well as numerous novels adapted for film, including "The Shrinking Man" and "I Am Legend." In both the story and the film, a businessman (Dennis Weaver) has to drive across the Mojave Desert in the American Southwest for an important meeting. Things seem to be going normally until he passes a very large truck billowing clouds of exhaust. The truck driver starts playing a game of cat and mouse, tormenting the man, who can barely keep his car going because of the desert heat, and whenever he tries to get the attention of the police, the truck and driver seem to go away, and he can't register a complaint without a description of the driver. Displaying the skills he'd master soon after with "Jaws," Spielberg does a great job of increasing the terror and suspense as the man both fears for his life and questions his sanity.

"Carrie" (1976) (BOTH pick)

As with "Duel," this film pairs a great writer and a talented director, in this case Brian DePalma adapting the first novel of Stephen King. This film was groundbreaking, essentially introducing the world to King, actress Sissy Spacek, and other actors and actresses in the film, including William Katt and John Travolta. The film has been redone, and spawned a musical, but none are as good as this must-see original about a shy and sheltered young high school girl, Carrie, (Spacek) who is subjected to the most humiliating high school prank of all time. What her peers don't know is Carrie has also developed telekinetic abilities that make her a force to be reckoned with.

"Magic" (1978) (Gene pick)

People are naturally fascinated, yet creeped out by ventriloquist dummies. A good ventriloquist can really make you think the dummy is alive. Such is the case in this film, based on the novel by William Goldman, author of the terrifying "Marathon Man" as well as the not-terrifying "Princess Bride." Anthony Hopkins plays a ventriloquist so successful even he seems to think his dummy is alive, though he hides that fact, because the idea is crazy. His manager (Burgess Meredith) suspects he's insane, and he tracks his client to the small tourist town he grew up in, where he hopes to get a well-needed rest and rekindle the romance with his lost love (Ann-Margret).

"Tourist Trap" (1979) (Gene pick)

Some things are just fricking creepy, like ventriloquist dummies, twins, clowns, and mannequins. This film has the mannequins. A group of teens stop at a roadside wax museum and find trouble they didn't expect. The film has several surprises, and one of the most memorable final shots from a horror film you may ever see.

"The Amityville Horror" (1979) (Gene pick)

Based on a bestselling book about a supposedly true case of a haunting in Amityville, N.Y., this film was a cultural phenomenon, launching multiple sequels and a remake, most of them not worth watching, but this film is so iconic, themes in it continue to echo through films made today. Essentially a family moves into a lake house that's far more than they can afford, but they get a deal on it. It turns out that not long before, a young man killed his entire family in the middle of the night (this is verified) in the house, and no one would live there. Soon after, disturbing events of increasing intensity start happening, until the family suddenly flees. If you've watched "The Conjuring" series of films, you'll want to watch this one. The couple the series is based on was actually consulted for the Amityville case.

"Motel Hell" (1980) (Gene pick)

The concept of this film is simple - Farmer Vincent, owner of the Motel Hello, is famous for his fritters. What people don't know is, the secret ingredient is people, specifically the guests of his hotel. The film is technically a spoof, but it still has disturbing moments, namely the hidden area where Farmer Vincent ages his meat until tender.

"Flowers in the Attic" (1987) (Dandy pick)

Based on the book series by V.C. Andrews. After the tragic death of their father, four children and their mother take up residence in their maternal grandparents’ home. The catch? To win back her father’s love, Corrine locks her children in a room with access to the attic. What was supposed to be a temporary situation, turns into their worst nightmare as visits from their mother become more infrequent and they’re left to the devices of their abusive grandmother. Worth noting that there is a made-for-TV mini-series based off the entire book series from 2014 staring Heather Graham as Corrine that is well worth the watch.

"They Live" (1988) (BOTH pick)

This classic from director John Carpenter is perhaps his most socially relevant film, in which a man finds that when he (or anyone) puts on special sunglasses, the world we live in is revealed to be a simulation. The reality is, television and advertising work subliminally to make people consume, spend, question nothing, and submit to authority. Plus, people all around us, in government, in the media, even our neighbors, are actually hideous aliens.

"The Silence of the Lambs" (1991) (BOTH pick) While Hannibal Lecter had already made an appearance before, in the film, "Manhunter," based on the novel, "Red Dragon," it was this film that introduced us to Lecter as portrayed by Anthony Hopkins, and that portrayal made Lecter a household name. Based on the the novel by Thomas Harris, the film finds FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) assigned to interview captured serial killer and psychiatrist Lecter to aid the pursuit of a new killer, dubbed Buffalo Bill.

"The Addams Family" (1991) (BOTH pick)

It takes a lot of guts to make a film about an iconic and beloved TV series, and cast none of the originals in it. Sure, original Morticia Addams Carolyn Jones was dead, as was original Lurch Ted Cassidy, but original Gomez John Astin was still alive and working when this film was released. Not only was the film made, but new Gomez Raul Julia and new Morticia Angelica Huston were so good in their roles, with so much chemistry, that they fans to this day have a hard time choosing a favorite.

"Audition" (1999) (Gene pick)

We don't have many Asian films on our lists, but this one undeniably qualifies. When a widower decides to start dating again, a filmmaker friend helps him by hosting auditions for a fake production so he can find a good candidate for his next wife. This process doesn't go quite as planned, as one of the candidates decides to subject him to terror the likes of which will make you shudder for years to come.

"Battle Royale" (2000) (Dandy pick)

The original Hunger Games, only much better and gorier. The two are not related in any way, only a similar premise. In a dystopian future, school kids are forced by the government to compete in a game of survival as they brutally attack and kill one another. The other catch? They’re all forced to wear exploding collars that can detonate at any time.

"Valentine" (2001) (Dandy pick)

Five women who’ve been friends since childhood are being stalked and killed by a Cupid mask-wearing assailant. After connecting the dots, they believe the killer to be a boy they bullied in middle school who was beaten up after a false accusation by one of the girls. Unbeknownst to them all, the killer is closer to them than they think.

"Cabin Fever" (2002) (Gene pick)

In director Eli Roth's debut film (he also stars in the film) a group of teens spend a weekend at a cabin in the woods, which is the premise of countless films since the late 1970s. The premise differs in that one of them mistakenly shoots a man who has a skin infection. This man then dies, and his body contaminates the water supply for the cabin, meaning the friends are drinking and bathing in his polluted remains all weekend, with disturbing results.

"Swimfan" (2002) (BOTH pick)

Sexy tales of obsession are nothing new, and they vary widely in quality. You can find them anywhere from the big screen to the Hallmark Channel, and the formula is usually the same. The good character is tempted with forbidden love or sex with an attractive "bad" character. The forbidden tryst occurs, and that should be that. But then their forbidden hookup won't go away, threatening their relationship, their job, and ultimately their life. That's pretty much the case here, but "Swimfan" is so suspenseful, so stylish, and some of the scenes so hot, that it stands out as one worth watching.

"May" (2002) (Dandy pick)

If you can’t make any friends, then really make a friend. May (Angela Bettis) is a shy and awkward loner who can’t relate to people. Although her unusual charm brings people into her life, she’s quickly disappointed when her friends are less than perfect. So, why not take the best parts of them and put them all together? A modern-day Frankenstein story, you can’t help but feel pity for May as the people she wants to love do her wrong.

"High Tension" (2003) (BOTH pick)

In talking to horror fans, there are a few films that get mentioned on lists of films that really disturbed them. Films so brutal they had nightmares, or felt sick. "High Tension," is one of those films. It combines the best elements of a slasher film with a psychological horror film in a unique package that will ingrain it in your memory and make you say, "wow."

"Saw" (2003) (Gene pick)

The problem with film franchises is they often become formulaic. While some fans disagree, with slasher films in particular, the deeper into the franchise you go, the more likely you are to disregard the plot and just watch to see victims killed in clever and more brutal ways. "Friday the 13th" is possibly the best example of this. Aside from going to Manhattan and outer space, most of the series is just Jason hunting people down and butchering them, which has its merit but doesn't make for a must-see film. The same argument could be made for the Saw series, but like every series, momentum and interest is built off of a clever concept and a good intial film, which is what we have here, in which a doctor (Cary Elwes) finds himself in a room with another man and a body. The doctor has a shackle around his leg, and there's a saw in the room. Knowing his family is in danger of being killed, he's forced to decide whether to cut through the shackle or his leg in order to escape to save them.

"Hostel" (2005) (Dandy pick)

My torture porn days are well behind me, but this movie, along with High Tension, has always stuck out to me as one of the grossest and possibly the scariest things I have seen. Three guys traveling to indulge in women and debauchery, meet their fate while staying in a hostel where they are told of a place in Slovakia that will pleasure them beyond their wildest dreams. They embark on this adventure, but instead find themselves separated and held hostage in an old warehouse where they’re tortured to death in various ways.

"Planet Terror" (2007) (BOTH pick)

In 2007, friends, writer-directors, and collaborators Quentin Tarentino and Robert Rodriguez teamed up on what might be the ultimate project - "Grindhouse" a double feature in which they paid tribute to the schlocky yet awesome films of the 1970s seen most often in drive-in theatres. Each director contributed his own film, with other directors such as Rob Zombie contributing trailers for fake movies in the same style (Zombie's was "Rob Zombie's Thanksgiving). This was Rodriguez's contribution to the project, which features Tarentino, Bruce Willis, and Rose McGowan as a girl who loses her leg in the fight against zombies, replacing it with a machine gun. It makes no sense, as tends to be the case with grindhouse films, but it's awesome all the same.

"Death Proof" (2007) (Dandy pick)

If you can get past the incessant chatter that often happens in a Tarantino flick, this movie is quite enjoyable. Focusing in on two different groups of women with different fates, they face off against Stuntman Mike (Kurt Russell), a man with a “death proof” car that you don’t want to mess with-or do you? Full of female empowerment as women kick some ass!

"Teeth" (2007) (Dandy pick)

Goody-goody Dawn (Jess Weixler) has a hidden talent that she doesn’t quite understand that she’s not supposed to have-teeth where they do not belong, tenfold. That’s right, guys, she has teeth down there. Her discovery happens after a boy she’s crushing on forces himself upon her and well, he was left without an appendage. Dealing with her confusion and trauma, Dawn starts to research her condition and soon realizes that her abnormality is used as protection, and also to her advantage.

"The Hole" (2009) (Dandy pick)

Four high school students decide to ditch the weekend class trip and spend the time partying in an old bunker near the school. The guy who let them in doesn’t show up to let them out, so they spend weeks trapped in the bunker, running out of food, water, and losing their sanity. As Liz (Thora Birch) recalls the events after her escape, it becomes a story of who do you believe and how far would one go for love?

"Orphan" (2009) (BOTH pick)

There are a few movies out there about evil kids. This one, about an orphan named Esther who is adopted by a normal, loving family, seems to be one of those, as Esther, who has a troubled past, starts killing those around her. Except this isn't a standard evil kid film. Evan after you know what makes it different, you'll want to watch it again.

"Tucker and Dale vs. Evil" (2010) (Dandy pick)

This a horror comedy that isn’t to be missed. Rednecks Tucker (Alan Tudyck) and Dale (Tyler Labine), head up to Tucker’s newly purchased “vacation home,” a rundown cabin the woods, to fix it up for their weekend fishing excursions. Along the way, they come across a group of college students who dismiss Dale as just another hillbilly. Later, after Dale saves one of the women from drowning, the group is convinced the men kidnapped her. Instead of talking to the men about their missing friend, they go to extreme lengths to be saviors, resulting in hilarious missteps as each end up killing themselves in the process.

"American Mary" (2012) (Dandy pick)

Struggling med student Mary (Katharine Isabelle) needs to make some cash, fast. After answering an ad for a masseuse at a sleazy strip club and later being raped by her med professor, Mary is thrust into the underbelly world of cosmetic surgery and body modification to make ends meet. She comes to find that her talents are coveted as more clients seek her out for their unusual requests, but her missing med professor catches the eye of the authorities. Can Mary carve herself out of this mess?

"Cabin in the Woods" (2012) (BOTH pick)

As we noted in our list of slasher films, what made "Scream" brilliant was that it acknowledged that most slasher films had become blatantly formulaic, and it actually stated what the formula was, then redefined it. This film goes a step further, combining the familiar tropes of effectively every horror film, from slasher films to monster movies into one film, then saying there's a very good reason why they're all the same, with teenagers coming to the woods to party and die for generations. There's no movie like this. Brilliant and funny.

"Plush" (2013) (Dandy pick)

After the death of her brother, musician Hayley (Emily Browning) needs to find a new guitarist for her band and creative juice to get people interested in her music again. Enter Enzo (Xavier Samuel), an embodiment of her brother and a very talented musician with a keen eye and creative streak that helps Hayley get out of her writing rut. After Hayley and Enzo have an “on tour” affair, Hayley is ready to get back to her life and family, but Enzo has other plans as he immerses himself into her personal life, getting close to all those around her.

"Martyrs" (2015) (Gene pick)

Another film frequently mentioned by horror fans that's on the short list of films so brilliantly brutal that even the most jaded fans can feel sick is "Martyrs." It begins as one young woman helps a friend find and avenge herself on the family that imprisoned and tortured her since she was a child, but it gets even more mysterious and brutal from there, as we find out why the girl was tortured. There are a lot of films that display acts of brutal violence and torture, usually under the premise that the person doing the torture is either exacting vengeance or is a sadist. This isn't one of those films. The reason for the brutality in this film is unique, thought-provoking, and disturbing.

"31" (2016) (Gene pick)

This film gives us everything you'd want and expect in a Rob Zombie film. His wife, Sherri Moon Zombie, has a prominent role, but there are also appearances from 70s and 80s horror veterans, such as Malcolm McDowell and Meg Foster, in a film with oddball characters and brutal violence. The plot centers around a game in which a group of carnies are captured and forced to participate in an annual game called "31." Set free in a labyrinthian complex, they encounter increasingly deadly opponents. If they're captured, they will be tortured and killed. IF they can survive 12 hours until morning, they will be set free, but the odds are against them. What makes it a game is that a group of elites are betting who, if any of them will survive.

Gene Lass and Dandy J. West are lifelong horror fans and film buffs. They are the former editors of the blog "So Good It's Scary."