Scary stories are something that's been with us for as long as time can remember. For some reason, people have always enjoyed getting a little scared, and whether it be horror movies, ghost stories around a campfire or the chilling books by authors like Stephen King, there's something perversely satisfying about getting a fright.
There are so many types of horrors, especially when it comes to films, whether they be bloody gore films, satirical comedies, ghost stories or psychological drama, the genre is diverse and wide.
It is very difficult to compare horror movies because they can be so diverse. After all you can hardly compare The Nightmare on Elm Street with a movie like Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds, other than the fact that both may give you a fright. However the following five films are the best examples of different classic horror genres, and are also responsible for inspiring thousands of other films over the years.
In 1960 the one and only Alfred Hitchcock introduced us to Norman Bates and the Bates Motel in Psycho. This masterpiece, with Anthony Perkins in the role of Norman, continues to stand the test of time. It many not be the scandalous movie it was in 1960, but it is still one of the most tense and nerve-wracking experiences you will have while watching a movie. The famous shower scene with Janet Leigh is perhaps the most iconic on-screen kill of all time.
In 1973 The Exorcist, directed by William Friedkin and starring Ellen Burstyn, Max Von Sydow and Linda Blair, hit the screens and scared the world like never before. This was the movie that caused many sleepless nights for its audience, as the scary story of a young girl, played by Blair, is possessed by a demon, and we follow the story of the priests who try to exorcise the demon out of her. It is still as disturbing today, and should not be watched alone, unless you are very brave.
Steven Spielberg made his mark on cinema with the unforgettable horror about a Shark terrorizing a small town beach town in Jaws. This sparked a different kind of fear, and many people claim to be scared of the sea, and sharks, based strictly on having seen this film. The John Williams composed theme remains as haunting today, and with a great cast like Roy Schneider, Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss, one can forgive how fake the shark looks these days.
When it comes to the slasher horror movies, Halloween is perhaps the pinnacle of this sub-genre. Yes, Michael Myers has competition from Friday the Thirteenth's Jason or Wes Craven's Nightmarish Freddie Kruger, but John Carpenter's classic 1978 blockbuster was definitely the best. Carpenter is another fantastic director in this genre, having also made classics like The Fog and The Thing, but Halloween also had great performances from Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasance.
Finally, and to show Steven Spielberg's influence on horror movies, is a movie produced by him, and directed by Toby Hooper, the one and only Poltergeist. Released in 1982, the film revolves around a haunted home, and the family these ghosts decide to terrorize, eventually even taking the youngest child, memorably into the television set. Leading the cast were Craig T. Nelson and JoBeth Williams.
There are so many types of horrors, especially when it comes to films, whether they be bloody gore films, satirical comedies, ghost stories or psychological drama, the genre is diverse and wide.
It is very difficult to compare horror movies because they can be so diverse. After all you can hardly compare The Nightmare on Elm Street with a movie like Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds, other than the fact that both may give you a fright. However the following five films are the best examples of different classic horror genres, and are also responsible for inspiring thousands of other films over the years.
In 1960 the one and only Alfred Hitchcock introduced us to Norman Bates and the Bates Motel in Psycho. This masterpiece, with Anthony Perkins in the role of Norman, continues to stand the test of time. It many not be the scandalous movie it was in 1960, but it is still one of the most tense and nerve-wracking experiences you will have while watching a movie. The famous shower scene with Janet Leigh is perhaps the most iconic on-screen kill of all time.
In 1973 The Exorcist, directed by William Friedkin and starring Ellen Burstyn, Max Von Sydow and Linda Blair, hit the screens and scared the world like never before. This was the movie that caused many sleepless nights for its audience, as the scary story of a young girl, played by Blair, is possessed by a demon, and we follow the story of the priests who try to exorcise the demon out of her. It is still as disturbing today, and should not be watched alone, unless you are very brave.
Steven Spielberg made his mark on cinema with the unforgettable horror about a Shark terrorizing a small town beach town in Jaws. This sparked a different kind of fear, and many people claim to be scared of the sea, and sharks, based strictly on having seen this film. The John Williams composed theme remains as haunting today, and with a great cast like Roy Schneider, Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss, one can forgive how fake the shark looks these days.
When it comes to the slasher horror movies, Halloween is perhaps the pinnacle of this sub-genre. Yes, Michael Myers has competition from Friday the Thirteenth's Jason or Wes Craven's Nightmarish Freddie Kruger, but John Carpenter's classic 1978 blockbuster was definitely the best. Carpenter is another fantastic director in this genre, having also made classics like The Fog and The Thing, but Halloween also had great performances from Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasance.
Finally, and to show Steven Spielberg's influence on horror movies, is a movie produced by him, and directed by Toby Hooper, the one and only Poltergeist. Released in 1982, the film revolves around a haunted home, and the family these ghosts decide to terrorize, eventually even taking the youngest child, memorably into the television set. Leading the cast were Craig T. Nelson and JoBeth Williams.
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Need to catch up on horror movies starring your favourite actors? Fright Flicks has a variety of free movies to choose from with new arrivals coming in daily. From zombie movies to thrillers, you will find films perfect for you.
