Alright, kiddies, new list. First off, if you notice, I'm leaving off the "best moment" section. I realized after a few posts it probably isn't the best idea since it actually sometimes gives major points away. I will still do them every once in awhile though if the list calls for it. Now, on to the list.
After seeing The Last Exorcism a few weeks ago, I decided it would be a good idea to do my favorite PG-13 horror movies. They always get such a bad wrap, but they're not always that bad. For example...
11. Jaws (1975)
Directed by: Stephen Spielberg
Stars: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, and Richard Dreyfuss
Plot: When a gigantic great white shark begins to menace the small island community of Amity, a police chief, a marine scientist and grizzled fisherman set out to stop it.
Useless trivia: In addition to the well-known nickname of "Bruce", Steven Spielberg also called the shark "the great white turd" when he really got frustrated with the troublesome animatronic fish.
P.S.: This movie was actually originally #3 on my list, but after further investigation I found out Jaws is actually only rated PG, and therefore shouldn't even be on this list. But, by today’s standards there’s no way it wouldn’t get a PG-13, if not an R. Also, this movie is way too good to leave off this list.
10. The Uninvited (2009)
Directed by: Charles and Thomas Guard
Stars: Emily Browning, Arielle Kebbel, Elizabeth Banks, and David Strathairn
Plot: Anna Rydell returns home to her sister (and best friend) Alex after a stint in a mental hospital, though her recovery is jeopardized thanks to her cruel stepmother, aloof father, and the presence of a ghost in their home.
Useless trivia: In the movie, Anna is meant to be fourteen/fifteen years old - in reality, Emily Browning was twenty years old at the time of filming.
P.S.: 'The Uninvited' is a remake of a 2003 Korean horror film A Tale of Two Sisters. It is the highest grossing Korean horror film to date.
Stars: Emily Browning, Arielle Kebbel, Elizabeth Banks, and David Strathairn
Plot: Anna Rydell returns home to her sister (and best friend) Alex after a stint in a mental hospital, though her recovery is jeopardized thanks to her cruel stepmother, aloof father, and the presence of a ghost in their home.
Useless trivia: In the movie, Anna is meant to be fourteen/fifteen years old - in reality, Emily Browning was twenty years old at the time of filming.
P.S.: 'The Uninvited' is a remake of a 2003 Korean horror film A Tale of Two Sisters. It is the highest grossing Korean horror film to date.
9. White Noise (2005)
Directed by: Geoffrey Sax
Stars: Michael Keaton, Chandra West, and Deborah Kara Unger
Plot: An architect's desire to speak with his wife from beyond the grave, becomes an obsession with supernatural repercussions.
Useless trivia: The recording used in the trailer that is attributed to Stanley Searles ("I love you.") is thought to be the "ghostly" voice of Searles himself, a former politician who died in 2002. The recording was said to have been made by Searles' daughter, an well-known EVP researcher named Karen Mossey.
P.S.: Electronic Voice Phenomenon (EVP) is definitely debatable as to whether it’s actually real or not, either way, go check out some video or sound clips online. Whether you believe it or not, you have to admit, it’s creepy. If you watch some stuff before the movie, it makes the movie that much better.
Stars: Michael Keaton, Chandra West, and Deborah Kara Unger
Plot: An architect's desire to speak with his wife from beyond the grave, becomes an obsession with supernatural repercussions.
Useless trivia: The recording used in the trailer that is attributed to Stanley Searles ("I love you.") is thought to be the "ghostly" voice of Searles himself, a former politician who died in 2002. The recording was said to have been made by Searles' daughter, an well-known EVP researcher named Karen Mossey.
P.S.: Electronic Voice Phenomenon (EVP) is definitely debatable as to whether it’s actually real or not, either way, go check out some video or sound clips online. Whether you believe it or not, you have to admit, it’s creepy. If you watch some stuff before the movie, it makes the movie that much better.
8. Cry Wolf (2005)
Directed by: Jeff Wadlow
Stars: Julian Morris, Lindy Booth, Jared Padalecki, and Jon Bon Jovi
Plot: After a local townie is murdered, a group of teenage liars create a warning e-mail of a serial killer named the Wolf, coming on the next full moon. The teens describe each death method the Wolf uses, but when their wish begins to come true, the teens must find their way out of their own death methods before its too late.
Useless trivia: After they pull Dodger out of the pool, she looks up and says something to the extent of "Owen you're my hero". Like when in 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' after they get Cameron out of the pool he says 'Ferris Bueller you're my hero'.
P.S.: This movie could actually have been included in my Best Revenge Flicks last week, but, you don’t really know about the whole revenge aspect of the movie until the very end. (Don’t worry, that really didn’t spoil anything.) Also, this movie has one of the coolest-looking killers out there. He's so simple, and a more plausible look for a killer than other films.
Stars: Julian Morris, Lindy Booth, Jared Padalecki, and Jon Bon Jovi
Plot: After a local townie is murdered, a group of teenage liars create a warning e-mail of a serial killer named the Wolf, coming on the next full moon. The teens describe each death method the Wolf uses, but when their wish begins to come true, the teens must find their way out of their own death methods before its too late.
Useless trivia: After they pull Dodger out of the pool, she looks up and says something to the extent of "Owen you're my hero". Like when in 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' after they get Cameron out of the pool he says 'Ferris Bueller you're my hero'.
P.S.: This movie could actually have been included in my Best Revenge Flicks last week, but, you don’t really know about the whole revenge aspect of the movie until the very end. (Don’t worry, that really didn’t spoil anything.) Also, this movie has one of the coolest-looking killers out there. He's so simple, and a more plausible look for a killer than other films.
7. Secret Window (2004)
Directed by: David Koepp
Stars: Johnny Depp, John Turturro, and Maria Bello
Plot: A writer is accused for plagiarism by a strange man, who then starts haunting him for "justice."
Useless trivia: In the scene where Johnny Depp bursts in on Maria Bello and Timothy Hutton in the Motel; David Koepp wanted Bello and Hutton to look shocked and scared - he made them both lie in the bed for 15 minutes before Depp rushed in. The production crew set up large speakers that blared static noise when the script called for them to be scared. The lights in the room were also rigged to go on when Johnny Depp opened the door, startling the actors further. No one knew exactly how to act.
P.S.: Secret Window is based on Secret Window, Secret Garden, a novella in a collection of four novellas in the book Four Past Midnight (1990) by American horror writer Stephen King. The novella was adapted for the movie by American screenwriter and director, David Koepp.
Stars: Johnny Depp, John Turturro, and Maria Bello
Plot: A writer is accused for plagiarism by a strange man, who then starts haunting him for "justice."
Useless trivia: In the scene where Johnny Depp bursts in on Maria Bello and Timothy Hutton in the Motel; David Koepp wanted Bello and Hutton to look shocked and scared - he made them both lie in the bed for 15 minutes before Depp rushed in. The production crew set up large speakers that blared static noise when the script called for them to be scared. The lights in the room were also rigged to go on when Johnny Depp opened the door, startling the actors further. No one knew exactly how to act.
P.S.: Secret Window is based on Secret Window, Secret Garden, a novella in a collection of four novellas in the book Four Past Midnight (1990) by American horror writer Stephen King. The novella was adapted for the movie by American screenwriter and director, David Koepp.
6. The Mothman Prophecies (2002)
Directed by: Mark Pellington
Stars: Richard Gere, Debra Messing, and Laura Linney
Plot: A reporter is drawn to a small West Virginia town to investigate a series of strange events, including psychic visions and the appearance of bizarre entities.
Useless trivia: The clock radio in John Klein's motel room reads: 6:14. It's a biblical reference to John Chapter 6 verse 14, which reads, 'This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.'
P.S.: The film is based on actual events that occurred between November 1966 and December 1967 in Point Pleasant, West Virginia.
Stars: Richard Gere, Debra Messing, and Laura Linney
Plot: A reporter is drawn to a small West Virginia town to investigate a series of strange events, including psychic visions and the appearance of bizarre entities.
Useless trivia: The clock radio in John Klein's motel room reads: 6:14. It's a biblical reference to John Chapter 6 verse 14, which reads, 'This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.'
P.S.: The film is based on actual events that occurred between November 1966 and December 1967 in Point Pleasant, West Virginia.
5. It (1990)
Directed by: Tommy Lee Wallace
Stars: Harry Anderson, John Ritter, and Tim Curry
Plot: Seven youths have to defeat a demonic creature named Pennywise which dresses in a clown suit and terrorizes a 1960's town in Maine.
Useless trivia: The night guard in the asylum is called Koontz, named after Stephen King's rival author Dean R. Koontz.
P.S.: The movie is being remade as an R-Rated film for a 2011 release. Also, I actually didn’t realize this wasn’t an R-Rated movie until I decided to do this list. In fact, I don’t know if technically I can include it on this list because it’s actually a made-for-TV movie, so it’s rated TV-MA (and to be more specific, it was before TV had ratings, so really there’s no rating). But, it’s close enough.
Stars: Harry Anderson, John Ritter, and Tim Curry
Plot: Seven youths have to defeat a demonic creature named Pennywise which dresses in a clown suit and terrorizes a 1960's town in Maine.
Useless trivia: The night guard in the asylum is called Koontz, named after Stephen King's rival author Dean R. Koontz.
P.S.: The movie is being remade as an R-Rated film for a 2011 release. Also, I actually didn’t realize this wasn’t an R-Rated movie until I decided to do this list. In fact, I don’t know if technically I can include it on this list because it’s actually a made-for-TV movie, so it’s rated TV-MA (and to be more specific, it was before TV had ratings, so really there’s no rating). But, it’s close enough.
4. Carriers (2009)
Directed by: Alex and David Pastor
Stars: Chris Pine, Lou Taylor Pucci, Piper Perabo, and Emily VanCamp
Plot: Four friends fleeing a viral pandemic soon learn they are more dangerous than any virus.
Useless trivia: Frank Holloway (Christopher Meloni) says to his daughter Jodie (Kiernan Shipka) I'll be back before you can say Captain Feathersword. Captain Feathersword is a character from The Wiggles.
P.S.: This movie has a very close feel to 28 Days Later or The Road. It’s almost post-apocalyptic or a zombie film, but it’s actually neither. Either way, it’s a very interesting movie.
Stars: Chris Pine, Lou Taylor Pucci, Piper Perabo, and Emily VanCamp
Plot: Four friends fleeing a viral pandemic soon learn they are more dangerous than any virus.
Useless trivia: Frank Holloway (Christopher Meloni) says to his daughter Jodie (Kiernan Shipka) I'll be back before you can say Captain Feathersword. Captain Feathersword is a character from The Wiggles.
P.S.: This movie has a very close feel to 28 Days Later or The Road. It’s almost post-apocalyptic or a zombie film, but it’s actually neither. Either way, it’s a very interesting movie.
3. The Last Exorcism (2010)
Directed by: Daniel Stamm
Stars: Patrick Fabian, Ashley Bell, Iris Bahr, and Louis Herthum
Plot: A troubled evangelical minister agrees to let his last exorcism be filmed by a documentary crew.
Useless trivia: Ashley Bell did all the bends and contortions of her body on her own. No special effects were used - she is double jointed.
P.S.: I could really write a lot for this film (don’t worry, I won’t,) but there’s so much to be said. The great part about this movie is that you don’t know whether this girl is really possessed or if she’s mentally insane. Also, if you’ve seen the trailer or posters, don’t be thrown off by Eli Roth’s name being plastered all over it. He really didn’t have much to do with the film since he was only a producer.
Stars: Patrick Fabian, Ashley Bell, Iris Bahr, and Louis Herthum
Plot: A troubled evangelical minister agrees to let his last exorcism be filmed by a documentary crew.
Useless trivia: Ashley Bell did all the bends and contortions of her body on her own. No special effects were used - she is double jointed.
P.S.: I could really write a lot for this film (don’t worry, I won’t,) but there’s so much to be said. The great part about this movie is that you don’t know whether this girl is really possessed or if she’s mentally insane. Also, if you’ve seen the trailer or posters, don’t be thrown off by Eli Roth’s name being plastered all over it. He really didn’t have much to do with the film since he was only a producer.
2. Drag Me To Hell (2009)
Directed by: Sam Raimi
Stars: Alison Lohman, Justin Long, and Lorna Raver
Plot: A loan officer who evicts an old woman from her home finds herself the recipient of a supernatural curse. Desperate, she turns to a seer to try and save her soul, while evil forces work to push her to a breaking point.
Useless trivia: The license plate of Sylvia Ganush's car is 99951. When it is turned upside-down, it reads IS666.
P.S.: This movie is not for everyone. It’s a horror/comedy in the style of Evil Dead (also directed by Sam Raimi.) It is extremely cheesy, and extremely over-the-top. Personally, that’s what I feel makes this film so great.
Stars: Alison Lohman, Justin Long, and Lorna Raver
Plot: A loan officer who evicts an old woman from her home finds herself the recipient of a supernatural curse. Desperate, she turns to a seer to try and save her soul, while evil forces work to push her to a breaking point.
Useless trivia: The license plate of Sylvia Ganush's car is 99951. When it is turned upside-down, it reads IS666.
P.S.: This movie is not for everyone. It’s a horror/comedy in the style of Evil Dead (also directed by Sam Raimi.) It is extremely cheesy, and extremely over-the-top. Personally, that’s what I feel makes this film so great.
1. The Sixth Sense (1999)
Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan
Stars: Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment, and Toni Collette
Plot: A boy who communicates with spirits that don't know they're dead seeks the help of a disheartened child psychologist.
Useless trivia: Filmed in sequence, which if you know anything about the movie making process, is extremely rare.
P.S.: Ok, if you haven’t seen this yet, you must either hate entertainment or you live in Iraq. It is a fantastic movie (rated #127 on imdb.com’s top 250 movies of all time) that has probably one of the greatest and most mind-blowing twist endings ever. And, for all of you who have seen this movie, I have one thing to say..."Hey, come on! I'll show you where my dad keeps his gun." Creepiest thing in a movie ever? I think so.
Stars: Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment, and Toni Collette
Plot: A boy who communicates with spirits that don't know they're dead seeks the help of a disheartened child psychologist.
Useless trivia: Filmed in sequence, which if you know anything about the movie making process, is extremely rare.
P.S.: Ok, if you haven’t seen this yet, you must either hate entertainment or you live in Iraq. It is a fantastic movie (rated #127 on imdb.com’s top 250 movies of all time) that has probably one of the greatest and most mind-blowing twist endings ever. And, for all of you who have seen this movie, I have one thing to say..."Hey, come on! I'll show you where my dad keeps his gun." Creepiest thing in a movie ever? I think so.
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