Rent one of these classics and your own living room can become the best little horror house in the New River Valley.

1) The Exorcist (1973): A Georgetown teen gets infected with the devil in this quintessential horror masterpiece. Exhausting all avenues of treatment for her daughter’s condition, an atheistic actress seeks divine intervention—with the help of two priests. One is a seasoned elder of the church who has faced such evil before—the other a man of the cloth who fears he has lost his faith. A relentless crescendo of dread builds from a sturdy start to a frenzied finish. Purportedly based on a true story of possession, and tweaked to perfection by the cast and crew involved, this is simply a required scary movie experience.

2) Psycho (1960): Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho is not only one of the best horror films of all-time, but a cinematic masterpiece whose reverberations can still be felt today. All facets of the movie are the work of genius from the brilliant screenplay to the scintillating score. Writer Joseph Stefano, who suffered from his own mental afflictions, is able to translate Robert Bloch’s novel with an uncanny sense of realism. To augment this powerful script, Hitchcock called upon Bernard Hermann (Vertigo, North by Northwest) to write the score. Hermann’s string composition is a stunning achievement that sets the stage perfectly for Norman Bates’ ultimate derailment. Anthony Perkins, as Norman Bates, will continue to haunt Hitchcock’s final victim, the audience, for years to come.

3) Halloween (1978): John Carpenter’s holiday horror helped invent the “slasher” sub-genre upon its late 1970s release. One of the highest grossing low-budget films ever made, Halloween introduces Michael Myers—a silent psychotic who escapes his sanitarium confines and returns to his hometown of Haddonfield. He is pursued by psychiatrist Dr. Loomis, who believes that Myers is pure evil. As the slightly crazed doctor gives chase, the “Shape” begins a Halloween murder spree. This film is a relentless popcorn thriller drenched in rich color, propelled by an unforgettable synth soundtrack (penned by Carpenter), and an impressive debut performance from a young Jamie Lee Curtis.

4) Night of the Living Dead (1968): Directed by George A. Romero, Night of the Living Dead has assumed its status as one most recognizable horror films in history, capturing millions of viewers every October since its inception. The screenplay, co-written by Romero and John Russo, takes terror to new heights as it explores a scenario where the dead come back to life to feast on the flesh of the living. This tightly wound, black and white nightmare is surprisingly nuanced as it offers much in the way of social commentary, even though Romero disputes this intent. With Night of the Living Dead, and its following sequels, George Romero has earned his place as one of the most dynamic auteurs of horror film.

5) Dracula (1931): Bela Lugosi defined his career and created a lasting caricature of Count Dracula in this 1931 Universal monster movie. Traveling from his native Transylvania with an assist from bug-hungry realtor Renfield, the count sets his sights on new English digs. Seeking new victims to sate his unquenchable taste for blood, he encounters a formidable opponent in one Dr. Van Helsing, who discovers the Count’s evil raison d’être. An early “talkie,” Dracula is rich with creepy atmosphere despite the absence of a musical soundtrack. Today’s audiences may smirk at the film’s dated look and performances, but Tod Browning’s classic vampire flick is an important foundation of modern cinema.

6) Frankenstein (1931): The dark and distorted world of Frankenstein was a true innovation in 1931 and made other preceding attempts at horror seem formulaic. The awe-inspiring production design of Carl Laemmle Jr., and out-of the-box direction by James Whale, was a landmark in movie history, giving rise to the movement known as film expressionism. Director Whale allows the audience to expand its imagination to the fullest amid a sea of distortions, blending the boundaries between fantasy and reality. Boris Karloff takes the reigns from Lon Chaney and becomes the face of horror while Colin Clive captures Dr. Henry Frankenstein’s descent into derangement flawlessly. From the electric bands of life, to the mist in the mountains, the altered state that is Frankenstein is amazing.

7) The Shining (1980): Jack Torrance takes the job of caretaker for an expansive resort hotel in the Colorado Rockies. Unfortunately, he takes his wife and young son along as well. When the trio is left to weather the winter months alone in the ominous Overlook, Jack begins to lose his already slippery grip on sanity. The boy is mysteriously gifted with a sixth sense known as “the shining,” and all three come to find that the hotel has more than a few skeletons in its closets. Stanley Kubrick somehow creates a feel of sickening claustrophobia using wide-open spaces, and he turns simple, everyday moments into minutes of mounting desperation.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974): Five hippies take aday-trip into madness in this exploitation outing from director Tobe Hooper. One by one they discover a dilapidated farmhouse and its twisted inhabitants—a murderous clan of cannibalistic sadists. The gritty, documentary look of the film makes the onscreen violence seem even worse. Despite the unforgettable title, most of the gruesome detail is left to the imagination, leaving the unsettled viewer to fill in the blanks. Though not for all tastes, Chainsaw is a testament to the raw power of independent movie making.

9) Hellraiser (1987): In Clive Barker’s Hellraiser, sinners are made to pay as a mysterious puzzle box opens a portal to unimaginable terror. Hellraiser, by far and away Barker’s most successful directorial effort, reinvented horror by pushing the envelope in terms of special effects and graphic gore. FX designer Bob Keen elevates his craft and delivers some of the most disturbing and realistic scenes of bloodshed ever to be shown on the silver screen. However, unlike the countless imitators to come, the gruesome effects in Hellraiser have purpose and help relate the essence of a Barker’s terrifying tale. The creation of Pinhead and the Cenobites remains a watershed moment in the annals of horror history.

10) The Evil Dead (1981): As one hunts for the true hallmarks of horror, one can’t escape The Evil Dead directed by Sam Raimi. Although Raimi does borrow many techniques from such horror staples as The Exorcist and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, to call The Evil Dead simply an homage is misguided. With a budget of only $50,000, The Evil Dead is a celebration of the creative spirit as Raimi succeeds by virtue of his pure talent for direction. The innovative camera movements and angles that Raimi employs are a revelation and something that filmmakers have been borrowing ever since. Raimi’s feel for the horror dynamic and his slow, methodical style propels The Evil Dead to the upper echelon of horror.

Other Terrifying Treasures by Sub-Genre

SLASHER:
Black Christmas (1974): Sorority sisters are terrorized by a secret admirer over holiday break.

My Bloody Valentine (1981): A mining town is torn apart when one of its own reenacts horrors past.

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986): Explores the life of a nomadic serial killer; based on the real-life murderer Henry Lee Lucas.

The Stepfather (1987): A serial killer changes lives like clothing when his idea of a perfect family falls apart.

Haute Tension (aka High Tension) (2003): On holiday break from college, two friends find themselves in the path of a brutal killer … but are things what they seem?

URBAN LEGEND:
Friday the 13th (1980): Young counselors begin to disappear as the mystery around Camp Crystal Lake unfolds.

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984): After being killed by a lynch mob, a child murderer finds a way to exact his revenge from beyond the grave.

Pumpkinhead (1989): A man, with the help of a local witch, summons a legendary demon to avenge the loss of his son.

Candyman (1992): A Chicago project’s boogeyman has a history with the young woman researching his legend.

The Blair Witch Project (1999): Three young adults get lost in the Maryland woods while filming a documentary on a local hag.

SUPERNATURAL:
Rosemary’s Baby (1968): A young, pregnant woman fears that she is carrying the son of Satan.

Carrie (1976): Brian De Palma directs this tale about a tormented high school girl with telekinetic powers.

Suspiria (1977): A coven of witches is discovered calling the shots at a women’s dance academy.

Phantasm (1979): While investigating a strange mortuary, three friends uncover a dark secret.

Poltergeist (1982): Specters begin to torment a family living in suburbia in this Tobe Hooper/Steven Spielberg classic.

MONSTER:
The Wolf Man (1941): After being attacked by a mysterious wolf, Larry Talbot begins to discover that he has the mark of the beast.

Alien (1979): The crew of a deep space vessel finds deadly cargo aboard in the form of a bloodthirsty xenomorph.

The Thing (1982): Arctic scientists fend off the attacks of a shape-shifting menace in John Carpenter’s sci-fi/horror remake.

The Fly (1986): Jeff Goldblum undergoes a painful metamorphosis after he is accidentally genetically fused with a fly.

Jeepers Creepers (2001): A brother and sister traveling home on spring break cross paths with a horrible monster.

Besides being seriously disturbed from watching so many horror flicks, Adam Neal and Walter Simpkins write for www.featurefilmreview.com. Be sure to check on their Halloween special. If you have thoughts such as, “Why the heck isn’t The Amityville Horror on your list?” then e-mail comments to adam(@)featurefilmreview.com.