Ever since watching my first horror movie, ”Annabelle,” in fifth grade, I have been obsessed with the genre. Throughout the years, I’ve watched over 200 horror films, ranging from obscure new releases to cult classics.
Every October, I go out of my way to rewatch some of my favorite classics from the genre to get me into the spirit of the fall season. However, there are a plethora of classic horror films that truly aren’t as good as people make them out to be. In honor of Friday the thirteenth, here is a ranking of my top five favorite classics — ones that won’t make you want to shut off your television from boredom.
- “The Exorcist” (1973)
With “The Exorcist: Believer” released in theaters Oct. 6, there is no better time than the present to watch the original.
Though older horror movies tend to not be of the best quality due to lower budgets and a lack of special effects compared to current film, “The Exorcist” still manages to stand out. Witnessing Regan MacNeil’s (Linda Blair) possession was a disturbing sight, making it difficult for me to tear my eyes away from her eerie behavior once the plot began picking up. “The Exorcist” paved the way for the abundance of possession movies out there, and still manages to be more unique and memorable as time goes on.
- “Friday the 13th” (1980)
When it comes to classic horror movies, slashers have a special place in my heart. Though “Friday the 13th” is known as an iconic film, there are people who don’t enjoy it, as they say it’s “unoriginal” and a knock off of John Carpenter’s “Halloween.”
However, as someone who has seen every movie in both series, I disagree. “Friday the 13th” shines through the disturbing nature of killer “Jason Voorhees” and the demented history he has with his mom and Camp Crystal Lake. I won’t say the film is “the best slasher movie” of its time, but its intriguing backstory and the mystery behind each killing makes it worth the watch.
- “Child’s Play” (1988)
Chucky has become an infamously known name over the years, having over five movies and a television series revolving around his sadistic behavior and hilarious commentary. Each new movie only becomes more intense, adding to his extensive and chaotic storyline.
Though I did not enjoy “Child’s Play” when I watched it a couple years ago, I now realize that Chucky’s origin story deserves more appreciation. This film focuses on how Chucky became a doll, how he navigated no longer being human and the fact that his need to terrorize anyone in his path is never-ending. The original “Child’s Play” remains an intricate and detailed work, contributing greatly to the development of the series that has only gotten better over the years.
- “The Shining” (1980)
I have been a huge Stephen King fan ever since watching “IT” in 2017. Since then, I’ve picked up a variety of his books and slowly started making my way through the movies. With how detailed and complex King’s books can be, it has been difficult to transfer it onto the screen and often leads to underwhelming adaptations.
However, “The Shining” is an exemption. Watching actor Jack Nicholson’s top notch performance of a father going mad was horrifying and riveting as he slowly slipped away from reality. The psychological toll taken on him and his family are portrayed amazingly well, making it difficult to take your eyes away from the terror and fear unfolding on the screen.
- “Carrie” (1976)
Another Stephen King classic, “Carrie” is a thrilling psychological horror movie telling the tragic tale of timid Carrie White (Sissy Spacek) discovering she has telekinesis. The film perfectly displays Carrie’s naivety and anger through her relationships with her two-faced classmates and overbearing mother during a transitional period of her life.
“Carrie” focuses on a twisted story of a bullied teenager who reaches her limit, resulting in detrimental consequences for everyone. If you take anything away from this ranking, it should be that “Carrie” is a must-watch classic with a message that will have you analyzing the storyline for days.
