Old school, compiled by Chris Johannsen
Halloween (1978) – Ranked in the top five scariest movies of all time by Entertainment Weekly, John Carpenter’s “Halloween” proves that blood and gore aren’t necessary to classify a quality horror movie. With a budget of only $300,000, this classic is still more than capable of scaring just about anyone. There’s something about a Michael Myers mask and the theme music that sends chills down my spine.
The Shining (1980) – Perhaps more eerie than scary, “The Shining” is an incredibly disturbing movie that is sure to make you cringe at times. Murder, flowing blood and isolation are just a few things that will make you uncomfortable while watching this film. And of course, you can’t really go wrong with Jack Nicholson as the lead actor. As a matter of fact, Nicholson was so engulfed in his role that he had issues with depression and frustration during production.
Poltergeist (1982) – Don’t sit too close to the TV. Watch this movie, and you’ll understand what I mean. For those of you who are believers in ghosts and spirits, “Poltergeist” would be a great movie to watch. Being deathly afraid of clowns won’t hurt either.
New school, complied by Ben Holzhueter
Sinister (2012) – Scariest movie I’ve seen in a long time. It’s creepy, unsettling, gory and suspenseful. A major plus in this film is the plot. It’s clever and actually makes you think, unlike so many other movies in this genre. Add in a stellar lead performance from Ethan Hawke, and you’ve got a measuring stick for all modern horror. Oh, and the images of main antagonist “Bagul” won’t be leaving your subconscious for quite a while.
The Descent (2005) – I won’t be going spelunking, also known as cave diving, anytime soon. This British horror masterpiece still scares me as much as it did the first time I saw it in high school. Six friends become trapped in what they thought was an “unexplored” cave, and are subsequently hunted down by some of the grossest looking creatures you’ll ever see. Moral to this story, avoid dark caves in Great Britain.
The Hole (2001) – The Brits really seem to know their stuff when it comes to horror. The second British film on my list, it takes “psychological horror” to a new, disturbing level. Featuring a young Keira Knightly in her first major feature film role, this movie was hard to watch at times. To sum it up: it’s crazy.
