Aww yeah, baby. Today we've got a killer Special Guest Top 20 List from one Mr. Eric Spudic of the Spudic's Movie Empire. By the time you read this, The Empire will be in its death throes, closing its doors forever on November 1st. This bums me out immensely, as one look at my shelves shows many a movie picked up over the many an hour spent browsing at the store. He Knows You're Alone! Slaughter High! Humanoids from the Deep! Rage & Honor II: Hostile Takeover starring Cynthia Rothrock! The Exorcist 25th Anniversary Special Edition, which came with a soundtrack CD but the soundtrack CD doesn't feature "Tubular Bells" or "Night of the Electric Insects", which kind of sucks but it's okay because there's also a BBC documentary included that I'm pretty sure is unavailable elsewhere! All mine mine mine thanks to Eric. But! I suppose not everything is about me, and closing the store will allow Eric to get back to his true loves, acting, writing, and directing. FINE WHATEVER.
I put mine in alphabetical order. Too tough to rank 'em, even though Dawn of the Dead is still #1!
Army of Darkness (1992, Sam Raimi)The perfect blend of humor and horror.
The Blob (1988, Chuck Russell)A coked-up Shawnee Smith. Sexy!
The Changeling (1980, Peter Medak)Hands down, the scariest ghost film ever.
Child's Play (1988, Tom Holland)Who wasn't terrified of little Chucky?
Creepshow 2 (1987, Michael Gornick)I didn't go swimming for at least a year.
Dawn of the Dead (1978, George Romero)Zombies in a mall, the best concept ever.
Day of the Dead (1985, George Romero)The best-looking zombies from Savini.
Demonic Toys (1992, Peter Manoogian)Dolls have always given me the creepies.
From Dusk Till Dawn (1996, Robert Rodriguez)Love how it goes from an action film to total vampire gore.
Happy Hell Night (1992, Brian Owens)Best slasher of the 90's.
House (1986, Steve Miner)A fun film and definitely a crowd-pleaser.
Night of the Creeps (1986, Fred Dekker)Fred Dekker is just the man.
Night of the Living Dead (1990, Tom Savini)Just a well-crafted film with top-notch performances.
Return of the Living Dead (1985, Dan O'Bannon)The soundtrack really gives this film non-stop energy.
Scarecrows (1988, William Wesley)Most underrated horror movie in history.
Silent Night, Deadly Night 2 (1987, Lee Harry)"Garbage day!"
Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3 (1990, Jeff Burr)I've seen it 25 times.
Tremors (1990, Ron Underwood)The best parody of giant monster movies.
The Willies (1990, Brian Peck)Another little-seen anthology, still a blast after 20 years.
Zombie 2: The Dead Are Among Us (1979, Lucio Fulci)Fulci's best work.
Other Special Guest Top 20(ish) lists:
Eric is one of my all time favorite people in the entire world! I see we both have hard-ons for Happy Hell Night. How did I never know that.
ReplyDeleteI think the only one on the list I haven't seen is The Willies. I used to pick up the vhs from time to time at my local store but never rented it. I should see it!
I really need to see this Happy Hell Night. I've never seen The Willies either, but I do so love an anthology movie...
ReplyDeleteZombie 2: The Dead Are Among Us
ReplyDeleteI've never heard it given that title. Where's that come from?
I haven't seen The Blob in soooo long; I'm gaggin' for some Blobbin'. Surely one of the last great sticky-icky latex-based splatter movies.
Super-fab review of it here...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.hudsonlee.com/?p=1689
...Woah! I whored that one BIG!
Hud x
Yeah, that was a bit tactless. ;)
ReplyDeleteHappy Hell Night is amazing. 'NO TV!!'
ReplyDeleteLove the NotLD remake. Its very existence should offend but it justifies itself and then some.
ReplyDeleteI mean, first off, Barbara's all Billie-Jeaned up and, y'know, lucid. (Romero's even said that his career since has been an elaborate attempt to apologize for that character) Also, Savini's version of the "one more for the fire, boys" twist is fantastic, and even more so when taken as a piece with the original's.
Do I have to clarify that the original is one of the greatest horror movies of all time and arguably the most influential while the remake is merely a fun diversion? Because I will if it doesn't go without saying, but I'm pretty sure it does.
That's two lists in a row referencing Shawnee Smith. Maybe that means I need to buy a Lotto ticket.
ReplyDeleteOh, wait, and the word verification: are you ready for this? spercula. I could not have made that up.
I prefer Dollman vs. Demonic Toys over the original Demonic toys, even though most would call me crazy. The scene where the giant baby doll tries to rape the girl is both borderline genius and creepy as balls. More movies should have lecherous babies trying to rape women.
ReplyDelete