Joe and I decided that a good way to give people a handle on where our tastes and sensibilties lie would be to both put out a Top 10 films list. It was tricky for both of us.

I have managed to whittle my list of favourite films into a solid 10, which I feel very happy about.
The only problem I face with writing this list is that I just cannot put one film at the top spot. I just can't. So I have opted to do this is in alphabetical order.


"It's got a wonderful defense mechanism. You don't dare kill it."

Alien



This is film is just the perfect suspense sci-fi for me. Giger's mise-en-scene is incredibly convincing, engadging and intriguing, while the script is razor sharp, with what is still considered one of the best bits of pro-feminine characterisation and casting. The directing is super tight, while still allowing for scenes to breath and the atmosphere to completely consume the audience.
Although most people seem to enjoy the action fuelled sequal, the original will always take the prize from me just for the chilling atmosphere and pacing alone.
5/5



"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the darkness at Tan Hauser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time like tears in rain. Time to die. "

Blade Runner



Although Alien wins on the suspense sci-fi front, the world which Ridley Scott created in Blade Runner is truly gripping, saddening and reflective of our own society. The themes dealt with in the film are so complex and are dealt with in such a subtle way, that you find yourself gripped by the idiosyncratise of the film. The performances are consistantly fantastic throughout the film, which also has one of Rutger Hauer's only great performances, aside from The Hitcher. The pacing and visual indulgence, married with the emotionally rich Vangelis score, results in a truly beautiful film, which my humble opinion will always be top of it's field. Just make sure when watching it to avoid the version with the studio mandated voice over, which really does deminish the subtlety of the writing and characterisation.
5/5



"I hope that when the world comes to an end, I can breathe a sigh of relief, because there will be so much to look forward to."

Donnie Darko



Most films which "deal" with teen problems, or being a teenager, are very shallow sex comedies, with very little real representation of teens, or deal with the issues very briefly in favour of more laughs. This is why I love Donnie Darko so much. Donnie Darko represents and expresses many of the feelings and issues that trouble teens, myself very much included. The film maturely presents alienation, fear of failure, fear of the future and fear of ones path in life, but in a way
which is compelling, esoteric and fascinating. Most people find that films esoteric presentation a little off-putting, but I think that may be down to certain peoples lack of brain power or interested in using said brain power. The film is superbly written and delivered with such believability and conviction from Jake Gyllenhall and the rest of the crew that it is almost
not to identify with the offbeat struggle that Donnie goes through in the film. Visually the film is very striking in its bleakness and dark tones, and also has a fantastic soundtrack consisting of pop from the 80s, Duran Duran, Tears for Fears and Echo and the Bunny Men really shining through. Sadly, a sequal is being made, but I will refuse to acknowledge it's existence upon release.
5/5



"Hey, you in the mall! We don't like people who don't share. You just fucked up REAL bad!"

Dawn of the Dead (1978)



I am a big fan of Zombie films in general and of 70s Horror films, and the original DotD fits both of these perfectly. The film is suitably cartoony, action filled, gore filled with a scathing subtext of the rampant consumerism that started to come into effect in the 70s. The gore is still at a fantastically high level, and although not especially shocking, is still awesome. One of the reasons that the film is still so enjoyable is the inclusion of the fantastic soundtrack by Goblin and Dario Argento, which adds to the already thick atmosphere and aesthetic of the film. On subsequent viewing the film reveals itself to be even more relevent now than it probably would have been on it's release. The films lenths can render it inaccessable to some, but fuck them, its awesome.
5/5



"I fear that the only way to stop those possessed by the spirits of the book is through the act of... bodily dismemberment."

The Evil Dead



When it moves onto the discussion of the Evil Dead movies most people prefer the second and dont know the third exists. I saw the Evil Dead movies at an age which was probably younger than ideal, at around 10 or so, and the first film has always been my choice of the series. The creativity of the cinematography and creation of tension and scares is almost unrivaled. I still maintain that it is one the jumpiest films you can ever watch, specifically the scene when ash places his ear to the cellar door. The use of sound is another example of the films creativity, with the low budget possession scenes being bought to life through effective use of jarring sound design and off kilter camera work. Ultimately I feel that the low budget aesthetic of the film only adds to the tension and makes the film even more frightening and enjoyable. I love the humour of the second and third in the series, but it'll always be Evil Dead 1 which wins everytime, on creativity and shocks alone. Shame Sam Raimi has gone off his rocker now.
5/5



"Your mother's in here, Karras. Would you like to leave a message? I'll see that she gets it."

The Exorcist



This film is the pinnacle of demon possession films. Based off of a novel, which is turn is from an apprently true story, about an 11 or 12 year old girl who becomes possessed by the demon Pazuzu after pissing around with a Ouija board. As a non-Christian demonic possession doesn't exactly keep my up at night, but this film manages to make it not just terrifying but believable.
As with Evil Dead, this is achieved through fantastic sound design, including the chilling Tubular Bells, brilliant cinematography and almost entirely physical special effects, in fact, the only SFX which wasn't achieved on set was one piece of video matting to achieve proper placement of puke on screen. I feel that the strict use of on set SFX and fantastic performances leads to a much higher level of realism, which for a film of this subject matter, is of the utmost importance. Even on multiple viewings the film is still chilling and leaves you with a distinct atmosphere of fear. A lot of people laugh off the film, which I think is probably a much more easier way to deal with the implication of the themes and content of the film. If you want to let the film scare you it will. I know people who still cannot watch The Exorcist because the find it so deeply disturbing.
5/5



"Listen... do you smell something?"

Ghostbusters



Let me start with a brief story about me and Ghost Busters. When I was 4 or 5 my dad got a VHS and Cassette of the film and I became obsessed with it. Give or take a few days for holidays and not being at home, I watched it every morning for a year. No exaggeration, every morning. I have watched this film over 300. It killed our first VHS machine. Ghost Busters represents
what was so great about 80s family cinema. The script is superbly written, with gags and jokes which are bought to life through fantastic performances from all involved. Even now, the film is still hilariously funny. 80s New York is always cool, but never cooler than when covered in burnt marshmallow. If only I could find my proton pack and then remember not to cross the streams.
5/5



"I warned you. With mogwai comes much responsibility. But you didn't listen."

Gremlins



As with Ghostbusters, Gremlins played a very important role in my childhood. I fucking loved it as a kid and I fucking love it now. I have a fantastic placement of tight humour and tension against each other, which, with the content, works almost as an anti family film, which is hilarious. It is almost a reversal of ET, in that the cute little creature turns into a fucking horrible anarchic murderous thrill seeker, that drinks, smokes and causes mayhem. Superbly directed by Joe Dante, with a great synth led accompaning score by Jerry Goldsmith. The horror is spot, as is the wonderfully dark sense of humour; remember the gremlin being blown up in the microwave? Genius.
5/5



"Who's going to believe a talking head? Get a job in a sideshow."

The Reanimator



This film the closest to perfect match of horror, 80s aesthetic and comedy that you can find. The gore is top notch throughout with a dark as hell, sick sense of humour underpinning everything, with Jeffery Combs providing the perfect performance. Even on recent viewings with people who had never seen it before, it still has the power to make people laugh and squirm in equal
measure, the "giving head" scene being the pinnacle of this. I still watch this film frequently, just as it never gets old.
5/5



"Suzie, do you know anything about... witches?"

Suspiria



My Dad is also a massive fan of Horror movies from the 60s, 70s and 80s, and also of Dario Argento. So as soon as he got Suspiria on video he rushed me to watch it straight away, saying it was one of the strangest and wondeful movies ever made. He wasn't wrong. Suspiria is Argento's best film, without a doubt. He hit the perfect balance of all the elements that one expects from his films; bold cinematography (specifically colour), stylised violence, grandeose camera work and a Goblin score. As always, the plot is so over-the-top that it baffles most people of first watch, however, it is the marriage of utterly unique art-deco mise-en-scene, menacing atmosphere and the most deranged score you can ever hear (once described as hundreds of cats being thrown down a stair case!) that creates a genuinely spooky and tense film. Plus, the first kill has one of the highest amounts of tension of one scene that I have ever witnessed. Argento truly is Italy's answer to Hitchcock.
5/5



RUNNER UP:

"There's no point in stealing a car if you're not going to wring it out."

Streets of Fire



This is one of those movies that you know you probably shouldn't enjoy so much. It is terrible, but I love it sooo much. Its relatively unknown, even though it stars Willem Defoe as leader of a debauched biker gang called Raven and was directed by Walter Hill. Walter Hill has said that the idea for the movie was to colate all of the elements of films he enjoyed as a child, then give it a modern (read: made in the 80s) makeover. So the movie is almost ALL classic cliches; one liners, fights with bikers kissing in the rain, the loaner who comes back to town, all completed with a great 80s original soundtrack. The film is just pure 80s fun, but is filtered through this strange alternate reality where the 50s and 80s have collided. Its a wonderfull cheese film,
which is sheer comfort for me. It is the ultimate escapist, forget the world film and for that holds a fond spot in my heart.
3/5




Thats my list done. Joe's will follow shortly.