4/24/2011

Five Fantastic Horror Movies For That Perfect Movie Marathon

By Adriana Noton


One great way to share a night with friends, no matter how old you are, is taking in a few horror movies. Popcorn, laughter and screams can make for great fun, especially if you happen to own a home theatre system.

Many great classics have been re-released in High Definition on Blu Ray Discs, but there are also many available on the internet, so you can even make a list, and let your friends choose on the night. Many televisions now have internet access, so you can watch the films directly on the TV. Or you can hook up a projector to your PC and make your very own little theater in your living room.

For a great night of horror movies, these five classics are the ideal choices. Proving that horror stands the test of time, some of these titles date back over half a century. They are not only excellent scary films, but they are also classics across all genres, being nominated and winning many awards. These five are the perfect choice because although many people may think horrors are sub-standard movies, this selection is of five movies everyone should see.

The first movie to put on your list should be the Alfred Hitchcock classic, Psycho. Made in 1960, it is still as eerie and shocking today, with a brilliant performance from Anthony Perkins. Bates Motel is always worth a visit, unless of course you are Janet Leigh. Do not make the mistake of getting the re-make which starred Vince Vaughn as Norman Bates and is not nearly as scary. Psycho was nominated for 4 Oscars.

While Psycho garnered 4 Oscar nominations, the next movie on the list received 10 nominations, and won 2 for Sound and Writing. William Peter Blatty adapted his own novel, The Exorcist, for the big screen in 1973 and to this day it remains one of the scariest films ever made. Linda Blair, who was nominated for her performance, plays a possessed teenager, as was Ellyn Burstyn as her mother.

Jaws, directed by Steven Spielberg in 1975, was an instant classic. Yes, it may not live up to the technology of today, and the shark may be a little cheesy, but it still makes people scream and jump just the same. It won 3 Academy Awards, including one for the unforgettable original score by John Williams.

Picking a film adapted from a Stephen King novel is always a good choice for a scary night. And not many are better than 1990's Misery which saw Kathy Bates play an obsessed fan who rescues an injured famous writer played by James Caan after a car crash. Bates won a Best Actress for her portrayal of Annie Wilkes.

The Sixth Sense, made my M Night Shyamalan in 1990, and arguably his best film ever, picked up 6 Academy Award Nominations. Bruce Willis leads the cast but it is the Oscar-nominated performances of Haley Joel Osment as the child who can see dead people, one of the best acting performances by a child ever, and Toni Collette as his mother, that steal the show.

If you have not seen these movies, get to it now, as they are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the horror genre. Of course if you love horror you will know there are thousands of other movies out there, from the Japanese classics to the independent gore flicks.




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