If you were to ask me what was the very first horror movie that I ever watched, I would have to say that Frank Langella's Dracula would be it--I saw it on late night television when I was a kid. Since then, I've always been scared of looking out my window at night. I recently watched it again and I was impressed by the first-class acting and lavish production. I think it certainly rates much higher than it's IMDB 6.0 rating. I rate it a 10, hands down.
Other fims of note:
Dracula (1931) 9/10 - Although I originally rated this a 6 a few months back, I've watched this again but with the new Philip glass musical score. Some have said that the new music is too distracting but I think that it saves the film, in my opinion. The music breathes new life into a familiar classic and gives it the power of a silent film (director Tod Browning's directorial sensibilities come from the pre-talkie era). I still cannot rate this a 10 because of certain plot holes regarding Lucy's character.
Monstroid (1979) 5/10 - recently watched a recorded TV broadcast version of this hosted by Elvira
Walking Nightmare (1942) 4/10 - This one is from the "Tales of Terror" 50 movie mega pack. Another boring detective mystery disguised as a 'horror' film. I'm really starting to hate these kinds of movies being used as filler for cheapie horror boxed sets. Thankfully, it was only about 60 minutes long or so.
Return of the Living Dead (1985) 9/10 - Great 1980s B classic that almost rewrote zombie canon (IE: "Brains!").
Basket Case (1982) 8/10 - a movie that is so bad that it's good. I watched this as a kid and didn't think much of it back then. Looking at it recently a second time, I was able to understand the more tongue-in-cheek aspects of it.
Countess Dracula (1970) 6/10 - Not a bad Hammer Horror movie, but a bit boring. Although it seems more like a "masterpiece theater" piece about Elizabethan political power play, there is some gore as well.
RIP: FORREST J ACKERMAN 1916-2008
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