Shutter Island looks scary, I think. I hope it’s good. (No spoilers, please.)
So I was inspired to think about my favorite horror movies, most of which are from 1970-1990, because these were the easiest to rent or see at the movies when I was a teenager in the 80s.
Public poll, multiple choices are allowed. Pick up to 10 (or more if you must :p).
I see that “Aliens” is not represented. Much cooler than the original.
And as “Tremors” (1990) is also ignored, I suspect this poll is tainted. 
Actually, I might agree on Aliens. It’s a close call. But I decided to go with originals, not sequels. Except Dawn of the Dead, which is included since it was filmed near my childhood home.
I don’t know how I ended up with “Hell Raiser” in there instead of “Hellraiser.” :smack:
Somehow, I just can’t thnk of Akira as “horror.” Nor even Poltergeist, despite the subject matter. And I’m even kind of iffy on Lost Boys. Fine films in their way, but it seems odd to associate them with Hellraiser or Nightmare on Elm Street.
I like most the list, the exceptions being Phantasm, Re-Animator and Hellraiser.
But where’s Profundo Russo, Alice Sweet Alice or Dressed to Kill? And nothing by Bava? The Horror!
If Poltergeist isn’t a horror movie, what genre is it? It’s been a long time since I saw it, but I thought it was damn scary, and it’s a ghost story. It isn’t gory or a slasher flick, but I don’t think you’re suggesting either of those elements would be necessary (based on the movies you listed and omitted).
I think of it more as action-fantasy. Same genre as ET and Indiana Jones. It’s scary, yes, but not horrifying. Same with Lost Boys, despite all the blood spilled/drunk.
Well, OK, but I have to disagree. The clown was horrifying.
What about Near Dark (1987)? That’s a classic.
You’re missing the best of the lot: Roman Polanski’s The Tenant.
There also should be Tremors
While I would classify Alien as horror, I think Aliens would fall squarely in the Action category.
Also, Young Frankenstein, which is one of my favorite movies, is definitely comedy, not horror.
I know it’s comedy, but based on my last movie poll (where Spinal Tap was the favorite choice), I knew that people here would want to vote for it. It’s one of the most popular answers so far.
A bit obscure but fantastic: Larry Cohen’s God Told Me To
Not so obscure: Tons of Cronenberg MIA. The only one you list is the excellent The Dead Zone; what about The Brood, Scanners, The Fly or Dead Ringers?
Meh. I only chose three movies. For me, horror movies are pretty much from the '30s and '50s. The '80s and '90s? Not so much.
Can’t believe you left out Videodrome!
:smack: Neither can I (but the OP left it out first! :p)
OMG, it’s a Pittsburgh movie, too! I’ve never seen that one. I wasn’t sure how to classify a lot of those Cronenberg ones that were mentioned. I consider The Fly to be more science fictioney than horror, for example. Some of those others are less clear.
Only through 1990 isn’t really “the 90s” is it? Three is one more than I picked, and I don’t think Akira is a horror movie anyway. Other than The Lost Boys, of the 70s and 80s horror movies on the list that I’ve seen, I didn’t like them nor The Changeling, The Fog etc, so I’ve not gone out of my way to see the rest on the list. I’ve much prefered horror movies from the mid-90s through the present and ones from the 60s to anything I’ve seen in the two decades this poll covers.
Long live the new flesh!