# Hellraiser the best horror movie ever? Refute with your pick. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 5, 2002, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hellraiser-the-best-horror-movie-ever-refute-with-your-pick/127160 "2002-09-05T17:27:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hellraiser-the-best-horror-movie-ever-refute-with-your-pick/127160/41 "2002-09-06T12:43:51Z")
I’ll third **Freaks**. Also **House of Wax** , the original **House on Haunted Hill** , and the original **The Haunting**. Oh, and here’s a great ghost story - **The Uninvited** (1944). Not to mention **Ghost Story** , from 1981. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hellraiser-the-best-horror-movie-ever-refute-with-your-pick/127160/42 "2002-09-06T13:29:46Z")
Great! Someone mentioned Rosemary’s Baby, which allows me to slightly hijack the thread and tell my favorite Roman Polanski story. There’s a scene in Rosemary’s Baby where Ruth Gordon is sitting on the bed talking on the telephone (she’s in Rosemary and Guy’s apartment at the time). The scene is shot so that you (the viewer) are looking in the door of the bedroom, but all you see is the doorframe and Ruth Gordon’s legs on the edge of the bed. When the shot was set up, the principal photographer kept moving the camera, and Polanski kept telling him to put it back the way it was. The cameraman said, “But you can’t see her. All you see are her legs.” Polanski insisted on keeping the shot as it was. During the premieir of the film Polanski and the cameraman are sitting in the back of the theater and the scene comes on. Everyone in the theater physically leans to the right in their seat, trying to see around the door frame and get a complete shot of Ruth Gordon. Polanski turned to the cameraman and said, “I told you I knew what I was doing.” Number Six, both Rosemary’s Baby and Bride of Frankenstein go tmentioned further up on the thread. ---
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hellraiser-the-best-horror-movie-ever-refute-with-your-pick/127160/43 "2002-09-06T14:12:37Z")
The Thing Alien Texas Chainsaw Massacre Dawn of the Dead Frankenstien (1931) Return of the Living dead. Sorry I liked Hell Raiser but I have to admit it is not the greatest. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hellraiser-the-best-horror-movie-ever-refute-with-your-pick/127160/44 "2002-09-06T15:14:56Z")
Well, to me, Hell Raiser was the best horror movie. Then again, I think the subjectivity of which is “best” is largely dependent on your age, because anyone’s “best horror movie” would have had to have been viewed during that person’s formative teen years. I am 29 years old, and I would wager that most Hell Raiser votes come from my demographic. I would guess that those who vote for The Exorcist are older than I am. ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hellraiser-the-best-horror-movie-ever-refute-with-your-pick/127160/45 "2002-09-06T17:09:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Controvert \* > **I am 29 years old, and I would wager that most Hell Raiser votes come from my demographic.** Heheh… I’m also 29, so as much as I hate to admit it, you’ve got me pegged. _Rosemary’s Baby_ is a great one, too… one of the few movies that disturbed me enough that I really don’t want to see it again. **Number Six** , I agree with your definition of horror. I was overstepping to say that “all” horror films should involve the supernatural. You’re quite right to say that it’s more about tone than content. And, I also agree that most movies apply to more than one genre. That said, I still don’t think _Aliens_ is a horror movie at all, but that’s me. _shrug_ Here’s a movie that I don’t think has been mentioned yet, and it’s a pretty good one. Stupid title, but a good horror movie: _Jeepers Creepers_. Surprisingly stylish and creepy, and a good “creature” film that doesn’t overdo the special effects or gore. Not one of my top ten favorites, but well worth seeing. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hellraiser-the-best-horror-movie-ever-refute-with-your-pick/127160/46 "2002-09-06T17:13:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elfkin477 \* > \*\*I’m looking forward to seeing US versions The Ring and The Kingdom (since I’ll probably never get a chance to see the orginals) because from what I’ve hear _they_ might be really scary 😉 \*\* The Kingdom is available on video in the U.S., but it’s damn long - I think it’s over 4 hours. Still, I hear it’s quite the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hellraiser-the-best-horror-movie-ever-refute-with-your-pick/127160/47 "2002-09-06T17:19:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Controvert \* > \*\*I am 29 years old, and I would wager that most Hell Raiser votes come from my demographic. I would guess that those who vote for The Exorcist are older than I am. \*\* 1973 was a good year. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hellraiser-the-best-horror-movie-ever-refute-with-your-pick/127160/48 "2002-09-06T17:29:05Z")
2 good horror movies: **The Legend of Hell House** and a new one from the guy who did Re-Animator: **Dagon**. Both are damn good. Not the best, but very good. One movie that’s so terrifying that I will never watch it: **Freddy Got Fingered**. Ok, someone was gonna say it… ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hellraiser-the-best-horror-movie-ever-refute-with-your-pick/127160/49 "2002-09-06T17:35:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elfkin477 \* > \*\* . . . I’ll vote for the _only_ movie I’ve seen twice that scared me both times. That’d be **Phantoms** (1998) . . . \*\* [Kevin Smith]Yo, Affleck was da _bomb_ in that movie![/Kevin Smith] > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Avalonian_ > \*\* Here’s a movie that I don’t think has been mentioned yet, and it’s a pretty good one. Stupid title, but a good horror movie: Jeepers Creepers. \*\* Here’s an interesting tidbit about that one that may or may not be relevant: Writer/director Victor Salva is a convicted child molester, having spent time in jail for having oral sex with, and videotaping, a 12-year-old boy. There was a huge controversy when his previous movie, _Powder_, was released, when his victim (who was by then in his 20s) went public to protest Disney’s hiring him to make the movie; and I think it provides an interesting subtext for the movie’s treatment of its male lead. Not a bad flick, though, and definitely has a great final third. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hellraiser-the-best-horror-movie-ever-refute-with-your-pick/127160/50 "2002-09-06T17:42:10Z")
It’s been mentioned, but not particularly expounded upon: my favorite horror movie is **Silence of the Lambs**. For some reason the character Anthony Hopkins was able to summon up absolutely filled me with dread. On the face of it, the story isn’t _too_ terribly scary, but Hopkins made me believe in the omniscience of Hannibal Lector, so I spent the entire movie terrified of what he’d do next. I also found the movie’s style extremely atmospheric. That whole scene where he’s caged in the middle of the floor and escapes, leaving the policemen strung up (or however they’re dangling) chilled me to the bone! Curiously, the book (and other Thomas Harris books, including the sequel Hannibal) didn’t scare me nearly as much. I enjoyed them but there was no terror involved (and believe me I scare easily and I enjoy it immensely :)) I saw a TV showing of The Exorcist on a late-night weekend comedy sort of show; I can’t remember the title but I think a comedian was the host. However, he and guests always had intelligent things to say about the movies, including what was edited out for television. Anyway, one thing in particular I remember from their commentary was the little things director William Friedkin did to up the horror factor. Listen closely to the audio track during particular scary moments. There are these scraping and clunking noises that simply inspire dread and suggest all manner of horrible things that are happening off camera. I think it’s because Friedkin decided to turn the knob on the horror-machine up to 11 (heh-heh) is part of the reason it’s such an effective movie. People remember the pea soup and the head spinning, but by the time we see these, we’re already horrified into numb sticks and primed for whatever gawdawful thing he throws at us next. Hellraiser? I can go with the intent as gobear outlined it, but strong stomach though I may have, the excessive gore and violence of the thing made me turn away in disgust. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hellraiser-the-best-horror-movie-ever-refute-with-your-pick/127160/51 "2002-09-06T18:40:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Avalonian \* > \*\*Here’s a movie that I don’t think has been mentioned yet, and it’s a pretty good one. Stupid title, but a good horror movie: _Jeepers Creepers_. Surprisingly stylish and creepy, and a good “creature” film that doesn’t overdo the special effects or gore. Not one of my top ten favorites, but well worth seeing. \*\* Are we talking about the movie where the brother and sister see this pipe leading into the ground? The mysterious 30’s truck? That one? Francis Ford Copolla produced it? If so, then I strongly disagree with your analysis. That movie was utter dreck! With all due respect, of course. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Griffin)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hellraiser-the-best-horror-movie-ever-refute-with-your-pick/127160/52 "2002-09-06T19:53:28Z")
Nobody has mentioned \*\* Hallowe’en \*\*. I think that’s a great film. Also: \*\* Carrie \*\* and \*\* The Fog \*\* Cant understand why people said The Birds. I think it’s quite poor for a horror film. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hellraiser-the-best-horror-movie-ever-refute-with-your-pick/127160/53 "2002-09-06T20:32:36Z")
…and **The Omen** , and… ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hellraiser-the-best-horror-movie-ever-refute-with-your-pick/127160/54 "2002-09-06T20:36:55Z")
Oh yeah, and as for **Jeepers Creepers** , I thought it started very promisingly (as long as it looked like a slasher film), but then the wheels came off when supernatural elements were introduced. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hellraiser-the-best-horror-movie-ever-refute-with-your-pick/127160/55 "2002-09-06T20:59:04Z")
…and **Session 9** and… ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2002, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hellraiser-the-best-horror-movie-ever-refute-with-your-pick/127160/56 "2002-09-06T21:42:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Max Torque \* > **I break horror down into three sub-categories: Slashers, Creepers, and Creatures.** Pretty accurate Max. Slasher flicks don’t usually appeal to me unless there is an excellent gimmick or innovative concept (I thought the first _Nightmare on Elm Street_ was great.) Creature flicks (also known as “Boo! Movies” because when they are done poorly, the film degenerates to the creatures just popping out suddenly – boo!), well they appeal to me if they are well done (like the first _Alien_ movie) or have some kind of really compelling element. The recent “smart sharks” movie whose title I can’t remember, is an example of one that just doesn’t work. Creeper flicks I really like. I get frightened by creepy _concepts_ rather than blatant gore. I nominate _The Changelling_ and _The Shining_. And even though I’ve never seen it, I’d also like to nominate _What Lies Beneath_ because I thought my housemate was going to die of fright. He came home after seeing the movie and he was _blanched_. He looked positively ill! With wide, frightened eyes, he said in a very, very small, choked voice [sub]"It was scarier than _Sixth Sense_.[/sub] Then went up to his room like a zombie and shut the door quietly behind him. Such evidence of trauma deserves to be recognized. _Hellraiser_ was great because it was so stylized and conceptually interesting. But I don’t think it ranks in the top 5. ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Cool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Joe\_Cool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Cool)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2002, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hellraiser-the-best-horror-movie-ever-refute-with-your-pick/127160/57 "2002-09-07T07:57:31Z")
Crap! Everybody already mentioned all my favorites (The Thing, the Living Dead trilogy, the Shining)! Except one: Day of the Dead. I found that much scarier than Dawn of the Dead (though not as much as Night of the Living Dead). Oh, wait. We’re talking best. In that case, Dawn is better than Day, but not as good as Night. Hellraiser was ok, but nowhere near the top. ---
**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2002, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hellraiser-the-best-horror-movie-ever-refute-with-your-pick/127160/58 "2002-09-07T11:44:56Z")
I gotta go with _The Thing_ (1982) as it succeeds in every element that it touched (gore, paranoia, fear, realistic reactions, location, atmosphere, etc.). Thing fans check out [Outpost #31](http://www.outpost31.com) and its [message forums](http://pub32.ezboard.com/boutpost31). Anybody heard about the possiblity of a sequel being bandied about by Universal? And now rumors of a remake of _The Fog_ (guess who my favorite horror director is ;))? Close (very close) runner up is _The Exorcist_ for the same reasons mentioned above. Another movie that has stuck with me for several years is _Parents_; very creepy film about a young boy and his cannabilistic parents. Honorable mentions for _Phantasm_, _Dawn of the Dead_, _Wes Craven’s New Nightmare_, _Alien_ and a whole lot more that I don’t have time to mention. For a list of great horror flicks, check out [this thread](http://pub32.ezboard.com/foutpost31frm28.showMessage?topicID=252.topic) on Outpost #31. _Hellraiser_’s horror angle was a bit too high-brow for me to consider scary. ---
**Author:** ![coax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3ec8ea/32.png) [@coax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coax)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2002, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hellraiser-the-best-horror-movie-ever-refute-with-your-pick/127160/59 "2002-09-07T15:26:55Z")
none of the movies mentioned are downright scary. i love movies, but i’ve never found one that could really scare the shit out of me. like the shining is cool and all, but it’s not scary. it’s more cool when jack turns bad. i find some episodes of x-files quite creepy though. ---
**Author:** ![Drastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Drastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drastic)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2002, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hellraiser-the-best-horror-movie-ever-refute-with-your-pick/127160/60 "2002-09-07T15:37:43Z")
I felt **Jeepers Creepers** completely fell apart after a promising start, as well. Parts of it definitely became more creepy in retrospect, though, after I learned the director’s history that pldennison pointed out: > [@](#): > > Here’s an interesting tidbit about that one that may or may not be relevant: Writer/director Victor Salva is a convicted child molester, having spent time in jail for having oral sex with, and videotaping, a 12-year-old boy. There was a huge controversy when his previous movie, Powder, was released, when his victim (who was by then in his 20s) went public to protest Disney’s hiring him to make the movie; and I think it provides an interesting subtext for the movie’s treatment of its male lead. The biggest upsurge in creepiness? The monster sniffing great handfuls of his used undies. I didn’t see **Cube** mentioned, and I’d class that as a horror film. I seem to be the only person I know who vastly prefers Exorcist III over the first; parts of it creeped me right the hell out when I first saw it. Silent ceiling-crawling old lady, f’r’instance. Plus, George C. Scott has an absolutely wonderful rant about how he now believes, as he’s pinned up against a wall with Legion’s hairy eyeball, that’ll always have a fond place in my heart. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hellraiser-the-best-horror-movie-ever-refute-with-your-pick/127160.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hellraiser-the-best-horror-movie-ever-refute-with-your-pick/127160.md?page=4)