Here they are, and not in any particular order as I love them all in their own way! *some possible spoilers.

The Shining

“Here’s Johnny!” Cries Jack as he peers through the damaged bathroom door. How could you not love Stanley Kubrick’s adaption of the Steven King novel about a family staying the winter in the Overlook Hotel. Though it has several differences from the book (a roque mallet is used instead of an ax, and there isn’t a maze for instance), Kubrick made an absolute masterpiece with this 2.5 hour flick made even better by Nicholson’s devious performance!

Evil Dead -1981

Sam Raimi’s 1981 cult classic has to be on this list! There’s no exceptions to this one. It sounds basic enough at first; just 5 friends visiting a cabin in the woods for some fun, when boom! One of them read from a cursed Book of the Dead and all hell breaks loose! As eerie as this film is, it can also be devilishly hilarious as Ash fights to save the day, and take care of of this unspoken evil.

The Hills Have Eyes -2006

A family going through the desert on a little road trip, what could go wrong? How about mutants that sabotage your vehicle leaving you stranded in said desert; that’s exactly what happens! From the moment of the incident to the merciless ending, this movie will certainly mess up the weak willed, and make you grimace as the mutants claim their victims.

Halloween -1978

John Carpenter introduces the undying Micheal Meyer’s in the film that gave us this murderous legend. I even got a picture of him hanging in my living room (big fan of course!). We’re now at a time where most older horror films don’t seem to have the same terrifying effect as the once had; with all the new technology that has encompassed today’s films. But this movie can still catch you off guard, and still can make your heart rate rise with it’s intensity. Also, if you see a tombstone saying Judith Meyers in you bedroom, you might want to get the hell out of there!

The Mist

Of course I’ll have more than one Stephen King horror film on this list. The guy is a master of horror! We have a father and son go to the grocery store to pick up a few things after making it through a violent storm the previous evening, while the mother waits at home. Well out of nowhere a thick and very dangerous mist surrounds the town, and those two, along with the rest of the store find themselves trapped. Soon monsters and people in the market alike, wreck havoc and all sorts of crazy shit goes down. The movie is also infamous for it’s much more shocking ending than what the book offered. Even King himself wishes he had it as the original ending for the book.

Evil Dead -2013

In this, in many ways, alternate take on the original classic will make you shudder and shake in your seat as this grisly modern horror classic giving us a much darker and brutal view of what the deadites truly are. The element of humor is near void, but many original themes, and scenes from the original are remade. This film does star a female (Mia) as our hero, as opposed to first film. This is easily one of the most tense horror films in recent years and from start to an ending that rains blood (literally!).

Sinister

An author moves into a home of murder victims in this creative horror film. He finds a box of snuff tapes in his attic and then the fun starts. He watches in horror as he watches a family getting hanged on the tree in his back yard, a family getting drowned, throats slashed, you name it. He then discovers Baghul, a menacing demon who enjoys possesses children and causes all sorts of ruthless hi-jinks! Not to mention it’s just so goddamned creepy!

The Exorcist

Watch Linda Blair’s iconic character become a head turning, backwards walking up stairs, possessed extortionist. I’ve actually had the chance to meet her in person and she was a kind lady, and just talking to her it was hard to believe it was the same person! Even though I’m not a religious fellow, this movies still makes my top 10 horror film. For the early 70’s, this film is purely badass simply put. Paramedics were even present at some theaters due to people fainting. Watch as we see demon filled Regan battle it out with two priests.

30 Days Of Night

Screw Twilight and all those other pansy vampire movies! This one re-invented it with these swift and merciless vampires that turn a small Alaskan town into their own personal human cattle farm. Not only do they have superhuman strength, they also have a mouth full of sharp teeth. They use them to tear out their prey’s entire throat to get their bloody fill. The days of two puncture holes on the neck are over. From start to end this movie will have you on the edge of your seat, and possibly rooting for… the vampires!

Scream

Drew Barrymore may only be in this film for right around 10 minutes, but it is definitely one of the most iconic performances of 90’s horror films as she talks on the phone with the murderer, who taunts and ultimate sends her to her untimely The town of Woodsboro gets sucked back into the nightmare as two murders occur on the one year anniversary of Sydney Prescott’s mother being murdered. The film ingeniously blends horror, and comedy making it a thrill ride horror flick with a lighter side. There’s also a great twist ending for any unsuspected first time viewers.

And there you have it! My top ten favorite horror movies. Even though these are the cream of the crop for me, there are many others I wish I could’ve added on here. Perhaps a part 2 will be made soon? Feel free to leave a comment with your favorite horror flick in the comments section!