My Favorite Movies

The apex of indies splatter horror. Inventive, primal, shocking, funny, intimate, and ultimately timeless. The perfect scary story.

The first film to really show both the artistic and narrative possibilities of film. Not to mention, it's atmospheric and creepy as all hell.

A marvelous blend of horror, comedy, action, and just grade-A kick ass pulpy storytelling. Perhaps the first ever film where the macho hero is completely useless and the "sidekick" does all the fighting!

Being one of the most original films of the 90's, meant that Ravenous was perhaps predestined to be under appreciated and even reviled. Seems some folks just can't handle the fact that it's a film about cannibalism, and it's a comedy. Do you have the stomach?

A lovely, inspiring example of Pratchett-esque satire and illogical logic. Anyone who's ever been to the DMV can appreciate its philosophical thesis, that bureaucracy devours the soul. Only the overlong segment where Robin Williams is allowed to just be uber-annoying keeps the film short of perfection. Totally underrated.

What is a haunting? Is it possible that many people, by focusing energy on one concept can cause that concept to form in reality? Does the legacy of slavery still have kharmatic weight today? All this philisophical ponderation, and a Virginia Madsen tub scene!

The finest indie film in years, not to mention the most brilliant Lovecraft adaptation ever! Please buy this film, I want the artists to make more!

One of the great horror touchstones for my generation. Those who decry the marketing hype that followed it are missing the point. This film represented a return (if all too brief) of imagination in lieu of spectacle. A campfire tale come to life.
Short only of perfection due to the constant f-bomb barrage.

The apex of Universal horror, Whale's masterpiece, and one of the greatest horror/comedies ever made. (That's right, did you think Craven or some other hack invented black humor?)
Pitch perfect, in every aspect.

The comedic remake of one of the greatest indie films of all time. Brilliant on every level, but I think toning down the gore a bit hurts the experience just a tad.

The greatest expressionist horror film ever made, not to mention the greatest vampire film! Only a wee bit of uneven pacing keeps it short of perfection.

Army of Darkness is almost everything I could ever want in the final Evil Dead film. Almost. I can't help but wonder what the series could have been if in embracing its cheesier humerous aspects, it had not neglected its gonzo horror roots. Oh well, more quotable lines than Bartlett's make Ash the greatest anti-hero ever to work in housewares.

A film so universally lauded it has of course become saddled with the overated lable. Well spare me, Zippy. This film is a Capra-esque masterpiece.

Fulci's Magnum Opus, and one of the greatest Itallian horrors ever made. Every bit as Artuadian as its maker could have hoped for.

The quintessential "bad trip" picture. It serves not only as a kickass horror film, but also as something of a time capsule of late 70's drive-in zeitgeist.

THE groundbreaking indie film, of course. Not quite as flawless as its canonization would imply (Oy, that acting) but great regardless.

The only romantic comedy I've ever liked. Witty, brilliant, inventive, it's also one of the best zombie films ever made.

Slamming any (or all for that matter) of Romero's dead films upon their initial release is pretty much the litmus test for vacuous ninnies. Those with any brains (mmm..., brains!) appreciate these films for the socio-political masterpieces they are, others will be issuing revisionist mea culpas 15 years from now. Don't be another Kael! Learn to appreciate Romero's genius, today.

Perhaps the most artistically praised of Romero's works, it's not quite as technically flawless as its reputation would seem to imply. Still, it remains the master's most pointed piece of social satire.

Very underrated upon its initial release. Time has proven Day to more relevant than anyone could have guessed. The most action-oriented of Romero's orginal trilogy, the film is magnificently enjoyable.

Very under appreciated finale to the Phantasm series. Anyone who was expecting all the mysteries of the series to be solved simply didn't understand what the films were about in the first place. Not as pessimistic as it might appear on first viewing, the film forms something of an ouroborus with the themes presented in the original.

A sweetly ooky spook show, short on logistics, but long on fun. Some of Castle's most atmospheric work. Performances by Price and Elisha Cook Jr. are a highlight.

A neglected classic. Lively, witty, creative, and fun as all hell. Highly recommended.

I think I watched this film about 700 times when I was a youngin'. The Casablanca of 80's kid's movies, Goonies is one of a kind.

A very entertaining if overlooked film. Great performances from such a young cast, and the special effects are outstanding. (If memory serves, this was the first film to ever encorporate cgi. Even more astonishing, the cgi is good!)

Funnier, quirkier, and more disturbing than "Playhouse" ever thought of being. An amazingly twisted film, even if you're not a fan of Ruebens.

Oh Bill, you've done it again. Another disposable gimmick film that turned out more interesting and atmospheric than just about any of its contemporaries. Margaret Hamilton seems to be having a blast returning to her wicked ways, and the ghost range from amusing to actually disturbing.

Another stroke of Castle brilliance. A movie built around a device designed to shock people in the butt, winds up as one of the most enjoyable sci-fi / horror films of its era. Full of tension, gore, and surprisingly sly humor, it's quite a trip.

An amazing film, especially for those of you who think of Capra as a sentimental old fuddy-duddy. Full of violence, menace, and dirty jokes, (if you're you're old enough to catch em'!) I'm suprised the Medved crowd still revere ol' Frank after this one. Even aside from its Burton-esque spirit, the movie is funnier than a drunken hamster. Peter Lorre's comedic performance is outstanding, but the cast is brilliant all around.

Just about the finest crazy-guy performance by Peter Lorre ever put on film. (And that's saying something!) The luminecent cinematography, and a great show by Colin Clive create a classic Universal-type vibe.

James Whale's second best work (after Bride of Frankenstein) is an amazingly twisted and witty shocker. Excellent special effects, almost unbelievable considering its era!

A wonderfull example of post-silent semi-expressionist horror. Can I find anything original to say about it? No. It's good, go watch it now.

I have no idea how Burton made Britain look like rural New England, but he did! A spot-on horror / action / comedy. Gorgeous to behold and a joy to noodle over, Burton's homage to Hammer is (IMHO) far superior to anything the studio itself turned out. It also features magnificent cast; a variable who's who of my favorite living actors. Amazingly creative.

The big studio treatment of 'Phantasm' is by no means the weakest in the series. (That would be the jokey "let's explain away anything cool" third entry.) Some nice Raimi homage in the form of kinetic action makes the film imminently enjoyable, and Angus Scrimm is always, awesome.

Burton is really the only director who could have made an Ed Wood bio pic this funny, and still have it remain a loving tribute to its namesake. ol' Eddy deserves no less than that.

A haunted house tale filmed to perfection. Frightening and atmospheric, I hope to see more from these filmakers in the future.

Another film constantly slammed by people expossed to the horror of having to use their own mind. A better 'Silent Hill' adaptation than anything Chris Gans ever dreamed.

Ah, my coming of age. Endless games of MK2, Greenday, meatlover's pizza, and Daria. My misanthropic double is still one of life's little joys. This film is a great encapsulation of the series, and its witty, witty writing is an example of just why the show remains one of fondest memories. (You have no idea how happy I was it became clear the writers were decidedly not pulling a 'Willow' with Jane Lane. Re-engineering a character's sexuality to make a show more sallacious should remain the domain of bad fan-fic writers.) Still, why only 41/2 stars instead of 5? That piteous Mary-Sue Tom does appear to suck all the funny out of one scene.

Most of the blame for Shyamalan's swelled head would seem to rest with the avalanche of praise he recieved for this film. All such praise however, was well deserved. The 6th Sense is a masterpiece of craft and intelligence.

Haunting. Mesmerizing. Surreal. One of the most genuinely disturbing independent films ever made, it works on many symbolic levels. Amazing.

Yes it's loud, and maybe a bit dumb, and definitely silly as hell. It's also more fun than a barrel of mummies. (Sorry.) It's just one of thoses film that seems tailor made for lil' ol' me. (Someone, who at the age of 3, would wrap up his muppet figures in masking tape and have them deliver eldritch curses upon GI-Joe.) The film is an amazing spectacle, if you can just relax and enjoy it. The cast is also spot-on; Rachel Weisz is always good, and Fraser does damn fine as a fake Ash if I do say so myself. Art direction is likewise lovely, with dark hues offset by gold and fire. Cool stuff, folks.

Originally intended as just a cheap follow-up to 'Dracula', 'The Mummy' is instead a classic in its own right. Karloff's strange, chilling performance well conveys the aura of such a uniquely malevolent entity. (One of the greatest attributes of this film, as opposed to EVERY stinking miserable film that followed it, is that the mummy here has an actual personality, rather than just being an ace bandage with eyeballs.) What might normally be construed as flaws, such as odd, jumpy direction and some melodramatic performances, only serve to add to the film's surrealism.

A magnificently twisted and kinky little movie. I'm still shocked that any bit of it was allowed to be released. The finest team-up of Lugosi and Karloff one could hope for, and that's no baloney!

I'm really quite tired about hearing how overrated this film is. "Oh is it Tuesday? Dracula is timid and stagebound. Hand me my Pauline Kael memorial kool-aid please!" Lugosi defined the charecter of Dracula, as surely as it defined him. For all the talk of his awkwardness with sound, Browning's ommision of a soundtrack makes the film hauntingly surreal. A classic, and I'm tired of hearing otherwise.

The director's cut actually brings the meaning of the film into sharp focus. (So stop whining already! The film was cut to ribbons by the studio to be more "sci-fi".)

Another film that reminds us that intelligence and craft are worth immeasurably more than rubber guts and loud noises. Subtle, artful, and disturbing. Skip the noisy, jumpy, witless gajin remakes, they miss the point entirely.

The original, and IMHO the best of Mr. Krueger's appearances. As much as I diss him, Craven does present a unique knack for surrealism here. Heather Langenkamp is a pleasure, as always.

Big, loud, and dumb, and I love it! A very self-conscious homage to the 80's slashers, it nevertheless manages some creepy moments. The film is more akin to NOES 3 with Jason thrown in, rather than a true melding of both franchises. (And that's just ducky with me. Let's face it, the 'Friday film were uniformly awful.) Terribly underrated.

Amazingly disturbing on so many levels. One of the classic indie horrors, and its uniqueness shines (or should that be oozes?) forth in every scene. Unfortunately, the film does possess some annnoying acting, and overall shallow characterization. However, the primal nature of its horror is enough to overcome these flaws.

A return to genteel, Intelligent, almost Lewton-esque horror. However, if you're expecting this film to be timid or slow, it might just make you poop yourself. Deliriously chilling.

Yes, Peter jackson was always a genius, and his homage to Sam Raimi and the zombie film in general is the goriest, funniest, most action packed indie in New Zealand history!

While I've never been a huge fan of Argento (giallo bores me) this is undoubtedly his best work. Dario's brilliant visuals surpass any of the problems I initially had with the film's pacing.

IMHO the most artistically accomplished of Castle's films. A brilliant adaptation of Ray Russell's short story, and an amazingly fun and spooky film.

The film that birthed the slasher genre, (But can't we get past that already?) it still holds up due to the primal nature of its theme. Atmospheric and suspenfull. Donald Pleasance as the perfectly tea'ched Dr. Loomis is the higlight of any film in the series.

The only Kubrick film I ever liked. Not superbly acted, disrespectful of its brilliant source material, and lacking any subtlety, it still manages to be scary as hell.

Not quiet up there with 'The Beyond' or any of Romero's works, but damn fun nontheless.

A flawed adaptation of Straub, but very atmospheric in spite of this. Alice Krige is pitch perfect, and the film perfectly captures the bleak, secretive aura of small town New England.

A nice adaptation of Mignola's brilliant comic. Lovecraftian and funny, a hard combo to master!

Just about my favorite action film. A perfect example of Carpenter's early genius; unique concepts, dynamic pacing, and excellent ensemble casting.

Not quite as enjoyable as 'Fall' but it still manages to be a nice example of just what made the show so wonderful. The usual Daria spark is slightly dampened by ennui (this is the series' swan song) and the fact that the snap-crack writing takes something of a backseat to wrapping everything up. However, as a grand finale, the film is at least satisfying. Characters grow, bonds are severed (Ha ha, eat it Sloan!), and come what may, Daria and Jane will always remain friends. Who could ask for a better ending?

A dark, violent, kinky vision of corruption. It's also creative as hell and very memorable. Oddly enough, it tends to be underrated, even amoung afficianados.

Hitchcock's finest work. Chilling, twisted, and pitch-perfect.

Can a film be irreverent and deeply touching at the same time? All signs point to yes!

Ok, I'll admit it, I'm a sucker for sentimentality. I'm also pretty big on fantastic direction, excellent performances, and magnificent storytelling. One of the most gripping aspects of this film, is how it shifts from drama to almost a type of philisophical horror at the end. Wow.

What could I say about this movie that hasn't already been said? It's THE classic 80's generation comedy.

Call this film overrated to my face, and turn around at the risk of finding my boot in your derriere. A classic, for a reason. It's the perfect movie, deal with it.

The only reason I have not killed Paul Anderson. The perfect B-action fantasy martial arts picture. True to its source, while still being accesable to general audiences.

Some people are turned off by this very quircky comedy, but it was always a favorite of mine. I really wish Murray hadn't commited himself of late to the humorless art-house crowd. He plays crazy like nobody's business.

Certainly not the most noteworthy British anthology, but a personal fave of mine Spooky, darkly shot, and the ending (even though a bit obvious) is a killer.

80's punk horror/ comedy done to near perfection. Not to mention the best Linnea Quigley nude scene ever commited to film.

A vastly underrated and undeservedly obscure flick. Features one of the most disturbing climaxes ever commited to film.

Perhaps the finest horror anthology of all time.

Tends to get overlooked due to its key gimmick, but it really is a remarkably twisted ensemble comedy.

An amazing, colorful adaption of Maupusant's 'The Horla'. Price is excellent as always.