Spring Break
The Not-So Chosen One: Zombies and werewolves and vampires, oh my!
Shaun Boutwell
Issue date: 10/27/05 Section: Entertainment
9. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) - One of director Wes Craven's most popular films (and arguably one of his best, behind The Last House on the Left and The Hills Have Eyes), ANOES introduces us to the infamous Freddy Krueger, the child murderer who is killed by angry parents but comes back to terrorize kids in their dreams. Featuring a truly terrifying concept (imagine not being able to sleep for fear of being killed) and a mean-spirited villain who manages to be both scary and funny, it is no wonder that the movie spawned six sequels (seven, if you count Freddy Vs. Jason) and is ingrained in the hearts and minds of many horror fans.
8. The Evil Dead (1981) - While the majority of the college circuit has only heard of the third movie in the franchise, Army of Darkness, The Evil Dead is one of the most innovative low-budget horror movies ever. Sam Raimi's directorial debut tells the tale of five young adults (one of which is Ash, played by B-movie star Bruce Campbell) who spend their vacation at a cabin in the middle of the woods. When one of them reads from the Book of the Dead that they find in the basement, all hell breaks loose with very bloody results. One of the more unique moments in the film: a demonically possessed tree has sex with a girl. Gives new meaning to the term "getting wood," don't you think?
7. Fright Night (1985) - This modern-day take on the classic vampire tale relies on its strong cast of characters, tight plot, and memorable 80s soundtrack (especially during the night club scene). When teenager Charley Brewster finds out his next-door neighbor is a creature of the night, he realizes that only washed-up TV star Peter Vincent can help him save the day before it is too late. The movie boasts one of the most charming, sexually charged vampire villains of the decade, Jerry Dandrige (played by the always suave Chris Sarandon).
6. The Thing (1982) - John Carpenter's claustrophobic thriller features groundbreaking special makeup effects by Rob Bottin and an all-star cast (Kurt Russell and Keith David, to name a few). When an alien life form starts taking over members of a scientific expedition in Antarctica, the tension and paranoid begin to run so thick you can almost cut it with a knife. For a film made before CGI, not enough can be said about how truly awe-inspiring Bottin's effects work is, especially in the scenes when the alien takes over the dogs' bodies, and when one unlucky guy's head separates from his body.
8. The Evil Dead (1981) - While the majority of the college circuit has only heard of the third movie in the franchise, Army of Darkness, The Evil Dead is one of the most innovative low-budget horror movies ever. Sam Raimi's directorial debut tells the tale of five young adults (one of which is Ash, played by B-movie star Bruce Campbell) who spend their vacation at a cabin in the middle of the woods. When one of them reads from the Book of the Dead that they find in the basement, all hell breaks loose with very bloody results. One of the more unique moments in the film: a demonically possessed tree has sex with a girl. Gives new meaning to the term "getting wood," don't you think?
7. Fright Night (1985) - This modern-day take on the classic vampire tale relies on its strong cast of characters, tight plot, and memorable 80s soundtrack (especially during the night club scene). When teenager Charley Brewster finds out his next-door neighbor is a creature of the night, he realizes that only washed-up TV star Peter Vincent can help him save the day before it is too late. The movie boasts one of the most charming, sexually charged vampire villains of the decade, Jerry Dandrige (played by the always suave Chris Sarandon).
6. The Thing (1982) - John Carpenter's claustrophobic thriller features groundbreaking special makeup effects by Rob Bottin and an all-star cast (Kurt Russell and Keith David, to name a few). When an alien life form starts taking over members of a scientific expedition in Antarctica, the tension and paranoid begin to run so thick you can almost cut it with a knife. For a film made before CGI, not enough can be said about how truly awe-inspiring Bottin's effects work is, especially in the scenes when the alien takes over the dogs' bodies, and when one unlucky guy's head separates from his body.
