A List What I Wrote

Unsurprisingly I’m ridiculously late to this party. This is largely because I suck, although in my defence, picking favourites isn’t in my nature, my love is vast and all encompassing and there’s room for all in its somewhat disturbing embrace. What I’ve actually managed to cobble together here is a list. That’s it really. It’s a list of things I’ve seen recently and appreciated. Let’s not call them favourites because then I’m going to have call a million movies and apologise for their not being included, and then there’ll be the letter writing to the ones I couldn’t reach on the phone, and the apology cards, it’ll just be a ghastly cycle of misery and guilt and blame and no one wants that. So here is a list.


A

Not a good start, but I really couldn’t commit here. It’s one of these:

American Werewolf in London (1981) Alien !979), Arsenic and Old Lace (1944), Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)

I love them all!

B

Again, I struggled here, there are so many good Bs, but I eventually plumped for my two favourite brides.

Bride of Frankenstein (1935) Bride of Chucky (1998)

C

God, this is hard. I went for Child’s Play because the franchise has suffered something of a bad rep in the UK due to a particular atrocity that occurred in the early 1990s. While I obviously wholeheartedly deplore the associated, and any, real life violence, I think it’s a shame the films have been tarnished.

Child’s Play (1988)

Honourable Mention: Cut (2010)

D

I watch Die Hard at least three times a year, in fact I’ve watched it twice already this year. I unreservedly love it.

Die Hard (1988)

Honourable Mentions: Demonium (2001), Dawn of the Dead (1978)

E

I’m still as terrified of The Exorcist today as I was the first time I saw it. An undisputable classic of the genre.

The Exorcist (1973)

Honourable Mention: The Evil Dead (1981)


F
I remain consistently disappointed that the world doesn’t dress and look like 1980’s Flash Gordon. I think things would make a lot more sense if we/it did. ‘Gordon’s alive?!!!’ I love Brian Blessed and I love Flash Gordon.

Flash Gordon (1980)

Honourable Mentions: The Frighteners (1996), Frankenhooker (1990)

G

I hold Bob Hope responsible for my love of horror it was via his child friendly antics in the spooky realms that I progressed to, well, this. Ghost Breakers is one of my fondest memories from childhood.

Ghost Breakers (1940)

Honourable Mention: Ghostbusters (1984)


H

Another one of my early horror experiences, and, frankly, anything with Vincent Price in it is always top in my book.

House on Haunted Hill (1959)

Honourable Mention: Hold That Ghost (1941), Hellboy (2004)

I

Aside from being great and my favourite film of 2009 it’s got Ron Perlman in it so no further explanation is needed.

I Sell the Dead (2009)

J

I will never get over the amazingness that is Jaws, it’s the daddy of shark movies and I will never tire of watching it.

Jaws (1975)

Honourable Mention: Jurassic Park (1993)


K

Still makes me cry.

King Kong (1933)

Honourable Mention: Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988)

L

Behold the wonder of Bowie!

Labyrinth (1986)

Honourable Mention: Leprechaun 4: In Space (1996),The Lair of the White Worm (1988)

M

Second showing for Vincent Price, this time aided and abetted by another fave Peter Cushing. What’s not to love? Adrienne Corri is also gorgeous and fabulous in it.

Madhouse (1974)

Honourable Mention: The Monster Squad (1987)

N

Not a lot to say here, simply an absolute classic.

Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Honourable Mentions: Night of the Comet (1984), Night of the Creeps (1986),

O

Spawned many sequels and a pointless remake, but the original Omen remains the scariest and best.

The Omen (1976)

P

Too hard to pick, one of these maybe:

Peeping Tom (1960), Psycho (1960), Psychomania (1971), Piranha (1978)

Q

There’s really only one Q

The Quatermass Xperiment (1955)

R

There are many reasons why I should never have children, but Rosemary’s Baby terrifying me is one of the biggest.

Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

Honourable Mentions: Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (1990), Re-Animator (1985), Rear Window (1954)
S

Obscenely politically incorrect MGM musical that ought to offend my every feminist principle, but I love it! I know all the words and everything. Let us never speak of this again.

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)

Honourable Mentions: Slaughter High (1986), Shaun of the Dead (2004) Suspiria (1977), Swamp Thing (1982)
T

My husband and I consider Nick and Nora Charles our marriage role models; they’re beautiful, well dressed, devastatingly witty, desperately in love and they solve crime while drinking cocktails. That’s the dream!

The Thin Man (1934)

Honourable Mention: Theatre of Blood (1973)
U

Unbreakable makes me cry too, I’m really soft and rubbish.

Unbreakable (2000)

V

The Valley of Gwangi is the movie that keeps on giving. Ever wondered what would happen if cowboys faced off against dinosaurs? What about dinosaur vs. elephant? Want to see a tiny, tiny horse or dinosaur in a church? Look no further.

The Valley of Gwangi (1969)

Honourable Mention: Vertigo (1958)


W

Three words: Naked Britt Eckland.

The Wicker Man (1973)

Honourable Mentions: Withnail and I (1987), Wild Zero (2000)
X

Ok, technically the only ‘X’ I could think of, but it’s still outrageously awesome and it’s got Gene flipping Kelly in it!

Xanadu (1980)

Y

There could only ever really be one here; still unspeakably funny, still awesome.

Young Frankenstein (1974)

Z

I don’t feel any need to explain this. Clearly a scathing diatribe against the Bush administration and a thoughtful and considered discourse on patriarchal attitudes towards the female form.

Zombie Strippers (2008)

So there you go, a list.