Top Ten Horror Movies Of A Kindle Horror Book Writer

Top Ten Horror Movies Of A Kindle Horror Book Writer
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Alan_Toner]Alan Toner

As a published author of Kindle paranormal and horror books, and as a huge fan of horror movies, I would like to list my all time top ten horror movies. As there are some real classics here, I am sure that some of these movies will also feature highly in the top ten lists of many other horror fans.

1. Frankenstein (1931) - The granddaddy of them all: Frankenstein's Monster, played by the great Boris Karloff. This was the film that got me hooked on horror movies when I first saw it as a kid. Nobody has been able to play Frankenstein's creation quite like Karloff did, as he brought a remarkable sense of pathos to the role. I love everything about this movie, from Colin Clive's ecstatically crazed tones of "It's alive! Alive!" to the fiery finale in the old windmill. The ultimate Universal horror movie, and a true classic.

2. The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) - It's not often that a sequel to a popular movie lives up to the first. The Bride of Frankenstein was one of those pleasing exceptions. In fact, many cinema buffs regard this second film in the Karloff Frankenstein trilogy as being even better than the previous one. Again, Universal work their special movie monster magic here, as Dr Frankenstein is forced to create a mate for his creature - with disastrous results. Elsa Lanchester is brilliant as the Bride, as is Ernest Thesiger who plays the devious Dr Pretorius. This is also the movie where the monster learns to speak, albeit with a very limited vocabulary. Again, like the first film, a true horror classic.

3. Dracula (1958) - The movie that led me to becoming a BIG fan of Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. Seeing the Hammer Dracula for the very first time, with those terrifying blood-red eyes, razor-sharp fangs and hissing visage made the old black-and-white Dracula movies same so tame by comparison. The definitive Hammer horror movie, and one that should be in every horror fan's DVD collection. Christopher Lee is the best Dracula ever, a fact attested to when the studio had him coming back again and again in a new sequel. Nobody can play Dracula as brilliantly as Christopher Lee can, and I don't think anybody ever will.

4. The Wolf Man (1941) - Universal added a third movie monster to their chamber of celluloid horrors in the form of the Wolf Man, and although, unlike Frankenstein's monster and Dracula, this creature was not taken directly from a novel (it was from a Curt Siodmak script), it still proved to be every bit as terrifying and awesome as the other two. Lon Chaney Jr. played the cursed lycanthrope Lawrence Talbot magnificently, and his character's exploits were wonderfully enhanced by the atmosphere of fog-shrouded forests, creepy gypsy clans and brilliant musical score. And, of course, Jack Pierce did a brilliant job with the Wolf Man makeup.

5. Psycho (1960) - Famous for its notorious shower scene, Psycho (based on Robert Bloch's novel) is the King of the Slasher Films. Horror moves away from the fantasy world of monsters like The Wolf Man and Frankenstein and into a more close-to-real-life setting, namely a secluded motel run by a seemingly shy, inoffensive young man by the name of Norman Bates. But that initial impression is soon shattered when he dons his mother's clothes and goes on a demented killing spree. Psycho is truly one of Hitchcock's greatest movies.

6. Tales From The Crypt (1972) - You can't beat a good horror portmanteau movie, and of all the films of that type I have seen over the years, I found Tales From The Crypt to be the most enjoyable. Every story is brilliant, especially the one involving Joan Collins and the crazed Santa Claus, and that includes the framing story. Ralph Richardson is also fantastic as the Crypt Keeper. Thank you so much, Amicus, for bringing us masterpiece of portmanteau horror.

7. Halloween (1978) - This John Carpenter movie really proved that you can still scare viewers half to death with a good slasher story without resorting to excessive blood and gore. Masked Michael Myers - also known as "The Shape" - relentlessly stalks Jamie Lee Curtis through darkened streets and houses amid a creepy Halloween atmosphere. Donald Pleasance presents a memorable performance here too as Dr Loomis, who pursues his former patient Myers determinedly and fearlessly throughout the movie. A true horror classic.

8. Dracula Has Risen From The Grave (1968) - For me, this movie just embodied everything that was wonderful about Hammer: vibrantly lush settings, beautiful heroines (in this case, the lovely Veronica Carlson), great storyline, and, of course, the wonderful Christopher Lee as Count Dracula, who is revived from a watery grave by the spilling of the blood of a priest, whom he later makes his servant. I especially enjoyed the part where Paul, Maria's boyfriend, stakes Dracula in his coffin, but being an atheist can't recite the holy ritual necessary to ensure complete destruction of the evil vampire. I never get tired of watching this movie, it's that good.

9. Friday The 13th (1980) - An as yet hockey-mask-devoid Jason Voorhees makes his terrifying debut in this gory shocker from 1980. Although I did go on to enjoy all the sequels, the very first Friday The 13th movie will always be my special favourite, mainly because of the aura of mystery that surrounded the Voorhees character.

10. The Wicker Man (1973) - I cannot utter enough superlatives to describe this fantastic cult movie. Truly, one of the most unusual and original films that I have ever seen. Edward Woodward is superb in the role of Police Sergeant Neil Howie, who comes to the remote Hebridean island of Summerisle in search of a missing girl who the locals claim never existed. Being a devout Christian, Howie is disgusted to find that the islanders practise a weird form of Celtic paganism, including open copulation. Christopher Lee is also brilliant as Lord Summerisle, whose devious intentions lead Howie into a trap, culminating in one of the most horrific, heart-wrenching climaxes in horror movie history. The Wicker Man ranks not only in my all time horror movie top ten, but also in my all time top ten films ever.

Alan To (real name Alan Toner) is a successful author of Kindle books. He writes mainly in the ghost and horror genres. In addition to writing Kindle books and articles, he is also currently at work on his first novel. His Amazon Author page is at: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alan-Toner/e/B0088YISQ8/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

His official website is at: http://www.wirralwriter.co.uk

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