Best horror film of the 70s

[Pranzo Oltranzista]

Jaws isnt a horror movie imo. Halloween is the easy answer for me and its the gold standard for horror movies.

On a side note I never really found The Exorcism scary but I give it credit for probably being the best film on this list.

I agree that Jaws is borderline horror. Halloween is widely overrated IMO!

 

[member 157595]

Jesus Christ that lineup looks like the 1927 Yankees.

 

[member 157595]

I adore Alien. I think it's such an influential movie, and I hated where Cameron took it with Aliens. I also went with House. Just one of those truly unique movies that gives you something that a lot of others just don't. I really like Jaws and The Exorcist as well. Don't Look Now is very underrated.

In terms of whether it's horror. I definitely think it is. Sci-fi horror is still horror.

I mostly agree. I don't hate Aliens but it doesn't hold a candle to the original.

 

[Trap Jesus]

I mostly agree. I don't hate Aliens but it doesn't hold a candle to the original.

I wouldn't say I hated the movie either, but so much of the appeal of Alien is the tone and atmosphere, which Aliens does not match whatsoever. Something about the dumb action schlock tone in that universe feels off to me.

 

[Straight Fire]

Definitely The Exorcist in first place (tied with The Ring as the GOAT in any decade) followed closely by The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

I'd vote in 3rd place Salem's Lot (the actual very first horror I ever saw, just about died).

 

[Gee Wally]

Jaws. Absolutely. Especially if you live near the coast like me.
To this day I still dont go too deep.
Here we are nearly 40+ years later and Mass coast has daily great white sightings.

 

[member 157595]

Jaws. Absolutely. Especially if you live near the coast like me.
To this day I still dont go too deep.
Here we are nearly 40+ years later and Mass coast has daily great white sightings.

I guarantee you there's some dude in Revere planning a trip to Truro to get in a fight with a shark.

 

[Pranzo Oltranzista]

Let's close this one too, with

1) The Exorcist
2) Jaws
2) Alien

Moving forward to the best horror films of all time top-10 polls, with Halloween, Dawn of the Dead and Texas Chainsaw Massacre as backups (pretty sure they'll be needed)

 

[frisco]

The first three Omens were all pretty good. I think "3" was a 80's film, though.

My Best-Carey

 

[Pranzo Oltranzista]

The first three Omens were all pretty good. I think "3" was a 80's film, though.

My Best-Carey

Blast from the past - major bumping, didn't remember these threads.

 

[KallioWeHardlyKnewYe]

I stand by my vote!

 

[CDJ]

Texas Chainsaw most influential imo- Bay of Blood is also wildly overlooked in terms of its influence

Alien the most impressive

Jaws is probably the best cinematic experience

 

[93gilmour93]

My top 5

1) The Exorcist
2) Halloween
3) The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
4) Alien
5) The Omen

 

[Dubi Doo]

Carrie still scares me. Not sure it's the best, but it's the scariest of the bunch for me.

 

[Primary Assist]

I can't argue with the top results on this one - Alien, Exorcist, and Jaws all have an argument as the best films on this list. My gut is telling me Jaws... But the Xenomorph in my gut is telling me to change my opinion or pay the price. And Captain Howdy is excited for me to spill my guts, in a 360 degree manner all around my bedroom...

The Shining was 5 months too late to make this list, but I wonder where it would rank if it was included. My money is on it taking the top spot.

 

[Pranzo Oltranzista]

The Shining was 5 months too late to make this list, but I wonder where it would rank if it was included. My money is on it taking the top spot.

It ended up 2nd on the 80s poll (but was since voted up to a tie at first place).

 

[the squared circle]

Watched Texas Chainsaw Massacre again yesterday. No matter how many times I watch it, I still squirm when Leatherface 'hangs' her on the hook.

Regarding Jaws, my parents took me to watch it at the Drive-Thru, when i was 4 years old. I am not kidding, ever since then, if I am in a body of water, where i look ahead and don't see land, I fear a shark or giant octopus (lol i am a child of the 70s when a giant octopus was a potential threat to a kid) is coming to kill me.

 

[Osprey]

...I fear a shark or giant octopus (lol i am a child of the 70s when a giant octopus was a potential threat to a kid) is coming to kill me.

Your worst nightmare come to life: The Toronto Maple Leafs make it to the Stanley Cup Final... only to face the San Jose Sharks or Seattle Kraken.

 

[Nakatomi]

The one thing I'd be curious about from voters is how many of the options they have seen. I doubt many (any?) have seen them all. I do think some of the ones getting just a few votes would fare much better with more eyes on them.

 

[Pranzo Oltranzista]

The one thing I'd be curious about from voters is how many of the options they have seen. I doubt many (any?) have seen them all. I do think some of the ones getting just a few votes would fare much better with more eyes on them.

I've seen them all. I'm also the only one who has voted for Images. I guess it's borderline horror, but it's pretty unsettling.

 

[Osprey]

The one thing I'd be curious about from voters is how many of the options they have seen. I doubt many (any?) have seen them all. I do think some of the ones getting just a few votes would fare much better with more eyes on them.

I've seen 18 of the 26 films and still voted for 2 of the 3 that are leading the poll. My favorites haven't changed since seeing more, so I doubt that others' would enough to significantly change the poll results. If this were a top 10 or even top 5, maybe, but it's hard to change one's favorite or second favorite, especially when they're generally considered the best.

 

[x Tame Impala]

Jaws is the epitome of a movie. I think it’s perfect from start to finish. It’s more of a drama than a horror movie, no?

Alien would’ve been my vote. Also a perfect film that epitomizes a movie-watching experience. It fits the horror criteria a little better IMO.

 

[Nakatomi]

I've seen 18 of the 26 films and still voted for 2 of the 3 that are leading the poll. My favorites haven't changed since seeing more, so I doubt that others' would enough to significantly change the poll results. If this were a top 10 or even top 5, maybe, but it's hard to change one's favorite or second favorite, especially when they're generally considered the best.

That is fair. One that stood out to me is I could not believe how many more votes The Exorcist has than The Omen. I could see one preferring it despite me liking The Omen more, but I would not have expected it to be such a total wipeout.

Jaws is the epitome of a movie. I think it’s perfect from start to finish. It’s more of a drama than a horror movie, no?

Alien would’ve been my vote. Also a perfect film that epitomizes a movie-watching experience. It fits the horror criteria a little better IMO.

I feel the same about Jaws and how it is categorized. And if it were not eligible, I wonder where all those votes would be distributed.

 

[KallioWeHardlyKnewYe]

I've seen all but two. Got a little work to do it seems

 

[Hippasus]

Jaws is the epitome of a movie. I think it’s perfect from start to finish. It’s more of a drama than a horror movie, no?

Alien would’ve been my vote. Also a perfect film that epitomizes a movie-watching experience. It fits the horror criteria a little better IMO.

At first I agreed, but then it makes me wonder, is a horror film not based on violence and-or the atmosphere of violence? The Shining, for instance, although early 80s, arguably has next to no violence. But the violence theme is psychologically building behind the surface.