Board 8 > Gauntlet Crew Ranks 90s Horror Films - Do you like ranking scary movies?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Snake5555555555 posted...

Any predix, surprises, disappointments? I'm personally surprised In The Mouth of Madness made it this far! Eleventh Hour replacement Stir of Echoes is also a little bit of a shock.

Without spoiling anything, that's hard to say. I'm a little disappointed Sleepy Hollow didn't make it since it was so close. It definitely could replace the only bottom half ranking I have remaining and I'd have been happy. The movie I'm referring to is pretty overrated, and when I watched it I didn't see what the fuss was over. Definitely far from this guy's best work.
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Just noticed this topic. I'm a big horror fan. How do I get involved in future horror ratings?
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Join gauntlet Discord and just ask to be notified next time we do a horror theme I guess. I have no idea how these things work nowadays!
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I think Snake will be hosting "A History of Horror" in... 3 or 4 years?
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2010s > History of Horror
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My plan right now is War > 80s > 10s most likely.
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For Cube, which I watched since my first half post:

KBM posted...

To get this out of the way first and foremost: I've always hated when movies portray autistic people the way this movie does. However, when you have a movie that's this brilliantly atmospheric, where the concept and the production design are this strong I'm willing to give it a pass. Despite some stilted dialogue and a couple performances that aren't as strong as they could have been, the plot is intelligent and refreshingly doesn't feel the need to sit down and explain everything that's going on. The traps are creative, the directing is great, and the great concept is well-served. I've also heard GREAT things about Cube 2: Hypercube. [/sarcasm]

This is pretty much exactly what I would have written.

Top 10 Update:

(?)
1. ?
2. Tremors
(?)
3. Fire in the Sky
4. ?
5. Ring
6. ?
(Cube)
7. Candyman
8. Bram Stoker's Dracula
9. Flatliners
10. Child's Play 2
11. Army of Darkness
12. Braindead
(?)
13. Arachnophobia
14. Nightbreed
15. Leprechaun
16. Demonic Toys

Unrankable: (?)
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10. In The Mouth of Madness

JONA - 2
KBM - 7
Snake - 10
Karo - 12
Charon - 15
Inviso - 16
Johnbobb - 16
Scarlet - 17
Genny - 31

JONA - Man, John Carpenter Is great when it comes to movies about paranoia. I just found the film so entertaining. Sam Neills performance is great and I love how his psyche breaks from not knowing whats reality or fiction. The mix of Stephen King and Lovecraft here is awesome and the film has this somewhat inconsistent atmosphere with it being serious some times and cheesy other times but it actually helped the movie for me, since it worked with the theme of questioning reality. This film is a crazy, vastly entertaining ride and one I would want to go on again.

KBM - Oh, John Carpenter. This might be the single most underrated movie in your entire filmography. Featuring a much better Sam Neill performance than that other movie on this list that he stars in, In the Mouth of Madness takes the ground work laid by the likes of H.P. Lovecraft and Stephen King and takes off running with it. I'm all about the atmosphere in my horror movies, and Carpenter is perhaps the king of horror atmosphere. Engrossing as hell, lovingly and stylishly crafted, this is definitely one that more horror fans should see.

Snake - Why I Chose It - I mean, it's John friggin' Carpenter! That should be enough to get on any 90s horror list. In The Mouth of Madness is the 3rd film in Carpenter's thematic "Apocalypse Trilogy" that also includes The Thing and Prince of Darkness. It draws fully from Lovecraft mythology and also homages Stephen King. It only broke even at the box office but has gained a strong cult following thanks to a stronger modern interest in meta, self-reflexive works.

My Thoughts - I will admit, it took me a couple of viewings in order to fully appreciate this one. As a teen, I thought it was dull and nonsensical. Now, with my brain fully indoctrined on Lovecraft's works, I have a better understanding of what makes this film so damn effective and terrifying. This is one of the most intense dives into the human mind I've ever seen, and one of the only truly accurate films to capture Lovecraft's tone perfectly. Sam Neill is incredible, and this is easily my favorite role of his. Carpenter has always been a master of the atmospheric, and it's no different here. I adore the meta-fictional breakdown at the film's end, a truly maddening conclusion to an already hellish nightmare. It just checks all the boxes in what makes an awesome horror experience for me.

Karo - A man seeks to solve the disappearance of a popular horror novelist and unfortunately ends up in a quiet New England town ruled by Cthulhu or something. The story is standard Lovecraftian fare, ancient beings want to break through into reality and everyone gets mindfucked and grows an unhealthy amount of tentacles. The things that set this movie apart are how the author's narrative begins to spill over into the real world leading to a breakdown of the very nature of sanity and reality, with the protagonist finally realizing to his horror that he is nothing but a character in a movie. While it doesnt really stand out in any other way, the blurring of truth and fiction in the story do make it seems somewhat original at least.
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Charon - Sometimes a headtrip, this movie requires a lot of contemplation afterwards to really appreciate it. Initially, this film was much lower on my list until I began to think more about it, ultimately adjusting it to this position. It reminds me of Alan Wake; except Alan is the antagonist here. I really loved the portrayal of Sutter Cane, probably the most memorable character from the film. It's definitely something you have to come around to I think, because even though everything is interesting it is also a little puzzling at times. That said, I did eventually come around to enjoying this one.

Inviso - God bless Sam Neill. He tries so hard to pull off an American accent, but he manages to fuck that up in almost every movie Ive seen him play an American. At some point, I imagine the director just gets sick of retaking scenes, and prints whatever. But yeah, this is a weird, meta movie. Its creepy and unsettling, and its actually interesting the way the film paces itself. You open with Sam Neill in an insane asylum, telling a story about how exactly he came to reside there. But then the central character shifts slightly, to focus on a woman from the publishing house representing a major horror writer. So for the first half of the movie, Sam Neill isnt really experiencing the horror, but she isand this allows the audience to enjoy the creepy atmosphere while still maintaining a slow burn in terms of the scares.

The plot gets crazy once Sam Neill takes over at the center though, because hes privy to a bunch of disturbing imagery involving tentacles and eldritch horror. Slowly, he runs afoul of Hobbs Ends demonic energy, and discovers that hes merely a fictional character, written on the pages of a horror authors latest novel. This is the meta element I mentioned, and I think its handled well, because it really emphasizes the whole dont read the ending plot point for the main character, meaning that hes pretty much forced to live out the plot of the novel without any outside interference. By the time the film reaches its conclusion, the world has just devolved and its hard to tell if the events are meant to be real, or merely an ending to a story in which Sam Neills character is fictional in and of himself. That kind of mindfuck makes for a solid ending, and I enjoyed the film overall.

Johnbobb - I liked this way more than I thought I would. It's a little campy, but the right type of campy, where it never really takes away from the creepiness of everything. If anything, it just makes it even more disturbing. It's bizarre and surreal, which was just exactly what I was hoping for from it. The whole thing is a wild trip.

Scarlet - While it doesnt exactly meet the expectations set by one H.P. Lovecraft, Carpenter actually pulls an excellent actor out of his hat to anchor this strong script that consistently defies the reality of an observer with the sorts of twists and unreliability that create a sense of disorientation. My only real issue with this movie is that it feels rushed in terms of editing and filming. The budget just seems perilously low here, and it really does affect my enjoyment of this story. That said, Carpenter is the perfect choice for this movie. I cant imagine someone else trying to present this narrative. I just wish he was handed a few more bucks to make it feel less like a studios allowance ran out when they were picking up lighting equipment and cameras.
Rating: 48/100
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Genny - Enter a world inspired by Clive Barker but written by Alan Wake. Into the Mouth of Madness combines Lovecraftian horror with body horror and features the Children of the Corn. Honestly there's not much to say about this movie other than that it feels like a hodgepodge of other successful movies, tropes, and ideas so much so that despite the (at the time) unique premise it loses its own voice. I mean sure it was interesting to see all of them play out together, but it was better the first time I saw each of them elsewhere. In the Mouth of Madness is a fitting title, because it's nothing more than insanity in cinematic form. 5.7/10
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Outlier

Inviso - 307
Genny - 277
Charon - 236
KBM - 201
Johnbobb - 188
Scarlet - 188
Karo - 163
JONA - 159
Snake - 150

Genny makes big strides but it's hard to break the cement at this point.
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I'm really surprised to see Mouth of Madness make the top 10 and a little disappointed that Cube didn't even though I did like it. I figured I'd be on the high end honestly. Even with Carpenter at the helm I still kind of expected it to fall on the level of like Flatliners
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Snake5555555555 posted...

Johnbobb - 188
Scarlet - 188

high fives Scarlet
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I like Cube a lot! It reminds me of the recent-ish influx of translated Japanese manga with escape room/death game themes. It's a genre I've always enjoyed. And leaving the Cube history intentionally vague was a good choice IMO since nothing would've made sense anyway.
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btw don't watch Cube Zero

but absolutely DO watch Cube 2: Hypercube
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Damn I forgot to mention how fantastic the main theme of ItMoM was.

Also, next ranking coming soon.
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I've been on the edge of my seat for three hours now!

(Sorry to anyone who gets faked out by this post lol)
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Sorry, was waiting on write-ups!

9. Interview with the Vampire

Genny - 1
Scarlet - 2
Charon - 3
Karo - 5
Snake - 11
Johnbobb - 14
KBM - 17
JONA - 27
Inviso - 36

Genny - Interview with the Vampire features some amazing performances from Pitt, Cruise, Dunst, and Banderas. One vampire in particular, Lestat steals every scene he's in and serves as a flawless foil to Louis and his dwindling morals and humanity. I have nothing but praise for the costuming and stage designs, set against an accurately picturesque New Orleans backdrop. It's simply a gorgeous movie containing one of the most delightful bastards set to film. 9.7/10

Scarlet - Look, its a full-length film about the guy Cassidy hung out with in Preacher Season 3. Whats not to love? The highest compliment I can pay this film is to say that I think it deserves an HBO-style adaptation.
Rating: 84/100

Charon - An engaging dark tale of vampires in a unique light; full of love, death and betrayal, this film seldom ever disappoints. The art direction of this film is fantastic, and of note, during our vacation to New Orleans a couple of months ago Genny and I got to see some of the filming locations used in the movie. It's really hard to ask for any horror movie to do better than casting Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, in the same movie no less. Their characters are of course the centerpiece of the film, though the insertion of Dunst's character made for some good dynamics as well. It's not quite the perfect movie, as it does stutter just a bit in the later acts since the movie can't go on forever, but it's still the best vampire movie I can remember watching.

Karo - A centuries-old vampire dictates his life story for a books-on-tape series and the story follows him throughout the years as he searches for others of his kind. Louis is a compelling character who struggles with the conflict between his monster instincts and human morality and it is interesting to see how him and Claudia react differently to their transformation. It is not without problems, it is a mite longer than it really needs to be and the ending is laughably stupid (random Lestat why) but it remains engrossing throughout.

Snake - Why I Chose It - Interview with the Vampire is one of the most well-known vampire films of the modern era, an adaptation of the Anne Rice novel that notoriously took close to 20 years to fully make and develop. It had a particularly high budget for a horror and vampire film at the time. It was a huge success at the box office and has two Oscar nominations under its belt. This film also exposed Kirsten Dunst to a wider audience, and she was nominated for a Golden Globe for her role as Claudia.

My Thoughts - Interview with the Vampire is just solid in all aspects. The performances are incredible all-around, especially Tom Cruise's Lestat. The film keeps it pretty simple when it comes to the vampire mythology, but I love a good, straight-forward approach to the vampire genre every now and then. It's largely character driven and a true Shakespearean tragedy in many regards. The framing device of the titular interview also gives the story a nice flow that always leaves you eagerly awaiting for what happens next. Yeah, it's just great all-around!
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Johnbobb - One of the best vampire movies I've seen, though that's not exactly a high bar to meet. It definitely seems to understand the idea of vampires more than most vampire films. Sexual, violent, arrogant, and sometimes a little unnerving. At first it's just a well crafted slice-of-life look into an odd vampire family, before getting progessively weirder in both good and bad ways. The one major issue I have is the casting. Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt aren't really the best choices for these flamboyant European dudes. Funny enough, I think it would be a considerably better role for Brad Pit now that's he gotten more experience and range. They both do a serviceable enough job though, both showing acting prowess in parts and never really taking away from the great ambience of everything.

KBM - Great performances, memorable characters, and lush production design make this movie a winner, even if the story stumbles a bit from time to time. It's a hard sell to set a genre flick in the South in the time of slavery, and in that regard sometimes it feels a bit exploitative of the cruelty and human suffering of the time, thanks to its seeming romanticism regarding the time and place (in other words, the Gone with the Wind problem). Fortunately, that ends up being a more minor issue in the grand scheme of things, as at its core this is just a really solid, well-told vampire story. If Brad Pitt is maybe just a little too mopey and sullen in the lead role, he's more than offset by some truly great performances from Tom Cruise (who absolutely owns the role of Lestat), a twelve-year-old Kirsten Dunst displaying talent beyond her years, and Christian Slater as the titular interviewer. Some of the sets here are also utterly jaw-dropping, in particular the sequence set in the beautiful underground Parisien catacombs where the local coven of vampires makes their home. As a sexy (and deliciously homoerotic) retelling of the vampire mythos, these succeeds on a lot more levels than it doesn't. Shout-out also to the Oscar-nominated Elliot Goldenthal score, which had the misfortune of being up for the award in the same year as Hans Zimmer's career-best score for The Lion King.

JONA - MICHAEL COLE: JONA, the Gauntlet Galaxy would like to know your thoughts on Interview with the Vampire.

JONA: Interviews got some things going for it. Its got interesting characters with good actors, atmosphere and a neat narrative gimmick. However, nothing about the characters tales really stuck with me and the narrative gimmick just didnt add anything except for the ending. I was confused on what exactly the lesson the interviewer was supposed to take in listening to Louiss story. The movie could also be quite boring at times. Its fine but its not outlasting 39 other movies.

MICHAEL COLE: Thank you for your thoughts. The Gauntlet Galaxy would also like to know if you have any interesting ideas for your writeups.

JONA: Not really, maybe Ill just do song lyrics or some sh*bleep*

*JONA walks away*

*Michael Cole stares at the camera for 3 seconds longer than when it should be cut*

Inviso - This movie is HORRIBLY acted. Like, I know that the vampires are all supposed to be otherworldly and shit, but that doesnt excuse Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt and Antonio Banderas all behaving like monotonous aliens, and Kirsten Dunst being a massive bitch at all times. And that would be okay if the movie didnt take itself SO seriously. Interview is trying to be all artsy, and it even uses the interview storytelling technique to cover up the fact that the plot of pretty threadbare and the events of Brad Pitts life really arent THAT spectacular. This film is over two hours long. It does not NEED to be over two hours long. Everyone is either an asshole, or a whiny douchebag, and it leads to an extremely unpleasant viewing experience.
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I'm gonna get yelled at >_>;;
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oh dear
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Interview with the Vampire

This very watchable vampire fable has quite a few individually strong aspects: sumptuous period detail that effectively generates immersion, fitting and at times entrancing music, even an admirable message about rejecting skin-deep hedonism and genuinely listening to others. Unfortunately, inconsistent directing, writing, and acting cause it to constantly hurtle between deadly seriousness and high camp, spoiling its intended melancholy tone. On top of that, lacking scares and action sequences prevent its redemption along the alternative path of an enjoyable genre movie.
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Inviso posted...

I'm gonna get yelled at >_>;;

I respectfully disagree.

With just about everything you said.
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Inviso is like the only person who would call like the most popular/renowned two actors of the 90's bad at their jobs.
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v_charon posted...

Inviso is like the only person who would call like the most popular/renowned two actors of the 90's bad at their jobs.

They were bad in THIS movie. That's all.
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They really weren't though. Tom Cruise is at the top of his game here. And I don't recall Louis ever being whiny. He's conflicted for a good reason.
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You know how confused Inviso is about the word whiny. I found out he can't judge what a whiny character is like 16 years ago.
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Snake5555555555 posted...

JONA: Not really, maybe Ill just do song lyrics or some sh*bleep*

I feel personally attacked
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Snake5555555555 posted...

Kirsten Dunst being a massive bitch at all times

...she was like 12 in that :/
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Yeah that Inviso take might be the worst I've ever seen on a gauntlet list ever in my limited time following em
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8. From Dusk till Dawn

Snake - 1
Scarlet - 3
KBM - 9
Johnbobb - 10
Inviso - 13
Genny - 14
JONA - 14
Karo - 19
Charon - 26

Snake - Why I Chose It - This genre-bender by prolific film legends Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino remains a shining example of creativity in the horror and crime genres. The film was George Clooney's breakout role and it was a box office hit. It spawned off a whole franchise of two direct-to-video sequels, a video game, and a TV series. The film also spawned several popular characters; Santanico Pandemonium has become a cult horror icon, and Texas Ranger Earl McGraw would go on to appear in Tarantino's Kill Bill films.

My Thoughts - From Dusk till Dawn is an absolute blast from front-to-back. It can be hard for any medium to pull off a genre switch, but to me, From Dusk till Dawn pulls it off absolutely flawlessly. Both halves of the film are excellent in their own ways. You have the typical Tarantino crime thriller up first, an engrossing plot and set-up that establishes are main characters, likable yet deplorable criminals in the same vein as Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs or Vincent/Jules from Pulp Fiction. Clooney just oozes charm as Seth, and Tarantino surprises as Ritchie, he just fits that psychopathic asshole role like a glove. The kidnapped family also clashes well with the criminals, I love the chemistry and black comedy that occurs on the RV. The border scene is one of my favorites. The second half, when it turns into a horror film, is bonkers and so much fun. Tom Savini's Sex Machine is a pure badass, and the vampires themselves have a charming, 70s exploitation feel to them that you just know has a ton of love put into. And that's really what this film is. A loving ode to all of Tarantino and Rodriguez's weird and varied tastes, masterfully rolled into one film that just can't help but indulge on what makes horror such a fantastic, weird and varied genre.

Scarlet - The movie starts off like your standard Tarantino crime film (replete with Tarantino himself, which only fuels that feeling), but by the time youve resigned yourself to this being one film, it turns into a vastly different experience. The casting here is phenomenal. Clooney is the master of playing a character with an air of coolness, turning a fairly disturbed individual into an exceptional protagonist. Hayek, Salvini, Cheech, Trejo everyone is pitch perfect in their roles. Rodriguez seems primed to make a movie with the words Bad Ass emblazoned on the box art, and it certainly lives up to that promise and then some. From Dusk Till Dawn is style over substance, but goddamn, I love a bit of style sometimes.
Rating: 74/100

KBM - Starts out as a talky Quentin Tarantino crime drama, then takes a hard right turn into vampire horror. And it manages to both of these things really, really well. Hell, Tarantino himself even turns out a rare good acting performance (possibly better than usual because he's not directing himself here). From the surprisingly effective human drama of Harvey Keitel and his family, to the tense relationship between the Gecko brothers, to the fiendishly gory, no-holds-barred third act, this is one where everything just worked for me, despite so many disparate tones seemingly clashing up against each other. Shout-out to Cheech Marin's hilarious triple-role, and to fun supporting turns from the likes of Danny Trejo, Fred Williamson, and practical effects legend Tom Savini.
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Johnbobb - Quite a few times with 90s horror I've mentioned that excessive campiness and cheese can drag a movie down for me, but some filmmakers can do it right. There's something about the Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino combo that's just so appealing. It's wacky and wild and legitimately funny, with Clooney and Lewis both bringing unique and instantly memorable performances. On top of that, I've got bias because the last time I watched it was with my dad when I was probably much too young to see this movie, so I've got nostalgic memories cleaning up some of the rough edges.

Inviso - For about half this movies runtime, I had no idea why it was included on a list of 90s horror moviesand then the twist happened. It comes completely out of nowhere, its a bizarre tonal shift, and its just weird enough to be interesting. I love me a good bloodbath, and it was hilarious watching the gang fight off a hoard of vampires before eventually improvising to find a bunch of kickass vampire-fighting weapons. Ultimately though, the thing that prevents this film from ranking higher isI actually enjoyed the first half more. I like most Tarantino movies, and while this wasnt directed by him, he was the writer, if I recall correctly. And the first half of the film felt very reminiscent of Reservoir Dogs or Pulp Fiction. The back half, while cool, lost some of that zing, so we wind up here on the ranking.

Genny - From Dusk til Dawn is unique to say the least. To say the most it's the weirdest vampire centric plot conceived because it doesn't even start out having anything to do with bloodsuckers. The film sets up the unstable brother played by Quinton Tarantino to be the major source of conflict due to his mental issues and unrestrained murderous nature, but right at the start of the third act he's tossed aside to play a bit role. It's bizarre! Every time I think the plot is going in one direction it does an about face, making it one helluva ride. 7.7/10

JONA - I didnt know much about the movie, except that it was about vampires, so the first half of the movie took me by surprise. I ended up enjoying the first half more than the second half because of the tension and suspense and how the entertaining characters bounce off each other. The second half, like Shawn Michaels on commentary, goes off-the-rails and while it does have fun, dumb action it wasnt as compelling as the first half.

Karo - A pair of bank robbers on the run take a preacher and his family hostage as they journey towards the border and much dark comedy ensues. Tarantino's skill at creating lovably inept criminals really shines in this movie, though I wish he would stop trying to be an actor because he fucking sucks at that. Anyway the first half of this can really hold its own with the best of his films, however once they cross the border, the film devolves into a meaningless bout of stupidity starting out with over 10 full minutes of nothing but half-naked woman dancing and then they turn into vampires because why not. Hey, its not like the start of the movie was a witty and well written crime comedy, lets just go to fucking transylvania and mindlessly splat stupid looking bat-people. It is so ill-fitting and so stupid. Remember the old forum game where each poster writes a little bit of a story and runs it further off the rails until it isnt even recognizable anymore? Well, this is the cinematic version of that.
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Charon - A horror film for less than half of its running time and having that horror all take place in one location is a mixture of a feat and a disappointment. I find it difficult to explain this movie, perhaps because it is like many others that I don't like as much, not all horror. It was actually over halfway through before any horror elements crept in; and when I say that, I mean immediately show up out of nowhere. Now I could see this coming after some time, but the film that took place before this was... not always to my liking. I really hated Tarantino's character for example. I get that he was probably not supposed to be liked very much, but his antics were so deplorable and the lack of it actually being a horror film at that point were maddening. Once we get into the meaty part of the horror element, I wasn't particularly wowed by it I guess. You've got this assortment of characters, maybe like 2 of which you have any interest in, fighting some undead that have no real backstory other than they want to drink your blood. The ending is also odd, and it reminded me of Resident Evil 4's sometimes uncomfortable flirting except this one was worse at it. Why would this girl want to go with Clooney's character? Just so eh, then they all just kinda leave and it's over. How does she get back across the border covered in blood? Who knows or cares.
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Outlier

Inviso - 339
Genny - 291
Charon - 260
KBM - 210
Scarlet - 200
Johnbobb - 195
JONA - 183
Karo - 178
Snake - 159

JONA switches spots with Karo and scarlet climbs further as well.
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I don't know if I would have Interview with a Vampire as low as Inviso did.

But likely bottom half.

Not a fan.
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I think JONA's take on it is fair criticism. It does arguably have some plot/pacing issues, particularly as far as being memorable goes-- I hardly remember what it was about either and I rewatched it earlier this year. Just remember enjoying it.

But man calling it on bad acting you kiddin me.
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Dusk wouldve been my #1 if I finished the list. ^5 Snake

At the same time, I am also not a fan of Interview. Id have ranked it near the bottom.
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I just didn't like it. I probably even overranked it. There's good acting in it, but the horror part is really suspect and a mostly thoughtless in my opinion.
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From Dusk till Dawn

Im somewhat prudish by nature (even though its not easy for me to get genuinely disgusted or offended), so this type of deliberately boundary-pushing, over-the-top fare doesnt normally jive with my sensibilities. As such, I never would have thought that I would be calling a movie that prominently features a bar/strip club called the Titty Twister great, but this one surprised me just as much as its own sudden insertion of vampires into a crime story.

The cold open where our screw-loose criminal pair on the run makes a daisy chain of mistakes that escalate into blowing up an entire convenience store excellently establishes this movies transgressive, live-wire comedic approach. That soon transitions into the road trip from hell, punctuated by ironically folksy music and deliberately grainy film; indeed, this is a movie that knows what it is and doesnt try to be more, which is a virtue in this context. However, said road trip also introduces something those bygone B-movies From Dusk till Dawn so lovingly spoofs and/or pays homage to never had: genuine character development, as the criminal brothers form a makeshift family with the real family they kidnapped.

Finally, the five cross the border into Mexico and reach their destination, the fabled Titty Twister. Here, the bloodsuckers swoop in, and, as the action ramps up, the humor keeps flowing. In particular, the vampire band spiting the audience by materializing out of existence and the sequence where Carlos finally shows up are real laugh-out-loud highlights. While it often takes a backseat to the character interplay and other humor, Robert Rodriguez knows how to direct action, chock a block with character-spotlighting moments and never too murky or confusing. One final, perhaps most remarkable distinction this movie possesses is top-notch acting. In particular, George Clooney, with seemingly boundless charisma, pulls off the incredible feat of making the audience root for his sociopathic career criminal; not to be outdone, Quentin Tarantino plays the quieter, yet more messed up member of the duo to the hilt. All in all, this movie certainly isnt perfect or for everyone, yet its an incredible ride if you can get on its wavelength.
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7. Stir of Echoes

Inviso - 4
Charon - 5
Genny - 8
Karo - 11
Johnbobb - 12
Scarlet - 15
Snake - 15
JONA - 18
KBM - 19

Inviso - I had never even HEARD of this movie before seeing it, yet upon watching, it REALLY impressed me to an astounding degree. For starters, I appreciate a movie casting a child actor that lives through the duration of the film, yet he DOESNT annoy me. Yeah, hes a little Sixth Sense (Ive been REALLY trying not to reference other movies on the list in these write-ups, but I couldnt ignore the comparisons here), but I feel like he works. Meanwhile, Kevin Bacon losing his mind is kinda interesting, especially since hes NOT losing his mind, and in fact hes seeing prophesies about future events, and those prophesies allow him to survive and uncover a murder plot. Even the supernatural element of the film feels interesting because they only scratch the surface of what it means (and even then, only through the wifes point of view), which adds an air of mystery to the proceedings. I just really liked this through and through.

Charon - Mired in its original release by the previous month's Sixth Sense, this clarevoyant themed thriller has stood up very well in the test of time. While the similarities between this film and the much more widely known film I mentioned are obvious, apparently the concept for this film existed long before the Sixth Sense, since it's based on a book from the 50's. It's a good thriller and you never know quite what's going to happen right up until it does, and I like to be kept guessing so long as everything is still sensible. This is of course my favorite Bacon film on the list given its placement.

Genny - Geez did Kevin Bacon star in every other movie in the 90s or what? Stir of Echoes stands a little bit apart from the crowd in that its creepy imagery is used sparingly and thus more effectively than a lot of other films during this time frame. It is also quite good at building suspense through its slowly unfolding murder mystery. I particularly enjoyed the cinematography of the theater hypnosis even if the catalyst for it was a tad contrived. 8.3/10, would watch again

Karo - A blue collar worker ends up randomly getting psychic powers after a hypnosis session, and uses his newfound abilities to solve an old missing person case. The story is engrossing, if not super original, and the character of the wife is the definite mvp. Her reactions to all her husband's crazy shit are priceless. It is an above average occult thriller that gets the job done if nothing else.

Johnbobb - Stir of Echoes isn't as deep or clever as it thinks it is but man do I love that solid like 40 minutes of Kevin Bacon just losing his fucking mind.

Scarlet - The Sixth Sense.
Rating: 52/100
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Snake - Why I Chose It - Stir of Echoes was the first horror film to truly feel the effects of the influences of The Sixth Sense, released only a month after the Shyamalan debut. However, it wasn't the plot or film development that was affected; Stir of Echoes was deemed a copycat in the publics' eyes affecting reception and box office for the film greatly, despite being based on a book by Richard Matheson from 1958. It has since seen a much warmer reception and even received a loose sequel in 2007.

My Thoughts - While not the most well-executed film on the whole, Stir of Echoes still manages to be haunting with one of Kevin Bacon's absolute best performances and a stern committment to isolated, horrific imagery that makes this film feel like Sixth Sense's edgier big brother. I like the use of a small-town setting, because horror lurking under suburbia is my god damn jam. Overall, I like the picture of insanity presented but I have a few problems with a plot that feels like an Edgar Allan Poe story and a lingering feeling that I've been there, done that.

JONA - Kevin Bacons visions of Samantha are quite creepy and its intriguing to see the mystery behind Samantha.

KBM - Now we get out of the this was a mess but I enjoyed it part of the list, and into the genuinely good movies section. Stir of Echoes was a movie I hadn't even heard of before I laid eyes on the lineup for this ranking project, but I'm glad it's been brought to my attention as it's an underrated little movie (that almost certainly suffered commercially from being released in such close proximity to that OTHER supernatural horror movie from 1999 featuring a child who could see dead people). Kevin Bacon turns in one of his best performances here as a Chicago everyman who gets hypnotized by Angela from Six Feet Under and starts getting driven crazy by the visions that ensue. The kid in the movie is admittedly no Haley Joel Osment, and things start a bit rough with him acting directly at the camera, but fortunately he's not in as much of the movie once things really hit high gear. It all ends up being more than worth it for the last 20 minutes alone, which ranks among the most haunting ending sequences I have seen in a long time.
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6. Scream

Charon - 1
Johnbobb - 3
Genny - 5
JONA - 6
Snake - 6
Scarlet - 7
Inviso - 8
Karo - 21
KBM - 26

Charon - Easily the most important horror film the the 90's, Scream revamped the slasher genre and revolutionized horror in a way that can still be seen today. Scream was an innovator and the film is often mimicked or parodied to grand scales. The film's strengths are found in its wit, unpredicability and its ability to blend comedic elements into a film that's still actually tense and scary. Scream as a franchise is one of my all time favorites, and the original is arguably the best, though I'd be hard pressed to actually choose. The characters here are unlike most supporting cast members, at least in my opinion, as they all really are able to stand out and be memorable. The actors succeed greatly in interaction; I guess it isn't a surprise two of them even got married once upon a time. The film's love letter approach to slasher films that came before it is much appreciated, and it clearly takes all the best elements from those films and makes an awesome composition from them.

Johnbobb - Goddamn, this movie. THIS is how you do satire while also making something that stands on its own. Pretty easily the best Wes Craven movie in my opinion, even if the Elm Street movies might have it beat on creative kills. Everyone's a suspect, but once you know who the killers actually are, everything makes more sense on rewatch, to the point where you feel bad for not catching the clues the first time around. You've got two killers with wildly different motives and psyches (Matthew Lillard in particular gives what is probably the best performance in any teen horror movie), both of whom steal the show toward the end. Jamie's constant "rules of horror" are hilarious, and the whole movie is just endelessly entertaining.

Genny - Don't lie: the first time you watched Scream you didn't see the twist coming. At that time it just blew my mind that two psychopaths could work together... well for the most part anyway. The movie still holds up well to this day, despite being campy enough to be parodied to death. I'll admit there is a lot of cheesiness to it, but it's 9.2/10 iconic level.

JONA - Scream has just the right amount of meta I would want for a movie like this. Enough to be clever but not enough to take away from the fear of the situation. I love the mix of horror and whodunnit and it makes the non-slasher parts more engaging. The humor of the movie helps with that too. The identity of the villain being a mystery and human and not being this larger-than-life character thats the selling point feels refreshing. Screams just a great all-around package.

Scarlet - Its amazing how this self-aware culturally-hip one-of-a-kind slasher has become such a staple of the genre that even it comes across nowadays as another convention-filled paint-by-numbers slasher film. When Wes Craven created Scream, he was paving a new way into a previously braindead genre with some really witty and metatextual self-awareness. Now, everyone and their brother has to make sure that every character in their slasher is just too cool to be killed without grabbing a one-liner.
Rating: 68/100
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Inviso - In retrospect, Im really glad we did the list with Scary Movie before we did the list with Scream, because watching this made me realizeScary Movie barely had to exaggerate to parody Scream. Scream is a parody in and of itself, with hammy, over-the-top acting from nearly the entire cast, and I LOVED how cheesy and how corny each and every aspect of the film wound up being. David Arquette in particularholy SHIT his acting was hilariously awkward. From him eating an ice cream cone while discussing murders with his boss, to insisting on being respected by his little sister while wearing a badge, to answering a phone after the killer already hung uphe made this movie. The twist ending was great, the meta-commentary on slasher films was great, and overall, I just found this film so lovably goofy that I have to rank it high.

Snake - Why I Chose It - Wes Craven's satirical take on the slasher genre lit the film world on fire. It was so successful and influential that it's near impossible to quantify the amount of subsequent media it inspired. Many films inspired by Scream even appeared on this list. Scream is credited especially for reviving the all-but-dead slasher genre and injecting it with a healthy dose of self-awareness, a trait many films would try (and fail) to match. Scream was also groundbreaking in its strong casting of established actors, Drew Barrymore and Courtney Cox being particularly notable examples. On the same token, Scream also drew more attention to several actors, including Rose McGowan & Liev Schreiber. Scream was the highest-grossing slasher of all time until last year's Halloween. It has spawned 3 sequels, a TV series, and series icon Ghostface even made a recent appearance in Dead by Daylight.

My Thoughts - Hilarious, scary, & smart, Scream is practically the perfect horror movie. The way it so gracefully interjects horror tropes and film references into itself always feels natural thanks to the amazing casting. This isn't some half-assed attempt at being hip; it's genuine and comes from a wealth of love for the genre. Scream becomes more and more effective the more horror movies you consume. Yet, it never loses the fact that it is the very thing it's mocking. It uses those tropes to still make a compelling horror mystery. Ghostface is a unique killer, and one of my favorites because he can be anybody; he's not set in concrete like Jason or Myers, his personality can vary and it's such a fantastic breeding ground for developing characters. This is a horror fan's movie through and through, and one of my favorites of Craven's filmography.

Karo - A masked ghoul begins killing some really overaged teenagers in a small town and like most slasher movies thats kinda it. There is more of an air of mystery to this one, but unfortunately the way it hides the identity of the killer is not by intrigue or misdirection but rather just throwing as many creepy motherfuckers at the audience as possible until they can't think straight. It just leaves one wondering if maybe there is something wrong with the city water supply. It is more well written than most slasher movies, but still has way too much dumb teens doing dumb teen stuff and culminates in a silly series of events where people run all about a house a lot and everyone is as durable as Wolverine (acute blood loss? never heard of it). It is just treading old ground with a new monster and it ain't really the scream it wants to be.
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KBM - Scream is among screenwriter Kevin Williamson's better work, which definitely isn't the highest possible praise, but hey, it's something. Thanks to energetic direction from the late, great Wes Craven, and a cast, ably led by Neve Campbell, who're clearly all having a blast with the absurdity of it all, Scream turns out to be a fun, entirely watchable movie. The self-referential gags do sometimes get a little repetitive, and I do have issues with what this movie represents in terms of broader horror movie trends, with its having ushered in the era of smug copycat slasher movies featuring a lot of truly hateable, stupid teenage leads without any personality. This movie does have its problems, but the cast and the director are certainly talented enough to save this from ending up at the bottom of the barrel with the likes of certain copycats on this list I could name. Taken on its own, this movie isn't necessarily exceptional, but it certainly manages to be a good time. The opening scene with Drew Barrymore also works well on its own as a great horror short if there's any problem with it, it's that the movie never quite reaches those heights again.
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Outlier

Inviso - 345
Genny - 293
Charon - 267
KBM - 242
Scarlet - 209
Johnbobb - 203
JONA - 194
Karo - 197
Snake - 167

Some big strides but it all remains the same.
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5. Jacob's Ladder

JONA - 1
Snake - 3
Karo - 4
KBM - 5
Scarlet - 6
Johnbobb - 8
Genny - 11
Inviso - 12
Charon - 13

JONA - This movies the inspiration for Silent Hill and it definitely shows. The sense of paranoia is incredibly high here in the setting of Jacobs Ladder. From the horrifying visions to the military conspiracy, it really feels like everythings out to get Jacob. Tim Robbins does a great job in his performance and makes him pretty likable and get him out of all these different troubling situations that he found himself in. The atmosphere can be quite eery and creepy and the peaceful moments in the movie make the situations with that atmosphere very effective. The blurred lines between reality and fantasy and the mystery of what even is going on are what make this so engaging. Just a very fascinating movie thats really quite the experience thats hard to put into words how much I like it.

Snake - Why I Chose It - Despite not being the most successful film at the box office, Jacob's Ladder has become an incredibly influential film. Its effects can be seen on everything from films to television to music to video games. Perhaps most famously, Jacob's Ladder had one of the biggest roles in influencing the Silent Hill series. Several settings are inspired by Jacob's Ladder, like the subway in SH3 and Brookhaven Hospital in SH2 & 3. James' design in SH2 takes Jacob's army jacket and hairstyle from the film. Jacob's Ladder also played a huge role in SH monster design, referencing their twitchy movements and grotesque, otherworldly look. The scene where Jacob is wheeled through the hospital is also directly homaged in Silent Hill: Homecoming. There's a whole load of references where that came from, but if I don't stop myself, I'd probably go on forever.

My Thoughts - A deeply moving and affecting film, one with a terrific and emotional performance from Tim Robbins. The film deftly balances light but in-your-face horror with a tense, overbearing nightmare of an atmosphere, with a conspiratorial through-line that has you sympathizing with Jacob every step of the way, but also wary of Jacob's deteriorating mental state. The sparse shots of monsters, spectral creatures, and twisted figures of authority encapsulate Jacob's past as a soldier, the horrifying actions he took during Vietnam, and fears of a system that has failed him and his comrades beyond redemption. Its a film that made me think about my own mortality and place in the world, and offers up deep cuts of philosophy and religion that ask big questions about the nature of life and death in a way thats never in your face or ever too obvious. However, Jacobs Ladder might just get its themes across best in its incredible soundtrack that aids the dark and sad atmosphere of the film.

Karo - A Vietnam vet begins having weird visions and begins to wonder if he is going crazy. The movie is engrossing all through its runtime as the protagonist continues to lose touch with reality and searches for the truth about what happened on that day long ago. It deserves praise for making the 'all a dream' trope work by placing an unusual twist upon it, and it is certainly one of the best psychological horror films ever.
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KBM - An incredibly effective, disturbing mind-bender of a movie, that takes the already-existing horror that was the Vietnam War and twists it into a surreal nightmare that marches forward to an inevitable, yet still fairly devastating, conclusion. It seems like Tim Robbins could do no wrong in the early '90s, and among his great performances from that era this just may be one of his best. Along with that, you've got practical in-camera effects that really pushed the boundaries of what the horror genre was capable of, and went on to inspire one of my favorite video game series in Silent Hill. The underlying anti-war analogy is artfully pulled off here without ever pushing the message so far as to be preachy, and the pacing is so good that you barely notice it's one of the longer films on the list. I've had this one recommended to me over and over again across the years, and thanks to this project I've finally seen it, and I'm very glad I have.

Scarlet - A tense horror film that is well-executed in many regards. The visuals, whether eerie or terrifying, produce just the right mood. There are some fantastic set pieces, starting with the scene in the subway. They telegraph the "twist" early on, a largely good decision, since the plot is made more coherent. But there are flaws; the horror scenes are fantastic and extremely effective, but to get to them you have to sit through an additional hour and thirty five minutes that's alternately cliched, overwrought, or goofy as fuck, and an ending that's all three.
Rating: 70/100

Johnbobb - I don't know where to begin talking about this one. It's somehow tamer than I thought it would be? But also heavy and incredible. Tim Robbins carries it with such a weird power. The whole thing didn't feel so much scary as it did just heart-wrenching, but I was always able to feel for Singer.

Genny - Jacob's Ladder was one huge mind fuck of a movie- a trip I wasn't disappointed I took. Even after the movie essentially spells out what happened at the end I'm left wondering if that's the truth of it or if the explanation it gives was just another ruse. Jacob being trapped in his own purgatory explains a lot of events, for example- how so many women kept flirting with him despite him not being that much more attractive than the average guy, and how the demonic figures stalking him always knew exactly where he was located; however it leaves a lot unexplained, particularly involving the other surviving soldiers. Are they trapped in Jacob's purgatory too or are they just a part of his fever dream? It's a lot to digest, and I like movies that give me something to think about afterward but still manage to entertain. 8.0 out of 10.
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Inviso - Im a huge Silent Hill fan, yet Id never seen Jacobs Ladder before. Not ten minutes in, you have the subway scene with the chained-up exit and grated-off exit, and I could see how people said the Silent Hill series paid tribute to this movie (not to mention the weird twitching heads, bizarre and disgusting imagery, and switching between different planes of reality.) And honestly, it was hard to watch this film and NOT picture it as an addition to the Silent Hill series. It feels like it fits the tone so perfectly, and I can imagine a war veteran getting psychologically jerked around by the town.

As its own narrative, Jacobs Ladder is interesting. Its not a horror movie so much as its a psychological thriller. Opens in the midst of a battle in Vietnam, and then shifts back to a more serene and simple life for a postal worker. I like the unraveling of Tim Robbins though, and the fact that even the things that hit him first and foremost still have a rational explanation. You have a guy dealing with PTSD believing theres a conspiracy against him, but then it turns out there IS a conspiracy against him, and THEN it turns out that he was killed in Vietnam and everything hes experiencing is the final flash of life before his demise. Its all so artistic and interesting, but I also like how they did the whole he was dead the whole time twist while simultaneously broadcasting his death throughout the film. I thought that was really clever and well-written.

Charon - Usually credited with inspiring the Silent Hill series, this psychological horror delves deep into the mind of a dying man who tries to come to terms with his past. I feel like even though I liked it, maybe I didn't quite like it as much as I wish I did. I'm not sure what I mean or feel about that though. I guess coming in, knowing it was an inspiration for one of my favorite video game series put a heavy weight upon the film. I think I'd have loved it more if it were a little more trippy at times even, I think it pulled some punches at times and I did read it was toned down for audiences. The overall story was still pretty good however, and I suppose the movie itself was one long hallucination.
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So we're down to Misery, Sixth Sense, Silence of the Lambs, and Se7en?

1, 3, 5 and 6.

I'm really not surprised. These are like, the four big names from this list that don't fit completely into the "horror" genre.
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Misery and Silence of the Lambs are straight-up horror movies, I'd say - it's just that they won Oscars so there's this narrative that they can't ACTUALLY be "horror" because horror is considered "less-than" as a genre by certain cinephiles (usually for pretentious reasons). I certainly wouldn't say that any of the movies that are left are the "least" horror on the list; Se7en is still more of a pure horror movie than Fire in the Sky, for instance.
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