As a seasoned horror enthusiast with over three decades of chilling encounters under my belt, I must say that Variety’s list of The 100 Best Horror Movies of All Time has stirred quite a frenzy among us ghoul-loving folks. While it’s always intriguing to see what others consider the cream of the crop in this genre, it’s safe to say that some of the placements have left many a horror fan howling with disagreement – or perhaps, terror!
Regardless of the topic, when someone compiles a definitive list, it often stirs up debate. Particularly vocal in their opinions are horror enthusiasts, so if you attempt to rank the top titles in the genre, expect a thorough examination. Recently, a list of the greatest horror films has surfaced as we approach the spooky season, and let’s just say that fans are vocally expressing their dissent about the final rankings.
Recently, Variety unveiled their selection of The 100 Greatest Horror Movies Ever Made, and crowned the number one spot to the 1974 release, “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.” Horror enthusiasts rejoiced at seeing this timeless terror at the top, with critics like Brandon Streussnig of Vulture and Fangoria echoing their approval by stating, “It’s not just one of the best horror films, but possibly one of the top 5 American movies ever made.” @SecondGizmo reminisced about their initial viewing experience, saying, “At 24, I watched it alone in my apartment. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre hit me harder than any other horror movie. Afterwards, I called my dad and said, ‘It still works, doesn’t it?’” Though the selection of a classic like Tobe Hooper’s masterpiece as the best didn’t spark much debate, the positioning of other films has stirred some controversy, indicating that the list is achieving its intended goal.
Some viewers criticized the arrangement of horror classics within the list. John Carpenter’s Halloween, often hailed as a groundbreaking horror movie, fell short of making the top 10, landing at position 16. Conversely, Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street was significantly lower on the rankings at 74, even behind Hostel: Part II, which came in at 71. While Scream, another Craven creation, managed to secure a spot at 25, positioning the 2007 sequel of Hostel above Freddy Krueger is likely to irritate any horror enthusiast. User @106th voiced their discontent with the placement of both Halloween and Nightmare on Elm Street, stating, “‘Halloween’ and the original ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’ not being in the top 10 just doesn’t feel right to me,’ before expressing their preference for the second spot and adding, “In my opinion, The Exorcist is a superior film and horror movie compared to Texas Chainsaw (which I believe is overrated).” For those curious, the chilling tale of demonic possession earned the runner-up position, a highly respectable ranking. Other users also shared similar sentiments about Halloween.
Were Any Horror Fans Involved With the Making of This List?
Some of the criticism also pointed to the randomness of the list, as if certain films were chosen to elicit a reaction, as the list has clearly done. Others have questions if the eight people who contributed to the list are actual horror fans. X user G Dub said of the list, “What happens when people who don’t watch horror movies write lists about horror movies. Looks like you wrote titles on sticky notes and pulled them from the candy bowl. #shi**y,” while Ted Hornick said, “I feel like Variety found some perfectly decent horror movies and then shuffled a stack of index cards. Planet Terror, a movie that isn’t even the best half of the double feature it was programmed for, is somehow better than Dead of Night, Dead Alive AND The Babadook?” Other astute users pointed to the idea that the list was probably created to generate outrage among horror fans.
One criticism of the list that may be warranted is the lack of international horror movies represented, save for Audition and Salo, although Salo‘s ranking above other perceived horror classics also became a bone of contention. Some of the best genre films are imports, so more of them should be represented on a list calling out the best of the genre.
The takeaway from Variety’s list is that it simply caters to their unique preferences, and it shouldn’t dictate what others consider as their favorites. Whether it’s Halloween, The Exorcist, Psycho, or any other horror movie, they can still be your top picks. A publication’s list doesn’t have the power to alter that fact.
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2024-10-10 22:03