VOH/CHE Present- Top 25 Horror Films: Modern Era

December 21, 2008 · 2 comments

B_Sol over at The Vault of Horror is at it again, assembling lists submitted by the Cyber-Horror Elite to compile the Top 25 Horror Films of the Modern Era.

I was lucky enough to be invited back to participate again, so in the interest of expanding on the matter, here is the list that I submitted:

1. The Silence of the Lambs
2. The Ring
3. Se7en
4. From Hell
5. The Sixth Sense
6. Interview with the Vampire
7. The Others
8. Scream
9. Ju-On
10. Final Destination

Runner-ups: Dawn of the Dead ‘04, Candyman, The Blair Witch Project, Murder Party

The biggest / only problem I had with this list and the previous Top 50 list, was that even though the list is titled “Top”, the definition of Top was left open to interpretation. Meaning, participants were allowed to list their favorites. …… ….. …… Yeah, let that sink in for a moment. …… ……. …… It’s like the “It was all a dream” plot device, isn’t it?

So, that means that within each list, there are entries submitted that have no relevance to how much better a film is than the one listed below it. (In terms of everything from acting to production value.) Which also means that “Best” and “Favorite” lists were compiled together to form the “Top” list. The lists make a little more sense, looking at them from that perspective, don’t they?

Peter Hall over at Horrors Not Dead makes a great point about why he thinks The Descent shouldn’t be number one on this list. But, if that tiny change had been made in the criteria for submitting our lists, I think the results would have been much different and Peter wouldn’t have even had to write his post in the first place. Sure, the lists would probably be a little more boring with alot of expected results, but I am just as excited to see a true “Best of” list as I am a true “Favorites” list. I know my list would have been drastically different.

I think Brian has a great idea going and I’m honored to be included, but unless that differentiation is made, how valid / authoritative / important are these mashed up lists, anyway?

Top 25 Horror Films of the Modern Era- Participants:

Brian Solomon of The Vault of Horror
Wes Fierce of Horror Film Magazine
Vince Liaguno of Slasher Speak, horror novelist
Max Cheney of The Drunken Severed Head, 2007 Rondo nominee for Best Website
Karswell of The Horrors of It All
Stacie Ponder of Final Girl and AMC’s Horror Hacker
Ryne Barber of The Moon Is a Dead World
Brad Miska of Bloody-Disgusting
John W. Morehead of Theofantastique
The Lightning Bug of The Lightning Bug’s Lair
Sean T. Collins of Attentiondeficitdisorderly Too Flat, Marvel.com and Maxim
CRwM of And Now the Screaming Starts
The Horror Guy
Justin of Send More Cops
Gary D. Macabre of Blogue Macabre and The Many Faces of the Frankenstein Monster
Garg the Unzola of The Necro Files
BC of Horror-Movie-a-Day
Peter Hall of Horror’s Not Dead
Unkle Lancifer and Aunt John of Kindertrauma
John Kenneth Muir, horror critic (Booklist Editor’s Choice)
Pax Romano of Billy Loves Stu
Curt Purcell of The Groovy Age of Horror and Cinema Nocturna
Scott Weinberg of FEARnet, Cinematical, Horror.com and Rotten Tomatoes
Brian Matus of FangoriaOnline
Jo of Nightly Accounts
Nate Yapp of Classic-Horror.com

2 Responses to “VOH/CHE Present- Top 25 Horror Films: Modern Era”

Horror Movies Says:
January 19th, 2009 at 10:39 am
I dont agree with that list at all!

http://www.fearcinema.com/2009/01/15/best-horror-movie-in-20-years/
BB Says:
February 14th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
I think one of the best and scariest horrors is Wolf Creek! Definitely better than both Scream and the Others ( found the premise quite intriguing but overall a bit boring)