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Top 10 Horror Films that Should be Taught in Film School


these Jarrah films are admired and

these Jarrah films are admired and renowned but are they studied enough

renowned but are they studied enough

renowned but are they studied enough welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10

counting down our picks for the top 10

counting down our picks for the top 10 horror movies that should be taught in

horror movies that should be taught in

horror movies that should be taught in film school before we begin be sure to

film school before we begin be sure to

film school before we begin be sure to check out our magazine on the 75 most

check out our magazine on the 75 most

check out our magazine on the 75 most influential horror films of all time for

influential horror films of all time for

influential horror films of all time for this list we’re taking a look at horror

this list we’re taking a look at horror

this list we’re taking a look at horror movies that are not only great but also

movies that are not only great but also

movies that are not only great but also have a deeper layer that should be

have a deeper layer that should be

have a deeper layer that should be closely analyzed by film students and

closely analyzed by film students and

closely analyzed by film students and teachers alike like the already classic

teachers alike like the already classic

teachers alike like the already classic staples of film school curricula like

staples of film school curricula like

staples of film school curricula like psycho and nos barato

psycho and nos barato

psycho and nos barato these films should be given a second

these films should be given a second

these films should be given a second look whether it’s for their message

look whether it’s for their message

look whether it’s for their message style relevance or technique number 10

style relevance or technique number 10

style relevance or technique number 10 The Omen aside mr. Cody

The Omen aside mr. Cody

The Omen aside mr. Cody the son of together the Ullman came out

the son of together the Ullman came out

the son of together the Ullman came out at the peak of Hollywood’s big screen

at the peak of Hollywood’s big screen

at the peak of Hollywood’s big screen religious horror trend although it’s

religious horror trend although it’s

religious horror trend although it’s considered a pivotal classic it doesn’t

considered a pivotal classic it doesn’t

considered a pivotal classic it doesn’t get the same respect as some of its

get the same respect as some of its

get the same respect as some of its contemporaries like Suspiria and The

contemporaries like Suspiria and The

contemporaries like Suspiria and The Exorcist

Exorcist

Exorcist the power of Christ compels you

compassion

compassion using religious imagery and the titular

using religious imagery and the titular

using religious imagery and the titular omens to crank up the tension may not be

omens to crank up the tension may not be

omens to crank up the tension may not be anything new but it’s put to use with

anything new but it’s put to use with

anything new but it’s put to use with such grace and subtlety in this Richard

such grace and subtlety in this Richard

such grace and subtlety in this Richard Donner film that we forget the more

Donner film that we forget the more

Donner film that we forget the more gruesome kills and set pieces look at me

gruesome kills and set pieces look at me

gruesome kills and set pieces look at me Damien it’s all for you the

oscar-winning score alone is a great

oscar-winning score alone is a great example of music amplifying the

example of music amplifying the

example of music amplifying the approaching horror and storytelling

approaching horror and storytelling

approaching horror and storytelling instead of just using sharp strings and

instead of just using sharp strings and

instead of just using sharp strings and jump-scare music something students

jump-scare music something students

jump-scare music something students would definitely pick up on

number nine get out Cedeno in black

number nine get out Cedeno in black today a newcomer to the horror genre

today a newcomer to the horror genre

today a newcomer to the horror genre Jordan Peele surprised the world when he

Jordan Peele surprised the world when he

Jordan Peele surprised the world when he released this shocking masterwork the

released this shocking masterwork the

released this shocking masterwork the film and it’s premise were immediately

film and it’s premise were immediately

film and it’s premise were immediately applauded as anyone can see that the

applauded as anyone can see that the

applauded as anyone can see that the filmmaker began with an important and

filmmaker began with an important and

filmmaker began with an important and relevant message first then proceeded to

relevant message first then proceeded to

relevant message first then proceeded to add thrills and laughs we watched the

add thrills and laughs we watched the

add thrills and laughs we watched the bizarre story and merciless allegory

bizarre story and merciless allegory

bizarre story and merciless allegory about racial tension slowly unfold but

about racial tension slowly unfold but

about racial tension slowly unfold but Peele does not hesitate to entertain at

Peele does not hesitate to entertain at

Peele does not hesitate to entertain at every level I see your license please he

every level I see your license please he

every level I see your license please he wasn’t driving and asked who was driving

wasn’t driving and asked who was driving

wasn’t driving and asked who was driving I asked to see his ID the balance

I asked to see his ID the balance

I asked to see his ID the balance between the uncomfortable but sadly all

between the uncomfortable but sadly all

between the uncomfortable but sadly all too familiar racial issues and

too familiar racial issues and

too familiar racial issues and terrifying imagery is nauseating and

terrifying imagery is nauseating and

terrifying imagery is nauseating and shockingly effective sorry man being a

shockingly effective sorry man being a

shockingly effective sorry man being a recent film compared to the others on

recent film compared to the others on

recent film compared to the others on this list we can only expect that

this list we can only expect that

this list we can only expect that feature film students will latch on

number eight under the skin pickups

number eight under the skin pickups pretty this Jonathan Glazer film has

pretty this Jonathan Glazer film has

pretty this Jonathan Glazer film has unfortunately flown under the radar

unfortunately flown under the radar

unfortunately flown under the radar viewed as too bizarre or arthouse II for

viewed as too bizarre or arthouse II for

viewed as too bizarre or arthouse II for contemporary audiences but for fans of

contemporary audiences but for fans of

contemporary audiences but for fans of strangeness and horror it’s become an

strangeness and horror it’s become an

strangeness and horror it’s become an important example of visual storytelling

important example of visual storytelling

important example of visual storytelling complete it may not seem like a horror

complete it may not seem like a horror

complete it may not seem like a horror film on the surface but the quiet story

film on the surface but the quiet story

film on the surface but the quiet story about an alien who takes human form and

about an alien who takes human form and

about an alien who takes human form and preys on innocent men requires close

preys on innocent men requires close

preys on innocent men requires close viewing and analysis to dissect its

viewing and analysis to dissect its

viewing and analysis to dissect its message even from the average viewer

message even from the average viewer

message even from the average viewer [Music]

[Music]

[Music] the payoff is realizing how the feeling

the payoff is realizing how the feeling

the payoff is realizing how the feeling of uncomfortable terror and dread can be

of uncomfortable terror and dread can be

of uncomfortable terror and dread can be accomplished with so little dialogue

accomplished with so little dialogue

accomplished with so little dialogue exposition action and gore players comin

number seven the babadook how does one

number seven the babadook how does one make a great monster movie that’s not

make a great monster movie that’s not

make a great monster movie that’s not about the monster start by taking a page

about the monster start by taking a page

about the monster start by taking a page from the babadook which is so much more

from the babadook which is so much more

from the babadook which is so much more than your average monster movie the film

than your average monster movie the film

than your average monster movie the film is lauded for its amazing design

is lauded for its amazing design

is lauded for its amazing design compelling performances and a lead

compelling performances and a lead

compelling performances and a lead character whose torment appears to show

character whose torment appears to show

character whose torment appears to show itself as a terrifying creature but

itself as a terrifying creature but

itself as a terrifying creature but ultimately takes a backseat to the story

horror has a history of physically

horror has a history of physically manifesting repression and psychological

manifesting repression and psychological

manifesting repression and psychological issues into monsters and demons like in

issues into monsters and demons like in

issues into monsters and demons like in repulsion and the innocence but it’s

repulsion and the innocence but it’s

repulsion and the innocence but it’s rarely seen in today’s hyper violent

rarely seen in today’s hyper violent

rarely seen in today’s hyper violent horror market number six The Cabin in

horror market number six The Cabin in

horror market number six The Cabin in the Woods tone is coming up in eight

the Woods tone is coming up in eight

the Woods tone is coming up in eight minutes if you live to see it the world

minutes if you live to see it the world

minutes if you live to see it the world will end not only was this one of the

will end not only was this one of the

will end not only was this one of the most entertaining horror outings of the

most entertaining horror outings of the

most entertaining horror outings of the early 2010’s

early 2010’s

early 2010’s it also brilliantly dissected the entire

it also brilliantly dissected the entire

it also brilliantly dissected the entire modern horror genre movies like scream

modern horror genre movies like scream

modern horror genre movies like scream and Wes Craven’s new nightmare opened

and Wes Craven’s new nightmare opened

and Wes Craven’s new nightmare opened the door to such meta-analysis but these

the door to such meta-analysis but these

the door to such meta-analysis but these were usually for satirical reasons the

were usually for satirical reasons the

were usually for satirical reasons the entirety of the cabin in the woods is a

entirety of the cabin in the woods is a

entirety of the cabin in the woods is a critical mirror held up to the mostly

critical mirror held up to the mostly

critical mirror held up to the mostly disappointing Hollywood horror machine

disappointing Hollywood horror machine

disappointing Hollywood horror machine while also offering a hilarious but

while also offering a hilarious but

while also offering a hilarious but bizarrely horrifying original story

how many strings our Studios pulling

how many strings our Studios pulling behind the scenes while they just

behind the scenes while they just

behind the scenes while they just randomly throw monsters and ghosts and

randomly throw monsters and ghosts and

randomly throw monsters and ghosts and actors and hope something scary happens

number five it follows some we can

number five it follows some we can follow me taking the same cue with some

follow me taking the same cue with some

follow me taking the same cue with some of our other contemporary entries it

of our other contemporary entries it

of our other contemporary entries it follows knows that sometimes the Lessie

follows knows that sometimes the Lessie

follows knows that sometimes the Lessie show the better it’s easy to throw some

show the better it’s easy to throw some

show the better it’s easy to throw some blood and guts at a screen to please

blood and guts at a screen to please

blood and guts at a screen to please horror fans but it takes great skill to

horror fans but it takes great skill to

horror fans but it takes great skill to keep the violence and visual terror to a

keep the violence and visual terror to a

keep the violence and visual terror to a minimum while still scaring audiences

this film takes it to a whole new level

this film takes it to a whole new level making the monster invisible

making the monster invisible

making the monster invisible unlike Freddy Jason and other slasher

unlike Freddy Jason and other slasher

unlike Freddy Jason and other slasher villains the creature here is more of a

villains the creature here is more of a

villains the creature here is more of a metaphor for the terror that stays with

metaphor for the terror that stays with

metaphor for the terror that stays with you and slowly creeps up behind you

you and slowly creeps up behind you

you and slowly creeps up behind you after watching a scary movie it’s a

after watching a scary movie it’s a

after watching a scary movie it’s a topic ripe for discussion in film class

topic ripe for discussion in film class

topic ripe for discussion in film class you don’t believe me number four the

you don’t believe me number four the

you don’t believe me number four the which our modern horror films to

which our modern horror films to

which our modern horror films to visually bland for your taste are you

visually bland for your taste are you

visually bland for your taste are you tired of the same old jump scares and

tired of the same old jump scares and

tired of the same old jump scares and gimmicks well lucky for you this

gimmicks well lucky for you this

gimmicks well lucky for you this game-changer is here to stay

game-changer is here to stay

game-changer is here to stay the witch is the definition of a slow

the witch is the definition of a slow

the witch is the definition of a slow burn and boy does it pay off similar to

burn and boy does it pay off similar to

burn and boy does it pay off similar to classic non horror horror films like

classic non horror horror films like

classic non horror horror films like persona and hour of the wolf the witch

persona and hour of the wolf the witch

persona and hour of the wolf the witch plays with our expectations and

plays with our expectations and

plays with our expectations and perfectly utilizes sound design and

perfectly utilizes sound design and

perfectly utilizes sound design and cinematography to produce an uneasiness

cinematography to produce an uneasiness

cinematography to produce an uneasiness that cannot be explained until the film

that cannot be explained until the film

that cannot be explained until the film is over Thursday so it’s over the

is over Thursday so it’s over the

is over Thursday so it’s over the colonial setting and Old English

colonial setting and Old English

colonial setting and Old English dialogue throws us into uncomfortable

dialogue throws us into uncomfortable

dialogue throws us into uncomfortable unfamiliar territory

unfamiliar territory

unfamiliar territory and does not allow us to look away we

and does not allow us to look away we

and does not allow us to look away we will conquer this wilderness it will

will conquer this wilderness it will

will conquer this wilderness it will know consumers number three the haunting

know consumers number three the haunting

know consumers number three the haunting you can’t really believe that such a

you can’t really believe that such a

you can’t really believe that such a thing as a haunted house if you like

thing as a haunted house if you like

thing as a haunted house if you like haunted houses and ghost stories trust

haunted houses and ghost stories trust

haunted houses and ghost stories trust us that the haunting did it first it’s

us that the haunting did it first it’s

us that the haunting did it first it’s one of the earliest horror films to use

one of the earliest horror films to use

one of the earliest horror films to use setting and sound design so effectively

setting and sound design so effectively

setting and sound design so effectively so as to have the audience believe that

so as to have the audience believe that

so as to have the audience believe that they’ve been seeing ghosts the entire

they’ve been seeing ghosts the entire

they’ve been seeing ghosts the entire time

time

time fact on top of being an important

fact on top of being an important

fact on top of being an important subject for film students viewing the

subject for film students viewing the

subject for film students viewing the haunting should be used as a

haunting should be used as a

haunting should be used as a psychological study so we know how it

psychological study so we know how it

psychological study so we know how it works

works

works we’ll continue to carry around this

we’ll continue to carry around this

we’ll continue to carry around this unnecessary burden of fear not only

unnecessary burden of fear not only

unnecessary burden of fear not only enough the movie is about people staying

enough the movie is about people staying

enough the movie is about people staying overnight in a haunted house for a

overnight in a haunted house for a

overnight in a haunted house for a psychological study the characters

psychological study the characters

psychological study the characters comprised of skeptics scientists and

comprised of skeptics scientists and

comprised of skeptics scientists and believers represent the audience who

believers represent the audience who

believers represent the audience who needs to decide if they believe in

needs to decide if they believe in

needs to decide if they believe in ghosts while watching the film it ought

ghosts while watching the film it ought

ghosts while watching the film it ought to be burned down ground sword with song

to be burned down ground sword with song

to be burned down ground sword with song number 2 the Blair Witch Project secured

number 2 the Blair Witch Project secured

number 2 the Blair Witch Project secured to close my eyes to open them by virtue

to close my eyes to open them by virtue

to close my eyes to open them by virtue of it becoming such a huge hit the Blair

of it becoming such a huge hit the Blair

of it becoming such a huge hit the Blair Witch Project is sometimes dismissed by

Witch Project is sometimes dismissed by

Witch Project is sometimes dismissed by serious cinephiles as too gimmicky

serious cinephiles as too gimmicky

serious cinephiles as too gimmicky similar to the great pop song you now

similar to the great pop song you now

similar to the great pop song you now hate because you’ve heard it so many

hate because you’ve heard it so many

hate because you’ve heard it so many times on the radio what you take on the

times on the radio what you take on the

times on the radio what you take on the Blair Witch at this point do you think

Blair Witch at this point do you think

Blair Witch at this point do you think she exists from the marketing

she exists from the marketing

she exists from the marketing perspective alone however this film

perspective alone however this film

perspective alone however this film deserves praise and needs to be

deserves praise and needs to be

deserves praise and needs to be revisited by scholars while the found

revisited by scholars while the found

revisited by scholars while the found footage structure wasn’t new and has

footage structure wasn’t new and has

footage structure wasn’t new and has been improperly rehashed so many times

been improperly rehashed so many times

been improperly rehashed so many times since it’s important to analyze how and

since it’s important to analyze how and

since it’s important to analyze how and why it was used in service to the story

why it was used in service to the story

why it was used in service to the story and not as an excuse to skimp on the

and not as an excuse to skimp on the

and not as an excuse to skimp on the budget people are going to try and and

budget people are going to try and and

budget people are going to try and and come out here and mess with us and they

come out here and mess with us and they

come out here and mess with us and they gotta have something wrong with them and

gotta have something wrong with them and

gotta have something wrong with them and I’m not going to play with that before

I’m not going to play with that before

I’m not going to play with that before we reveal our number one pick here are

we reveal our number one pick here are

we reveal our number one pick here are some honorable mentions

some honorable mentions

some honorable mentions [Applause]

christine is dead she is dead dead dead

christine is dead she is dead dead dead dead dead dead

number one Rosemary’s Baby Tainted is

number one Rosemary’s Baby Tainted is his father and his name is Adrian don’t

his father and his name is Adrian don’t

his father and his name is Adrian don’t get us wrong we know that Rosemary’s

get us wrong we know that Rosemary’s

get us wrong we know that Rosemary’s Baby is an award-winning classic of

Baby is an award-winning classic of

Baby is an award-winning classic of horror cinema praised and adored by

horror cinema praised and adored by

horror cinema praised and adored by audiences and critics alike however this

audiences and critics alike however this

audiences and critics alike however this seems to be a film that offered a very

seems to be a film that offered a very

seems to be a film that offered a very unique experience but one that was never

unique experience but one that was never

unique experience but one that was never successfully duplicated this might be

successfully duplicated this might be

successfully duplicated this might be because it deserves closer investigation

because it deserves closer investigation

because it deserves closer investigation they used lot in their rituals and the

they used lot in their rituals and the

they used lot in their rituals and the blood that has the most powers baby

blood that has the most powers baby

blood that has the most powers baby slide with a bizarre structure that

slide with a bizarre structure that

slide with a bizarre structure that keeps us guessing until the very end

keeps us guessing until the very end

keeps us guessing until the very end brilliant music fleshed out characters

brilliant music fleshed out characters

brilliant music fleshed out characters and a study in trust and reliance this

and a study in trust and reliance this

and a study in trust and reliance this is a family drama and cold war-era

is a family drama and cold war-era

is a family drama and cold war-era paranoia thriller disguised as a

paranoia thriller disguised as a

paranoia thriller disguised as a religious Antichrist horror film what

religious Antichrist horror film what

religious Antichrist horror film what have you done to it what have you done

have you done to it what have you done

have you done to it what have you done to his eyes do you agree with our picks

to his eyes do you agree with our picks

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