Psycho Killers Theatre of the really messed up minds! A Nightmare on Elm Street: 1985 / R / 91 Min. Director Wes Craven's freaky film about teenagers and their very bad dreams. Clever writing and good special effects highlight this, the best of the Freddy Krueger series. Warning: Most of it's sequels are entertaining, but whatever you do, stay away from A Nightmare On Elm Street 2! American Gothic: 1988 / R / 90 Min. The term 'Disfunctional' gets new meaning in this creepy, atmospheric film about vacationers who find themselves on an island with a family that enjoys killing them off one at a time. Surprisingly well written, this movie manages to be frightening without the use of excessive amounts of gore. The Cell: 2000 / R / 107 Min. Vince Vaughn plays an F.B.I. Agent who must enlist the help of a child psychologist played by Jennifer Lopez to enter the twisted mind of a serial killer. As stylish as it is disturbing, this one is a sure fire terror treat. Also stars Vincent D'Onofrio. Friday the 13th: 1980 / R / 95 Min. A group of summer-camp councelors provide much needed stress- relief for a homicidal maniac named Jason. Well, okay, actually he just tries to hack them all up. (Jason has issues.) This is the best of the series featuring the demented masked killer. See the seven sequels at your own risk! From Hell: 2001 / R / 122 Min. Johnny Depp plays a clairvoyant police detective in Victorian era London, where his investigative visions lead him straight to the terror of Whitechapel; Jack the Ripper! Will he save the Ripper's next victim, or is the inspector's romance with Mary Kelly just a convenient subplot? Halloween: 1978 / R / 93 Min. Michael Myers (No, not the groovy one) is a murderer who escapes and returns to his home town to kill again. Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasance, as well as great directing by John Carpenter which values suspense over bloodiness, make this a classic of the genre. Unlike most scary films that have spawned sequels, the other movies of the Halloween series are also pretty good! The Hitcher: 1986 / R / 96 Min. A great cast featuring Rutger Hauer and C. Thomas Howell, and an overwhelming amount of violence and action make this one a must see for the strong of stomach. Rutger Hauer is the hitchhiker that C. Thomas Howell is unlucky enough to stop for. Carnage follows. Identity: 2003 / R / 90 Min. A group of travelers find themselves stranded at a remote desert motel... and then the killings begin. Ray Liotta and John Cusack headline this old fashioned, suspenseful nail-biter with a wicked twist. Psycho: 1960 / NR / 109 Min. Where it all began! Alfred Hitchcock's terrifying tale of murder and madness is still one of the most frightening films ever made. If I remember correctly, there was some kind of trouble in the shower, and Anthony Perkins played Norman Bates, the mild-mannered motel manager. Nice boy, that Norman. Scream and Scream Again: 1970 / PG / 95 Min. Vincent Price plays a mad scientist who tries to create a race of super-human beings. Meanwhile, the local police have their hands full with a series of baffling murders. Hmmm, I wonder if there's any connection... An excellent performance from Price, as well as from Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, make this one worth seeing. Silence of the Lambs: 1991 / R / 114 Min. Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins star in this horrific psychological thriller. To stop a serial killer, Foster must consult one who has already been imprisoned. Can she get into his mind before he gets into hers? This one may mess with your mind, too! The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: 1974 / R / 83 Min. Leatherface is a cannibalistic maniac who goes berzerk. Low-budget fright making at its finest! This movie really belongs in the 'Cult Classics' section, but I thought Leatherface would feel more at home here with his pals Jason, Michael, and Freddy. You want gore? See this one! An odd side note: The other movies in this series don't get scarier, just funnier. Weird, huh? Theatre of Blood: 1973 / R / 104 Min. Another Vincent Price flick! Here, Price plays a Shakespearean actor who takes revenge on critics who don't like his performances. He kills them each with different methods used in Shakespeare's plays. This is a great movie, and like many of Price's films, has a good mix of humor and terror. |
Psycho Killers Theatre of the really messed up minds! A Nightmare on Elm Street: 1985 / R / 91 Min. Director Wes Craven's freaky film about teenagers and their very bad dreams. Clever writing and good special effects highlight this, the best of the Freddy Krueger series. Warning: Most of it's sequels are entertaining, but whatever you do, stay away from A Nightmare On Elm Street 2! American Gothic: 1988 / R / 90 Min. The term 'Disfunctional' gets new meaning in this creepy, atmospheric film about vacationers who find themselves on an island with a family that enjoys killing them off one at a time. Surprisingly well written, this movie manages to be frightening without the use of excessive amounts of gore. The Cell: 2000 / R / 107 Min. Vince Vaughn plays an F.B.I. Agent who must enlist the help of a child psychologist played by Jennifer Lopez to enter the twisted mind of a serial killer. As stylish as it is disturbing, this one is a sure fire terror treat. Also stars Vincent D'Onofrio. Friday the 13th: 1980 / R / 95 Min. A group of summer-camp councelors provide much needed stress- relief for a homicidal maniac named Jason. Well, okay, actually he just tries to hack them all up. (Jason has issues.) This is the best of the series featuring the demented masked killer. See the seven sequels at your own risk! From Hell: 2001 / R / 122 Min. Johnny Depp plays a clairvoyant police detective in Victorian era London, where his investigative visions lead him straight to the terror of Whitechapel; Jack the Ripper! Will he save the Ripper's next victim, or is the inspector's romance with Mary Kelly just a convenient subplot? Halloween: 1978 / R / 93 Min. Michael Myers (No, not the groovy one) is a murderer who escapes and returns to his home town to kill again. Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasance, as well as great directing by John Carpenter which values suspense over bloodiness, make this a classic of the genre. Unlike most scary films that have spawned sequels, the other movies of the Halloween series are also pretty good! The Hitcher: 1986 / R / 96 Min. A great cast featuring Rutger Hauer and C. Thomas Howell, and an overwhelming amount of violence and action make this one a must see for the strong of stomach. Rutger Hauer is the hitchhiker that C. Thomas Howell is unlucky enough to stop for. Carnage follows. Identity: 2003 / R / 90 Min. A group of travelers find themselves stranded at a remote desert motel... and then the killings begin. Ray Liotta and John Cusack headline this old fashioned, suspenseful nail-biter with a wicked twist. Psycho: 1960 / NR / 109 Min. Where it all began! Alfred Hitchcock's terrifying tale of murder and madness is still one of the most frightening films ever made. If I remember correctly, there was some kind of trouble in the shower, and Anthony Perkins played Norman Bates, the mild-mannered motel manager. Nice boy, that Norman. Scream and Scream Again: 1970 / PG / 95 Min. Vincent Price plays a mad scientist who tries to create a race of super-human beings. Meanwhile, the local police have their hands full with a series of baffling murders. Hmmm, I wonder if there's any connection... An excellent performance from Price, as well as from Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, make this one worth seeing. Silence of the Lambs: 1991 / R / 114 Min. Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins star in this horrific psychological thriller. To stop a serial killer, Foster must consult one who has already been imprisoned. Can she get into his mind before he gets into hers? This one may mess with your mind, too! The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: 1974 / R / 83 Min. Leatherface is a cannibalistic maniac who goes berzerk. Low-budget fright making at its finest! This movie really belongs in the 'Cult Classics' section, but I thought Leatherface would feel more at home here with his pals Jason, Michael, and Freddy. You want gore? See this one! An odd side note: The other movies in this series don't get scarier, just funnier. Weird, huh? Theatre of Blood: 1973 / R / 104 Min. Another Vincent Price flick! Here, Price plays a Shakespearean actor who takes revenge on critics who don't like his performances. He kills them each with different methods used in Shakespeare's plays. This is a great movie, and like many of Price's films, has a good mix of humor and terror. |
Movie reviews, guides, games, news, and more! "Not just your basic, average, everyday, ordinary, run-of-the-mill, ho-hum entertainment website." |
Your favorite not listed? e-mail A.J. to add! |
A.J.'s Haunted Hollywood |
Free Trial Offer |
