Thanks for the excellent giveaway!!!
1. JAWS - Not only the greatest movie in the history of film, but one that has a massive worldwide cult following. As I am deeply emmersed in this following I can speak to it first hand. There is an annual sojourn to Martha's Vineyard for FINatics across the globe! As for the movie...Intense, funny, horrifying, lighthearded, scary, suspenseful and epic!
2. JOHN CARPENTER'S THE THING - When we got to the theater to see this there was a massive line. Once we realized the line was for E.T., we walked right in. There was a smattering of folks there for the first show, maybe 20. The genius of Rob Bottin ensured that nights viewing would be emblazoned in your minds forever. Terrific pace, believeable characters, amazing FX. If you havent seen this superb film, you are only cheating yourself!!!
3. George Romero's DAWN OF THE DEAD - Having never seen Night of the Living Dead, my buddies were more than happy to introduce me to Romero's zombie genius. It was a midnight showing a week before it's release in the area, and I was not prepared for what I was about to see. I confess to being a little stunned initially at the gore, but my buds were laughing hysterically. Today it's one of my all time favorite, and must see every Halloween. Speaking of which.....
4. HALLOWEEN - I went to see this with my friend Robin. She's totally into the horror schtick. I was hoping to suck some serious face during the movie, but it was way too intense to not pay attention. When Carpenter is on, he's just a brilliant filmmaker, and this film is another testement to that fact. Plus it has PJ Soles in it, and anything she's in is awesome!!!
5. ROCK AND ROLL HIGH SCHOOL - It has PJ Soles in it. AND the Ramones!! I seriously beg for Soles rendition of Rock and Roll High School. Shout out to my bud Scott who worked at WMNF in Tampa for acquiescing to my request to play that on his last show!!
6. AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON - Another movie with masterful FX, thanks to the brilliance of Rick Baker, who was part of the reason I was really looking forward to this. The transformation scene still blows me away. Excellent film making. Then of course it has a naked girl in it, and that never hurts a movie!!
7. THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW - Love this movie for the many memories it brings. Had to have seen this over a hundred times. I worked for the chain that had this as a midnight feature, so I was always pricared with my newspaper, toast, and water pistol. Never got into the roll playing that goes on today, as I appreciate the fun debauchery be played out onscreen. Plus the soundtrack is killer!!
8. A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET - The one thing I remember most about my initial viewing of this in the theater is that I watched it threw my fingers. Easily one of the creepiest movies of all time, and one that never disappoint. You just never really know whats going on and the movie turns on a dime. Plus Johnny Depp bites the dust. You can't really ask for much more.
9. 2000 Maniacs - It was my 10th birthday and my parents were taking me and some friends to see Disney's The Aristocats at the Hillsboro Theater. Fortunately my dad made a wrong turn and ended up in the drive in which was showing this movie. Axes and arms...that's all I'm sayin'!!
10. SCREAM BLOODY MURDER - Filmed in Tampa, Florida, one block from my house. In fact my friend Ted lived in the house that they used for filming, so I used to play there regularly. We were all over the area while they were filming, peeking over the walls, looking in the windows, riding our bikes by as they filmed.. Pretty cool seeing it today, as many of the areas they used for filming were regular spots my friends and I would hang out at. Love the movie in all its twisted perverseness.
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At the end of Prince of Darkeness, I would have allowed the heroine to escape the darkenss and make it back as opposed to her being trapped in the mirror and its subsequent horrors. still, it was a creepy ending the way it was completed. Just liked the character and wanted her to make it out.