Lawd, Love a List…

I am not a particularly classy gal, so when someone asks me what I think of a movie, inevitably, the conversations gets littered with “fuck” and “rad” and “craptastic” — b-t-dubbs, when did “crap” become a cuss word.  (yes, I said “cuss.  I am from the Midwest, yo.)  So it’s strange, then, that I am so enamoured with what I call classy horror movies.  Here’s a shortlist to get you going if you don’t know what class in horror cinema really is.  Check these movies out!

5. Scream of Fear (1961)

This movie, starring the amazingly beautiful Susan Strasberg, ranks in at number 5 on my super classy horror movies list.  Why?  Well, shit, I mean, it’s fucking classy, right?  It’s shot in some of the most stunning black-and-white photography I have ever seen.  And every character is engaging and engaged, which is more than you can ask from most movies.  Check it out, natch.

4. The Changeling (1980)

George C. Scott’s performance in this film is what really kicks it up a notch for me.  He’s a man with serious talent, and he came to The Changeling ready to give it all he had.  This is more than we can ask of most people in horror, it seems.  (Jesus, save us all from Platinum Dunes.)  Also, look out for the fucking magical score.  It will make you feel like drinking sherry with your pinky lifted off the glass.

3. Let’s Scare Jessica to Death (1971)

Zohra Lampert makes this movie.  Is it a lesbian vampire story?  I am never quite sure how to answer that question.  No matter, though, it is still a beautiful film that gives ample identity to each character.  This is something hard to come by, and it’s difficult to watch those final scenes because you actually like everyone in Jessica’s life.  Bummer, Jess, I would have believed you.

2. The Blood Spattered Bride (1972)

Apparently, I am into this whole lesbian vampire thing.  Well, shit, who isn’t?  Everytime I watch Vincente Aranda’s Spanish film, I find myself completely entranced.  It’s a movie more than worth investigating and even more worth keeping in your private collection–if only to make your shelf less trashy.

1. Rosemary’s Baby (1967)

Roman Polanski’s film is, without a doubt, the classiest horror film ever made.  A lot of people argue with me and suggest there is comedy in this film.  I disagree!  In 1967, the whole “Hail Satan” thing would not have been FUNNY!  Sheesh, that’s like reading Poe and expecting it to be totally terrifying.

In all seriousness, Mia Farrow’s performance in this film is absolutely pitch perfect, and it’s because of this that I love her in spite of her very questionable personal life.  Bless you, Mia (for this and The Last Unicorn).

Okay, now you can fight me.  Go ahead.  I’ll take it to the mattresses for these movies.

~ by acaseofyou12581 on March 26, 2010.