Top 10 Lists Log Out | Topics | Search
Moderators | Edit Profile

RAMSEY CAMPBELL » Discussion » Top 10 Lists « Previous Next »

Author Message
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 194.32.29.1
Posted on Thursday, August 14, 2014 - 03:37 pm:   

In a desperate attempt to liven up the RCMB I'm launching this thread as a place for all of us to have a bit of harmless though informed and passionate fun. Please feel free to post your Top 10 lists of anything below.

To start things off here are my Top 10 Horror Films:

1. 'The Exorcist' (1973) by William Friedkin.
2. 'Rosemary's Baby' (1968) by Roman Polanski.
3. 'The Shining' (1980) by Stanley Kubrick.
4. 'Night Of The Demon' (1958) by Jacques Tourneur.
5. 'Don't Look Now' (1973) by Nicolas Roeg.
6. 'Invasion Of The Body Snatchers' (1956) by Don Siegel
7. 'The Birds' (1963) by Alfred Hitchcock.
8. 'Tenebrae' (1982) by Dario Argento.
9. 'Peeping Tom' (1960) by Michael Powell.
10. 'Inland Empire' (2006) by David Lynch.

Now it's your turn...
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 194.32.29.1
Posted on Thursday, August 14, 2014 - 04:09 pm:   

Top 10 Horror Novels:

1. 'Dracula' (1897) by Bram Stoker.
2. 'The Exorcist'/'Legion' (1971-83) by William Peter Blatty.
3. 'The Ceremonies' (1984) by T.E.D. Klein
4. 'Melmoth The Wanderer' (1820) by Charles Robert Maturin.
5. 'Ghost Story' (1979) by Peter Straub.
6. 'Harvest Home' (1973) by Thomas Tryon.
7. 'The Shining' (1977) by Stephen King.
8. 'The Grin Of The Dark' (2007) by Ramsey Campbell.
9. 'The Haunting Of Hill House' (1959) by Shirley Jackson.
10. 'The Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde' (1886) by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 194.32.29.1
Posted on Friday, August 15, 2014 - 11:04 am:   

Top 10 Horror Themes:

1. Doppelgänger/Replica Humans e.g. Invasion Of The Body Snatchers, The Man Who Haunted Himself, etc.
2. Satanic/Demonic Possession e.g. The Exorcist, Rosemary's Baby, etc.
3. Small Town With Dark Secret e.g. Harvest Home, The Shadow Over Innsmouth, etc.
4. Split Personality/Evil Transformation e.g. The Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde, Psycho, etc.
5. Lycanthropy e.g. The Wolf Man, The Reptile, etc.
6. Supernatural Entity From Beyond/Within e.g. The Entity, Fiend Without A Face, etc.
7. Evil Undead e.g. Dracula, The Mummy, etc.
8. Man-Made Monster/Tampering With Nature e.g. Frankenstein, Them!, etc.
9. Killer Animal/Revenge Of Nature e.g. The Birds, Jaws, etc.
10. Maniac Next Door e.g. Peeping Tom, American Psycho, etc.

Sheesh, no room for ghosts...
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 194.32.29.1
Posted on Friday, August 15, 2014 - 11:54 am:   

Top 10 Horror TV Shows:

1. Boris Karloff's Thriller (1960-62)
2. A Ghost Story For Christmas (1971-78)
3. Brian Clemens' Thriller (1973-76)
4. Hammer House Of Horror (1980)
5. Salem's Lot (1979)
6. The League Of Gentlemen (1999-2002)
7. The Walking Dead (2010-present)
8. Masters Of Horror/Fear Itself (2005-08)
9. The X Files (1993-2002)
10. Millennium (1996-99)

Just missing a place: 'The Dark Secret Of Harvest Home' (1978), 'Psychoville' (2009-11) & 'Inside No. 9' (2014).

I haven't yet seen; 'Journey To The Unknown', 'Night Gallery' or 'Kolchak : The Night Stalker' or they would no doubt be up there.

Any I've forgotten?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 194.32.29.1
Posted on Friday, August 15, 2014 - 12:11 pm:   

'Dead Of Night' (1972) - which includes Nigel Kneale's "The Stone Tape" - and, of course, Kneale's own 'Beasts' (1976) also belong in there. While honourable mention must also be made of; 'The Addams Family' (1964-66), 'The Munsters' (1964-66) and 'Scooby Doo, Where Are You?' (1969-78), imho.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Giancarlo (Giancarlo)
Username: Giancarlo

Registered: 11-2008
Posted From: 109.52.45.18
Posted on Saturday, August 16, 2014 - 09:22 am:   

I'd add somewhere in the movie list Sydney Hayers's "Night of the Eagle", from Fritz Leiber's novel "Conjure Wife."
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 194.32.29.1
Posted on Monday, August 18, 2014 - 11:39 am:   

Great film and a great novel, Giancarlo. Richard Matheson and Charles Beaumont collaborated on the script.

What's your own Top 10?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Craig (Craig)
Username: Craig

Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 99.126.164.88
Posted on Monday, August 18, 2014 - 08:18 pm:   

Good lists, Stevie!

Seen everything on the first list; but have only read 2/5's of the second list; and seen but a smattering of the TV shows.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 194.32.29.1
Posted on Wednesday, August 20, 2014 - 03:27 pm:   

The more I look into quality horror entertainment - literature, cinema and television - the more I realise how limited it is and how possible it is to build up a definitive collection. The vast majority of material produced in the genre is pure dross. Much of it is enjoyable cult tongue-in-cheek dross, and I have a lot of time for that stuff, but when it comes to the genuine sub-standard rubbish devoid of leavening humour then I really don't want to have to suffer it.

With that in mind here are my Top 10 Best Worst Horror Movies ever made:

1. 'King Kong Versus Godzilla' (1962) by Ishirô Honda.
2. 'The Mysterians' (1957) by Ishirô Honda.
3. 'Spookies' (1986) by Eugenie Joseph, Brendan Faulkner & Thomas Doran.
3. 'Plan 9 From Outer Space' (1959) by Edward D. Wood Jnr.
4. 'The Creeping Terror' (1964) by Vic Savage.
5. 'Robot Monster' (1953) by Phil Tucker.
6. 'Troll II' (1990) by Drake Floyd.
7. 'Hell Comes To Frogtown' (1987) by Donald G. Jackson & R.J. Kizer.
8. 'Don't Panic' (1988) by Rubén Galindo Jnr.
9. 'Birds Of Prey' aka 'Beaks' (1987) by René Cardona Jnr.
10. 'I Don't Want To Be Born' (1975) by Peter Sasdy.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 194.32.29.1
Posted on Wednesday, August 20, 2014 - 03:28 pm:   

Every one of the above films is an unintentionally hilarious car crash of a movie that I could never grow tired of watching.

Look out for my forthcoming Top 10 Worst Worst Horror Movies ever made... and shudder.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 194.32.29.1
Posted on Wednesday, August 20, 2014 - 03:41 pm:   

I remember seeing Honda's 'The Mysterians' in the cinema in a double bill with the original 'Godzilla' a few years ago. 'Godzilla' had us all spellbound but about 5 minutes into 'The Mysterians' there literally wasn't a dry eye in the house. Some people had to be carried out they were laughing so hard. It's an absolute masterpiece of cornball brilliance, featuring a giant robot chicken, that has more energy and imagination going for it than any number of supposedly epic big budget yawnfests you could care to mention. Now that's truly Great bad filmmaking!
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 194.32.29.1
Posted on Thursday, August 21, 2014 - 10:58 am:   

Top 10 Worst Worst Horror Movies I have seen:

1. 'Snuff' (1976) by Michael Findlay, Roberta Findlay & Horacio Fredriksson.
2. 'Scared To Death' (1947) by Christy Cabanne.
3. 'Drive In Massacre' (1977) by Stuart Segall.
4. 'Dr Jekyll's Dungeon Of Death' (1979) by James Wood.
5. 'The Creature From The Haunted Sea' (1961) by Roger Corman.
6. 'Mesa Of Lost Women' (1953) by Ron Ormond & Herbert Tevos.
7. 'Prozzie' (1983) by Ulli Lommel.
8. 'The Incredible Melting Man' (1977) by William Sachs.
9. 'The Monster Maker' (1944) by Sam Newfield.
10. 'The Indestructible Man' (1956) by Jack Pollexfen.

Films that commit the ultimate sin of being tediously boring as well as technically inept on every conceivable level. NB: I have only included films I actually had the fortitude to sit the whole way through (and shouldn't have) and know there are countless even worse films being shown every night on the likes of the Horror Channel (as well as many hidden gems) but any of those I started to watch and had to turn off after ten minutes belong to a featureless sludge of cinematic excrement sticking to the darkest corners of my consciousness - that I flee screaming from in my dreams. Anything worse than any of the ten films above doesn't deserve to even be mentioned in polite company, imho, and I have no inclination to watch them. Incidentally, 'Lord Of Tears' (2013) came perilously close to making the list!
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Craig (Craig)
Username: Craig

Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 99.126.164.88
Posted on Saturday, August 23, 2014 - 01:19 am:   

Hey, Stevie! Came across a pristine vintage paperback at my local library of Tryon's Harvest Home for ¢50, and I thought I remembered you listing it here as one of your top 10 horror novels. I'm just hoping it's better than the film version of The Other—I didn't really care for that, and assumed (though I shouldn't) Tryon's writing was like the movie, and so never bothered to explore. I've never read a word by him, but this one looks pretty good... maybe it'll be next, since I'm in-between stuff to read right now....
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 85.255.232.129
Posted on Saturday, August 23, 2014 - 04:20 am:   

Fantastic book, Craig! One of the best horror novels you could possibly read. I think you'll enjoy the mystery elements in there as well.

I've long wanted to read 'The Others' and must track down a copy. I didn't know it had been filmed. If the book is half as effective as 'Harvest Home' it must be a great read indeed!
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Craig (Craig)
Username: Craig

Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 99.126.164.88
Posted on Sunday, August 24, 2014 - 01:44 am:   

Oh yeah, it was filmed way back in the 1970's. Like I said, I didn't like it, thought it boring, and predictable. Blah, basically. But how do I dare judge any book based on the movie?!
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 194.32.29.1
Posted on Friday, September 05, 2014 - 03:50 pm:   

This is from the Weber man! I, for one, still miss his insane waffling on here.

The Top 10 Patricia Highsmith novels in publication order:

1. Strangers On A Train (1950) - read it.
2. The Price Of Salt (1952) - still to read!
3. The Blunderer (1954) - read it.
4. The Talented Mr Ripley (1955) - read it.
5. Deep Water (1957) - read it.
6. This Sweet Sickness (1960) - read it.
7. The Cry Of The Owl (1962) - read it.
8. A Suspension Of Mercy (1965) - read it.
9. The Tremor Of Forgery (1969) - read it.
10. Ripley Under Ground (1970) - read it.

All the books I have read above are absolute classics. In fact I have yet to read anything by Patricia that wasn't an exceptional work of literature. However, the list makes it appear that she went into a decline after the 1960s, which simply isn't true.

Here are the Top 10 Patricia Highsmith novels that I have read:

1. A Dog's Ransom (1972)
2. This Sweet Sickness (1960)
3. Deep Water (1957)
4. The Glass Cell (1964)
5. The Cry Of The Owl (1962)
6. The Talented Mr Ripley (1955)
7. Ripley's Game (1974)
8. People Who Knock On The Door (1983)
9. Strangers On A Train (1950)
10. The Boy Who Followed Ripley (1980)

She really is one of the greatest authors of the 20th Century. I would put her works easily on a par with Graham Greene, Joseph Conrad, William Golding or Dostoevsky. Read the first chapter of any Highsmith novel and you are guaranteed to be sucked into a world of stark psychological fear beyond your worst imaginings. And, by God, can she be cruel to her characters!! Yet, also, unremittingly human and empathic to a degree that is indescribably beautiful and oh so bloody painful. I love her!

Add Your Message Here
Post:
Bold text Italics Underline Create a hyperlink Insert a clipart image

Username: Posting Information:
This is a private posting area. Only registered users and moderators may post messages here.
Password:
Options: Enable HTML code in message
Automatically activate URLs in message
Action:

Topics | Last Day | Last Week | Tree View | Search | Help/Instructions | Program Credits Administration