Top Ten Scariest Movies - The Classics - plus 3

- Give them pleasure - the same pleasure they have when they wake up from a nightmare. - Alfred Hitchcock -

(I put this up on the Examiner for Halloween and am including it here without the links. Do check it out there for some cute links to Angry Alien -- Bunnies do movie parodies in 30 seconds...)

Here's a starter Top Ten Scariest Movie Classics round-up to get the ball rolling on the Halloween fright fest. Good enough or bad enough, there will most likely be another Top Ten comments suggestions to provide plenty of sleepless nights from now until Christmas. Retailers will be open late hoping for warm bodies and potential buyers. They'll welcome the company.

Okay, first things first: There is no way any list will be a definitive because some people require more drama and staging, others like the less-is-more approach. Some are afraid of the supernatural or the alien element. Others get totally psyched out by the real life encounter potential of the crazed lunatic. And some can never suspend disbelief long enough to allow the fear factor to take over. Atmosphere is important. Some require a very intimate space to set the tone. Then again, if one has an acrobatic imagination - he can immerse himself into the action no matter how full the room is.

Second: The list doesn't include seconds or the entire chain of whatever it was that tripped the box office trigger. Originals are a good place to start.

Third: There are some movies that might not be intense in first viewing but they get thumbs up for the lingering psychological impact. The age of the viewer is also a factor. Scary at 13 may not be scary at 30 -- But nightmares induced at 13 may take until 30 to resolve.

Top Ten - plus three… Lucky Number 13 for October 31, 2009. Make sure to turn the lights down while viewing, and do see them with a friend.

1. The Shining - Jack goes nuts with a little help from his "friends" in 30 seconds with Bunnies.
2. Silence of the Lambs - skip dinner.
3. Psycho - Mom had no idea.
4. Halloween (the original) - The Rhythm is gonna get you - score for the sound on this one.
5. Texas Chainsaw Massacre - Based on a true story... gotcha! (not!)
6. Friday the 13th - Jason masks became the new Halloween costume perennial.
7. Alien - A remake for 2011?
8. The Haunting - An invitation best lost.
9. The Omen - the Devil has his day.
10. The Blair Witch Project - Hiking for dummies.
11. Chucky (Child's Play) - A doll gone bad, real bad.
12. The Amityville Horror - haunted by real or hoax?
13. Poltergeist - being cast in the film was one of the last roles for at least 4 actors.

Additions are welcome.

This post is published with more info and links on Examiner.com