Monday, October 10, 2016

100 Essential Horror Films: 2016 Edition - Announcing the Nominees


As The Essential Films has done in the past, this year I will be counting down the 100 Essential Horror Films. But this year, I'm doing things a little differently. I have reached out to bloggers, critics, filmmakers, podcasters, proprietors, Redditors and writers to generate the list of 100. Here's how it worked. Each person that responded, provided me with 10 horror films they considered to be "Essential."  Their number one picks were weighted higher than their number 2 picks, and so on. The votes are now being calculated and soon I will begin, with the help of my collaborators, writing the article. In the meantime, please peruse the 500 films that have been nominated and suggested for our Top 100. Will your favorite make the list? Find out soon!


10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
1408 (2007)
28 Days Later (2002)
28 Weeks Later (2007)
30 Days of Night (2007)
The 7th Victim (1943)

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)
The ABCs of Death (2012)
The Abominable Doctor Phibes (1970)
Alice Sweet Alice (1976)
Alien (1979)
Aliens (1986)
Alien3 (1992)
All the Boys Love Mandy Lane (2006)
Altered States (1981)
American Psycho (2000)
An American Werewolf in London (1981)
The Amityville Horror (1979)
Angel Heart (1987)
Antichrist (2009)
April Fool's Day (1986)
Arachnophobia (1990)
Army of Darkness (1992)
Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958)
Attack The Block (2011)
Audition (1999)
The Awakening (2011)

The Babadook (2014)
The Bad Seed (1956)
Bad Taste (1987)
The Beast with a Million Eyes (1956)
Beetlejuice (1988)
Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006)
Berberian Sound Studio (2012)
The Beyond (1981)
Beyond the Black Rainbow (2010)
The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970)
The Birds (1963)
The Black Cat (1934)
Black Christmas (1971)
Black Sabbath (1964)
Black Sunday (1960)
Blacula (1972)
Blade (1998)
Blade II (2002)
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
The Blob (1958)
The Blob (1988)
Blood and Black Lace (1964)
Blood Feast (1963)
The Body Snatcher (1945)
Bone Tomahawk (2015)
Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
The Brood (1979)
Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001)
Bubba Ho-tep (2002)
Bug (2006)
The Burbs (1989)
The Burning (1981)

Cabin Fever (2002)
The Cabin in the Woods (2012)
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)
Candyman (1992)
Cannibal Holocaust (1980)
Carnival of Souls (1962)
Carrie (1976)
Cat People (1942)
The Cell (2000)
Cemetery Man (1994)
The Changeling (1980)
Child's Play (1988)
Child's Play 2 (1990)
Children of the Corn (1984)
Chopping Mall (1986)
Christine (1983)
City of the Dead (1960)
City of the Living Dead (1980)
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Cloverfield (2008)
The Conjuring (2013)
The Conjuring 2 (2016)
Cooties (2014)
Coraline (2009)
Count Dracula (1970)
The Craft (1996)
The Crazies (1973)
Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)
Creature with the Atom Brain (1955)
Creep (2014)
Creepshow (1982)
Creepshow 2 (1987)
Crimson Peak (2015)
Critters (1986)
Cronos (1993)
Cujo (1983)
The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)
Curse of the Demon (1957)

Dark City (1998)
Dark Skies (2013)
Dark Water (2002)
Darkman (1990)
Dawn of the Dead (1978)
Dawn of the Dead (2004)
Day of the Dead (1985)
Dead Alive [Brain Dead] (1992)
Dead of Night (1945)
Dead Ringers (1988)
Dead Silence (2007)
Dead Snow (2009)
The Dead Zone (1983)
Death Game (1977)
Death Proof (2007)
Deep Red (1975)
Demons (1985)
The Descent (2005)
The Devil's Advocate (1997)
The Devil's Backbone (2001)
The Devil's Rejects (2005)
The Devils (1971)
Diabolique (1955)
Dog Soldiers (2002)
Don't Breathe (2016)
Don't Look Now (1973)
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (1920)
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (1931)
Dr. Phibes Rises Again (1972)
Dracula (1931)
Drácula (Spanish Version) (1931)
Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968)
Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966)
Dracula's Daughter (1936)
Drag Me To Hell (2009)
Dressed to Kill (1980)
Duel (1971)

Eden Lake (2008)
Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1986)
Eraserhead (1977)
Event Horizon (1997)
The Evil Dead (1981)
Evil Dead (2013)
Evil Dead 2 (1987)
eXistenz (1999)
The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)
The Exorcist (1973)
The Exorcist III (1990)
Eyes Without a Face (1960)

The Faculty (1998)
The Fall of the House of Usher (1928)
The Fall of the House of Usher (1960)
Faust (1926)
The Fearless Vampire Killers (1967)
Final Destination (2000)
Final Destination 3 (2006)
The Final Girls (2015)
Flatliners (1990)
The Fly (1958)
The Fly (1986)
The Fog (1980)
Frankenstein (1910)
Frankenstein (1931)
Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (!969)
Freaks (1932)
Freddy VS Jason (2003)
Friday the 13th (1980)
Friday the 13th (2009)
Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)
Friday the 13th Part III (1982)
Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986)
Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)
Fright Night (1985)
Fright Night (2011)
The Frighteners (1996)
From Beyond (1986)
From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)
From Hell (2001)
Funny Games (1997)
Funny Games (2007)

The Gate (1987)
The Ghost (1963)
Ghost Story (1981)
Ghostbusters (1984)
Ginger Snaps (2000)
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014)
Godzilla (1954)
The Golem: How He Came Into the World (1920)
Goodnight Mommy (2014)
The Green Inferno (2013)
Green Room (2016)
Gremlins (1984)
Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)
The Grey (2012)
Grindhouse (2007)
The Grudge (2004)
The Guest (2014)

Halloween (1978)
Halloween (2007)
Halloween II (1981)
Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)
The Hands of Orlac (1924)
Hard Candy (2005)
Hardware (1990)
The Haunted Castle (1921)
The Haunting (1963)
Häxan: Witchcraft Through The Ages (1922)
Hellbound: Hellraiser 2 (1988)
Hellraiser (1987)
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
High Tension (2003)
The Hills Have Eyes (1977)
The Hills Have Eyes (2006)
The Hitcher (1986)
Horns (2013)
Horror of Dracula (1958)
The Host (2006)
Hostel (2005)
The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959)
Hour of the Wolf (1968)
House (1977)
The House by the Cemetery (1981)
House of 1000 Corpses (2003)
The House of the Devil (2009)
House of Wax (1953)
House on Haunted Hill (1959)
The House that Dripped Blood (1971)
Housebound (2014)
The Howling (1981)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923)
The Hunger (1983)
Hush (2016)

I Am Legend (2007)
I Bury the Living (1958)
I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
I Saw the Devil (2009)
I Spit on Your Grave (1978)
I Walked with a Zombie (1943)
In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
Inferno (1980)
The Innkeepers (2009)
The Innocents (1961)
Inside (2007)
Insidious (201)
Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013)
Interview with the Vampire (1994)
Invasion of the Bodysnatchers (1956)
Invasion of the Bodysnatchers (1978)
The Invisible Man (1933)
The Invitation (2015)
Island of Lost Souls (1932)
It Follows (2014)

Jacob's Ladder (1990)
Jaws (1975)
Jaws 2 (1978)
Jeepers Creepers (2001)
Jennifer's Body (2009)
John Dies at the End (2012)
Ju-On: The Grudge (2002)
Juan of the Dead (2011)

Kill List (2011)
Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988)
King Kong (1933)
Krampus (2015)
Kwaidan (1964)

Lake Placid (1999)
The Last Exorcism (2010)
The Last House on the Left (1972)
The Last Man on Earth (1964)
The Legend of Hell House (1973)
Lemora: A Child's Tale of the Supernatural (1973)
The Leopard Man (1943)
Let Me In (2010)
Let the Right One In (2008)
Let's Scare Jessica to Death (1971)
Lifeforce (1985)
Lights Out (2016)
Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
Lords of Salem (2012)
The Lost Boys (1987)
Lost Highway (1997)
The Loved Ones (2009)

Mad Love (1932)
Maggie (2015)
Mama (2013)
The Man Who Laughs (1928)
Manhunter (1986)
Maniac (1980)
Maniac (2012)
Maniac Cop (1988)
Martyrs (2008)
The Masque of the Red Death (1964)
May (2002)
Messiah of Evil (1973)
Mimic (1997)
Misery (1990)
The Mist (2007)
Monster House (2006)
The Monster Squad (1987)
The Most Dangerous Game (1932)
Motel Hell (1980)
The Mummy (1932)
The Mummy (1959)
My Bloody Valentine (1981)
Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933)

Near Dark (1987)
Nekromantic (1987)
The Neon Demon (2016)
Night of the Comet (1984)
Night of the Creeps (1986)
Night of the Demons (1988)
Night of the Hunter (1955)
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Night of the Living Dead (1990)
Night Watch (2004)
Nightbreed (1990)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Nightmare Castle (1965)
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: The Dream Warriors (1987)
A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)
A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989)
The Ninth Gate (1999)
Nosferatu (1922)
Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979)

Oculus (2013)
The Old Dark House (1932)
The Omen (1976)
Onibaba (1964)
Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)
Opera (1987)
Orphan (2009)
The Orphanage (2007)
The Others (2001)

Pacific Rim (2013)
The Pact (2012)
A Page of Madness (1926)
Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
Pandorum (2009)
Paranormal Activity (2007)
Paranormal Activity 3 (2011)
Paranorman (2012)
Peeping Tom (1960)
The People Under the Stairs (1991)
Pet Sematary (1989)
Phantasm (1979)
The Phantom Carriage (1921)
The Phantom of the Opera (1925)
Phantom of the Opera (1943)
Phantom of the Paradise (1974)
Phase IV (1974)
Phenomena (1985)
Pieces (1982)
Piranha (1973)
The Pit and the Pendulum (1961)
Pitch Black (2000)
Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959)
Planet of the Vampires (1965)
Planet Terror (2007)
Poltergeist (1982)
Pontypool (2008)
Possession (1981)
Predator (1987)
Prince of Darkness (1987)
Prom Night (1980)
Prometheus (2012)
The Prowler (1981)
Psycho (1960)
Psycho II (1983)
Pumpkinhead (1988)
Puppet Master (1989)
The Purge (2013)
The Purge: Anarchy (2014)
The Purge: Election Year (2016)

Quatermass and the Pit (1967)
The Quatermass Xperiment (1955)

Raising Cain (1992)
Ravenous (1999)
Re-Animator (1985)
REC (2007)
Red Dragon (2002)
Red Eye (2005)
Red State (2011)
Repo: The Genetic Opera (2008)
Repulsion (1965)
The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958)
The Ring (2002)
Ringu (1998)
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
Rosemary's Baby (1968)

Salem's Lot (1979)
Salo or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975)
Santa Sangre (1989)
Saw (2004)
Scanners (1981)
Scream (1996)
Scream 2 (1997)
Scream 3 (2000)
Scream 4 (2011)
Se7en (1995)
The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988)
Session 9 (2001)
Shadow of the Vampire (2000)
The Shallows (2016)
Sharknado (2012)
Shaun of the Dead (2004)
The Shining (1980)
Shivers (1975)
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Silent Hill (2006)
Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)
Sinister (2012)
Sisters (1973)
The Sixth Sense (1999)
The Skin I Live In (2011)
Sleepaway Camp (1983)
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Slither (2006)
The Slumber Party Massacre (1982)
Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983)
Son of Frankenstein (1939)
Species (1995)
Sphere (1998)
Spirits of the Dead (1967)
Splice (2009)
Spring (2014)
Squirm (1976)
Stake Land (2010)
The Stand (1994)
Starry Eyes (2014)
The Stepfather (1987)
Stephen King's It (1990)
Stir of Echoes (1999)
Stoker (2013)
The Strangers (2008)
The Stuff (1985)
Suspiria (1977)
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

The Taking of Deborah Logan (2014)
A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)
Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight (1995)
Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990)
Teeth (2007)
Tenebre (1982)
Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986)
Them! (1954)
They Live (1988)
The Thing (1982)
The Thing from Another World (1951)
Thirst (2009)
Tokyo Gore Police (2008)
Tourist Trap (1979)
The Town that Dreaded Sundown (1976)
The Toxic Avenger (1984)
Tremors (1990)
Triangle (2009)
Trick 'r Treat (2007)
Trilogy of Terror (1975)
Trollhunter (2010)
Tucker & Dale VS Evil (2010)
Tusk (2014)
The Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983)
Two Thousand Maniacs (1964)

Under the Skin (2013)
Unfriended (2010)
The Uninvited (1944)
The Unknown (1927)

V/H/S (2012)
V/H/S 2 (2013)
Vampires (1998)
Vampyr (1932)
The Vanishing (1988)
Videodrome (1983)
Village of the Damned (1960)
The Voices (2014)

The War of the Worlds (1953)
Waxwork (1988)
We Are Still Here (2015)
We Are What We Are (2013)
We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)
Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994)
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)
What Lies Beneath (2000)
What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
The Wicker Man (1973)
The Witch (2015)
Witchboard (1986)
The Witches (1990)
Witchfinder General (1968)
The Wizard of Gore (1970)
The Wolf Man (1941)
The Woman in Black (1989)
World War Z (2013)
Wrong Turn (2003)

You're Next (2011)
Young Frankenstein (1974)

Zodiac (2007)
Zombie (1979)
Zombieland (2009)