100 Years, 100 Movies

Happy Halloween! Let’s celebrate by talking about the most influential voice in modern horror (in my opinion) and definitely the most influential person in my personal love for all things horror.

Horror continues to soar and escalate through a tough decade in America.

Anything can kill us even our beloved children & what does that say about us?

One of the most prolific subgenres of horror with hundreds of entries. So let’s focus on the late-70s to the mid-80s.

America collectively loses its shit after the 2000 election, 9/11 and the Iraq War leading to a resurgence of horror.

Argento is one of the most unique voices in horror.

It’s not just the Ring and the Grudge when it comes to horror from Japan.

Horror wore out it’s welcome by the first half of the decade before climbing back; but this led to some interesting movies.

Hammer Studios introduced a new generation to classic movie monsters with more sex, more violence, more Christopher Lee and more Peter Cushing.

Ghost stories have been around long before movies. The haunted house story allows for many different points of view.

My favorite movie decade brings it when it comes to horror! Let’s scratch the surface of the insanity that was 80s movie horror.

Jaws not only created the blockbuster it also led to a ton of imitators. Sharks may be misunderstood in real life but in the movies they’re just trying to bite your face off.

We’re not talking Romero’s zombie’s here this is the weirder and more off-kilter side of the undead.

Horror continues to be more varied as we get more prestigious horror movies while cheap, exploitative horror becomes more common.

No one can escape death; not even this franchise that has some of the most inventive/convoluted movie kills of all time.

What’s better than a horror story? Multiple ones! These movies are the equivalent of short story collections.

Horror continues to grow as new genres and voices emerge. Plus international horror makes a comeback.

I may be the only person who ever wondered how to introduce horror movies to my kids without traumatizing them or putting them off of horror for life. Well here’s some suggestions.

In 2013 James Wan introduced the world to Ed and Lorraine Warren in the Conjuring leading to the creation of one of the most expansive horror cinematic universes.

The Joker once said “if you gotta go; go with a smile” and these movies will help you with that

Science fiction, Vincent Price, William Castle and teenagers were synonymous with horror in the 50s.

Before he transitioned to more dramatic fare David Cronenberg helped to create body horror and was responsible for some of the most iconic horror movies ever.

Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, the Mummy, the Wolfman, the Gillman, the Mole People? ‘Nuff said.

The 40s were a tumultuous time which means that horror was going on in real life and less so in the movies. Thankfully Val Lawton and novels helped to fill the void.

From Cannibal Holocaust to the Blair Witch Project to Paranormal Activity there’s just something appealing about trying to capture what “really” happened.

The New French Extremity added some class to what many would consider torture porn throughout the 2000s before inspiring others over the last few years.

When it comes to horror there was more to the 1930s than the Universal Monsters but not much more.

We may be the top of the food chain but that doesn’t mean we’re the only ones or that those lower than us can’t bite back.

The Purge was an idea so good that it spawned a franchise even when the first movie failed in executing that premise.

Silent movies can be just as horrific and entertaining as sound movies. Also the lack of dialogue allowed for European horror to shine during the 1920s.

Horror is one way that Black artists have been able to address societal issues in novel ways.

Let’s celebrate Halloween with a horror movie countdown! From Cabin in the Woods to Hostel to the Green Inferno, Eli Roth has left a (divisive) mark on modern horror.

100 Years, 100 Movies is back with 31 days of horror leading up to Halloween. It’s the Season of the Witch.

Batman became the most popular superhero in part because he keeps showing up in movies. So indulge me as we look back at Batman movies to wrap this season up.

X-Men nails it’s source material by being exhilarating, trend-setting, convoluted, pretentious, insufferable and at times terrible.

Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman? What could go wrong? Plenty but the future looks promising.

The Invisible Man updates the classic Universal Monster and makes it relevant today. The Hunt is ridiculous and a lot of fun.

Parasite won all the awards for a reason. Midsommar and unexpected empathy.

Music drives everything in Baby Driver. Coco is Pixar’s magical journey about Día de Muertos and Mexican culture.

Inside Out is the most fun way to learn about empathy. Matthew Vaughn continues fixing Mark Millar comics with Kingsman: The Secret Service.

Pacific Rim is equal parts awesome and stupid. Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters is exactly what you expect from that title.

The Evil Dead chronicles the journey of Ash from smarmy asshole to cocky asshole.

Prometheus is a fascinating failure. The Raid: Redemption ups the craziness of action/martial arts movies.

Winter’s Bone introduces Jennifer Lawrence to the masses in an Ozark crime story. Scott Pilgrim v. the World shows the pitfalls of preaching to the choir.

Let’s talk about divisive movies with professional troll Lars Von Trier’s Antichrist and Tom Six’s The Human Centipede: The First Sequence.

In Bruges she is a particular type of purgatory. Hellboy II: The Golden Army delivers Guillermo Del Toro’s take on the character of Hellboy.

No Country for Old Men shows the Coen Bros at their nastiest. Hot Fuzz continues to do parody right.

Rocky is a franchise that refuses to stop much like the character it revolves around.

Pan’s Labyrinth may be Guillermo Del Toro’s best movie. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby is so insane and dumb that you can’t help but enjoy it.

The Incredibles adds super-heroics to family drama. Collateral shows that even as a villain Tom Cruise oozes charisma.

Elf became a Christmas classic and showed Jon Favreau ever-increasing chops. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl has just the right amount of Jack Sparrow.

City of God is the type of movie a pretentious 20-year old me loved. Equilibrium brings guns to a kung fu fight.

Fellowship of the Ring successfully kicks off the longest trilogy ever about walking to a mountain. Spirited Away may be Miyazaki’s best film.

More a marketing gimmick than a true franchise; this is a excuse to talk about some of the best animated movies Disney has to offer.

Almost Famous is Cameron Crowe’s love letter to 1970’s rock. Battle Royale shows movies can still shock audiences.

Out of Sight is a fun excuse for Jennifer Lopez and George Clooney to burn up the screen. Blade is a super-violent, gory superhero movie about vampires.

LA Confidential and the corruption of the LAPD. Princess Mononoke is a great example of Hayao Miyazaki’s work.

Supercop helps to reintroduce American audiences to the insanity of Jackie Chan movies. The Craft was loved by all the goths in my high school.

Clueless was nothing like my high school and yet everything like my high school. Bad Boys propels Will Smith into movie superstardom and had Martin Lawrence along for the ride.

Introducing the world to Freddy Kruger; A Nightmare on Elm Street makes sleep itself dangerous.

Friday the 13th was the most prolific slasher franchise of the 1980s introducing us to the ever evolving Jason Voorhees and his mother.

Michael, Jason, Freddy; three names that became synonymous with horror. Let’s start our discussion of the most iconic slashers/boogeymen of my childhood with Michael Myers and the Halloween franchise.

Clerks is a funny independent movie about people who hate their jobs. Fist of Legend shows the appeal of Jet Li.

Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer shine in the extra-shiny Western Tombstone. True Romance is a great example of Tony Scott’s work.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day should have been the hopeful end of the Terminator franchise. The Addams Family is the best of the TV show remakes of the 90s.

Say Anything... teaches a whole generation of nerds the wrong lesson about love. Road House is enjoyable trash.

Eddie Murphy gives you a Big Mick of comedy in Coming to America. Who Framed Roger Rabbit is a crime noir for children.

George A Romero creates a whole subgenre with Night of the Living Dead and would continue to innovate; until he didn’t.

The Princess Bride is magical. So is Predator in a completely different way.

Let’s talk John Hughes and 80s high school drama with Pretty in Pink and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is a living cartoon in Commando. Return of the Living Dead brings us zombies scramIng “brains”.

Let’s talk hardcore punk in the cult classic Repo Man. Sixteen Candles is a showcase for Molly Ringwald.

Let’s talk problematic 80s comedy with National Lampoon’s Vacation and Trading Places.

The most improbable franchise ever has captured the attention of fans all over the world due to power of Coronas and family.

E. T. The Extra-Terrestrial is total movie magic starring a scrotum. By Crom, Arnold Schwarzenegger looks like he stepped out of a comic book in Conan the Barbarian.

John Carpenter inspires the Metal Gear series with Escape from New York. An American Werewolf in London is a comedy that happens to have werewolves.

Kubrick makes an all time classic with his first true horror movie, The Shining. Cheech & Chong’s Next Movie is fucking dumb but holds a special place in my heart.

Superman is the template of all superhero movies to come. Jackie Chan brings comedy to the martial arts movie with Drunken Master.

Let’s do the time warp again with the cult classic the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Deep Red is a slasher by way of Argento.

Harry Potter is an extremely popular franchise and very important for the generation after mine.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a comedy presented as a raw, unfiltered and extreme horror movie. Andy Warhol’s Dracula is an extreme art film presented as gonzo horror.

Mean Streets is a rumination on Catholic guilt presented as a gangster movie. Bruce Lee kicks all the ass in Enter the Dragon.

Last House on the Left reminds you that it’s only a movie. Blacula and the continued importance of Blaxploitation films.

Clint Eastwood’s best known character is not from a Western in Dirty Harry. Shaft is a great example of proper Blaxploitation film.

Rosemary’s Baby is a masterpiece of psychological horror. The Great Silence and it’s connection to the Hateful Eight.

Marvel wraps up their overall saga while introducing new heroes in the most ambitious phase of the MCU so far.

The MCU hits it’s highest highs and lowest lows as it experiments with what “superhero” movies can be.

Marvel makes movie history (& tons of money) gambling in themselves and their lesser known characters.

A Hard Day’s Night is a showcase for the Beatle’s charm and charisma. Let’s finish up the Dollars Trilogy with a Fistful of Dollars.

Lawrence of Arabia epitomizes the David Lean’s Epic. To Kill a Mockingbird still commenting on race and justice today.

Hitchcock changes the ways movies are marketed and watched with Psycho. Macario is steeped in Mexican culture.

Maleficent is evil for the sake of evil in Sleeping Beauty. Truffaut’s the 400 Blows is a definitive example of the French New Wave.

Orson Welles continues to innovate in Touch of Evil. The Hidden Fortress is the template for Star Wars.

Who knew toys go through the same issues that humans do? Pixar in its most successful and influential franchise.

Ingmar Bergman’s take on humanity and our search for connection in Wild Strawberries. María Félix and Pedro Infante team up for the visual delight Tizoc.

Marlon Brando and Elia Kazan reunite in the classic On the Waterfront. The original Godzilla is about a lot more than an atomic monster.

Let’s talk non-samurai Kurosawa with the brilliant drama Ikiru. Marlon Brando plays a Mexican revolutionary in Viva Zapata!

Gloria Swanson’s Norma Shearer is a cautionary Hollywood tale in Sunset Blvd. Luis Buñuel’s tale of desperation and delinquency in Los Olvidados is an all-timer.

You know what was great? The Golden Age of Mexican Cinema. Doña Barbara helps cement Maria Felix’s image as a cultural Icon. El Ametralladora has the iconic Pedro Infante take over a role originated by the iconic Jorge Negrete.