The Evil Dead (1981)

The Evil Dead is one of the best horror movies ever made. Period.

Here is what the DVD case has to say:

"In the summer of 1979, a group of Detroit friends with $375,000 raised from local investigators headed for a cabin outside of Morristown, Tennessee to make a film about five college studies possessed by an ancient 'Book of the Dead". The filmmakers' goal was to create the 'The Ultimate Experience in Grueling Terror,' a movie so relentless that it would stand forever as a landmark in modern horror history. When it was released in 1982, it was immediately recognized worldwide as one of the most ferociously original films ever made."

This movie is an over-the-top explosion of gore, demons who think they are hilarious, creative deaths, and nail-biting entertainment. A must see. A must own. A must share. 

Dawn Of The Dead (2004)

I watched this film after taking an inadvertent near year-long hiatus from horror movies. It was a great reintroduction.

Watching Dawn Of The Dead in the theater was a fun experience, nearly knocked my popcorn over a couple times (which would have been so very sad). Seeing as, at this point, it is quite unlikely you'll get the same theater opportunity then I recommend gathering a group of zombie fans in a place with a big screen, pile the tables high with snacks and beverages of choice, and let the fun begin.

The opening scene of this movie is still one of my AAHHHHHH! favorites. As many zombie films are, the remainder of the movie is an action packed, dark-humored adventure. Fun, gross, icky, and with a big bloated and rotten finger pointed at consumerism, this movie is built to entertain.

Dark Water (2002)

This movie left me chilled to the bone, shaking. So much so that I felt compelled to watch warm fuzzy things before moving on with day-to-day activities.

I don't believe this reaction has as much to due with the scare/scream factor, but because of the growing dampness, the cold world, the sorrow, and the emptiness that Dark Water fosters.

This haunting film was apparently the inspiration for The Ring - and I can see why. Although the two are quite different, the underlining heart-breaking connection between both films is present and terrifying.

For full chill effect, I recommend watching this movie alone on a dark and stormy night.

Cat's Eye (1985)

Written by Stephen King, Cat's Eye is a short story trilogy of terror that was a focal point for my childhood nightmares. I even convinced myself, when I found what appeared to be a very small sword in a friend's backyard, that little killer trolls were In Fact Real and they were after me.

Thus, I choose to carry a cat around whenever I could, and constantly cleaned my room to be sure no trolls would have a place to hide. There was very little argument from parents by this change in behavior. 

Although I'm not sure why I was allowed to watch this movie at such a young age, little killer trolls with swords continues to be a conversation starter (and laugh fest) at our dinner table. Especially when Dad pokes our ankles with toothpicks when the siblings are lounging on the couch. 

This is a fun film - although not a film for all families.

Cabin Fever (2002)

My introduction to this fantastic film was not by way of reading about the gruesome plot, or typical and hilarious characters, or the heart and soul put into the development. No, my introduction to Cabin Fever was by a small video clip extra available on the DVD.

This clip is how I was introduced, and now I'm going to use it to introduce this film to you. I'm not going to tell you anything about this film until you first watch this clip:

Good. Now go watch the movie. Have fun!