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on 12 May 2011 01:45

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My favorite Horror movies - 70s

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3494

8.5

1. Alien (1979)

the giraffe's rating:

1213

7.8

2. Dawn of the Dead (1978)

the giraffe's rating:

100

7.1

3. Theatre of Blood (1973)

the giraffe's rating:

329

7.5

7.7

4. Duel (1971)

the giraffe's rating:

6.2

5. Shock (1977)

the giraffe's rating:

270

7.8

7.2

6. House (1977)

the giraffe's rating:

1776

7.4

7.9

7. Halloween (1978)

the giraffe's rating:

2046

7.4

8. Carrie (1976)

the giraffe's rating:

1327

7.4

7.5

9. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

the giraffe's rating:

423

10. The Amityville Horror (1979)

the giraffe's rating:

3653

7.2

8.2

11. Jaws (1975)

the giraffe's rating:

167

7.3

7.1

12. The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)

the giraffe's rating:

736

7.6

7.7

13. The Wicker Man (1973)

the giraffe's rating:

247

6.8

6.7

14. Phantasm (1979)

the giraffe's rating:

393

6.5

6.3

15. The Hills Have Eyes (1977)

the giraffe's rating:

140

6.9

6.8

16. The Legend of Hell House (1973)

the giraffe's rating:

109

6.9

6.6

17. Four Flies on Grey Velvet (1971)

the giraffe's rating:

296

7.2

6.7

18. Zombie (1979)

the giraffe's rating:

158

6.3

19. The Crazies (1973)

the giraffe's rating:

364

7.1

7.3

20. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)

the giraffe's rating:

6.6

6.2

21. The Sentinel (1977)

the giraffe's rating:

Purely entertaining

None of these are essential, but they're all solidly entertaining...especially if you're into horror.

Maybe for you, but not for me

These films inevitably pop up on most people's lists for the 70s (horror or not), so I figured I'd mention them in a separate section to avoid a plague of comment-questions. It's been 13 years now since I've seen Eraserhead, but at the time I found it an incomprehensible mess. I assume that its fans mostly love it simply because it can't be understood; I hated it. I'm not even sure if it counts as horror, unless you count the experience of trying to watch it. So it's possible a re-watch now might change my opinion, but I doubt it.

While all the rest are well-made films, I simply couldn't buy into the premise of The Exorcist or The Omen, and therefore found them more laughable than scary. Your results may differ. As for Suspiria I watched it with a group of friends during a horror movie marathon and none of us could get into it despite the fact it looked pretty. That one may require a re-watch.

Unseen horrors

Horror movies from this decade that I haven't watched yet which may end up on this list in the future.

Suggestions welcome!

This list was helped along by the following lists:
History of Horror by diabolical dr voodoo

Best in Horror: 1970's by Xanadon't

See also:
My favorite Horror movies by decade for links to my lists for other decades
My favorite performances - Horror
My Top 20 Horror Films

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Comments

Happy Vader

Posted: 1 year, 9 months ago at Aug 19 2:05

Good selections and I've seen pretty much all. You have to watch Deliverance if you have time!

Xanadon't

Posted: 1 year, 9 months ago at Aug 19 3:24

Wow! we share 7 or 8 of the same titles and yet I still haven't seen your #2, 3, or 4!! Such a nice feeling knowing that there's great cinema waiting for me! Great list, and a great one to go with the posters on. Good choice.

Orlok

Posted: 1 year, 9 months ago at Aug 19 8:33

Great list! I absolutely LOVE 70's horror movies, and 80's too! :D

Black Christmas is one of my favorites, but everyone's got their own opinion.

I didn't like Suspiria aswell, and I think the exorcist is a bit overrated (I like Exorcist 3 much more.) and I really like the omen.

jaytoast

Posted: 1 year, 9 months ago at Aug 19 16:29

I have added "Four Flies On Velvet" to my queue. Ah but I'm really hopping to re-watch the Dr Phibes movies. I remember loving them when I was a teen. One of the first 'many-clever-ways-to-die' films so sort of the grandfather film of the "Final Destination" films.

The 1978 version of Invastion of the Body snatures remains my favorite version of the film but I'm sure that is only for personal reasons.

Martin is very much a cult film and not really one of my true favorites. Speaking of cult horror films... Simon King of the Witches is worth a look
http://www.listal.com/movie/simon-king-witches

portlander

Posted: 1 year, 9 months ago at Aug 27 2:12

Halloween is the scariest movie I have ever seen,
it still freaks me out, but i watch it every Halloween anyway - like the poster said - everyone is entitled to a good scare. I love Jaws too - but I don't have to worry about running into a shark when I am taking out the trash at night - so it didn't scare me as much as Michael Myers did.

Edit: 1 year, 9 months ago

Happy Vader

Posted: 1 year, 8 months ago at Sep 12 16:50

A little suggestion: You might wanna add Wizard Of Gore!

I've seen the film and It's currently residing in my greatest movies list (although on a very low position) and I thought I might share it with you!

the giraffe

Posted: 1 year, 8 months ago at Sep 12 18:41

Wizard of Gore has been added. Thanks!

Wendel

Posted: 1 year, 8 months ago at Sep 14 15:11

Two suggestions: The Legend of Hell House (1973) by John Hough and The Sentinel (1977) by Michael Winner. Both very solid 70s horror in my book.

the giraffe

Posted: 1 year, 8 months ago at Sep 15 1:45

Didn't realize The Sentinel wasn't already there. I've added both films you suggested. Thanks!

Xanadon't

Posted: 1 year, 8 months ago at Sep 15 3:31

Oh, holy shit, how did I not mention The Sentinel earlier?
Wendel is right! You GOTTA see that one!

terceira

Posted: 1 year, 8 months ago at Sep 23 6:32

Race with the Devil 1975 is good & Phase IV 1974 x

the giraffe

Posted: 1 year, 8 months ago at Sep 23 13:40

@terceira - Added!

mwahXxxX

Posted: 1 year, 7 months ago at Oct 26 10:40

house on dead end street x

Rocconeverdies

Posted: 9 months, 2 weeks ago at Aug 8 13:29

Love the poster work. Great stuff.

jprc10

Posted: 9 months, 2 weeks ago at Aug 8 13:45

Great list, lots of movies I didn't know about and need to watch.

Hootsaidtheowl

Posted: 9 months, 2 weeks ago at Aug 9 4:25

I'm interested to see what you think of Martin. I haven't seen it in quite a few years, but remember really digging it.

portlander

Posted: 7 months, 1 week ago at Oct 12 16:16

I think I had only seen Halloween and Jaws the last time I stopped by this list, but I've done a lot of catching up horror movie wise in the last year or so and have seen 10 of them now and I liked them all, with the possible exception of The Amityville Horror which I am still a little iffy on - I particularly enjoyed Carrie, Alien, Dawn Of The Dead and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre - which might rank with Halloween as the scariest movie I have seen -I am going to have to start working on a favorite horror movie list after the horrorfest is over :)