The 1970’s was perhaps the best and most fruitful decade for horror cinema, making
it the perfect breeding ground for some of the greatest franchises that have endured
the test of time.
There are so, so many excellent horrors from the 70’s from some of the greatest auteurs,
making this list incredibly difficult to write.
However, I did my best, and made it as personal as possible, otherwise this list would have
been near impossible.
So today on Top 10 Beyond the Screen, we’re going to be counting down our list of the
Top 10 Scariest Horror Movies From The 70’s.
Lets jump in.
10 Halloween (1978) Yep, we ain’t messing around with this list,
folks.
We’re starting strong.
Many credit John Carpenter with the creation of the slasher subgenre, yet, they weren’t
new by the time 1978’s Halloween came along.
However, Carpenter did improve on the genre, making it more viscerally terrifying to feast
upon.
Halloween, of course, follows Michael Meyers, an unrelenting force of evil that escapes
from a mental hospital and returns to the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois to kill
again.
What makes Halloween so damn good, yet terrifying, is because Michael is an equally unknowable
and unstoppable force.
How do you kill something that seemingly can’t be killed?
How do you catch something that can only be found when it wants to be found?
He is evil incarnate, endlessly hunting for his next victim, and thankfully Carpenter
blessed us with his perfect opposition.
Laurie Strode, played by Jaime Lee Curtis, one of cinema’s greatest final girls.
Watching Halloween feels like you’re watching the creation of something timeless, something
that you know will rule for generations to come.
9 The Omen (1976) The Omen always makes it onto one of our lists,
whether it be cursed films, accidents on set, tragic events, The Omen is ever present.
Released back in 1976, this classic horror is right up there with The Exorcist and Rosemary’s
Baby.
Starring Gregory Peck, the film follows and American ambassador who believes his child
could be the antichrist after mysterious deaths begin to surround the family.
It’s a true thrill ride from start to finish, from the nanny hanging herself at Damien’s
birthday party, to the priest speared by a church spire.
The film is glorious in its execution, and each kill is as inventive as the next.
The film is tense from the get-go, and having a child play the primary antagonist makes
it that much more sinister.
8 Dawn of the Dead (1978) Dawn of the Dead is often regarded as the
greatest zombie movie ever made, with it constantly pitted up again it’s predecessor, Night
of the Living Dead.
The films follows an ever-growing epidemic of zombies that have risen from the dead,
with two SWAT team members, a traffic reporter, and his television executive girlfriend all
seeking refuge in a secluded shopping mall.
Now, Dawn of the Dead is a horror sequel in every sense, coming out of the gates bigger
and bloodier than before, and that’s exactly what George Romero did.
The film is unnerving because it departs from the confines of a home, for the sprawling
reaches of a shopping mall, the empty space, and grand structure filling us with nothing
but dread as we patiently wait for the zombies to infiltrate.
However, this film is not just a horror, it is also a character drama as the group of
strangers are forced to survive an apocalyptic world together.
7 The Exorcist (1973) Because, of course, we all knew it would be
here, I just imagine you were all expecting it a little higher up.
But, guys, the 70’s were the golden-era for horror, and this list was incredibly difficult
to narrow down, so take it for what it is.
To many, The Exorcist is the scariest movie ever made, with its release resulting in many
audience members walking out, passing out or throwing up.
Now, this could easily be chalked up to the decade in which the film arrived.
Because, as we know, The Exorcist follows the demonic possession of a young girl, and
the exorcism that ensues to rid her of the demon.
For newcomers to the film, it can be a slowburn, yes, but the final exorcism on regan is stuff
that nightmares are made of, and will linger with even the most hardened of horror fans.
It’s vile, and seemingly ungodly to watch, but that’s what makes The Exorcist a timeless
classic; it’s groundbreaking effects, and utter shock value.
The imagine of a young regan impaling herself with a crucifix, crawling down the stairs
backwards, and of course rotating her head 180 degrees.
The Exorcist is an enduring horror movie, and example of the heights the horror genre
can reach.
6 Suspiria (1977) Dario Argento’s 1977 movie Suspiria is one
of the greatest pieces of cinema in history.
It’s a masterpiece in technicolor and the ultimate incarnation of the Giallo.
Suspiria follows a young American ballet dancer abroad at a prestigious German dance academy
where she uncovers a sinister coven of witches.
This film is beautiful, but also wildly violent with an incredible progressive rock score.
It’s visually stunning, yet also immersive, making you feel like you’re on the same
journey as the young protagonist.
Now, Deep Red already confirmed it, but Suspiria cemented Dario’s Argento’s place as one
of the greatest filmmakers of all time, and the king of horror.
5 The Wicker Man (1973) The Wicker Man is director Robin Hardy’s
magnum opus, and is perhaps one of the most exceptional films ever made.
It’s a film that sneaks up on you, it’s subtle, eerie, and requires expert patience.
Yet, when it takes you to its finish line, you are left with a sickening knot in your
stomach, gasping at what just unfolded in front of your eyes.
The Wicker Man follows a police sergeant sent to a Scottish island village in search of
a missing girl who the townsfolk claim never existed.
Now, much of the film doesn’t play out like a traditional horror, but instead it eerier
and jovial.
It isn’t until the riddle is solved that we as a viewer are rendered helpless alongside
our hero, and must watch on in horror at the grim fate that unfolds.
4 Carrie (1976) Ah yes, one of my favorite movies of all time,
Carrie.
In 1976, Brian De Palma blessed is with one of the greatest adaptations of a Stephen King
book, the horror masterpiece that is Carrie.
Sissy Spacek takes on the titular role, and plays a sheltered and tormented daughter to
a religious abusive mother.
However, Carrie soon discovers that she’s a telepath and unleashes hell upon the town
that has wronged her.
You can’t help but feel a tender ache for Carrie throughout the entire movie.
She’s an uninformed girl who was sheltered from reality, making her an easy target for
the High School bullies, thus resulting in one of the most iconic scenes in cinematic
history.
A glowing Carrie, a top the stage at prom, just crowned prom queen, and then, cue the
pig’s blood.
What makes this film an all time great is that it makes you root for a beaten down girl,
only to then fear her when she rises from the ashes and snaps, murdering everyone in
her path.
3 Alien (1979) Ridley Scott’s gothic horror is a perfect
sci-fi movie, and an equally perfect horror movie.
Alien sends us into space after a merchant vessel perceives an unknown transmission as
a distress call, however, upon landing the sources moon, one of the crew members is attacked
by a mysterious lifeform whose life cycle has merely just begun.
The Xenomorph, It’s a perfect organism, matched only by its hostility.
It is the perfect monster in a perfect movie.
It’s perfection is thanks to a stellar cast led by Sigourney Weaver, and of course Dan
O’Bannon’s expertly paced screenplay.
Every element in the film works because it is doing nothing but pushes us further into
the fear.
With the presence of each alien cutting us like a knife, making the entire experience
ache with unease.
But the pain is worth it in every way.
2 Black Christmas (1974) Bob Clark has made two christmas movies, the
wondrous 1983 film A Christmas Story, that came just a short time after he decided to
make christmas terrifying with 1974’s Black Christmas.
Marketed as one of the first slasher movies, Black Christmas is subtle yet effective in
its tension.
It stars Olivia Hussey and Margot Kidder as two sisters in a sorority house over Christmas,
who begin receiving terrifying calls from a raspy-voiced predator that begins to unravel
a muder mystery within the home.
The deaths are classy, and not overplayed, with the film opting to indulge in some holiday
trappings along the way.
Including a group of Christmas Carolers drowning out the sounds of Kidder’s murder.
Now, what makes this film truly incredible is that it respects its victims, unlike many
slashers.
It refuses to over-sexualize it’s characters, never punishing them for their sexuality.
In fact, the final girl of the movie is not only sexually active, but is also struggling
with her decision to have an abortion.
Black Christmas is one of the most dignified slashers of all time, in turn making it one
of the greatest horrors of all time.
1 Jaws (1975) Now, I’m sure a lot of you will be upset
with Jaws reigning supreme on our list, but quite honestly, it deserves it, and I would
put it at the number one spot everyday of the week.
Released back in 1975, Jaws is credited with inventing the summer blockbuster, with the
film being a giant in the horror genre, but also a giant in cinema as well.
It is constantly credited as being one of the greatest films of all time, let alone
of the 70’s.
Jaws, of course, follows a killer shark that unleashes itself upon a beach community, forcing
the local sheriff, a marine biologist, and an old seafarer to hunt down the killer beast.
It’s a bonafide classic, and an enduring film in cinematic history, that, no matter
how many years pass it by, never loses its effect.
Now, the magic behind Jaws could very well have been down to one little mishap.
“Bruce” the mechanical shark used in the movie notoriously had a lot of issues, with
Spielberg being forced to reevaluate the script and use the shark sparingly - a move that
paid off in full, with the rare appearance of the shark absolutely haunting to watch,
and left audience members gasping out in horror.
Well, there we have it!
Do you guys agree with our list?
Were there any horror movies that we missed?
Also, let us know if you would like to see this become a series, because there are so,
so much horror films from the 80’s that are waiting for us to discuss.
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And until next time, see ya later.