for a few weeks now i have been planning to host a movie night, showing only horror flicks. the problem is just that about half of the people who will show up either aren't horror movie watchers or at least don't know many.

what i'll have to do now is come up with a playlist that is as entertaining as possible and that represents the genre as well as possible.

so i would greatly appreciate it if you could help me out here and give me some tips.

You can't go wrong with the Evil Dead, I think everyone likes that one whether they're horror fans or not.

Ya got to show em Haute Tension. As long as they don't mind subtitles mind you it might be too gory for em.

Evil Dead 1 and 2 are pefect. You also want to go a bit serious, so maybe choose something like Near Dark, or The Thing. Of course, you can't go wrong with Braindead.

Avoid films like The Shining unless you can work them, I wouldn't recommend going from comic horror straight to a serious one... never works.

Personally, I'd go for:

Evil Dead 1
Evil Dead 2
Braindead
Bubba Ho-tep

The Thing
Near Dark
Dead and Buried
Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Night of the Living Dead
Dawn of the Dead
Day of the Dead

Dead and Breakfast
Undead
Mucha Sangre
Army of Darkness or Shaun of the Dead


are some possible marathon setups I can think of without putting a lot of thought into it. Tell us what mood you want.... splatter/slasher/classic/possession/etc.

The Evil Deads are pure crap.

"Showgirls" is always a great horror film to watch at a party

Other than that,
I'd say..
The Thing (John Carpenters)
Alien
The Fly (David Cronenberg's)
Texas Chainsaw...(Tobe Hooper version only!)


How long is this party

i don't really care as long as the flicks are entertaining and contain some gory effects. i'm pretty sure that hellraiser II will be on the list.


hopefully you're not serious, are you? even before i was posting here i decided to show evil dead. that's a must.


i guess i'll show about four or five movies.

I'm dead serious. Could never see what anybody saw in that series but yeah your guests will probably like it. Well the first one anyway but if you play the third one expect the guests to leave!

Evil Dead II is the pinnacle of 80s horror, possible the greatest horror film of its time. Along with Dawn of the Dead, its a sequel that undoubtedly passes the original in everyway

The first ones good for a laugh, but the second is by far the best. The 3rd ones not as good, but its still ace and a cult/fan favourite. I've never heard of anyone walking out on that. Everytime I've played it, people walk in on it!

The only one people walk out on would be the first, because some people just can't stomach gore. If you can, everyone loves it....

Spud's Shakesperian Aside:
Just don't call it a zombie film anyone.... they're not damn it! I'm sick of people saying that. They are possessed by demons, hence why decapitation, or hits to the head don't kill them, among other things. It's a demonic possession film that idiots/cretins/newbies/those that don't know better call zombie films.

Part 2 the pinnacle of 80's horror. Don't think so. But if you thought of it that way thats fine. We can't all agree on everything.



I watched the first half of the third one and it was one the worst films i have ever seen in my life. Utter garbage.



Surely you jest. I have never heard of anyone walking out on this one.



Now this you are absolutely bang on! I always state this when people call it a zombie flick. It is clearly demon possession.

Very true, but take a look around, you'll find your in the minority when you say that methinks... there's a lot of deadites out there that do disagree

Evil Dead II is far superior to the original. In my eyes its a statement of fact, of course you sound like you disagree, but the second part is one of those rare moments in cinema where everything works, more is more, better is better, and part 2 is better. I always like this quote from a review of Evil Dead II.





Hence when you say "The Evil Deads are pure crap", because well your a minority, therefore, fairly, your only entitled to the statement "I think The Evil Deads are pure crap". And people point and laugh.

ps. I'm allowed to say it without I think because, well I'm just that damn cool. Come get some!

The original 'Re-Animator' is a must! Entertaining all the way.

If you want to go a little more psycholychological on them, I'd suggest 'Death and the Maiden' or 'Tesis', both films that capture the viewers attention all the way through.

You should try to be carefull and selet films that aren't slow progressing though, as the people will loose interest and only make fun of your favorite films.

How about a little Fulchi? The Beyond or Zombie Flesh Eaters?

If you show them Highway to hell, you're likable to get big cheers!

An American Werewolf in London, is a sure winner.

Innocent Blood, is rather entertaining.

In the Mouth of Madness is sure to get praise. So is 'They Live'.

'Dead End' will give them a good time.

You could show 'Naked Lunch' if they're the kind of people to appreciate that kind of things (ie. a little weird, like me! =)

Candyman is another one you can't go wrong with, although a little traditional. 'Lord of Illusions' is also sure to satisfy!

If you want laughs, I suggest something low-budget like 'The Dead Next Door' 'Death Race 2000' 'I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle' 'Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers' 'Hot Wax Zombies on Wheels' 'The Toxic Avenger' 'Tromeo & Juliet' or 'Chopper Chicks in Zombietown'

When I had big parties all the time a few years ago, there was always a room which constantly showed the real nasty of the nasties, like Cannibal Holocaust, Guinea Pig, Faces of Death, ect.

I don't think fulci will go down well if their not horror freaks. His film making is an acquired test.

In the Mouth of Madness is one of my favourites, but carpenter has to be The Thing. They Live isn't really an outright horror, more of a sci-fi/communist/invasion hybrid.

I would avoid Death Race 2000, I think that's a sleeper. Candyman is a great choice if you've got a crowd that can sit through brilliant films without the gore, but LoI is a big no-no, it won't go down well I don't think.

Naked Lunch is too long and weird, people will unfortunately loose interest despite how great it is. Same case for Dead Ringers, Crash and most 'bergs, the fly would be the choice since its runtime is more favourable.

Dead End is a good presentation of modern independant films.

All in all, I think those are some decent choices, I rate all of those movies well... its just I wouldn't expect them to go down with horror newbies, and some of them I wouldn't put in a movie night because they are headliners for 1 movie nights (particularly 'breg films). The flow will kind of crash and burn, when you show something of totally different pacing I've found, and you don't want people to get bored/tuckered out

I agree about nasties being a center of attraction, if your having a big party, put one on in the background. And people watch them

ha ha yeah i know i'm the minority on this but i'm not one to play follow the leader(if everbody else likes then i have to) i prefer to have my own opinion rather than just going along with the norm

So i say once again the Evil Deads ARE pure crap. Bring it on Bitch!

if you put it this way, do you always say no when majority say yes?

as for the topic, to already suggested I'd add asian horrors like Nakata's Ringu or Ju-on series

It all depends on the flick.

put simply, he knows that Evil Dead are regarded as the best/some of the best movies because they are... we just have to make him admit it now



/me points and laughs

why the hell does everyone refer to evil dead II as a sequel?!? even bruce campbell calls it that:
and on my dvd edition they wrote:
but dammit it's a remake. ash doesn't have any memory of the first adventure. the necronomicon and the resurrection of the evil spirit for example are absolutely new to him. i don't know what sam raimi calls the second part. but for me the only logical possibility is that it's a remake.


a little weird? that's one of the weirdest flicks i've ever seen. and i think it sucks ass. but on the other hand i don't like cronenberg anyway (except 'the fly' of course). people would definitely leave the room at that one.

many of your other suggestions make sense though. eg 'lord of illusions'. i even thought about showing 'Cannibal Holocaust'. but i haven't seen it yet. is it really that nasty?

arrrghhh that's as bad as newbie zombie comments.... the first part of the film is a recap, just like Army of Darkness (although they had rights to show clips). The reason its done like it is is to do with the rights, getting hold of the material from the first wasn't possible, so it was a quick reshoot of the important bits of the first. That being ash was in the cabin, and his girlfriend got possessed.

Campbell jokes about maybe ash is stupid, but its obvious what happens if you just sit down and watch it (and i'm sure he knows, he's just being Campbell), the first film is recapped, the crap is stripped out, then notice the change in the style of narration as soon as he gets hit by the demon and flies through the trees. It goes from first person (ie. recap) to 3rd person (ie. 'present), from Evil Dead 1 recap, to Evil Dead 2 in the flesh.

That's nearly as bad as calling it a zombie movie Ash does have a memory of the 'FIRST' night (Which is what evil dead is about)... the first part of the movie is a quick recap, Evil Dead II does not kick in until after the motor bike through the house scene... as soon as he starts flying through the trees that's Evil Dead II, everything previously is a quick rehash of the first film, which takes place on the first night, the next flm takes place the night after.... watch it.

Its sooooo obvious its not a remake in anyway (except now they get to perfect the formula), its a sequel through and through. Thinking its a remake is a real newbie thing to do there avatar!!! Hang your head in shame with the rest of those "its a zombie film" people. Seriously, it is very clearly a sequel, and was intended that way.

aw come on, don't be so harsh on me. i'm not really a newbie (i guess) but not everyone can be a horror movie god like you. calling me one of those people isn't fair though.

i actually did not realise the first part to be a recap. but now that you enlightened me, it really does make sense and even makes the movie kinda better. i deeply apologize for claiming so horrible things.