"Your choice of any Universal classic, whether it's the original Dracula with Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff in Frankenstein or Bride of Frankenstein, or Claude Raines (well, his VOICE at least) in The Invisible Man, though they may not be as scary to some as contemporary films, the creepy atmosphere these black-and-white masterpieces conjure up is what started the legacy of horror films."

"Truly a miracle of technology for its time, if you think of the fact that it was so new at the time. Audiences weren't sure if what they were seeing was indeed real or not. Try to get the original, uncensored version, which includes 'shocking' violence that was censored in a re-release five years later— not to mention Kong peeling some of the clothing off Fay Wray!"

"Vincent Price in a wonderfully gimmicky flick in which he takes revenge on his enemies one by one, in a systematic way— with lots of quick scares and surprises. It's almost a horror-comedy, but don't sell it short on frightening content."

"The original that started the reign of terror of Mr. Freddy Krueger remains one of the foundations of the modern horror movie. Plenty of unsettling concepts that could easily cause your own nightmares!"

"Right next to Freddy on the modern horror all-star team would be Michael Myers (no, not the Austin Powers guy!). Another contemporary classic with a surprising minimum of gore and lots of quick scares. Plus, Jamie Lee Curtis never ONCE tries to sell you a wireless phone. And yes, it's true— the killer's mask IS an old William Shatner Capt. Kirk mask turned inside-out and adapted due to budget constraints!"

"One of England's legendary Hammer Studios horror films. (Hammer is to Britain what Universal is to America in the horror genre). This film, a great retelling of the original Dracula story with more of author Bram Stoker's tale intact— teams the top British horror stars of Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. The Hammer films were always a feast for the eye and a little more sensual than their original American counterparts."

"Ok, after you see that Hammer film, look at this recent Tim Burton film, which seems like a tribute to the look and style of those British '60s and '70s films. It's creepy and it's kooky, mysterious and spooky— no, wait, that's the theme song to the old Addams Family TV show. Anyway, this is a great Halloween movie!"

"Though its conclusion is no longer a surprise, this is one of those movies that people my age will NEVER forget. Alfred Hitchcock uses such amazing technique to make you expect the worst at any moment but still keeps you off-balance for when it actually happens. Watch for the quick superimposed skull over the last shot of Anthony Perkins' face."

"'But that's not a horror movie!' many will yelp.

Well, maybe not in the traditional sense, but Robert Mitchum's creepy killer preacher, in pursuit of two innocent children, is absolutely frightening— the film, the only one ever directed by hammy actor Charles Laughton, has an incredible look to it, and provides many a scary moment."

"Uh, does a third of a movie count? This made-for-ABC TV movie, starring Karen Black in a number of different roles, stretched across three stories, wouldn't even be on this list if not for the final segment where Karen receives a small warrior doll, which comes to life and pursues her relentlessly! He makes Chucky look like Conan O'Brien. Anyone who has heard the high-pitched war cry of the doll will NEVER forget!"