Atlantic City Weekly

Carrie

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With Halloween coming up, it is the perfect time to compile a list of my favorite scary movies. I'm an old school fan who prefers suspense to shock, and the bravery of ordinary people in supernatural situations. And, as you'll notice from the list, I'm a sucker for a good haunted house tale.

However, I'm a moviejunkie, so I haven't eliminated slasher movies entirely. I've updated the list over the years, although the movies that terrified me as a child are still listed, since they helped shape my film critic soul. Here is my list of movies that would make for a terrific fright night marathon in alphabetical order.

Carrie (1976) One of the best Stephen King adaptations, directed by Brian DePalma and starring Sissy Spacek, Amy Irving, William Katt and John Travolta. Even when you know the big scare is coming, it still gets to you doesn't it? Not to mention the mama from hell, played by Piper Laurie

The Changling (1980) George C. Scott stars in this under-the-radar, haunted-house flick. If something can scare the hell out of Patton, you know that is pretty darn scary.

Ghost Story (1981) Four elderly men have a secret they've kept buried that is about to be unleashed. With Fred Astaire, Melvin Douglas, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., John Houseman and our favorite Borg Queen, Alice Krige. Resistance is futile.

Halloween (1978) John Carpenter's revival of the slasher-style horror film still makes me jump, enhanced by the director's evocative musical score and a fine damsel-in-distress performance by Jamie Lee Curtis.

The Haunting (1963) Don't let that horrible remake a few years back keep you from checking out one of the best -- and best acted -- haunted house movies of all time, starring Claire Bloom and Julie Harris.

The Innocents (1961) In this period drama adapted from Henry James' The Turn of the Screw, Deborah Kerr is a governess who suspects the two children under her care are being stalked by ghosts. Is she right, or is she crazy? With Martin Stephens and Pamela Franklin.

The Legend of Hell House (1973) The Innocents' child star, Pamela Franklin, still has ghost problems a decade later in this creepy haunted house flick co-starring Roddy McDowell, Gayle Hunnicutt and Clive Revill.

The Omen (1976) Richard Donner's movie about a demonic child scared me more than The Exorcist. Gregory Peck and Lee Remick are the parents who come to realize their child is evil. Billie Whitelaw is unforgettable as the boy's protective nanny.

The Others (2001) Nicole Kidman stars in this film, written and directed by Alejandro Amen�bar, that successfully plays tribute to The Innocents.

Poltergeist (1982) Ordinary parents (JoBeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson) face extraordinary and terrifying circumstances when their haunted home steals their daughter (the late Heather O'Rourke).

The Ring (2002) This is the best of the horror film adaptations from Japan. It will make you think twice about watching TV in the dark. Gore Verbinski directs and Naomi Watts stars.

28 Days Later (2002) The most terrifying bloody zombie movie ever, since these zombies move like they are on speed. Directed by Danny Boyle, it made Cillian Murphy a star.

To read more about movies and other topics covered by movie critic Lori Hoffman under her blog alias Moviejunkie, visit http://blogs.atlanticcityweekly.com/