Top Ten Horror Movies of the '70s Review

1. THE DEVILS (1971) Director Ken Russell's greatest achievement, based on Aldous Huxley's The Devils of Loudon, stars Oliver Reed as Father Urbain Grandier, a licentious priest in 17th century France accused of sorcery by a hysterical, hunchbacked Mother Superior played by Vanessa Redgrave. On orders from Cardinal Richilieu, a creepy inquisitior (Michael Gothard) puts Grandier on trial, and ultimately has him burned at the stake. With grotesque plague victims, naked nuns, and other sacreligious imagery courtesy of lapsed Catholic Russell. The most horrific thing about THE DEVILS is that it is based on actual historical events. Available on DVD in a restored, uncut (but semi-legit) edition from Media Films.

2. HALLOWEEN (1977) Highly influential slasher flick with supernatural overtones, as Michael Myers (the homicidal maniac, not the guy who played Austin Powers) escapes from the mental hosptial to terrorize the teens in his old home town. His ultimate prey is his sister, played by Jamie Lee Curtis. With Donald Pleasance and PJ Soles. Recently remade by the evil Rob Zombie, with a cast that includes Adrienne Barbeau and Micky Dolenz. Available on DVD in the 25th Anniversary Edition from Anchor Bay.

3. THE EXORCIST (1973) Director William Friedkin's film adaptation of William Peter Blatty's novel about a child possessed by the devil scared the crap out of many a filmgoer in 1973. Again, based on actual events, making it all the scarier. The cherubic Linda Blair is transformed into a pea-soup vomiting she-demon with a head that rotates 360 degrees. Her mother, played by Ellen Burstyn, calls in a couple of priests (Max Von Sydow, Jason Miller) to perform an exorcism. Terror ensues. With Lee J. Cobb. Available on DVD from Warner Home Video, separately, and as part of THE EXORCIST: THE COMPLETE ANTHOLOGY.

4. CARRIE (1976) Sissy Spacek palys the title role in Bian DePalma's film of Stephen King's novel about an unpopular high school girl with telekinetic powers. When subjected to a cruel prank by her peers, she unleashes her savage fury upon John Travolta, Nancy Allen, and Betty Buckley, as well as her mother, a religious fanatic played with relish by Piper Laurie. Available on DVD from MGM Home Video.

5. THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES (1971) and THEATRE OF BLOOD (1973) A tie between two great Vincent Price performances that showed that the old horror vet had a few tricks left up his sleeve. PHIBES co-stars Virginia North as Vulnavia, while TOB has an all-star supporting cast that includes Diana Rigg, Robert Morley, and Coral Browne. Campy fun, with some genuine shocks. Both films available on DVD from MGM Home Video.

6. THE BROOD (1979) Following a bitter divorce and custody battle, director David Cronenberg wrote and directed this psychological shocker about a woman whose rage manifests itself by her giving birth to malevolent dwarves who kill anyone she perceives to be a threat to her happiness. The reveal of her exo-womb is still mighty disturbing. Oliver Reed is her psychotherapist, Dr. Raglan, who inevitably dies badly at the hands of the title characters. With Art Hindle. Available on DVD from MGM Home Video.

7. SUSPIRIA (1977) Dario Argento's masterpiece, about a girl (Jessica Harper) who attends a ballet school that is actually a coven of evil witches. Doesn't always make sense, but always creepy and disturbing, with brilliant visual motifs and an unsettling score by the Goblins. The ending isn't the greatest, but everything leading up to it is unmitigated genius. Available in a three-disc collector's edition from Anchor Bay.

8. THE CRAZIES (1973) and DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978) George A. Romero made several good films in the decade between 1968's THE NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD and its sequel, DAWN OF THE DEAD. My favorite of these is THE CRAZIES, all about a Pennsylvania town infected with a virus courtesy of the US military. This by-product of germ warfare causes those exposed to it to die or go insane. The lucky ones die. The "crazies" go on a rampage, as the army attempts to "contain" them. DAWN OF THE DEAD works as a continuation of the original, and as a wicked satire of consumer culture, as it takes place in a mall. THE CRAZIES available on DVD from Blue Underground; DAWN OF THE DEAD from Starz/Anchor Bay.

9. THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (1974) Grainy, low-budget creepshow from director Tobe Hooper stills packs a wallop. Like PSYCHO before it, this film was inspired by real-life cannibal/serial killer Ed Gein, but instead of downplaying the gruesome details as in Hitchcock's film, THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE turns 'em up a notch or three. This film works better than its modern day remake for several reasons, chief among them Hooper's minimalist approach, which makes the horror all the more unsettling. With Gunnar Hansen as Leatherface, master of the chainsaw and lord of the dance. Available on DVD in a deluxe edition from Dark Sky Films.

10. THE NIGHT STALKER (1972) Darren McGavin stars as hardboiled reporter Carl Kolchak in this made-for-TV movie that inspired the series of the same name. Sure, there were other, better, more influential films that actually got a theatrical release you may consider more deserving of a spot in the Top Ten, but this movie scared the bejeezus out of me when I was a kid, and thus makes my very subjective list. Co-starring Ralph Meeker, Carol Lynley, Simon Oakland and Claude Akins, with Barry Atwater as the vampire. Directed by Dan Curtis from a script by Richard Matheson. Available on DVD from MGM home video, separately or as a two-fer with THE NIGHT STRANGLER.

Honorable Mention:

THE AMITYVILLE HORROR (1979) James Brolin, Margot Kidder, Rod Steiger.

BLACK CHRISTMAS (1974) Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea.

BURNT OFFERINGS (1976) Oliver Reed, Karen Black, Bette Davis. Directed by Dan Curtis.

COUNT YORGA, VAMPIRE (1971) Robert Quarry, Michael Murphy.

DON'T LOOK NOW (1975) Donald Sutherland, Julie Christie. Directed by Nicholas Roeg.

THE DUNWICH HORROR (1970) Dean Stockwell, Sandra Dee, Ed Begley.

THE FOG (1979) Jamie Lee Curtis, Janet Leigh, Hal Holbrook, Adrienne Barbeau. Directed by John Carpenter.

THE HILLS HAVE EYES (1977) Directed by Wes Craven.

IT'S ALIVE (1976): Directed by Larry Cohen.

LEMORA (1973): Cheryl "Rainbeaux" Smith, Leslie Gilb.

MARTIN (1978) Directed by Georg A. Romero.

THE OMEN (1976) Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, David Warner.

PHANTASM (1978) Michael Baldwin, Reggie Bannister.

SALEM'S LOT (1979) David Soul, James Mason. Directed by Tobe Hooper.

SCARS OF DRACULA (1970) Christopher Lee.

SISTERS (1976) Margot Kidder. Directed by Brian DePalma.

TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA (1971) Christopher Lee.

THE WICKER MAN (1975) Edward Woodward, Christopher Lee, Britt Ekland.