FFA Top 200 Horror Movies of All Time: #18 - Saw (17 Viewers)

[Todem]

#111 - The Fog

I didn't watch this until maybe the late 90's. I love Carpenter but didn't love this one. I remember it seeming very cheesy, was the woman on the radio giving up to the minute updates on how close the fog was? Maybe I need to give it another watch.

It’s a really cool ghost story. The music is so important.

And John Houseman really sets it all up literally in the opening 5 minutes telling the fateful story of the Elizabeth Dane.

Love this movie. Saw it when I was 10 and it still holds up today.

Father Malone…..classic Hal Holbrook character.

Janet Leigh in one of her later roles.

The lady killer Tom Atkins as Nick Castle (little easter egg for Halloween fans).

Jamie Lee Curtis in her scream queen prime.

Sheriff Bracket ( Charles Cyphers) becomes a smooth talking Weatherman in this Carpenter flick.

Cult Classic.

 

[UncleZen]

#116 - Friday the 13th Part 2​

Five years after the horrible bloodbath at Camp Crystal Lake, it seems Jason Voorhees and his demented mother are in the past. Paul opens up a new camp close to the infamous site, ignoring warnings to stay away, and a sexually-charged group of counselors follow -- including child psychologist major Ginny. But Jason has been hiding out all this time, and now he's ready for revenge.

Steve Miner
1981
Slasher
USA

IMDB: 61
Metacritic: 26
RottenTomatoes: 34

Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mNnJuOoI80

Streaming:
https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/friday-the-13th-part-2

Voter Ranks
Scoresman 42
UncleZen 9

In the 80s movie thread, I made way too long a post arguing why Part 2 is superior to the original and might be the best of the series, so this is the sole entry representing Friday the 13th on my own list. Jason;s murder shack, smarter final girl culminating in a better final chase, and more clever kills,

I still like the 1st one better but it's close. I almost lost interest in all of them but 1 that appeared much later in the series.

 

[UncleZen]

#113 - Terrifier​

On Halloween night, a young woman finds herself as the obsession of a sadistic murderer known as Art the Clown.

Damien Leone
2017
Extreme, Slasher
USA

IMDB: 56
Metacritic: NA
RottenTomatoes: 67

Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fN5j1MtGO2Q

Streaming:
https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/terrifier

Voter Ranks
BroncoFreak_2k3 51
jamny 30
UncleZen 43

I didn't list either but somewhat surprised that the original ranked higher than the sequel, given the hype machine the sequel had for being so good on a small budget. IIRC, it was the lowest budget movie - horror or otherwise - to crack the weekly Top 10 at the box office in over a decade (COVID era notwithstanding).

I had the sequel one spot ahead of the original. The original was so unique to me that it ranks right up there with the second one, even though the sequel really kicks it up a notch. Art the Clown is the best slasher character to come out since Freddy, imo.

I voted only for the 1st one because it was original. I did like the 2nd one too but bonus points are awarded to the the 1st in almost any series. I do think I ranked the sequel on one franchise higher than the original.

 

[WVU Alum]

#111 - The Fog

I didn't watch this until maybe the late 90's. I love Carpenter but didn't love this one. I remember it seeming very cheesy, was the woman on the radio giving up to the minute updates on how close the fog was? Maybe I need to give it another watch.

The woman on the radio was Carpenter’s wife at the time.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Through #127 (Frailty) here are my stats:

• Never Heard Of: 60
• Never Seen but heard of: 24
• Seen: 9

ETA: Listed the 9 I have seen

• Childs Play
• I Know What.... (I think I have seen the whole thing but I have seen enough to say I have for sure)
• Terminator
• Children of the Corn
• Young Frankenstein (still not horror to me)
• Predator
• I Am Legend
• Terminator 2
• Black Swan

So you have seen 5 horror movies so far!!

 

[Todem]

Through #127 (Frailty) here are my stats:

• Never Heard Of: 60
• Never Seen but heard of: 24
• Seen: 9

ETA: Listed the 9 I have seen

• Childs Play
• I Know What.... (I think I have seen the whole thing but I have seen enough to say I have for sure)
• Terminator
• Children of the Corn
• Young Frankenstein (still not horror to me)
• Predator
• I Am Legend
• Terminator 2
• Black Swan

So you have seen 5 horror movies so far!!

@Gally you have a lot of catching up to do!!!

 

[dickey moe]

#110 - Freaks​

A circus' beautiful trapeze artist agrees to marry the leader of side-show performers, but his deformed friends discover she is only marrying him for his inheritance.

Tod Browning
1932
Thriller, B/W
USA

IMDB: 79
Metacritic: NA
RottenTomatoes: 94

Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJVXTKkjsxA

Streaming:
https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/freaks

Voter Ranks
dickey dad 65
dickey moe 13
jamny 34

Just missed my list

Same. It’s creepy and a one of a kind but the studio destroyed it. The ending is awful, I wish they were able to restore the proper ending. It desperately needs the directors cut but it seems like it simply doesn’t exist.

What was the original ending supposed to be?

 

[KarmaPolice]

The podcast I recommended has a fun series this year: Nature Bites Back.

 

[zamboni]

#110 - Freaks​

A circus' beautiful trapeze artist agrees to marry the leader of side-show performers, but his deformed friends discover she is only marrying him for his inheritance.

Tod Browning
1932
Thriller, B/W
USA

IMDB: 79
Metacritic: NA
RottenTomatoes: 94

Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJVXTKkjsxA

Streaming:
https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/freaks

Voter Ranks
dickey dad 65
dickey moe 13
jamny 34

Just missed my list

Same. It’s creepy and a one of a kind but the studio destroyed it. The ending is awful, I wish they were able to restore the proper ending. It desperately needs the directors cut but it seems like it simply doesn’t exist.

What was the original ending supposed to be?

Pretty good discussion here

 

[Ilov80s]

#110 - Freaks​

A circus' beautiful trapeze artist agrees to marry the leader of side-show performers, but his deformed friends discover she is only marrying him for his inheritance.

Tod Browning
1932
Thriller, B/W
USA

IMDB: 79
Metacritic: NA
RottenTomatoes: 94

Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJVXTKkjsxA

Streaming:
https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/freaks

Voter Ranks
dickey dad 65
dickey moe 13
jamny 34

Just missed my list

Same. It’s creepy and a one of a kind but the studio destroyed it. The ending is awful, I wish they were able to restore the proper ending. It desperately needs the directors cut but it seems like it simply doesn’t exist.

What was the original ending supposed to be?

Pretty good discussion here

That link surely explains it better but here’s what wiki has

the studio cut the picture down from its original 90-minute running time to just over an hour.[51] Much of the sequence of the circus entertainers attacking Cleopatra as she lies under a lightning-struck tree was removed, as well as a sequence showing Hercules being castrated and made into a castrato, a number of comedy sequences, and most of the film's original epilogue, which included Hercules singing in a falsetto (a reference to his castration) with Cleopatra quacking along.[49][52][53] These excised sequences are considered lost.[

 

[Gally]

Through #127 (Frailty) here are my stats:

• Never Heard Of: 60
• Never Seen but heard of: 24
• Seen: 9

ETA: Listed the 9 I have seen

• Childs Play
• I Know What.... (I think I have seen the whole thing but I have seen enough to say I have for sure)
• Terminator
• Children of the Corn
• Young Frankenstein (still not horror to me)
• Predator
• I Am Legend
• Terminator 2
• Black Swan

So you have seen 5 horror movies so far!!

@Gally you have a lot of catching up to do!!!

Yes i do.

 

[dickey moe]

#110 - Freaks​

A circus' beautiful trapeze artist agrees to marry the leader of side-show performers, but his deformed friends discover she is only marrying him for his inheritance.

Tod Browning
1932
Thriller, B/W
USA

IMDB: 79
Metacritic: NA
RottenTomatoes: 94

Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJVXTKkjsxA

Streaming:
https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/freaks

Voter Ranks
dickey dad 65
dickey moe 13
jamny 34

Just missed my list

Same. It’s creepy and a one of a kind but the studio destroyed it. The ending is awful, I wish they were able to restore the proper ending. It desperately needs the directors cut but it seems like it simply doesn’t exist.

What was the original ending supposed to be?

Pretty good discussion here

That link surely explains it better but here’s what wiki has

the studio cut the picture down from its original 90-minute running time to just over an hour.[51] Much of the sequence of the circus entertainers attacking Cleopatra as she lies under a lightning-struck tree was removed, as well as a sequence showing Hercules being castrated and made into a castrato, a number of comedy sequences, and most of the film's original epilogue, which included Hercules singing in a falsetto (a reference to his castration) with Cleopatra quacking along.[49][52][53] These excised sequences are considered lost.[

I knew they had cut out a lot but I wasn't aware of all of the different versions of the ending. Seems like there is a version where Cleopatra doesn't end up as the quacking freak, a version where she does, and an even more gruesome version where she does?

 

[Ilov80s]

#110 - Freaks​

A circus' beautiful trapeze artist agrees to marry the leader of side-show performers, but his deformed friends discover she is only marrying him for his inheritance.

Tod Browning
1932
Thriller, B/W
USA

IMDB: 79
Metacritic: NA
RottenTomatoes: 94

Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJVXTKkjsxA

Streaming:
https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/freaks

Voter Ranks
dickey dad 65
dickey moe 13
jamny 34

Just missed my list

Same. It’s creepy and a one of a kind but the studio destroyed it. The ending is awful, I wish they were able to restore the proper ending. It desperately needs the directors cut but it seems like it simply doesn’t exist.

What was the original ending supposed to be?

Pretty good discussion here

That link surely explains it better but here’s what wiki has

the studio cut the picture down from its original 90-minute running time to just over an hour.[51] Much of the sequence of the circus entertainers attacking Cleopatra as she lies under a lightning-struck tree was removed, as well as a sequence showing Hercules being castrated and made into a castrato, a number of comedy sequences, and most of the film's original epilogue, which included Hercules singing in a falsetto (a reference to his castration) with Cleopatra quacking along.[49][52][53] These excised sequences are considered lost.[

I knew they had cut out a lot but I wasn't aware of all of the different versions of the ending. Seems like there is a version where Cleopatra doesn't end up as the quacking freak, a version where she does, and an even more gruesome version where she does?

The Criterion has a few different endings but they are all far too tame imo and focus on the romantic resolution

 

[zamboni]

#110 - Freaks​

A circus' beautiful trapeze artist agrees to marry the leader of side-show performers, but his deformed friends discover she is only marrying him for his inheritance.

Tod Browning
1932
Thriller, B/W
USA

IMDB: 79
Metacritic: NA
RottenTomatoes: 94

Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJVXTKkjsxA

Streaming:
https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/freaks

Voter Ranks
dickey dad 65
dickey moe 13
jamny 34

Just missed my list

Same. It’s creepy and a one of a kind but the studio destroyed it. The ending is awful, I wish they were able to restore the proper ending. It desperately needs the directors cut but it seems like it simply doesn’t exist.

What was the original ending supposed to be?

Pretty good discussion here

That link surely explains it better but here’s what wiki has

the studio cut the picture down from its original 90-minute running time to just over an hour.[51] Much of the sequence of the circus entertainers attacking Cleopatra as she lies under a lightning-struck tree was removed, as well as a sequence showing Hercules being castrated and made into a castrato, a number of comedy sequences, and most of the film's original epilogue, which included Hercules singing in a falsetto (a reference to his castration) with Cleopatra quacking along.[49][52][53] These excised sequences are considered lost.[

I knew they had cut out a lot but I wasn't aware of all of the different versions of the ending. Seems like there is a version where Cleopatra doesn't end up as the quacking freak, a version where she does, and an even more gruesome version where she does?

Yeah, I heard there were a few different endings, but seems like they all perished with Tod Browning or whoever owned the rights.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

Once again, there is absolutely no good reason why a film made in the 1930s should still be copyrighted. Tod Browning is not responding to whatever incentives we are trying to create here.

 

[Scoresman]

#108 - Gremlins​

When Billy Peltzer is given a strange but adorable pet named Gizmo for Christmas, he inadvertently breaks the three important rules of caring for a Mogwai, and unleashes a horde of mischievous gremlins on a small town.

Joe Dante
1984
Small-Creatures, Comedy
USA

IMDB: 73
Metacritic: 70
RottenTomatoes: 85

Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBEVwaJEgaA

Streaming:
https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/gremlins-1

Voter Ranks
BroncoFreak_2k3 48
ilov80s 54
The Gator 65
Yambag 28

 

[zamboni]

Once again, there is absolutely no good reason why a film made in the 1930s should still be copyrighted. Tod Browning is not responding to whatever incentives we are trying to create here.

I don’t think the FFA is asking too much to see some good old fashioned 1930s-style castration and maiming on film.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

Once again, there is absolutely no good reason why a film made in the 1930s should still be copyrighted. Tod Browning is not responding to whatever incentives we are trying to create here.

I don’t think the FFA is asking too much to see some good old fashioned 1930s-style castration and maiming on film.

It's like we lost a war or something.

 

[Scoresman]

#107 - They Live​

They influence our decisions without us knowing it. They numb our senses without us feeling it. They control our lives without us realizing it. They live.

John Carpenter
1988
Sci-Fi, Action
USA

IMDB: 73
Metacritic: 54
RottenTomatoes: 83

Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJC4R1uXDaE

Streaming:
https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/they-live

Voter Ranks
IvanKaramazov 74
jamny 32
Scoresman 70
shuke 34
WVU Alum 60

 

[zamboni]

#108 - Gremlins​

When Billy Peltzer is given a strange but adorable pet named Gizmo for Christmas, he inadvertently breaks the three important rules of caring for a Mogwai, and unleashes a horde of mischievous gremlins on a small town.

Joe Dante
1984
Small-Creatures, Comedy
USA

IMDB: 73
Metacritic: 70
RottenTomatoes: 85

Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBEVwaJEgaA

Streaming:
https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/gremlins-1

Voter Ranks
BroncoFreak_2k3 48
ilov80s 54
The Gator 65
Yambag 28

Supposedly there’s a lost scene here where Phoebe Cates, while on a diving board, flashes and says “Hi, Gizmo”.

 

[Joe Schmo]

#107 - They Live​

They influence our decisions without us knowing it. They numb our senses without us feeling it. They control our lives without us realizing it. They live.

John Carpenter
1988
Sci-Fi, Action
USA

IMDB: 73
Metacritic: 54
RottenTomatoes: 83

Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJC4R1uXDaE

Streaming:
https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/they-live

Voter Ranks
IvanKaramazov 74
jamny 32
Scoresman 70
shuke 34
WVU Alum 60

Another fun movie. The fact the Rowdy Roddy Piper, my favorite wrestler of all time, was the lead makes this a perfect John Carpenter 80's classic, imo.

 

[Scoresman]

#106 - Goodnight Mommy​

When twin brothers arrive home to find their mother's demeanor altered and face covered in surgical bandages, they begin to suspect the woman beneath the gauze might not be their mother.

Severin Fialoa
2015
Psychological
USA

IMDB: 67
Metacritic: 81
RottenTomatoes: 86

Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCjApb9EDcg

Streaming:
https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/goodnight-mommy

Voter Ranks
Keith R 29
Scoresman 12

 

[IvanKaramazov]

#107 - They Live​

They influence our decisions without us knowing it. They numb our senses without us feeling it. They control our lives without us realizing it. They live.

John Carpenter
1988
Sci-Fi, Action
USA

IMDB: 73
Metacritic: 54
RottenTomatoes: 83

Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJC4R1uXDaE

Streaming:
https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/they-live

Voter Ranks
IvanKaramazov 74
jamny 32
Scoresman 70
shuke 34
WVU Alum 60

Is this our first five-lister?

 

[Scoresman]

#106 - Goodnight Mommy​

When twin brothers arrive home to find their mother's demeanor altered and face covered in surgical bandages, they begin to suspect the woman beneath the gauze might not be their mother.

Severin Fialoa
2015
Psychological
USA

IMDB: 67
Metacritic: 81
RottenTomatoes: 86

Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCjApb9EDcg

Streaming:
https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/goodnight-mommy

Voter Ranks
Keith R 29
Scoresman 12

This is a hidden gem that I feel a lot of you will love. This is another that left me a bit shook after watching. Just please, for the love of god, this is one where you have to watch the international original, not the American remake. And go in as blind as you can.

 

[Scoresman]

#107 - They Live​

They influence our decisions without us knowing it. They numb our senses without us feeling it. They control our lives without us realizing it. They live.

John Carpenter
1988
Sci-Fi, Action
USA

IMDB: 73
Metacritic: 54
RottenTomatoes: 83

Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJC4R1uXDaE

Streaming:
https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/they-live

Voter Ranks
IvanKaramazov 74
jamny 32
Scoresman 70
shuke 34
WVU Alum 60

Is this our first five-lister?

It is!

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I too am all out of bubblegum.

 

[Scoresman]

Up Next: Probably the one movie I left in that I came the closest to vetoing as not horror. I still think I should have. @Dan Lambskin get ready.

It's also probably the highest critically rated movie we've had so far.

 

[Joe Schmo]

Pinnochio?
A Muppets Christmas?
Showgirls?

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I'll guess Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

 

[KarmaPolice]

 

[IvanKaramazov]

I'll guess Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

That's actually a pretty darn good guess. I could see someone listing that.

 

[WVU Alum]

Spice World?

 

[Joe Schmo]

I'll guess Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

That's a pretty dang good guess! Willie sent off the sardonic creep vibe to the enth.

 

[zamboni]

Teen Wolf

 

[Dan Lambskin]

#107 - They Live​

They influence our decisions without us knowing it. They numb our senses without us feeling it. They control our lives without us realizing it. They live.

John Carpenter
1988
Sci-Fi, Action
USA

IMDB: 73
Metacritic: 54
RottenTomatoes: 83

Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJC4R1uXDaE

Streaming:
https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/they-live

Voter Ranks
IvanKaramazov 74
jamny 32
Scoresman 70
shuke 34
WVU Alum 60

Great movie. Not horror

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Teen Wolf

I will riot

 

[Scoresman]

I'll guess Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

X​

Although in some ways, Willy Wonka could be argued more of a horror movie than the one I left on.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Little mermaid - demonic, body horror

 

[Gally]

Up Next: Probably the one movie I left in that I came the closest to vetoing as not horror. I still think I should have. @Dan Lambskin get ready.

It's also probably the highest critically rated movie we've had so far.

Slumdog Millionaire?

 

[Gally]

Teen Wolf

I will riot

But it has a werewolf so it has to be horror

 

[Scoresman]

#105 - Rear Window​

A self-isolated man makes a terrifying discovery at his rear window.

Alfred Hitchcock
1954
Thriller
USA

IMDB: 85
Metacritic: 100
RottenTomatoes: 100

Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m01YktiEZCw

Streaming:
https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/alfred-hitchcocks-rear-window

Voter Ranks
UncleZen 6
WVU Alum 35

 

[Scoresman]

I'll let @UncleZen and @WVU Alum defend this one.

 

[The Gator]

Teen Wolf

I will riot

 

[KarmaPolice]

Rear Window would make it into my horror section long before They Live, T2, Predator, or Young Frankenstein would.

 

[Scoresman]

Rear Window would make it into my horror section long before They Live, T2, Predator, or Young Frankenstein would.

This is nuts to me. The only one I really get is T2.

 

[Joe Schmo]

Yeah, I'm with Lambskin on this one, Rear Window is NOT horror.

 

[Keith R]

#107 - They Live​

They influence our decisions without us knowing it. They numb our senses without us feeling it. They control our lives without us realizing it. They live.

John Carpenter
1988
Sci-Fi, Action
USA

IMDB: 73
Metacritic: 54
RottenTomatoes: 83

Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJC4R1uXDaE

Streaming:
https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/they-live

Voter Ranks
IvanKaramazov 74
jamny 32
Scoresman 70
shuke 34
WVU Alum 60

This is such a fun movie. I didn't consider it for the horror list, but I can see how it fits. Prime John Carpenter and a surprisingly stellar performance from Rowdy Roddy Piper in the lead role

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Rear Window? Horror, no. Thriller, yes.

And absolute peak Grace Kelly.


I think Jeff's straight leg in a cast is a Hitchcockian visual metaphor.

 

[Keith R]

#106 - Goodnight Mommy​

When twin brothers arrive home to find their mother's demeanor altered and face covered in surgical bandages, they begin to suspect the woman beneath the gauze might not be their mother.

Severin Fialoa
2015
Psychological
USA

IMDB: 67
Metacritic: 81
RottenTomatoes: 86

Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCjApb9EDcg

Streaming:
https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/goodnight-mommy

Voter Ranks
Keith R 29
Scoresman 12

This is a hidden gem that I feel a lot of you will love. This is another that left me a bit shook after watching. Just please, for the love of god, this is one where you have to watch the international original, not the American remake. And go in as blind as you can.

Second that, watch the original, NOT the American remake. I also agree with going in blind, so I will refrain from describing anything. Just see it

 

[Scoresman]

Yeah, I'm with Lambskin on this one, Rear Window is NOT horror.

He hasn't even posted about it yet.