Happy Friday the 13th! That headline is pretty self-explanatory, isn’t it? Here we go!
Digestor: Ghoul
1. Black Christmas (1974)
A totally freaked out flick starring Lois Lane, the guy from that one movie, and the SCTV lady. Featuring the most disturbing phone calls since Longmont Potion Castle. Filmed in Canada by Canadians, so you know it delivers in the scares department.
2. Hell Night (1981)
Linda Blair of “Repossessed” fame stars with one of the lesser Van Pattons in this chilling tale of college mixers gone horribly wrong. Trapped in a house inhabited by catacomb-dwelling mutant psychopaths, our heroes must… wait a minute, this sounds REALLY familiar… Anyway, it’s underrated. Check it out!
3. A Nightmare on Elm St 2: Freddy’s Revenge (1985)
Freddy at his sleaziest, and the last time the character exhibited anything resembling menace. People will tell you it’s the gayest horror movie ever, and they are correct. It’s also the best (or at least a strong second) in the series.
4. Opera (1987)
Technically it’s a Giallo film, but you ding dongs ain’t gonna know the difference. Is there a difference? Probably not. Anyways, this thing is about a bunch of Italians being picked off by a pair of gloves, and it features some good eyeball horror, nice uses of heavy metal, and a score by Claudio Simonetti and Brian Eno. Mangia!
5. Night of the Hunter (1955)
This thing is more accurately described as a proto-slasher movie, but it’s got a lot of what made that genre so medio…uh, I mean great. Our story follows two lovable young scamps as they flee from their murderous step-dad after he kills their mom. I never finished it, but I assume our hero finally catches up with the two brats and gives them what they so richly deserve. Great cinematography!
Matt Harvey: Exhumed/Gruesome/A Million Other Fucking Things
1. Pieces (1982)
It’s a sort of updated Frankenstein with a nice genital-shredding at the end. The poster is also one of my favorite pieces of horror art.
2. Tenebrae (1982)
Pretty much the prototypical Giallo movie. Leather gloves, shiny knives and wonderful direction/cinematography.
3. New York Ripper (1982)
My favorite horror director, Lucio Fulci’s foray into the slasher subgenre, he adds a typical Italian layer of sleaze and gore to the proceedings. Grimy and nasty stuff.
4. Halloween (1978)
This is pretty much the ultimate slasher flick with the best theme music ever. And Donald Pleasance.
5. Psycho (1960)
Slasher horror as cinematic high art, while the brilliant soundtrack by Bernard Hermann hits all the right, ear-splitting notes. Hitchcock can’t help but elevate the gory subject matter to something transcendent.
Luigi Taroni: Arcana 13
1. Profondo Rosso (1975), Dario Argento
Quintessential masterpiece, the godfather of all slasher movies, the Dario Argento’s classic is simply amazing on every detail. From the direction to the soundtrack by legendary Goblin everything contributes to build up tension, suspense and fear. Unforgettable.
2. Suspiria (1977), Dario Argento
Dario Argento proves himself master of colors on this one. Suspiria is freaking scary from start to finish, you have to watch it with only one eye open, because the threat is there each and every moment. We homage-d this incredible movie with a cover of it’s unforgettable theme in our Italian horror-inspired debut album “Danza Macabra.”
3. The Beyond (1981), Lucio Fulci
“Woe be unto him who opens one of the seven gateways to Hell!” Cult movie by director Lucio Fulci it takes place in a Louisiana hotel where one of the seven doors to hell is set. Fulci was so inspired and visionary on this flick and never lets the viewer take a breath. Considered by many his masterpiece, we absolutely agree with that, to the point we wrote our song “Blackmaster” onto it! Gouge out the eyes, Lucio!
4. Buio Omega (1979), Joe D’Amato (Aristide Massaccesi)
Probably the most disturbing Italian slasher of all times, definitely not to watch after you had your meal. You won’t find an Italian horror more splatter than this one, plus it’s seasoned with a beautiful Goblin’s soundtrack.
5. Inferno (1980), Dario Argento
This movie is simply majestic on so many levels and one of our personal favorite of all time, such a supernatural horror classic. Not many know that Argento got very sick with hepatitis while shooting and invited his mentor, the legendary Mario Bava, to step over and help him with some scenes like unforgettable the underwater ballroom one and also some optical effects.
