Only a day to go in our countdown of the Top 20 Halloween movies on RT — do you know which scary movies broke the top 10 of our best-reviewed horror/suspense flicks?
Author: Christina Troup
We searched the site for the top 20 horror/suspense movies to reveal the numero uno cinematic scare just in time for a frightful Halloween film fest.**
Remember, check in every day ’til October 31 as we serve up the best reviewed frightening flicks for your Halloween viewing pleasure!
Oh, and be afraid. Be very afraid.
Top Horror/Suspense Films by Tomatometer, #10-6
10) Slither (2006) 83%
Ever wonder what would happen if a Troma film was allotted more dough to improve upon special effects and a lackluster script? Well, thanks to "Slither," a deliciously disgusting schlock fest, there’s no need to think about it any further. Director James Gunn of "Tromeo and Juliet" fame shows just what can happen with the help of some mainstream moo-lah. Don’t get the wrong idea, though. "Slither" isn’t some refined horror masterpiece: It retains low-budget camp and plenty of supreme gross out moments to satisfy even the most lowbrow of tastes.
Starring: Elizabeth Banks, Nathan Fillion
Directed by: James Gunn
9) The Shadow of the Vampire (2000) 83%
A real life vampire, or just an odd duck? That’s the question in "Shadow of Vampire," which asks whether or not German director F. W. Murnau hired a real life creature of the night to play the role of Graf Orlok in "Nosferatu." It’s an inviting premise, and the film takes the vampire flick to a whole new level with moments of genuine macabre humor. Of course, it helps that there’s plenty of bite from both Willem Dafoe and John Malkovich in this highly original and smart take on the genre.
Starring: John Malkovich, Willem Dafoe
Directed by: E. Elias Merhige
8) The Sixth Sense (1999) 83%
The one-two punch at the end of "The Sixth Sense" ensures that M. Night Shyamalan’s tale of a boy who can see dead people will be remembered as a classic. The scares induce shivers, but not without good reason. The quiet intensity and chilling mood of "The Sixth Sense" is what makes it such a memorable ghost story even after multiple viewings.
Starring: Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment, Toni Collette
Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan
7) The Blair Witch Project (1999) 84%
There’s something to be said about a monster that never manifests on screen. It leaves an audience to their own devices and what the mind is capable of conjuring is often far more frightening than what any special effects team can create. "The Blair Witch Project" is a perfect illustration that less is indeed more. The ambiguously abrupt ending, the lack of explanation, and the confusion between fact and fiction result in a barrage of questions that do a number on the psyche.
Starring: Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, Michael C. Williams
Directed by: Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sanchez
6) The Exorcist: The Version You’ve Never Seen (2000) 88%
The upside-down spider crawl may last a mere five seconds, but it’s perhaps the creepiest of segments added to the revamped version of the demonic classic "The Exorcist." Director William Friedkin initially omitted the scene because it was "too much" and, well, don’t be surprised if the disturbingly memorable spider walk induces night terrors. With or without the addition of unreleased footage, "The Exorcist" stands the test of time as one of the scariest movies ever. And, lest we forget, it forever changed the way folks looked at a cup of creamy pea soup.
Starring: Linda Blair, Jason Miller, Ellen Burstyn
Directed by: William Friedkin
Tune in on Tuesday — Halloween! — for the last installment of our four-day countdown to Halloween’s #1 rated horror flick!
Click here for Part One of the Countdown (#20-16)
Click here for Part Two of the Countdown (#15-11)
**These are our top-Tomatometer picks with at least 40 reviews counted, which is why some of the classics of spooky cinema aren’t included.""
