ROTTEN TOMATOES: RT Top 20 Halloween Movie Countdown, Part Three

RT Top 20 Halloween Movie Countdown, Part Three

by RT Staff | October 30, 2006

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.""

Related Items

Celeb:	James Gunn
	M. Night Shyamalan
	E. Elias Merhige
	Daniel Myrick
	Eduardo Sanchez
	William Friedkin
Movie:	Slither
	Shadow of the Vampire
	The Exorcist: The Version You've Never Seen
	The Sixth Sense
	The Blair Witch Project

(1-11 of 11 posts) | Reply

NoirZombi writes:
on Oct 30 2006 03:14 PM

Not bad, but if we were to really pick the greatest horror movies ever made, would we leave it up to critical opinion?

(Reply to this)

cardow writes:
on Oct 30 2006 03:52 PM

getting better each day, but still a little weak.

I mean, I liked Slither alot, but top 10 of all time?

(Reply to this)

egraLeD writes:
on Oct 30 2006 04:51 PM

i think that the descent must stay on top 10, because have more votes than slither, shadow of the vampire and the sixth sense, with the same fresh percent.

a preview for the top 5:

5 - a tale of two sisters
4 - ginger snaps
3 - shaun of the dead
2 - devil�s backbone
1 - apocalypse now redux

(Reply to this)

mikeyh writes:
on Oct 30 2006 07:23 PM

There is actually 45 movies listed above "The Excorcist" on RT top Horror/Suspense list (as seen here - href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/top/bestofrt_genre.php?category=200258">here.

I am curious to see the top 5 they choose. I will go with..

5-The Fly
4-The Shinning
3-Alien
2-The Evil Dead
1-Apocalypse Now

(Reply to this)

longhorn_22 writes:
on Oct 30 2006 11:08 PM

For Christ's sake people. Get it through your feeble minds. This is a HALLOWEEN countdown. Not a God damn top horror films of all time list.

(Reply to this)

mikewl writes:
on Oct 31 2006 12:29 AM

Fortunately, I think there will be one or two old classics in the top five, if RT is following the criteria it set. With "Psycho" listed as horror/suspense and receiving 98% fresh out of 54 reviews, it should be No. 1 or No. 2, and well-deserved I think. What is disappointing is that RT couldn't see fit to give some obviously great older movies a pass - for example, the original "King Kong" has a 100% percent fresh rating, but has 39 reviews, one short to make the list. I think exceptions should be made.

(Reply to this)

Lizard Brain writes:
on Oct 31 2006 02:54 AM

[b]A list without...[/b]
"The Thing" (1982) isn't much of a horror list. They have five spots left to put it in. We'll see...

(Reply to this)

sfcapps writes:
on Oct 31 2006 05:53 AM

In reply to this comment (#847681)
[b]Really?[/b]
Ummm...
"We searched the site for the top 20 horror/suspense movies. . . "

Please be more careful before insulting people.

(Reply to this)

insanemansam5 writes:
on Oct 31 2006 06:20 AM

I like apocalypse now as much as anybody but I never really thought of it as a horror flick; and can't believe you guys all think Hitchcock is going to be entirely slighted he better have atleast one entry today

(Reply to this)

Prog5000 writes:
on Oct 31 2006 07:56 AM

Stop complaining about whats on the list.

**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."""

(Reply to this)

unbreakable_samurai writes:
on Oct 31 2006 11:21 AM

The Sixth Sense is an awsome movie.

(Reply to this)