I think the reason why Lynch is so effective for me as a "horror" filmmaker is that he delivers on the dread and awful, disassociative moments that are a large part of what I love about horror but that straight horror films so often fail to deliver.
― Bob Bop Perano (Deric W. Haircare), Thursday, 17 May 2012 15:30 (twelve years ago) link
a real-life chick looking like a cross b/w a younger Madonna and a old-timey mutton-chop-whiskered baseball player would scare the living shit outta me, that's for true.
― Boris Kutyurkokhov (Eisbaer), Thursday, 17 May 2012 15:31 (twelve years ago) link
re: david lynch, it's kind of inevitable that he'll be all over this thing since he is one of our greatest living directors and he is preternaturally good as creating atmospheres of total terror. plus some of his films wouldn't place in any other genre poll.
I don't classify him as horror generally, tho I did vote for eraserhead, partly because I grew up reading about it in books about horror films. at the time I think a lot of his fanbase were horror fans. and it is a waking nightmare after all.
― diamanda ram dass (Edward III), Thursday, 17 May 2012 15:31 (twelve years ago) link
yeah lynch does dread, unease, dream-logic, terror in the face of awe, despair, and even shocks too well for me not to consider him a horror director.
― jesus christ (strongo hulkington's ghost dad), Thursday, 17 May 2012 15:32 (twelve years ago) link
I think the ambiguity of Hanging Rock in a way is what makes it horror (though admittedly of a ruminative sort). The lack of resolution, all of the things implied but unsaid. I didn't have any problem including it on my list.
― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Thursday, 17 May 2012 15:33 (twelve years ago) link
Like, Lynch makes horror films for adults.
(Countdown to villagerswithpitchforks.jpg in 3...2...)
― Bob Bop Perano (Deric W. Haircare), Thursday, 17 May 2012 15:33 (twelve years ago) link
I was thinking about this yesterday because of witchfinder general actually - I'm not sure what exactly makes it a horror film, but I can't see it getting traction in any other poll, so why not?
― diamanda ram dass (Edward III), Thursday, 17 May 2012 15:34 (twelve years ago) link
David Lynch often draws upon a similar old-school expressionist visual style that a lot of (old-school) horror films also draw up. that's not conclusive proof of Lynch being a horror film-maker (lest we think that john ford's the informer and woody allen's shadows and fog are also LOL horror films) but it does lend itself to seeing Lynch as using horror-film elements in his films.
― Boris Kutyurkokhov (Eisbaer), Thursday, 17 May 2012 15:35 (twelve years ago) link
Basically I'm feeling jjusten on this one. There is a feeling to me that Lynch on here (multiple times, especially) takes space from "real" horror films (even though that's a can of worms I can barely imagine containing) rather than films containing horror moments. Can films be horror films by sort-of accident? Open question.
― The Thnig, Thursday, 17 May 2012 15:35 (twelve years ago) link
also, i consider eraserhead and blue velvet to be as much comedy films as horror films ... so blah blah blah.
― Boris Kutyurkokhov (Eisbaer), Thursday, 17 May 2012 15:36 (twelve years ago) link
That might be a fun list: "Horror Films That Weren't Intended as Horror Films." (Potential nominee: The Garbage Pail Kids Movie.)
― The Thnig, Thursday, 17 May 2012 15:38 (twelve years ago) link
i mean i'd argue carpenter, hooper, romero, craven, cronenberg, maybe even polanski and kubricks more central to modern horror-as-horror, but at the same time i dunno where else i'd slot lynch.
― jesus christ (strongo hulkington's ghost dad), Thursday, 17 May 2012 15:38 (twelve years ago) link
several films yet to place are unquestionably comedy and horror
― diamanda ram dass (Edward III), Thursday, 17 May 2012 15:38 (twelve years ago) link
eraserhead is one of the few movies I've seen that delivers oodles of heebie-jeebies and actual hair-standing-on-end sensations.
I didn't vote straight "movies that frighten or terrify" but that was definitely a factor, because there have been so few that have successfully affected me this way
eraserhead also delivers laughs (I think intentionally) but that doesn't disqualify it for me
― He's sick of the Swiss. He don't like em. (Austerity Ponies), Thursday, 17 May 2012 15:39 (twelve years ago) link
delivering laughs is a non-issue for me, some of the best horror movies of the 80s were also comedies
― diamanda ram dass (Edward III), Thursday, 17 May 2012 15:40 (twelve years ago) link
Sybil!http://www.caringforourchildrenfoundation.org/wp-content/plugins/rss-poster/cache/0d815_article-2049789-0E66491200000578-56_468x286.jpg
― game of crones (La Lechera), Thursday, 17 May 2012 15:41 (twelve years ago) link
I just want to put in an early fingers-crossed for Let's Scare Jessica to Death. Surely we can all agree on that, right?
I guess I've said it so many times that I shouldn't continue hitting my head against this wall, but the next time someone suggests Eraserhead is not a horror film I'm gonna scream and scream until I'm sick.
I think the ambiguity of Hanging Rock in a way is what makes it horror (though admittedly of a ruminative sort). The lack of resolution, all of the things implied but unsaid.
I totally agree with this, but I'm still unsure about whether it is *enough* to make it fully-fledged as a horror.
― emil.y, Thursday, 17 May 2012 15:44 (twelve years ago) link
picnic was my number 2. can obv see how many wouldn't consider it horror but for me 'uncanny' and 'weird' are up there with 'terror' and 'horror' as what i want from a horror film. once i'd decided to consider it a horror i had to place it high. xp. i voted jessica, i can't see it not placing either. zohra lampert is fascinating in it.
― second only to popcorn (or something), Thursday, 17 May 2012 15:50 (twelve years ago) link
"Between three to five CHILLING tales, each more BONE-DRYING and EYE-PRESENTING than the last!"
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5236/7211432976_22370b1e42_o.jpg
82. KWAIDANShigeru Wakatsuki, Japan, 1964(224 points, 6 votes, 1 first-place vote)
Not a big Kwaidan fan. Lovely but rather inert, imo.― yuppie bullshit chocolate blogbait (contenderizer), Thursday, April 19, 2012 2:09 PM (4 weeks ago)Takemitsu's score for Kwaidan is the only soundtrack that is, to me, genuinely scary in the context — especially during "The Black Hair" segment when all sound drops out but the music.― Daruton, Wednesday, December 2, 2009 6:24 PM (2 years ago)
Takemitsu's score for Kwaidan is the only soundtrack that is, to me, genuinely scary in the context — especially during "The Black Hair" segment when all sound drops out but the music.― Daruton, Wednesday, December 2, 2009 6:24 PM (2 years ago)
― Count-Dracula-Down (Eric H.), Thursday, 17 May 2012 15:52 (twelve years ago) link
there are enough oddities popping up in the list that I still hold out hope for jessica and some other offbeat picks
not a big kwaidan fan. it's not bad but the appeal was lost on me.
― diamanda ram dass (Edward III), Thursday, 17 May 2012 15:54 (twelve years ago) link
would've liked to see onibaba place above kwaidan but apparently it doesn't have a very high profile considering some of the responses when it did place
― diamanda ram dass (Edward III), Thursday, 17 May 2012 15:56 (twelve years ago) link
yay i picked kwaidan -- placed it high on my ballot, too.
― Boris Kutyurkokhov (Eisbaer), Thursday, 17 May 2012 15:56 (twelve years ago) link
gah. OK FINE I WILL SEE KWAIDAN TOO
― He's sick of the Swiss. He don't like em. (Austerity Ponies), Thursday, 17 May 2012 15:58 (twelve years ago) link
i like lets scare jessica a lot but i am not so sure its going to place
― O_o-O_0-o_O (jjjusten), Thursday, 17 May 2012 15:58 (twelve years ago) link
By the by, I've always described I Can See You (Graham Reznick, 2008) as "Blair Witch directed by David Lynch" so that film might be of interest to some of you. xpost
― The Thnig, Thursday, 17 May 2012 15:59 (twelve years ago) link
a certain poster here will retch, but "the woman in the snow" portion of kwaidan works in a similar way to hausu (e.g., the almost exaggeratedly artificial backgrounds and colors).
― Boris Kutyurkokhov (Eisbaer), Thursday, 17 May 2012 15:59 (twelve years ago) link
this was my #7
― World Congress of Itch (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 17 May 2012 16:04 (twelve years ago) link
Near Dark was #12
― World Congress of Itch (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 17 May 2012 16:05 (twelve years ago) link
huh i havent seen I Can See You, and its on netflix instant!
― O_o-O_0-o_O (jjjusten), Thursday, 17 May 2012 16:06 (twelve years ago) link
'I Can See You' is really well done, excellently paced. Would like to see more of his stuff.
― Cragenham Craig (Craigo Boingo), Thursday, 17 May 2012 16:07 (twelve years ago) link
given breaking necrology news, I think we may lose the Cryptkeeper for the day (and I will have to stay out of gay bars for at least a week)
― World Congress of Itch (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 17 May 2012 16:08 (twelve years ago) link
cryptkeeper is cryptic
― diamanda ram dass (Edward III), Thursday, 17 May 2012 16:09 (twelve years ago) link
donna summer just died ... to dispel the crypticism here.
― Boris Kutyurkokhov (Eisbaer), Thursday, 17 May 2012 16:10 (twelve years ago) link
oh no!
― diamanda ram dass (Edward III), Thursday, 17 May 2012 16:11 (twelve years ago) link
WHAT
― Chris S, Thursday, 17 May 2012 16:13 (twelve years ago) link
She was the Crypt-Keeper's all-time jam, but the poll will soldier on.
(and I will have to stay out of gay bars for at least a week)
Or forever.
― Count-Dracula-Down (Eric H.), Thursday, 17 May 2012 16:14 (twelve years ago) link
ok re-reading a bunch of things there you will all be glad that i am now actively rooting for eraserhead to place soon, because i have the yawning fear that it could make top ten or possibly number one. C'mon Eraserhead! place in the next few days, i know you can do it!
― O_o-O_0-o_O (jjjusten), Thursday, 17 May 2012 16:15 (twelve years ago) link
jjjusten I think yr fear that Lynch will place more movies than any other director is kind of unfounded
― Roger Barfing (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 17 May 2012 16:16 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah, we haven't even gotten to the Uwe Boll ouvre yet.
― i love the large auns pictures! (Phil D.), Thursday, 17 May 2012 16:17 (twelve years ago) link
NIT-PICKING:
Uh, Maskai Kobayashi directed Kwaidan - Wakatsuki was the producer.
― I serve at the pleasure of Dr. Dre and a team of Sorbonne scientists. (R Baez), Thursday, 17 May 2012 16:18 (twelve years ago) link
to further nitpick, MaSAKi Kobayashi (not Maskai).
― Boris Kutyurkokhov (Eisbaer), Thursday, 17 May 2012 16:23 (twelve years ago) link
never heard of Kwaidan. comments don't make it sound appealing, apart from the Takemitsu score. love that guy.
― Roger Barfing (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 17 May 2012 16:24 (twelve years ago) link
Typed too fast!
― I serve at the pleasure of Dr. Dre and a team of Sorbonne scientists. (R Baez), Thursday, 17 May 2012 16:25 (twelve years ago) link
I love it, that's all you need to know SMC
― World Congress of Itch (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 17 May 2012 16:27 (twelve years ago) link
two for me so far today, near dark and kwaidan.
i'd be totally okay with eraserhead top tenning.
― jesus christ (strongo hulkington's ghost dad), Thursday, 17 May 2012 16:29 (twelve years ago) link
it's four stories, of various lengths. more like ugetsu in that each of the four stories are ghost stories and are heavier on atmospherics and suspense than "horror" per se. personal favorite is the second story -- "the woman in the snow" -- which features some rather striking backgrounds and use of color:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PM1ZKIZPNOM/TLHBlNCmXcI/AAAAAAAADDA/ikkncDw0FmA/s1600/kwaidan-10c-web.jpg
http://www.2012movies.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/kwaidan-400-x-300.jpg
http://ferdyonfilms.com/kwaidan%206.jpeg
― Boris Kutyurkokhov (Eisbaer), Thursday, 17 May 2012 16:30 (twelve years ago) link
more like ugetsu than onibaba, i meant.
― Boris Kutyurkokhov (Eisbaer), Thursday, 17 May 2012 16:31 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah, I agree with the quotidian-defenders on that count. While I may prefer an ambiguous line, if you're going to break through the ambiguity then banality of evil is much scarier to me than spooky superpowered evil.
― emil.y, Thursday, May 17, 2012 5:46 AM (3 hours ago)
catching up here, but no way! quotidian horror (stabby man, crazy brain, dark conspiracy, etc) will always be a pale shadow of real, supernatural, spookshow shit. give me ghosts, witches, devils, draculas and backwards dwarfs every time.
― The term or title antichrist, in Christian theology, refers to (contenderizer), Thursday, 17 May 2012 16:50 (twelve years ago) link
there are exceptions (wicker man yay), but mostly i want the beyond, not the here and now