Sci-Fi History: Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Night of the Living Dead became the first major zombie movie. It cost $114,000 to make and eventually took in $30 million. The film heavily influenced the zombie movie genre. Every film since has either borrowed from or been a response to Night of the Living Dead. The film debuted before the movie rating system went into place. As a result, the violence shocked audiences and led to controversy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gUKvmOEGCU

Sci Fi History: 2001: A Space Odyssey

Stanley Kubrick directed this amazing sci-fi masterpiece. The film is split into four acts that follows man's evolution, which is aided by mysterious monoliths. It begins with "The Dawn of Man" featuring a bunch of protohumans learning to kill. In the second act, 21st century man discovers a monolith on the moon. Act III sends the cast to Jupiter where 2001 transforms into a horror film. The ship's computer, HAL, systematically murders the crew. One man survives into Act IV where he seemingly evolves into a higher being after an encounter with the monolith.

2001 was revolutionary. It did not feature humanoid aliens. A conspiracy on Earth program HAL to kill the astronauts 25 years before The X-Files. The special effects were cutting edge. The film influenced George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. Additionally, elements of 2001 can be seen in Blade Runner, Close Encounters, Alien, Contact, and other films and television programs.


Dawn of Man:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypEaGQb6dJk




Trailer:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6ywMnbef6Y




Theme Song:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxLacN2Dp6A

Sci-Fi History: The Fly (1958)

A poor scientist accidentally mixes his molecules with a fly creating a monster. He asks his wife to find the original fly to reverse the mess before he becomes a fly. Unfortunately, he runs out of time and the fly-brid is killed by his wife. Meanwhile, a fly with the scientist’s head is being hunted by a spider. The film spawned two sequels and a 1986 remake, which also resulted in a sequel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hdv4QA-O1bg

Sci Fi History: The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)

Hammer Films Curse of Frankenstein ushered in a new era in horror films. The studio based the movie on Mary Shelley’s novel and its success led to six sequels and new versions of Dracula and The Mummy. Hammer films had its own distinct Gothic feel, which endeared the works to fans.  They felt real and often starred Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. Hammer picked up the torch from the old Universal monster movies and made it there own.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEz02uxCPOM

Sci Fi History: Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)

Comedy legends met horror legends in 1948. Abbott and Costello have run-ins with the Wolf Man (Lon Chaney), Dracula (Bela Lugosi), and Frankenstein’s monster (Glenn Strange). The movie marked the end of the golden age of monster films and reinvigorated Abbott and Costello. The movie is considered one of the funniest in history and the duo’s finest.  Boris Karloff declined the role of the monster leaving the spot to Strange. Strange found the duo hilarious and laughed throughout filming leading to excess retakes.  At the very end, Vincent Price makes a cameo as the Invisible Man.  This is the movie to watch during Halloween season.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg5N9FJc__Q

Greatest Movie Villains: #1-10

1. Hannibal Lector (Anthony Hopkins)
2. Darth Vader (Hayden Christensen, James Earl Jones, David Prowse)
3. The Joker (Heath Ledger)
4. Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins)
5. Alex De Large (Malcolm McDowell)
6. Dracula (Bela Lugosi, Christopher Lee)
7. Kahn (Ricardo Montalban)
8. Mrs. John Iselin (Angela Lansbury)
9. Hal 2000 (Himself)
10. Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman)

Sci-Fi History: The Wolfman (1941)

The 1941 version of The Wolfman had a dramatic impact on the werewolf genre. Lon Chaney Jr. stars as Lawrence Talbot, who was bitten by a werewolf, and cursed. When the moon is full, Talbot becomes a werewolf and eventually develops into a tortured soul. Chaney’s portrayal was so popular, it spawned many sequels.  Many actors, writers, and directors were inspired by the film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOGB9CX_kMo

Sci Fi History: The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

Shortly after Frankenstein’s release, the studio began work on its sequel. The story is loosely based on a subplot in Mary Shelley’s original tome. In the book, the Monster forces Frankenstein to create a companion. In the film version, the Monster entangles himself with some grave robbers led by Dr. Pretorius who force Dr. Frankenstein back to work. Frankenstein creates a woman that rejects the Monster. A rejected Monster kills himself, his bride, and his benefactor, Dr. Pretorius.

The film won widespread acclaim from audiences and critics alike. However, censors went to work cutting the film up for its violent content. Since 1935, the film has grown in renown and some consider it greater than the original. Like the Monster, the Bride has become a cultural icon and has appeared in many pop culture incarnations.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiFfUnimUH4

Sci-Fi History: Dracula (1931)

Bela Lugosi defined the vampire for the next century. Every incarnation of the creature has been influenced by Lugosi either as a knock-off or as a reaction to. Lugosi dominates the film and is a presence even when not on screen. The classic spawned several sequels including Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. The film is now in the National Film Registry in the Library of Congress.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVPxAgy7lBA

Sci-Fi History: Dracula (1897)

Bram Stoker did not invent the vampire. The creature has existed in myth for several thousands of years. Stoker did popularize the vampire and has influenced its mythology ever since. All vampires today derive from Dracula either as a counter to the Stoker story or as a continuation. In addition to the vampire myth, Stoker’s work examined several Victorian themes including folklore, the role of women, sexuality, colonialism, and immigration.

What makes Dracula so appealing is Stoker’s historical research. He based his fictional character on a real person. Stoker read Romanian history and discovered “Dracula”, which means “Son of the Dragon.” Dracula was Vlad the Impaler, whose bloody reign may have involved drinking the blood of his victims, whom he impaled on stakes. Stoker directly references Vlad within the pages of Dracula.

Dracula has appeared in a number of movies and books. Stoker wrote the first adaptation for the stage. The most popular film versions include Nosferatu (1922), Dracula (1931), The Horror of Dracula (1958), and Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992). There are many other adaptations and sequels. He has even appeared in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In fact, there are over 200 films featuring Dracula as a major character. Additionally, his influence is in any movie, TV show, play, or book featuring vampires.

Nosferatu (1922):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=patgT_qG65U

Dracula (1931):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVPxAgy7lBA

The Horror of Dracula (1958):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gBRe2XMljg

Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j6b4Cd3OZo

 

The Complete List of Greatest Movie Scenes of all Time

1. Statue of Liberty- Planet of the Apes (1968)

2. D-Day Invasion- Saving Private Ryan (1998)

3. La Marseillaise- Casablanca (1942)

4. Stuff that dreams are made of- Maltese Falcon (1941)

5. Russian Roulette- The Deer Hunter (1978)

6. I love the smell of napalm in the morning-Apocalypse Now (1979)

7. Chariots- Ben Hur (1959)

8. Stirling Speech- Braveheart (1995)

9. Horses Head- Godfather(1972)

10. My name is Gladiator- Gladiator (2000)



11. The Showdown- The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly (1966)

12. Jumping -Butch and Sundance (1969)

13. Wanna have a catch?- Field of Dreams (1989)

14. Atlanta burns- Gone with the Wind (1939)

15. Patton and the flag- Patton (1970)

16. The Red Sea Parts-The Ten Commandments (1956)

17. Two Hills of beans/Into the Myst- Casablanca (1942)

18. The Chase- Bullitt (1968)

19. Baptism by Fire-The Godfather (1972)

20. Bank Heist Shootout- Heat (1995)



21. The Chase- The French Connection (1971)

22. The fight- The Quiet Man (1952)

23. I Don’t give a damn!- Gone with the Wind (1939)

24. Let‘s Go Home- The Searchers (1956)

25. Are you looking at me?-Taxi Driver (1976)

26. Kissing Fredo- Godfather II (1974)

27. Boom-The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

28. Superman saves Lois- Superman (1978)

29. Death Star blows-Star Wars (1977)

30. The Desert Chase-Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)



31. Showdown- High Noon (1952)

32. John Wayne Closeup- Stagecoach (1939)

33. Stella!- A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

34. We need a bigger boat- Jaws (1975)

35. Mommy Kisses- The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

36. Wayne goes down- The Shootist (1976)

37. Oz goes color- The Wizard of Oz (1939)

38. It’s Alive!- Frankenstein (1931)

39. Rocky runs- Rocky (1976)

40. The Ecstasy of Gold- The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (1967)



41. Put your lips together and blow-To Have and Have Not (1944)

42. A boulder- Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

43. The parachute- The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

44. Laser- Gold finger (1964)

45. The Indianapolis- Jaws (1975)

46. The Conversation: Pacino meets De Niro- Heat (1995)

47. The Battle- Gladiator (2000)

48. Win one for the Gipper- Knute Rockne: All American (1940)

49. Fredo goes fishing- Godfather II (1974)

50. Kong vs. airplanes-King Kong (1933)



51. Who’s on First?-The Naughty Nineties (1945)

52. Apes to Man-2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

53. The Funeral Oration- Julius Caesar (1953)

54. The filibuster-Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

55. I’m Melting/Ding Dong the witch is dead-The Wizard of Oz (1939)

56. Girls don’t float-Frankenstein (1931)

57. The Speech-The Pride of the Yankees (1942)

58. What is your major malfunction Private Pyle - Full Metal Jacket (1987):

59. Here’s Johnny!- The Shining (1980)

60. The question- Dirty Harry (1971)



61. Head in a box: Seven (1995)

62. Butch and Sundance vs. an army: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

63. Lector meets Clarice: Silence of the Lambs (1991)

64. I never drink wine: Dracula (1931)

65. They call me Mr. Tibbs- In The Heat of the Night (1967)

66. The Shower- Psycho (1960):

67. Get your stinking paws: Planet of the Apes (1968):

68. Don‘t Stop at the Tollbooth : Godfather (1972):

69. Bonnie and Clyde eat lead: Bonnie and Clyde (1967):

70. Eastwood rides into hell: Unforgiving (1992):



71. The Catina: SW (1977)

72. My Kingdom for a Horse: Richard III (1995)

73. Stewart’s Nightmare: Vertigo (1958) (LSD trip)
74. Hal can read lips: 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

75. The Overdose: Pulp Fiction (1994)

76. The Stateroom- A Night at the Opera (1935)

77.Ol Lang‘s Eye- It‘s a Beautiful Life (1946)

78. The Dance- Reservoir Dogs (1992)

79. I’ll be back-The Terminator (1983)

80. Bruce Willis is dead- The Sixth Sense (1999)



81. I’m Your Father- ESB

82. Make my day-Sudden Impact (1983)

83. Truck chases bike- T2

84. Blowing up the roof-Die Hard (1988)

85. Say hello to my little friend-Scarface

86. I’m a Comedian?-Goodfellas (1990)

87. Redford bleeds-The Natural (1984)

88. Band of Brothers- Henry V

89. Ripley in the suit-Aliens (1986)

90. The Twist- Pulp Fiction (1994)



91. Asteroids- ESB (1980)

92. I’m Batman- Batman (1989)

93. Hoth-The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

94. Communication (Close Encounters)

95. It’s a trap!-Return of the Jedi (1983)

96. Sadism- A Clockwork Orange

97. You Came Back-Why- Mag 7

98. The Enterprise-Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)

99. Zed’s Dead- Pulp Fiction

100. The Walk-Reservoir Dogs (1992)



101. The Pencil Trick: The Dark Knight (2008)

102. Lector gets loose: Silence of the Lambs (1991)

103. There’s Character: Glory (1989)

104 Phone Home: ET: The Extraterrestrial (1982)

105. Pickett’s Charge: Gettysburg (1993)

106. Khan and his pets-Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)

107. Old friend for dinner- Silence of the Lambs

108. Helm’s Deep-LOR: The Two Towers (2002)

109. The dentist- Marathon Man

110. Bogart vs. Robinson- Key Largo (1948)



111. Anchor fight- Ron Burgundy (2004)

112. The nanny hangs-The Omen (1976)

113. What we do in life, echoes in Eternity-Gladiator (2000)

114. Nuclear Rodeo- Dr Strangelove (1964)

115. Hackman grabs Rooker by the balls (Miss. Burning) (1988)



116. Anakin vs. Obi-Wan -Sith (2005)

117. Euthanized (Soylent Green) (1973)

118. Punching out of a coffin- Kill Bill (2004)

119. Missing Breakfast- Falling Down (1993)

120. Beatles on the Run: A Hard Day’s Night (1964)



121. Order 66- Revenge of the Sith (2005)

122. The president goes ape shit: Escape from New York (1981)

123. Train Wreck: The Greatest Show on Earth

124. The quest: Excalibur (1981)

125. Hello Cleveland: This is Spinal Tap (1984)

126. Zipper Scene: There’s Something About Mary (1998)

127. The mine shaft gap: Dr. Strangelove (1964)

128. The Inquisition: History of the World (1981)

129. The bride vs. The Crazy 88s: Kill Bill Vol.1 (2003)

130. Frank vs. Bud and Lou and Wolfman vs. Dracula: Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)



131. Space is a disease: Star Trek (2009)

132. The Dark Knight: Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

133. Bill Murray vs. Gopher: Caddyshack (1980)

134. Whistle Dixie: The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)

135. Stay Puft Marshmellow Man: Ghostbusters (1984)

136. Jimmy cleans house: Goodfellas (1990)

137. Motorcycle vs. Joker: Dark Knight (2008)

138. Capone plays baseball: The Untouchables (1987)

139. Stonehedge: Spinal Tap (1984)

140. Dueling banjos: Deliverance (1972)



141. The exploding stomach trick: Alien (1979)

142. Always look on the bright side of life: Monty Python’s Life of Brian (1979)

143. You Look Like: A Hard Day’s Night (1964)

144. The War is Over: Josey Wales (1976)

145. The Vendetta Ride: Tombstone (1993)

146. Attica! Attica!: Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
147. Mexicans attack the Alamo: The Alamo (1960)

148. Superman appears: Superman II (1980)

149. Tank goes through wall: Goldeneye (1995)

150. White House Blows Up: Independence Day (1996)

Greatest Movie Scenes #41-50

41. Put your lips together and blow-To Have and Have Not (1944):  Lauren Bacall was 19 years old when she made her debut in this film. Wow. Simply wow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wY4zkWUTvQM

42. A boulder- Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981): Ford did the stunt himself. Although not a real boulder, it still could have seriously injured him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgnlu-kpdOs

43. The parachute- The Spy Who Loved Me (1977): This might be the greatest Bond movie stunt. The British flag on the parachute was a nice touch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaEU_A405zA

44. Laser- Gold finger (1964): This might be the most iconic Bond scene. Do you expect me to talk? No, Mr. Bond. I expect you to die.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wyp909mQPM

45. The Indianapolis- Jaws (1975): You’d think Robert Shaw (Quint) served aboard the Indianapolis. This scene immortalized the experience of that crew during the Second World War.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nrvMNf-HEg

46. The Conversation: Pacino meets De Niro- Heat (1995): This is the scene fans waited 20 years for and neither actor disappointed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYSzx_zy-98

47. The Battle- Gladiator (2000): How did the Romans conquer the world? Watch the opening scene in Gladiator. Although not completely accurate, the scene demonstrates superior Roman discipline, technology, and tactics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=331clHFsnpY

48. Win one for the Gipper- Knute Rockne: All American (1940): Even if Reagan had not become president, this scene would have been remembered. Reagan’s political career turned it into legend.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIHNUt1gw7A

49. Fredo goes fishing- Godfather II (1974): Michael Corleone proved completely heartless when wacking his brother and then blaming his death on drowning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7oms_hG-Pc

50. Kong vs. airplanes-King Kong (1933): Kong was not the villain in this Depression-era film. Instead, it was the capitalists and those that wanted to conquer nature.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dytJJrpxwDw

Greatest Movie Scenes #61-70

61. Head in a box: Seven (1995): Yeah, Gwenyth Paltrow getting beheaded by Kevin Spacey should probably rate higher...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnV6Lu0dmkI

62. Butch and Sundance vs. an army: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969): Now THAT is a way to go out.

63. Lector meets Clarice: Silence of the Lambs (1991): Welcome to Hell Clarice!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGG84nUlgYg

64. I never drink wine: Dracula (1931): Poor Renfro...he is receiving an ominous warning and does not know it.

65. They call me Mr. Tibbs: In The Heat of the Night (1967): Ties into the Civil Rights Movement. Want to understand the South prior to the 70s, watch this one.

66. The Shower: Psycho (1960): ree ree reee reee

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VP5jEAP3K4

67. Get your stinking paws: Planet of the Apes (1968): Charlton Heston must have the largest catalogue of great quotes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbpsXAJguYo

68. Don‘t Stop at the Tollbooth : Godfather (1972): Sonny pays the toll.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8e55LYplVo8

69. Bonnie and Clyde eat lead: Bonnie and Clyde (1967): This may have been the first super violent film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhIZ9URHlrQ

70. Eastwood rides into hell: Unforgiving (1992): Eastwood rewrites the Western again.

Greatest Movie Scenes #71-80

71. The Catina: Star Wars (1977): The Cantina reminds me of some places in Flint..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSRwzP23ifI

72. My Kingdom for a Horse: Richard III (1995): This is just clever. Fascist Richard in World War II-era Britain. His jeep gets stuck in the mud...

73. Jimmy Stewart’s Nightmare: Vertigo (1958): If this came out in 1968, people would have really been tripped out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9UiyfXibP8

74. Hal can read lips: 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968): What made this movie terrifying was the astronauts reliance on technology that runs amok and the fact no one could help them.

75. The Overdose: Pulp Fiction (1994): Ouch!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGSIvuDUkpI

76. The Stateroom: A Night at the Opera (1935): This must have been what Harry Reid's office was like as he crafted the Health Care bill.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZvugebaT6Q

77. Ol Lang‘s Eye: It‘s a Beautiful Life (1946): Lot of interesting references in this movie that audiences today miss.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErrzjGCi3gY

78. The Dance: Reservoir Dogs (1992): More Sadism; this time to Super Hits of the 70s!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLTqecGbdCc

79. I’ll be back: The Terminator (1983): If only Arnold governed like this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8I4zFSipKs

80. Bruce Willis is dead: The Sixth Sense (1999): I figured this out before the film ended, but it was still cool.

Greatest Movie Scenes: 101-105

101. The Pencil Trick: The Dark Knight (2008): Heath Ledger's greatest scene. It almost made me pee my pants laughing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QehZjjwb7-I

102. Lector gets loose: Silence of the Lambs (1991): Classical music provided the background as Hannibal Lector beats a guard to death and skins another.

103. There’s Character: Glory (1989): The 54th Massachussets charges into Fort Wagner. Robert Gould Shaw (Mathew Broderick) eats a minie ball which rallies his troops. The men run into a cannon. The end was poignant as Shaw is buried shoeless with his men in a common grave.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2c_BvVBd-Q

104 Phone Home: ET: The Extraterrestrial (1982): An iconic 80s scene.

105. Pickett’s Charge: Gettysburg (1993): More Civil War action. If you want to know why the Civil War cost 600,000 lives, watch this scene.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GupEJXlNKCE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iT0Hmu5bXY

Greatest Movie Scenes: 106-110

106. Khan and his pets: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982): Montalban gives a great performance and Chekov gets to scream.

107. Old friend for dinner: Silence of the Lambs (1991): A downright creepy end to this film. Hopkins wearing a silly wig, Foster scared out of her wits, and just a creepy line to end it all.

108. Helm’s Deep:Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002): Just a great battle scene.

109. The dentist chair: Marathon Man (1976): I hate going to the dentist enough as it is...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPQ7KMCrPLE

110. Bogart vs. Robinson:  Key Largo (1948): A tension packed conclusion to a tension packed movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OV-BRbcV0M

Greatest Movie Scenes #111-115

111. Anchor fight: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004): No Commercials and No Mercy!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APGGKrMyZ3o

112. The nanny hangs: The Omen (1976):  This was creepy. Barack's...er I mean Damien, the son of Satan's, nanny commits suicide at a birthday party. She had a big old smile on her face and it allowed the Satanist nurse to come care for the boy. Not even Gregory Peck could defeat the Son of Satan.

113. What we do in life, echoes in Eternity: Gladiator (2000): One of the great movie speeches. It was short and informal showing you don't have to wear blue face to inspire troops.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=331clHFsnpY

114. Nuclear Rodeo: Dr Strangelove (1964): The world is ending, so why not ride a nuclear bomb all the way to the ground?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueuauKKjPZI

115. Hackman grabs Rooker by the balls: Mississippi Burning (1988): Hackman was so intense, people on the set feared for Michael Rooker during this scene.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vayL_-DBuLs

Greatest Movie Scenes: #126-130

126. Zipper Scene: There’s Something About Mary (1998)

Ouch! Then came the ambulance.

127. The mine shaft gap: Dr. Strangelove (1964)

Peter Sellers calling the president "Mein Fuehrer" is priceless (especially since Nazi scientists helped the US after WWII). George C. Scott arguing that we can not allow a mineshaft gap is a dig at the fear over a missile gap with the Russians.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEi8Mj6WDKM

128. The Inquisition: History of the World (1981)

How do you deal with torture and religious intolerance? With a song and dance number!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5McSEU48Y8

129. The bride vs. The Crazy 88s: Kill Bill Vol.1 (2003)

Kill Bill is one the decade's highlights...Uma taking on the Crazy 88s in not very realistic, but it was fun.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdjuS17DGlA

130. Frank vs. Bud and Lou and Wolfman vs. Dracula: Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)

Lon Chaney and Bela Legosi throw down. Bud and Lou chased by Frankenstein's Monster. Vincent Price with a cameo as the Invisible Man. Does not get any better...

Greatest Halloween Movies

For Halloween, here are the top 10 scary movies of all time.

10. Night of the Living Dead: This is a bit campy today, but a classic nontheless.

9. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: Also an interesting character study of man's two sides.

8. Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein: Intermixing comedy and horror is difficult, but they pull it off with the help of Lon Chaney and Bela Legosi.

7. The Wolf-Man: Another classic from the 40s. Lon Chaney nails the tortured soul.

6. Frankenstein: When this came out in the 1930s, people passed out in the aisles. It is tame by today's standards. However, the theme of science run amok still has resonance.

5. 2001: A Space Odyssey: Why is this on here? First, the astronaughts can not be saved by the cavalry as they are out by Jupiter. Second, the computer goes bizzerk. It is more relevant today than in 1969 as we have become more dependent on machines.

4. Aliens: The second Alien installment was the best (3 and 4 were horrid). It upped the ante from the first and like the first movie (and 2001), in space, no one can hear you scream.

3. Dracula: Bela Legosi gives us all the lore surrounding the vampire in this film. He was the prototype by which all vampires are created. Either they follow his lead or they attempt to move away from it. Either way, it is Legosi that set the standard.

2. The Omen: First, it is about the Anti-Christ (no not Nancy Pelosi). Second, the kid playing Damien was as creepy as they come. Third, the hero is Gregory Peck and not even he can defeat the Anti-Christ. Between these three variables, and the creepy storyline and deaths, this movie ranks #2.

1. Silence of the Lambs: I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti.