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Old 07-01-2006, 06:36 AM
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40. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

Director Don Siegel's tale of paranoia follows the plight of Dr. Miles Bennell (Kevin McCarthy) as he returns to his hometown to find strange behavior among the residents. Aliens, we learn, have begun taking over the townspeople via large slimy seed pods and have hatched a cold and logical plan to replace the human race with these plant-like doppelgangers. Steeped in McCarthy era paranoia and the dangers of both invasion and conformity, Invasion helped to solidify the sci-fi horror film and its compelling storyline was intelligently revisited by Philip Kaufman in 1978. The film is only slightly marred by a tacked-on studio contrived 'happy-ending' (in which Dr. Bennell's apparently insane ravings are suddenly validated by the Highway Patrol) and some bad B-Movie acting, Siegel's Invasion is the quintessential film of American paranoia and fear of the other (something as timely today as it was in the mid-50s). - zero

39. Pumpkinhead

This just goes to show you that there's something to be said for a great, original creature design. To boot, it's also a tale of witchcraft, suffering & vengeance gone wrong. Still, the creature himself is this movies biggest claim to fame. - The Flayed One

38. The Devil's Rejects

Rob Zombie's 2nd film is a gory delight that follows a murderous family on a killing spree. The subject matter is as dark as it gets and the bloody violence is abundant. It's well acted and well directed and when you throw that in with a compelling story, you've got yourself one bad ass movie! - bwind22

37. Ringu

After the death of her cousin Tomoko (Yuko Takeuchi), reporter Reiko (Nanako Matsushima) comes across the urban legend of a videotape that kills everyone who sees it exactly one week after viewing. She coyly rights this off, but when she learns that Tomoko's friend (who watched the video with her) died at exactly the same time, she begins to investigate. After viewing the tape herself, strange events befall her. Slowly she is convinced that this is no joke and teams up with her ex-husband, hoping to prevent her fate. This is a GRIPING thriller directed by Asia's answer to Hitchock, Nanako Matsushima that became so popular Hollywood had to put their own spin on it. The Ring which was released in 2002 (directed by Gore Verbinski) was a spitting image of Matsushima�s film; also managing to scare the pants off of audiences. However, Matsushimaï's version holds up as the original and best. - tarcher80

36. Silence of the Lambs

The second Thomas Harris's Hannibal Lector novel to be adapted for the big screen (the first being Manhunter), Silence of the Lambs is one of the best psychological chillers of all time. Anthony Hopkins turns in the most memorable performance of his entire career, and Jodie Foster binds the movie with her performance as the new FBI recruit, Clarice Starling, who has to track down a serial killer of women by using the "expertise" of Dr.Lector, another notorious serial killer in FBI custody.
The movie won all 5 major Academy Awards for Best Movie, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Screenplay, and is a powerful depiction of the psyche of a deranged and eccentric genius who uses his talents for all the wrong purposes, and the deep-rooted fear of the young rookie who has no choice but to endure her deepest secrets and terrors being fed into her naked mind, in exchange of which she hopes to get any sort of clues as to what makes the elusive killer's mind tick.
Superbly crafted, and brilliantly directed by Jonathan Demme. Mesmerising performances by the entire supporting cast, and dominated by Hopkins. A must-watch of modern times cinema - __V__

Last edited by _____V_____; 04-12-2014 at 11:57 AM.
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