Top Ten Most Underrated Horror Movies

Just in time for the Halloween season, here are ten horror movies that I’ve enjoyed over the years that you should check out.  They aren’t in any particular order; you can’t go wrong with any of them.

DSC_Newcastle’s Werewolf (Photo credit: PathofGrace)

1)  Dog Soldiers (2002) – Directed by Neil Marshall of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England, which also produces Newcastle Ale.  Their seasonal brew is “Werewolf Red Ale,” appropriate in that Dog Soldiers is a modern werewolf film set in the northern hinterlands of the U.K.  A squad of British soldiers on a routine training mission suddenly realize they are in for the fight of their lives.  Stylish, well-written, great locations and wry humor.  One of my favorites.

2)  Near Dark (1987) – Directed by Katheryn Bigelow (yes, that Katheryn Bigelow of “The Hurt Locker” / “Zero Dark Thirty” fame.)  Set in the dusty plains of north Texas / Oklahoma, the setting of this film is as unique as the story-line.  A young man is seduced, more or less accidentally, by a young, female vampire, and he reluctantly becomes part of their violent, dysfunctional clan.  The action is lusciously choreographed, and the characters are at once terrifying and compelling.  This one will stay with you.

Cover of Fido

3)  Fido (2006) – Directed by Canadian filmmaker Andrew Currie.  More or less buried among the dozens (hundreds?) of zombie flicks that have emerged over the past decade, this sly, ironic, and at times hilarious piece pokes irreverent fun at 1950’s styles and attitudes, with pet zombies replacing Lassie or Flipper.  You see, it turns out a zombie is (literally) a boy’s best friend.  Addresses the meaning of life, death, slavery, sexuality, the National Security State, marketing and loneliness, and a nice game of catch.  School children singing:  “In the brain and not the chest.  Head shots are the very best.”

4)  The Old, Dark House (1932) – Directed by James Whale, who secured his reputation by directing the original film version of “Frankenstein” a year earlier.  Features an excellent cast including Boris Karloff, Charles Laughton and Melvyn Douglas.  The granddaddy of all haunted house movies, this one holds up surprisingly well.  Features an extremely odd assortment of characters who come together in an old mansion during a torrential rainstorm.  Every movie within this sub-genre, from “The House on Haunted Hill” to “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” owes a debt of gratitude to this creepy and still-surprising thriller.

5)  Mulberry Street (2006) – Directed by Jim Mickle, who can also boast the incredible “Stake Land” to his credit.  A virus, carried by rats, breaks out in lower Manhattan, and the populace quickly becomes a pack of rat-like, rabid killers.  The budget for this film was a mere $60,000, but Mickle, makes the most of a non-existent budget.  This is not Mayor Bloomberg’s New York City.  This is Ed Koch’s NYC from the days of “The Warriors,” where working class people sift through Manhattan’s grungy exterior, masking the heart beating within.  A scarred, young woman soldier, returning from the wars in the Middle East, steps into a scenario even deadlier than the one she left behind.  Grainy and raw, this one eschews cliché and formula in favor of tense situations and real relationships.

Cover of Trick ‘r Treat

6)   Trick ‘r Treat (2007) – Directed by Michael Dougherty, this is another Canadian offering that weaves four separate narrative threads into a coherent whole, all of which take place simultaneously on Halloween night.  Cast includes Brian Cox (who played the original Hannibal Lector) and Dylan Baker (who also stars in “Fido.”)  Lots of twists and turns that will keep you surprised, but never cheap or gratuitous.  The horror is that neither the victims nor the villains are ever simply who they seem to be, and the tables can turn quickly, with much macabre mirth throughout.  A perfect film for a late Halloween night, after the kids are safely asleep.

7)  Shadow of the Vampire (2000) – Directed by E. Elias Merhige, and starring John Malkovich as German film director Friedrich Murnau, and Willem Dafoe (nominated for an Academy Award for his portrayal of German actor Max Schreck.)  This compelling and witty film is an imaginative “what if” film, namely, what if actor Max Schreck, who played the vampire in the original “Nosferatu” wasn’t an actor at all?  Suppose he really was a vampire?  Even as Murnau (Malkovich) comes to the horrible realization as to why his actors and film crew are gradually disappearing, his final goal is to finish the film.  To Murnau, art is more important than life itself, and the un-dead will just have to wait until the credits roll to finish the feast.  The question is, however, will Schreck finish his feast, thus never allowing the credits to roll at all?  The performances by Malkovich and Dafoe are outstanding.

8)  Basket Case (1982) – Directed by Frank Henenlotter.  This just may be the ultimate cult-classic horror film you’ve probably never heard of.  Think “Eraserhead” meets “E.T.”  It is a Grindhouse-style satire of horror, yet is truly horrific in its own right.  Not for everyone, you will probably either hate this film or completely love it.  Either way, you’ll be blown away.  A revenge fantasy / love story, brotherly love doesn’t get more complicated, sordid, or bizarre than this.  Of all the low-budget horror films you’ll ever see, few will ever be more original than this one.  Definitely not a date-film.  Of all the films on this list, this is the one most likely to leave you with your mouth hanging open.

9)  House of the Devil (2009) – Directed by Ti West (who also directed the respectable “The Innkeepers.”)  Set in the early 1980’s, a young female college student, hard up for cash, responds to an ad in a local paper for a babysitter job.  Turns out the baby is not a baby at all, and she’s not going to do very much sitting.  The film hinges on the performances of Jocelin Donahue who plays the lead role as young “Samantha,” and character actor Tom Noonan as Mr. Ulman.  She is engagingly cute, resourceful and trusting.  He is the very definition of creepy, yet urbane and polite.  (Noonan, BTW, also played the role of the Tooth Fairy in “Manhunter” alongside the aforementioned Brian Cox.)  The violence is sudden and surprising.  I liked it better the second time I saw it, which is usually a good sign for a film.

The Wicker Man (1973 film) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

10)  The Wicker Man (1973) – Directed by Robin Hardy.  Forget the awful Nicolas Cage remake.  The original Wicker Man is an outstanding, mysterious film starring Edward Woodward as a police constable sent over from mainland England to a little island village where a child has allegedly disappeared.  Yet right from the outset of his investigation, he suspects foul play.  The full extant of this foul play, however, is only finally, horrifyingly  revealed to him at the film’s conclusion.  Christopher Lee of Hammer Film studios fame (“Horror of Dracula, among others), plays Lord Summerisle with appropriate glee and gusto.    Britt Ekland offers one of the most overtly sexy and sexual performances in cinematic film history.  The version of this film that played on American television for years was chopped and shredded, but if you are able to find a complete print, you’ll find the film far more titillating, fully realized and entertaining.  Belongs in any true horror fan’s collection.

Top Ten Most Underrated Musical Artists

If you listen to radio stations that play “Classic Rock,” you may have noticed by now that they play the same two dozen bands all the time.  Likewise, so-called “Alternative” stations also seem to have surprisingly truncated playlists.  And as for today’s “Country” music, well, it sounds nothing like music played by serious mountain musicians.

There are many bands who fall through the cracks, not quite fitting into the corporate-controlled, focus-group approved bands deemed acceptable by those who control the airwaves.  They may be cross-genre bands, or may be so unique they don’t really fit neatly and easily into any one category.

Nevertheless, there are ample opportunities to familiarize yourself (or to become re-familiar) with musical artists who’ve slipped through the cracks in recent years.  These tend to be the under-appreciated performers who may have a modest cadre of hardcore followers, or, as often as not, revel in the live performance venue outside of the radio mainstream.

Robert Cray in concert, 2007 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Here, then, are ten bands / artists whose lack of airplay has been, unfortunately, limited to the small, rapidly disappearing Indie stations or college radio programs you may be lucky enough to find around the dial.

1)  The Robert Cray Band

2)  Lucinda Williams

3)  Tom Waits

4)  Los Lobos

5)  The Pogues

6)  Elvis Costello

7)  The Mekons

8)  Jonny Lang

9)  Mike Ness

10) Indigenous

As an added bonus, here’s Robert Cray performing, “I Was Warned.”  This one is a great showcase for his smooth as silk vocal style as well as his signature guitar style.

And here’s one from The Mekons, “Club Mekon.”

Now here’s a cut from Mike Ness (lead singer / songwriter for Social Distortion) solo album, “Cheating at Solitaire.”  He does an excellent cover here of the Dylan tune, “Don’t Think Twice.”

And if this one by Lucinda Williams doesn’t send a chill down your spine, you’re probably not even fucking alive.

Top Ten Robert De Niro Roles

Robert De Niro is the most compelling actor of his generation.  His career has now spanned parts of six decades, and few other actors in history have been more prolific over the course of their careers.

A young Vito (played by Robert De Niro) kills Don Fanucci (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Almost everyone who loves movies has a favorite De Niro film.  My list includes not only several of his leading roles, but also a couple of less famous offerings as well.

I’m interested to know which of his films you’ve enjoyed most over the years, and which ones you didn’t particularly care for.

1)  Raging Bull – Jake LaMotta

2)  Taxi Driver – Travis Bickle

3)  The King of Comedy – Rupert Pupkin

4)  Godfather Part 2 – Young Vito Corleone

5)  Brazil – Harry Tuttle

6)  The Deer Hunter – Michael

7)  The Untouchables – Al Capone

8)  Awakenings – Leonard Low

9)  Midnight Run – Jack Walsh

10) Ronin – Sam

If you haven’t seen  “Th King of Comedy” yet,  you’re missing one of his more enjoyable performances in an underrated film.  “Ronin, also starring French actor Jean Reno, is also well worth another look, even if you’ve seen it before.

Top Ten 19th-Century Baseball Players

No one who ever saw any of these guys play is still alive today to tell us about it.  Yet baseball statisticians have gleaned enough information from the raw stats available from that distant past to be able to draw some reasonable conclusions regarding the relative value of these 19th-century players.  Primarily using WAR, though also drawing from other published accounts I’ve read over the years, here’s my top ten list of the best  players of baseball’s first half-century.

Curry Foley was the first player in Major League Baseball history to hit for the cycle. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1)  Cap Anson

2)  George Davis

3)  Roger Connor

4)  Dan Brouthers

5)  Bill Dahlen

6)  Jesse Burkett

7)  Ed Delahanty

8)  Billy Hamilton

9)  Jake Beckley

10) Willie Keeler

Honorable mention to Sam Thompson, Buck Ewing, King Kelly, Jack Glasscock, Cupid Childs, George Van Haltren (the Andy Van Slyke of his era), and Jim O’Rourke.

Top Ten Movie Villains of All-Time

I’ve read several times over the years that many actors prefer playing villains to playing heroes because the roles tend to be much more interesting, and allow them a freedom of expression that heroic roles often can’t, by their nature, allow.  If you think of many of your favorite movies, often there has been a villain (or, perhaps more accurately, an antagonist) without whom the hero wouldn’t have much to do.  Often, the villain steals (no pun intended) the show.

While the late 1960’s and ’70’s gave us the anti-hero (think of virtually every Jack Nicholson film through around 1984), more recent on-screen fare has seen a return to the traditional archetypes:  Hero, Shadow, Jester, Mentor, etc. (think Star Wars or Lord of the Rings.)

Therefore, for our purposes, we will list only those characters who are clearly, unabashedly evil.  We will exclude “bad” animals, such as the shark in Jaws, cartoon characters that are not at all to be taken seriously (Wile E. Coyote), and horror movie killers who are more a force of nature than an actual living, breathing human (Michael Myers in Halloween.)

Here, then, are my top ten bad guys in movie history:

Brian Cox as Hannibal “Lecktor” in Manhunter. Cox was the first actor to play the character. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1)  Darth Vader (Well, he once was human)

2)  Frank Booth (Dennis Hopper, in “Blue Velvet”)

3)  The Joker (Heath Ledger, in “The Dark Knight”)

4)  Bill the Butcher  (Daniel Day-Lewis, in “Gangs of New York”)

5)  Hannibal Lecter (Brian Cox, in “Manhunter”)

6)  Chief Detective Norman Stansfield (Gary Oldman, in “Leon: The Professional”)

7)  Rev. Harry Powell (Robert Mitchum, “Night of the Hunter”)

8)  SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer Amon Goeth (Ralph Fiennes, “Schindler’s List”)

9)  Vincent the Hitman (Tom Cruise, in “Collateral”)

10) Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates, “Misery”)

If you thought Anthony Hopkins portrayed a terrifying Hannibal Lecter, you should try Brian Cox’s interpretation on for size.  Where Hopkins’ Lecter is cool, suave, and sophisticated, Cox’s Lecter is equally intelligent, just as cunning, but far more menacing.  In short, Cox’s version is less the Hollywood caricature of the English psychopathic villain, and much more the real thing.

I wanted to also include Robert Mitchum’s character in “Cape Fear,” (Max Cady), but I decided to limit my list to one performance per actor.

Top Ten Rock / Blues Guitarists of All-Time

I know this is a very subjective list, and you’ll probably disagree with the order, if not the content of my picks.  Have at it.

English: Stevie Ray Vaughan Photograph © Scott Newton Weselex Depository Rights Reserved. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1)  Jimmie Hendrix

2)  Stevie Ray Vaughan

3)  Jimmy Page

4)  Mark Knopfler

5)  Eric Clapton  (I dropped him a notch or two due to those fucking Michelob commercials back in the ’80’s.)

6)  Buddy Guy

7)  Duane Allman

8)  David Gilmour

9)  Mike McCready

10) Davy Knowles

Top Ten Zombie Films

I went to see “World War Z” this past weekend.  Having read the book, I can safely say that if you haven’t read the book, it really doesn’t matter because the movie has virtually nothing to do with Max Brooks fine fictional account of the Zombie War.  While the film was generally entertaining in a summer blockbuster sort of way, it breaks no new ground in the zombie movie genre.  I suppose if someone hasn’t seen very many zombie films, this one could make their top ten list by default, but it won’t make mine.

Zombies as portrayed in the movie Night of the Living Dead (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Here, then, are my top ten all-time zombie movies:

1)  Dawn of the Dead (1979)

2)  Night of the Living Dead (1968)

3)  28 Days Later

4)  Evil Dead

5)  Shaun of the Dead

6)  Zombieland

7)  Return of the Living Dead

8)  Fido

9)  28 Weeks Later

10) The Dead

 

Top Ten Switch Hitters in Baseball History

My two most recent lists were compilations of the top left-handed and right-handed batters in baseball history.  The list that follows are the best switch-hitters in history.  I did not include currently active players such as Lance Berkman, Mark Teixeira, Jose Reyes or Carlos Beltran, nor did I include pre-20th century players.

English: New York Yankees centerfielder and Hall of Famer . (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1)  Mickey Mantle

2)  Eddie Murray

3)  Chipper Jones

4)  Tim Raines

5)  Pete Rose

6)  Roberto Alomar

7)  Reggie Smith

8)  Ted Simmons

9)  Frankie Frisch

10) Bernie Williams

Raines and Simmons belong in the Hall of Fame.  Reggie Smith was very underrated.  Williams was a fine player, but was overrated defensively.  Frisch was actually better than Alomar with the glove, but I’ll take Alomar’s speed and (relative) power.

Jorge Posada and Mickey Tettleton are my backup catchers.

There is no shortstop among my top ten, so Maury Wills and Gary Templeton will share this position.

Backing up Chipper Jones at third base will be a pair of former Mets, Howard Johnson and Bobby Bonilla.

Red Schoendienst and Jim Gilliam will back up Alomar and Frisch at second base.

Ripper Collins, Wes Parker and Lu Blue are my backup first basemen.

In the outfield, in addition to Mantle, Rose, Raines, and R. Smith, I will add Max Carey, Willie Wilson, Ken Singleton, Roy White, and Willie McGee.

My D.H. will be Chili Davis.

Ignoring that I just named a D.H., I will also include Ted Lyons, Early Wynn and Vida Blue as my switch-hitting pitchers.

So there you have 30 names to match the same number of players I ultimately chose to include on each of my prior two lists.  Did I leave anyone out?  Which group do you think is strongest?

Related articles

• Top Ten Right-Handed Batters in Baseball History (billstoptenlists.wordpress.com)
• Top Ten Left-Handed Batters in Baseball History (billstoptenlists.wordpress.com)

Top Ten Right-Handed Batters in Baseball History

In my last post, I submitted a list of the top ten left-handed batters in baseball history.  I actually included an additional 20 names under the list for a grand total of 30 players.  For today’s installment, I plan on doing the same thing for right-handed batters.  Once again, no switch-hitters need apply (they will have their own list).  Also, no currently active players, or players who toiled primarily in the 19th century, will be included, either.

Jimmie Foxx, certainly one of the top five right-handed batters of all-time.

So, here’s the list:

1)  Rogers Hornsby

2)  Willie Mays

3)  Jimmie Foxx

4)  Hank Aaron

5)  Honus Wagner

6)  Joe DiMaggio

7)  Frank Robinson

8)  Mike Schmidt

9)  Frank Thomas

10) Mike Piazza

Four of the ten players on this list were outfielders, and two played primarily first base.  You also have one player each at second base, shortstop, catcher and third base.  In general, while outfielders dominated the list of left-handed batters, the right-handed batters are spread more evenly between infielders and outfielders.

Among shortstops, after Wagner you have Cal Ripkin, Jr., Ernie Banks and Robin Yount.

The next best right-handed batting second basemen are Ryne Sandberg, Jackie Robinson and Craig Biggio.

Other great right-handed batting outfielders include Roberto Clemente, Al Kaline, Harry Heilmann, Al Simmons, Rickey Henderson and Kirby Puckett.

At first base, in addition to Jimmie Foxx and Frank Thomas (listed above), you also have Harmon Killebrew, Hank Greenberg and Jeff Bagwell.

After Mike Piazza, you have Johnny Bench, Pudge Rodriguez, Pudge Fisk, and Roy Campanella.

Though I’ve never been a fan of the D.H., I will gladly utilize this position for the sole purpose of getting Edgar Martinez onto this list.  In fact, a case can be made that Edgar belongs among the top ten right-handed batters of all-time.

If you’ve had a chance to look over the left-handed batters and the right-handed batters, which group would you choose?

Next up, the top ten all-time best switch-hitters.

Top Ten Left-Handed Batters in Baseball History

I’m leaving out the switch-hitters because they are a separate category unto themselves.  I’m also only including retired players, and players who made their debut after 1900.

Only Jimmie Foxx batted right-handed. Ruth, Gehrig and Cochrane batted left-handed.

1)  Babe Ruth

2)  Ted Williams

3)  Barry Bonds

4)  Ty Cobb

5)  Lou Gehrig

6)  Stan Musial

7)  “Shoeless” Joe Jackson

8)  Mel Ott

9)  Tris Speaker

10) Ken Griffey, Jr.

Nine of these ten were outfielders.  Gehrig played first base.

Arky Vaughan would be the best left-handed hitting shortstop to choose from; he was truly great.

Eddie Collins, Joe Morgan, Rod Carew and Charlie Gehringer would be the best second basemen.

Eddie Mathews, George Brett and Wade Boggs were the best left-handed hitting third basemen.

The best left-handed hitting catchers were Yogi Berra, Bill Dickey and Mickey Cochrane.

Willie McCovey, Johnny Mize and Jim Thome are the next best first basemen.

Paul Waner, Goose Goslin, Sam Crawford, Duke Snider, Tony Gwynn, and Reggie Jackson, were other great left-handed batting outfielders.

Not a bad group of 30 players, huh?  Next time, we’ll compare them to the best right-handed batters in baseball history.