Pleasure of Nightmares 2nd ANNUAL HALL OF INFAMY & Severed Head Nods - LAST WEEKEND TO VOTE!
May 21st 2009 00:12
For the 2nd Annual Hall of Infamy the voting system has been adjusted slightly. The existing Hall of Infamy titles automatically receive 10 points each. You can vote - via comment - for any movie you like, including any in the Hall of Infamy, giving your top selection 5 points, your next 4 points, then 3, 2 and 1. When I tally up the votes any movies with tied points it will be my prerogative to decide which title wins the tie.
In conjunction with the Hall of Infamy I have devised three “awards” known as the Severed Head Nod. The selection with the most votes wins the award aka Nod.
The first Severed Head Nod is an old school acknowledgement: Greatest Special Effects Makeup. You can single out one sequence in a movie, or the effects work throughout, as long as the special effects makeup was not achieved through CGI. If the movie uses a combination I will make final judgment.
The second Severed Head Nod is a contest between villains and killers. Keep in mind that “Monster” includes Mother Nature’s nasties, malevolent aliens and any Lovecraftian beasties, “Ghosts” includes haunted houses and poltergeist, “Demon/Witch” includes diabolical possession, and “Boogeyman” includes psychopaths and serial killers. So, which one of the following gets your vote? Vampire vs. Werewolf vs. Zombie vs. Monster vs. Demon/Witch vs. Ghost vs. Boogeyman.
Finally it’s a battle between blood and fear. Are you more excited by visceral intensity or by atmospheric suspense? Which gets your vote for the Gorehound vs. Terrorfreak Severed Head Nod?
Here is the current Hall of Infamy as voted in 2008:
1. Alien (USA, 1979) Directed by Ridley Scott
2. The Exorcist (USA, 1973) Directed by William Friedkin
3. The Thing (USA, 1982) Directed by John Carpenter
4. Ringu (Japan, 1998) Directed by Hideo Nakata
5. Rosemary’s Baby (USA, 1968) Directed by Roman Polanski
6. A Nightmare on Elm Street (USA, 1984) Directed by Wes Craven
7. Wolf Creek (Australia, 2005) Directed by Greg Mclean
8. The Shining (USA, 1980) Directed by Stanley Kubrick
9. Ginger Snaps (Canada, 2000) Directed by John Fawcett
10. An American Werewolf in London (USA, 1981) Directed by John Landis
11. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (USA, 1974) Directed by Tobe Hooper
12. Halloween (USA, 1978) Directed by John Carpenter
13. Se7en (USA, 1995) Directed by David Fincher
Ten American movies, one Japanese, one Australian, and one Canadian. Curiously no European movies, where’s the love?
Two werewolf movies, no vampire movies, no zombie movies. The lycanthropes rule the night it seems, will they continue to do so?
One movie from the 60s, four from the 70s, four from the 80s, two from the 90s, and two from the noughties. Nice to see the Scarlet Age of Modern Horror represented well, will those decades reign supreme again?
Two movies directed by John Carpenter. He the man it seems. Can he hold onto the kudos?
The voting lines are now open and will remain open for the next three weeks. I will announce the new Hall Of Infamy and the three Severed Head Nods on Monday June 15.
Remember the voting system: five selections for the Hall of Infamy; your top movie gets 5 points, your fifth selection gets 1 point.
Don’t forget to make your selection for the three Severed Head Nods either!
NB: I am open to any suggestions for next year’s Hall of Infamy & Severed Head Nods criteria.
Hall of Infamy banner art by Steven Stahlberg
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Comment by Someone
Evil Pleasures
Random Musings on Life, Love and Everything
Let's Get Down To Business
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Damo
I may have to brood over this for a while.
Comment by Matt Shea
20/20 Filmsight
Alien - 5 points
The Thing - 4 points
The Exorcist - 3 points
Dawn of the Dead (original) - 2 points
Carrie - 1 point
Greatest special effects make-up: does Bottin's work on The Thing count? If so, there be my vote.
Also: Terror Freak, and
Demons/Witches
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
1) Deep Red
2) Night of the Living Dead
3) Shaun of the Dead
4) Suspiria
5) Herzog's Nosferatu
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Matt, cheers! And oh YES, Bottin indeed (that be my personal vote too).
Cibby, cheers, don't forget the Severed Head Nods!!! I'm assuming that Deep Red at #1 gets your 5 points?
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
I'm definitely a terrorfreak...and it's zombies for me!
Comment by Jake 5
First I'll give ya my easier votes...
Demon/witches
Terror freak
I'll get back you on the other.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Jake, cheers and don't forget!!!
Comment by Natalina
My Life My Muse
Beta Girl Blog
1. The Exorcist 5 points (still gives me nightmares!)
2. The Omen 4 Points
3. Videodrome 3 points (scared the bajeesus out of me!)
4. Communion 2 Points
5. The Amityville Horror (Original) 1 Point
Ghosts
Terrorfreak
There you go.
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
on the Severed Head Nod level, a film I saw the other night, and although a zero for suspense, drama and scare factor, its good old fashioned special effects for makeup were great! I am a huge fan, like you, of the old way, CGI is just too easy, and still can be picked, whereas good old fashioned blood spurts and splashing grey matter are always a crowd pleaser, sorry, I forgot to say what it is... "Monster Slayer" oh and "Blood for Dracula", by Warhol, and "Frankenstein in 3D" by Warhol..."nothing like f*#@king in the pancreas" (am I remembering that right?) sooo fab in 3D too.
As for the top scare factor movies, I side with the suspense style for getting me going;
"The Shining", by Kubrick is my number one,
"Poltergeist",
"Alien",
"The Innocents" (creepy little English number I first saw as a ten year old),
C"ount Dracula Vampire" (1970s and was first Drac movie that I saw set in modern day, made it scarier),.
Gorehound vs. Terrorfreak : well, I love both of course, the blood fest for a good old yeehaaw and a larrfff, the terrofreak to get the hairs standing on end on my neck...but you want me to state a preference...I'll take the brain eating Zombie freaks,
I loved Shaun of the Dead.
I'm tuckered out, probably messed all this up...
cheers
fog
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
So,you've given me five movies, I'll jot you down for Monster Slayer for special effects, and gorehound ... and I guess "zombie" for villain, right?
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Someone
Evil Pleasures
Random Musings on Life, Love and Everything
Let's Get Down To Business
4 points - The Thing
3 Points - Frank Darabont's The Mist
2 Points - Ju-On (The original japanese one, not Sarah Michelle Gellar garbage)
1 Point - The Host
Severed Head Nods... I really wish I could vote for Monsters and Zombies, but Zombies win.
Best SFX - The Thing, hands down. That scene where he's attempting to use the shock paddles? Just incredible.
I used to be a total gorehound, but I think I'm leaning more towards terrorfreak now. I do believe a good combination of both is best though.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Someone
Evil Pleasures
Random Musings on Life, Love and Everything
Let's Get Down To Business
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
and...Monster Slayer, I put that one in as I had just watched it, and it sucked generally as a scare experience, so my preference would probably be, actually, I will get back to you, as I just realized that I have only seen the orginal The Thing, the black and white (50s?) movie, way back in the 60s, which even then was not so scary.
So I might do some research before I cast my final vote on my top five and best (non CGI) effects, sorry about that.
cheers
fog
Comment by Jake 5
I have a question... I am putting some thought into this. I really want to add Vacancy to my list, but only because it freaked me out! Not like it was some sorta special movie but it really got to me! The whole door knocking part freaked me out! Was I drunk? or does this movie deserve to be in the top 5?
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Fog, don't forget!
Jake, you were most likely drunk. But Vacancy is definitely a cut above the rest. I own a copy, but then I've got a crush on Kate.
Comment by Someone
Evil Pleasures
Random Musings on Life, Love and Everything
Let's Get Down To Business
How about Return of the Living Dead? I loved Shaun, but that's the problem with measuring everything against perfection...
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I haven't had time to come up with my list yet for this years award, but wanted you to know i am working on it as we speak....not to be taken lightly
Comment by Jake 5
1. The Exorcist
2. Amusement
3. IT
4. High Tension
5. Vacancy
Clowns freak me out! And the idea of someone invading your home. Or hotel for that matter. And for my number one I am trying to rightfully move up the exorcist.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Return of the Living Dead is up there for sure, as is Peter Jackson's Braindead and Re-Animator. An under-rated one is Night of the Creeps, and the recent Slither wasn't half bad.
Comment by Someone
Evil Pleasures
Random Musings on Life, Love and Everything
Let's Get Down To Business
I've only seen Beyond Reanimator, and really enjoyed it. Do you know how that compares to the original? I've been hunting for a copy of Braindead for ages now, ever since seeing Bad Taste, which was great.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
I haven't seen Beyond Re-Animator, but Bride of Re-Animator was dreadful from memory, which was the first sequel. Re-Animator is a seminal piece of over-the-top phantasmogoria.
I worked on Braindead. Wild flick. Wild time.
Comment by MikeB
2. Exorcist
3. IT
4. Fire in the sky
5. The Hitcher
Terrorfreak/Demon-witch
Cool blog, man.
Comment by Cliff Daigle
Midnight Movie Screenings
Horror Movie News
1. The Thing (Carpenter)
2. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Hooper)
3. Dawn of the Dead (Romero)
4. The Exorcist
5. Braindead (Dead Alive)
FX: The Thing (Carpenter/Bottin)
Monsters
Gorehound
Great post! Looking forward to the results.
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
4pts: Poltergiest
3pts: Alien
2pts: Night of the Living Dead
1pt: Shaun of the Dead
Zombies generally win out, however, freaky suspense films, like The Shining, definitely do it for me in the creepy scared shi*less stakes.
Severed Head Nods;
SFX: Gore: The vomiting scene from Warhol's Blood for Dracula: when the Count gets his choppers into a non- "wurgin" girl, although in black and white (I think, from memory), it is a classsic.
Again from Warhol, the fuc#ing scene in Frankenstein 3D, where the good old doc gets his rocks off by screwing the female freak in the pancreas, plus, the really awful scene where his Igore type tries it himself and makes a mess of it. (I think I am remembering this right...I was on mind altering substances when I saw it at the cinema when it first came out, the 3D was okay, but the projectionsit stuffed it up at times.)
Villain: Alien...she is a bitch to be reckoned with!
The original Blob, all black and white and scary when I saw it as a wee nipper, Invasion of the Body Snatchers (original) the gooey pods with the lillie white bodies...ewww.
that'll do.
cheers
fog