Prickly skin, rapid heart rate and childlike closing of eyes. Fans of exciting films that stir the imagination and deliver just the right amount of fear know what we're talking about. But unlike the long line of dramas as the most frequent winners, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences rarely gives Oscars to horror films. We took a look at the best classics of the genre and created a set of 11 that you definitely shouldn't miss.
1. Psycho (1960)
As one of the most acclaimed horror films of all time, it received nominations for Best Director and Best Supporting Actor, but not Best Picture or Best Actor.
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Screenplay: Joseph Stefano
2. Rosemary's Baby (1968)
With only a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay, the film maintains the title of one of the most impactful and extremely exciting horror films with the excellent Mia Farrow in the lead role.
Director: Roman Polanski
Screenplay: Roman Polanski
3. Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Although it didn't get much attention at the time, the horror movie later became the inspiration for many zombie films, while some critics point out its thoughtful civil rights allegory.
Directed by: George A. Romero
Screenplay: George A. Romero and John A. Russo
4. The Omen (1976)
Another brilliant thriller with both supernatural and psychological horror elements, which only won the Oscar for the best original soundtrack in the year of its release.
Directed by: Richard Donner
Screenplay: David Seltzer
5. Suspiria (1977)
A bit of an artistic oddball, it probably never had much chance of winning an Oscar, but it remains a powerful influence on today's horror films.
Directed by Dario Argento
Screenplay: Dario Argento and Daria Nicolodi
6. Halloween (1978)
A stunning achievement of a bloodier character, it should probably deserve more attention from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and even a consideration of the changed way thrillers are treated.
Directed by: John Carpenter
Written by: John Carpenter and Debra Hill
7. Alien (1979)
The Oscar for the best visual effects definitely went into the right hands that year, but at the same time the film also has an elaborate story of a kind of house of fear in space and the launch of Sigourney Weaver among the icons. represents
Director: Ridley Scott
Screenplay: Dan O'Bannon
8. The Shining (1980)
The chilling film received a lot of criticism from both Stephen King, who was not satisfied with Kubrick's adaptation, as well as nominations for worst director and actress at the Razzie Awards. Nevertheless, today it is considered an outstanding masterpiece in the genre of thriller classics.
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Screenplay: Stanley Kubrick and Diane Johnson
9. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
The original is more subtle than the pompous sequels that followed, but offers a subtle blend of traditional horror with surreal elements of nightmares.
Directed by: Wes Craven
Screenplay: Wes Craven
10. The Fly (1986)
Watching Jeff Goldblum as Seth Brundle slowly evolve into a terrifying man-fly hybrid is interestingly both terrifying and slightly sympathetic.
Director: David Cronenberg
Screenplay: David Cronenberg and Charles Edward Pogue
11. Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
Brutal and hard-to-watch films are usually not overly enthusiastic about critics. But with the movie "Henry" it was different. Bringing an extremely tense performance, Michael Rooker in the lead role of the serial killer was definitely overlooked as a best actor Oscar winner.
Directed by: John McNaughton
Screenplay: John McNaughton and Richard Fire
