To some, Horror movies are merely a goof to pass the time. To others they are a passion to behold. For accomplished drummer Bevan Davies, his love for Horror cinema began at a young age and carried with him into his adult years. On the scene for years now, Davies has built a name for himself by playing with the likes of Jerry Cantrell, Static-X, Danzig, and even Engelbert Humperdinck. Whether he is managing his store, Pit Stop For Pets, Inc in Alpharetta, Gerogia, or out on tour rocking hard, Davies always finds time to indulge in Horror movies. Recently we grabbed hold of the mutli-talented musician to see where his top 10 Horror movies of all-time rank.
10) Universal Monsters Collection: The influence of these characters and films on every Horror/Sci-fi film that came after it is immeasurable. For me, the first thing I look for in a great Horror film is atmosphere. I need to feel like I am where the story is taking place. These early films set the bar so high in that category. I enjoy all the films Universal made during their monster heyday, but of course the classic monsters of Dracula, Frankenstein’s monster, Creature From The Black Lagoon, The Wolfman, The Invisible Man and The Bride Of Frankenstein left the biggest mark on the Horror genre of that era. These characters were always more sympathetic than they were scary and this dynamic really showcased the great storytelling these films all had.
- Universal
9) Zombie (1979): Yes! The Lucio Fulci classic! My other prerequisite for a great horror film is that I never get sick of watching it, and that is most definitely the case with this gore classic. The filth of death that our main characters find on the island of Matool is so disgusting and unsettling, I absolutely feel as though I am right there alongside them.
- The Jerry Gross Organization
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8) Salem’s Lot (1979): This movie terrified me at a young age and I feel like it has aged very well. I believe the scene where Kurt Barlow appears in the family’s kitchen is still one of the most terrifying scenes in a horror film ever. This is probably my favorite vampire film ever. Too many unforgettable scenes to mention.
- CBS
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7) Night of the Living Dead (1968) This one is a no-brainer (pun intended). This film belongs in everyone’s top 10. We’ve all seen it. We know what makes it great, but again, for me it’s all about the atmosphere and dread that our characters are enduring. It’s probably one of the first times we viewers learned the harsh lesson that we all might survive if we only learned to work together.
- Public domain
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6) The Shining (1980): Atmosphere for days… Stanley Kubrick is the master when it comes to this. Of course we know how brilliant Jack Nicholson is in this, but how can we ever shake off the sheer isolation of the Overlook Hotel? Scatman Crothers adds just the right Morgan Freeman-like touch to his ominous character. This is yet another one I can watch over and over and always find something new to appreciate in it.
- Warner Bros.
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5) The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974): Another masterpiece. To this day, this is a downright scary film. The atmosphere here is totally believable. I can practically smell the stench inside this old farm house. I’ve never shaken off the visual of Leatherface swinging that chainsaw around in the road in the final scenes. Terrifying.
- Bryanston Pictures
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4) The Silence of the Lambs (1991): Some may not describe this one as a true Horror movie, but it is for me. It’s got it all; atmosphere, unforgettable frightening characters, and dread. The storytelling is top-notch. Such a dreary setting and these iconic characters are truly scary. I never get sick of it.
- Orion Pictures
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3) Rosemary’s Baby (1968): Gotta admit, I didn’t truly get how scary this film was until I was a little older. Roman Polanski nailed it on this one. Has there ever been a more sympathetic character than Mia Farrow’s Rosemary Woodhouse? The atmosphere is perfect, the music is haunting and let’s face it, few things are scarier than happy jolly Satanists living next door.
- Paramount
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2) The Exorcist (1973): Another no-brainer here. I should probably be listing my top 20, because there really are too many great ones that deserve to be mentioned. The Exorcist was a true game-changer. This is another one where the music and atmosphere place you right inside the film. Too many great scenes to even mention. This one is still truly terrifying. Never gets old. Time for my personal favorite….
- Warner Bros.
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1) Halloween (1978): Yep, John Carpenter’s Halloween. Clearly the film Black Christmas had substantial influence here, but in my opinion, this is the holy grail of slasher films, and Michael Myers is the greatest of them all. John Carpenter is the master of suspense in the horror world and here is where he cut his teeth. I grew up in the ’70s and this film takes me right back to my childhood. I find Halloween to be the most perfect Horror film of all time. It has it all, and it all is terrifyingly believable. I’ve viewed it probably more than 100 times and it never stops being scary. I look for Michael in every scene.
- Warner Bros. Pictures
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