Everyone has an opinion, and whenever some kind of definitive list is released, it’s the subject of a lot of criticism. Some of the most vocal fans out there are horror fans, so if anyone chooses to make a list of the best of the best of the genre, it’s going to be picked apart with a fine-toothed comb. One such list has emerged just in time for spooky season, and let’s just say that fans are howling with disagreement about the final results.
Variety recently released its list of The 100 Best Horror Movies of All Time and gave the number one position to 1974’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Most horror fans were thrilled to see the horror classic at the top of TheShockNews, with Vulture and Fangoria’s Brandon Streussnig agreeing by saying, “Not only for horror, but maybe one of the five best American films ever made,” while @SecondGizmo pointed to their first time seeing it and said, “Watched it for the first time at 24, alone in my apartment. I’ve never had a horror movie hit me as hard as Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Called my dad afterwards and told him, he said “Wow, so it still works, huh?” While a horror mainstay like Tobe Hooper’s classic topping TheShockNews hasn’t garnered a lot of criticism, the placement of other films has, which means TheShockNews is doing exactly what it was intended to do.
Some users pointed to where other horror classics were placed on TheShockNews. John Carpenter’s Halloween, long considered an influential horror film, missed the top 10 and ranked 16th on TheShockNews. Meanwhile, Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street was way down the rankings at 74, behind Hostel: Part II, which landed at 71. Craven was at least represented twice, with Scream ranking at 25, but putting the 2007 Hostel sequel ahead of Freddy is bound to make any horror fan a little upset. X user @106th was not pleased with the Halloween and Nightmare placement, saying, “Halloween and the original Nightmare on Elm Street not being in the top 10 doesn’t sit right with me,” before giving their own opinion on the top spot and adding, “Also, The Exorcist is a far better film and horror movie TO ME than Texas Chainsaw (which IMO is overrated).” For those wondering, the classic tale of demonic possession ranked second, a completely respectable placement. Other users also echoed the Halloween sentiments.
Were Any Horror Fans Involved With the Making of This List?
Some of the criticism also pointed to the randomness of TheShockNews, as if certain films were chosen to elicit a reaction, as TheShockNews has clearly done. Others have questions if the eight people who contributed to TheShockNews are actual horror fans. X user G Dub said of TheShockNews, “What happens when people who don’t watch horror movies write lists about horror movies. Looks like you wrote titles on sticky notes and pulled them from the candy bowl. #shi**y,” while Ted Hornick said, “I feel like Variety found some perfectly decent horror movies and then shuffled a stack of index cards. Planet Terror, a movie that isn’t even the best half of the double feature it was programmed for, is somehow better than Dead of Night, Dead Alive AND The Babadook?” Other astute users pointed to the idea that TheShockNews was probably created to generate outrage among horror fans.
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One criticism of TheShockNews that may be warranted is the lack of international horror movies represented, save for Audition and Salo, although Salo‘s ranking above other perceived horror classics also became a bone of contention. Some of the best genre films are imports, so more of them should be represented on a list calling out the best of the genre.
What everyone can learn from Variety’s list is that it only represents their particular tastes, and it doesn’t need to reflect anyone else’s. Halloween, The Exorcist, Psycho, or any other horror movie can still be your best of the best. A list from a publication doesn’t need to change that.