Well, Bava had already made "Black Sunday", "Black Sabbath" and several other films, so he obviously experimented with what the hell he was doing. I've only seen the butchered U.S. version of your flick ("Curse of the Living Dead") on my black and white TV 30 years ago, but I'll try to make amends ASAP. Bava obviously heavily influenced Dario Argento. What do you think of the student's lighting and composition?

I like some of Argento's movies, I guess Susperia would be the classic, but for some reason he never hit me the same way as Bava. I have to admit though, that I have not seen all that many of his movies. Partly because I wasn't that impressed with what I watched and also due to the high pricetags on a lot of the Italian horrors. Also, although Black Sunday and Black Sabbath are both great movies, they were never near the top of my Bava list. As much respect as the black and white photography in Black Sunday gets, I think Bava didn't really hit his stride till he started working with color. I prefer Blood and Black Lace and his campy spy film Danger: Diabolik much more.

Lastly, since you mention watching the old butchered version, I am for some strange reason a big fan of all the budget horror film collections you can find on dvd now, which is where I first saw Kill, Baby...Kill (and why I call it by that name and not the more proper Curse of the Living Dead). Hope that doesn't loose me all credibility.

The fact that YOU use the film's proper title ADDS credibility, plus the fact that you even want to discuss Mario Bava is pretty impressive. Most of the first movies I ever watched were '50s and '60s horror and sci-fi films on local TV back in the '60s. So I got interested in Bava and a few other wackos back before I really knew what a director did. Bava also made some spaced-out space movies. I recently gave my brother, who's an even bigger fan of Bava and Argento, the completely restored in Italian "Black Sabbath" on DVD. We watched it and he was in Seventh Heaven. By the way, my brother and I saw "Blood and Black Lace" (butchered, natch) at the theatre when it played the U.S. Our parents would drop us off at the theatre and pick us up after the double bill. I can't remember now, but we may have watched it with "The House That Screamed".

As far as Argento goes, have you seen "Deep Red" and the totally-insane "Inferno"? Those certainly have as mush style as "Suspiria" (my bro and I saw that at the theatre when it came out, but, of course, it was cut for U.S. release.) I think that "Deep Red" is probably Argento's best because it seems to make sense of the stylistic flourishes.

Maybe we can keep this going or start a thread on Italian horror (giallo?). There must be some others who have seen this stuff.

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I think a Giallo thread would be a good addition to the board. I've never seen 'Deep Red' primarily again because I just can't afford to buy it and the town I live in doesn't have a rental copy (I've looked). I've been on the hunt for the budget release of it, I think under the title 'The Hatchet Murders' but I have not yet found it. It's probably time to admit defeat and buy the thing online.

Also wanted to add another to the list of recommendations on this thread. 'Wicker Man' is one I can't believe I forgot to mention. Not a traditional horror movie, but a very good one. Christopher Lee as a pagan priest is just perfect casting.

if i had to pick one it would be the 1941 classic-the wolfman with lon chaney jr.

Favorite: "In the Mouth of Madness" & "Event Horizon"
I love the whole concept in "In the Mouth of Madness": If the majority of people believe something, it will exist. As for "Event Horizon", demons in space! The ultimate bad guys will always be the ones who come from Hell!

Worst: "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" remake
I've never seen the original but, my sister brought over this horrible gorefest trying to get me to buy it from her. I was cool with it until they stopped by the creepy diner & agreed to wait for a cop in some secluded spot where no real cop would ever ask you to meet them. Then suddenly the van wouldn't start? They didn't even think it was odd that the sheriff was wrapping the girl up in Saran Wrap! In fact, one of them helped! I was finished with it when Leatherface hung his new victim on a meathook while the poor guy was still alive & then he turned around & smacked salt on the bloody stump of his leg. I enjoy violence & gore as much as the next guy but, I like a story to go with it! I cared for nobody in this movie. It was just stupid & awful all in one!

The original "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" is overrated in my opinion. It's awright. It definitely gave that f*cked up creepy vibe, but that's all there is to it.

The best I have ever seen were "Halloween", "Hellraiser", "Blair Witch Project", and(if it counts) "Jaws".

The worst I have ever watched? Wow. Hmm....... I've seen some crappy ones all over. Probably "Pumpkin Head 2", "New Nightmare", and "Open Water".

I'm only 20 so I haven't really remember the classic horror movie like Jaws or whatever. However, the Descent has got to be my favorite so far, for it depicts a true air of fear, that's different from bland gory movies like Hostel, The Hills Have Eyes, ect.

The first half of the film was excellent, but then the second half wasn't that good, but yet the ending just made you feel the real horror of what they went through.

Favorite- Cabin Fever, Silence Of The Lambs, Dawn Of The Dead, Sliver

Worst- Do I have to say Alone In The Dark or is that already understood when we're talking about sucky horror movies, well AITD and "They", that movie had to be one of the worst movies Ive ever seen, i mean, i would rather jump in a septic tank and drown myself than watch that movie, i mean, that movie was so horrible its not even funny

I heard "Alone In The DarK" was a terrible movie, so I just try to avoid it.

"Kick him in the nards!"
"He doesn't have nards!"
"Do it! Do it!"
"Wolfman's got nards!"
My all time favorite horror movie starring kids is coming to DVD July 24th in a 2-disc special edition. "The Monster Squad" will be released for its 20th Anniversary with featurettes, extended & deleted scenes, an interview with Tom Noonan in full Frankensein's monster make-up, stills, trailers, & t.v. spots. Not to mention the movie has been remastered in WIDESCREEN!!!! If you have no idea what I'm talking about check out the original trailer!!! WHOO-HOO!

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention this baby will have 2 commentaries!!!!! A technical one with the director & cinematographer & another with the cast, all grown up!

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Monster Squad - that brings back memories. I'd almost forgotten it existed. It was a lot of fun if memory serves.

My favourite horror movie is the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre - it just has this eerie, messed up quality to it. There were a lot of low budget 'video nasties', but Chainsaw Massacre is perhaps the only film from that genre that did exactly what it said on the tin (apart from 'Cannibal Holocaust', but I'd call that an endurance test as opposed to a piece of cinema).

Even though the gore in TCM is mainly suggested, it still remains more horrific than the majority of blood soaked gore-fests. The ending is extremely claustrophobic. Even the hammy 'Scooby Doo' acting of the teenagers makes you feel like you're watching an authentic snuff film. You feel uneasy from the word go and leave the film feeling tense and disturbed. A brilliant piece of work.

I'm not too sure what my least favourite is. I wasn't too keen on the Friday the 13th series. I didn't like the subtext of the goody-two-shoes teenager surviving all the time. Don't do drugs, no sex before marriage etc. Do any of these things and the boogey man will get you. It made the films predictable and moralistic.

I'm not too keen on a lot of the remakes either. 'The Haunting' with Catherine Zeta Jones was dreadful, especially when you consider how great the original was. I think I'll go for that one as my least favourite.

For me you gotta rate horror movies on the first time you watch them. And so for me. no doubt it's The Exorcist. First saw it with a friend at a special midnight showing in cinema when it was still banned on video in the UK some years back. Never seen anything like it. Never will.

Worst? well Blair Witch really was crap people. But as a look into the future I hear a remake of the Last House On The Left is planned. Oh God no!!! Leave it the ***k alone you bastising money grabbing movie execs. You aint got a clue.

It's tough to say what my favorite horror movie is, but I can say the worst is The Hills Have Eyes. I rented it after it came out on DVD. This movie is the first movie I have seen where I did not finish it. It was BORING and lacked any excitement at the beginning. Well whoop de do, they're at a gas station. Whoop de do, the hill people put spikes in the road. It's done in such a boring way that I get to the point where I don't care what happens to these people. Oh, here's a plus, some guy comits suicide. But is that exciting? No. You can easily tell that it's a dummy you're looking at by the poor quality of the "dead body." I turn off the movie when the hill people are dragging one of the guys in a mine cart into the hills, (after they were able to get him in a non-exciting way) not caring about how the movie ends or if any of them would make it out alive.

edit: And tied for the worst horror movie is that one that was released on June 6 2006. The movie name is not worth mentioning. I laughed at the little kid when he was trying to look scary. I laughed during parts that were supposed to be scary. And everyone in the movie theater did the same. The only justice in the film is how the priest dies.

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Favourite and worst horror..wel dont know my favourite but..the worst..

"BOY EATS GIRL"
it says r18 but i swear a 5 year old would laugh at it..lol..

Lataz

The langoliers is my least favorite and my most favorite is silence of the lambs any thing with Hannibal Lector the new movie was the best portrait of Hannibal it kinda makes me feel the most sympathy for what happened to him.

the worst:

The Exorcism of Emily Rose

Went to the theater to watch it and hated it. It was a lawyer flick masquerading as a horror flick.

The best horror movie for me is Psycho by Alfred Hitchcock and the worst is Kinky Killers.

I have many favorites but one that creeped me out like hell was "the mothman prophecies." It was not bloody or violent... just creepy.

One of the worst I have seen is um... there are so many bad ones that came out over the past 5 years... The worst ones, in my opinion, are the generic ones.
At least overly terrible ones like 13 ghosts and wishmaster make you laugh/snort and keep you entertained.