10. Field Of Dreams
The most sentimental of the choices on this list, I once had a friend tell me if this movie didn’t make me cry then I had no soul. The truth of my soul existing or not is certainly up for debate, but the heart and soul of Field Of Dreams is not.
9. Sleepy Hollow
Aesthetically Tim Burtons Sleep Hollow is one of my favorite movies. Visually it sucks you in a creates such a strong mood of eerie, terror, and of course the awkward humor that only Tim Burton delivers. Johnny Depp as Ichabod Crane is unforgettable, terrified, but hilarious all in one confused package. This is a great ghost story that feels magical and scary and fun.
8. The Blair Witch Project
Scary doesn’t have to come with special effects and expensive costumes, and The Blair Witch Project shocked the world with it’s Dramamine necessary camerawork, and realism used to emphasize a common fear, being lost in the woods.
7. The Sixth Sense
What The Sixth Sense really succeeded in was a shock and a twist that no one watching the film ever suspected, with one of the most talked about endings to a movie ever. As far a re-watchability goes, it’s not the most entertaining film, but for that viewing when you go back to find all the subtle clues that were fed to you, it’s pretty damn terrific.
6. The Shining
The Overlook Hotel and it’s haunted hallway’s are enough to resonate terror in your toughest viewer. Stephen King taps into the unknown and the psyche better than most, and The Shining is a perfect example of that. His novel was adapted differently for the big screen but was still absolutely chilling. The solitude of Jack and his family, tortured by the massive haunted hotel is not something that anyone forgets.
5. Scrooged
I’m a sucker for this Bill Murray interpretation of A Christmas Carol. It retains some of the sweetness and even the darkness of the original conception, but adds a light heartedness and sense of humor that Murray brought elegantly to the table. The most entertaining of the ghosts of the past, present, and future, with Bill Murray taking the lead, this is one of my favorite Christmastime flicks and certainly one of the best ghost stories ever.
4. The Exorcist
The Exorcist may not be a ghost specifically, maybe a demon, but the possession of the little girls body is close enough for me. I’m not sure why a remake was ever necessary when the original is clearly perfect as is. The long story is perversely terrifying, and maybe it’s not “Boo” scary, but the mood and the depth of the story will affect you indefinitely. The Exorcist is a movie nobody forgets.
3. Ghostbusters
No one ever said a great ghost story couldn’t be funny. And while Ghostbusters is just as easily gut busting, it also has a little scary too. The actors are amazing in this film that inspired sequels, a cartoon series, video games, and an adoration that is impossible to deny from it’s fans, Ghostbusters is one of a kind.
2. The Others
The Others was anything but a typical or obvious Ghost Story. It was a slow paced, almost tranquil story that really taped into what simplistic creepy and eerie is. The shocking ending gives ghost movies an entirely new way of viewing the paranormal world of ghosts.
1. Poltergeist
For me this still is the most terrifying movie about ghosts. The special effects never go to far, yet there is an epic feel to it, still balanced by realism. The characters are full on tangible, and never do you feel like yelling at them telling them how stupid they are. It feels like a real situation, where human curiosity becomes the catalyst for the impossible, a nightmare that no one can wake up from. The creativity of Poltergeist, and it’s terrific writing and direction put it at number one without question for me.
Readers Choices
High Spirits
Paranormal Activities
The Changeling
The Amityville Horror (1979)
1408
Gothika
Ghost
The Ring
Stir Of Echos
House
Heart And Souls
Beetlejuice
Candyman
I love Poltergeist! Good choice!
“13 ghosts” scared me a lil bit when I saw it.
Wow – solid list! All excellent choices. Still, you seem to have missed the most important ghost movie of this modern era: “Over Her Dead Body” with Eva Longoria.
Really? Are you being facetious or are you truly saying this flick was something worth viewing? It seemed like it had promise…………but if you truly suggest it that highly I will take the time to watch it.
One of my favorites is “Elvira’s Haunted Hills” (2001). Hilarious !!! Great list…
LOL ! I even have a signed (by Elvira) copy of the soundtrack !
“Haunted Hills” is not high art, but it’s really cute and fantastic
Halloween fun… It paraodies the “Hammer” horror classics !!!
Over Her Dead Body? Never caught that one. Seemed kind of ridiculous. I have heard of Elvira’s Haunted Hills myself and it’s seems to have gotten a lot of praise.
Love the list, it’s getting me in the mood for Halloween.
I would add The Changeling with George C. Scott myself.
poltergeist was boring. shouldn’t nightmare on elm street be here? freddy was kind of a haunt wasn’t he? i mean if you have the exorcist then i think it’s fair to count freddy too.
Thank you, that is awesome Daniel. I heart Halloween. I would skip Christmas and all the other holidays and replace them with quarterly Halloween celebrations. I’m definitely going to check Elivra’s Haunted Hills out now.
“The Others” made it on there! Awesome. A very unsettling movie that’s very well-done.
And bless you, bless you 1,000 times for not putting “Ghost” on here.
Poltergeist……… SHOCKER!!! What’s your favorite alien movie? haha
Good list… love the baseball movie and Scrooged which i LOVE!
I will say though that Exorcist is a demon movie and Blair Witch might get by on a technicality but should be a witch movie! hmmmm…. thoughts?
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Excellent top 10. Love Poltergeist. I’d put The Shining to the top on my own list I think. One of my favourites is Ghostwatch – a film that was made to look like a live television broadcast from a family’s haunted house in England. Very creepy stuff. It ends with the studio getting possessed!
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