Stephen King Reveals what he thinks is the scariest horror film ever made. King is the author responsible for some of the most iconic horror stories of all time, including the likes of The Shining And it. Many of King’s books have been adapted into successful films, with multiple new King adaptations arriving each year. Salem’s place (2024) is the latest adaptation of King’s work to make it to the screen, but multiple titles are still on the horizon, including The life of Chuck And The monkey.
In a recent essay for VarietyKing shares his pick for the scariest horror film ever made. While he names several titles as contenders, and admits that the age at which a film is watched plays a major role in how scary it is, King reveals that he thinks Night of the Living DeadDirected by George A. Romero, is the “Scariest horror movie“Of all time. King calls the film a “Low-budget masterpiece“And writes that although his impact has diminished over the years, he still remembers”The helpless terror“He felt while watching it for the first time. Read King’s full essay below:
I think deeply about this question, perhaps deeper than the subject – my scariest horror movie – deserves… but then, I’ve seen a lot of horror movies, so maybe it’s a valid question.
My conclusion is that the “scariest” varies according to the viewer’s age. As a child of 16, the scariest movie was “The Haunting” (directed by Robert Wise). As an adult, it was “The Blair Witch Project,” with the building sense of doom and the truly terrifying last 35 seconds. But in general, I would have to say “Night of the Living Dead“, George A. Romero’s low-budget masterpiece.
I’ll never forget the smart older brother doing his bad imitation of Boris Karloff – “They’re coming to get you, Barbara… There’s one now!” He points to the elderly Vino, who rushes among the gravestones, but the elderly Vino turns out to be a reanimated corpse, and when Barbara gets into her car, she discovers that the handsome brother – Johnny – has taken the keys. Meanwhile, the old man is trying to reach her, and the viewer understands that he will not stop. It is a moment of pure atavistic terror. Barbara puts the car in neutral (probably impossible without the key, but that’s movies for you) and rolls it down the hill, getting away…temporarily.
In the end, nobody survives. The movie has lost its elemental power over the years – has become almost a midnight madness joke, like “Rocky Horror” – but I still remember the helpless terror I felt when I first saw it. And now that I think about it, there’s a real similarity to “Blair Witch,” both with minimal or no music, both cast with unknown actors who seem barely capable of summer camp in Paducaville, both with low-tech special effects. They work not in spite of these things, but because of them.
What King’s Night of the Living Dead choose means for this film
King’s opinions hold a lot of weight
As the author of countless horror classics, King’s opinion obviously holds a lot of weight, and his thoughts on new movies and TV shows, both in and outside the horror genre, continue to be of interest to many. King’s recommendation may actually encourage more people to review Night of the Living Dead Or watch it for the first time. As one of the most iconic and important movies ever made, it’s likely already a title that many viewers will be familiar with.
Related
Night of the living Death Currently sporting a 95% on Rotten tomatoesWith its story of a small group of survivors barricading themselves in a farmhouse as zombies attempt to get inside captivating audiences at the time. Although Romero’s was not the first zombie movie ever made, It remains one of the most important, and is largely responsible for popularizing the subgenre, which remains prominent today.. Romero would revisit zombies in horror in subsequent titles, including The Notable Dawn of the Dead (1978), which Zack Snyder remade in 2004.
Our take on King Chosen Night of the Living Dead
Is the Romero film still as strong today?
King would have been about 21 when Night of the Living Dead came out, so it’s no wonder that Romero’s zombie movie made such an impression on him. For younger audiences today, however, it is likely that the film would not have the same impact. Although it may have been chilling and shocking at the time, It would probably seem quite tame to a younger viewer who is well-versed in today’s horror movies.
but still, Night of the Living Dead is worth watching because of the impact it had on the horror genre. Plus, with King Citing it as the scariest movie ever made for him, it might be interesting to try to see how the film impacted his own work.
Source: Variety