@CelluloidFan said:

This is an idea that deserves exploration, as far as horror films go. Take the IMDB "Top 250" list or whatever it's called now: For a list of 250 of the supposedly greatest films, I seem to remember there being very few horror movies on it. Also, cineastes or whatever don't talk about great acting in horror films often. But there's the acting in this or, say, The Exorcist - very good stuff in my opinion. So is it that horror fans don't expect that much from their genre - not holding the movies up to the same criteria as films in other genres? Or do horror movies just generally fall shorter in these criteria?

Sometimes, the lead gives very competent acting in a horror film, but it's just not enough to save the film, in my humble opinion, like with for example, The Possession of Hannah Grace. But anyway, this is a good discussion to have.

Absolutely. I think it is just fair to say that in a 90min feature where so much time has to be dedicated to scene setting and exposition, there often isn't much time to insert scenes that would test an actor's range.

Fergoose, though this is off topic from what this started off being about, I add the following. Horror films are rarely truly scary. At least they were rarely terrifying in the intended way and the one viewers most expected or hoped and that is too bad. Most horror films do tremendously miss the mark--far more than comedies do.

Alien got a critique in a movie review book that went sort of this way: "The mixture of 'Exorcist' and 'Star Wars' has a distinctive look thanks to director Ridley Scott. But its a very thin horror film, overly dependent on slimy gruesomeness. The excellent cast has little to do."

The movie also gave Alien two stars meaning mediocre!

@Benton12 said:

Alien got a critique in a movie review book that went sort of this way: "The mixture of 'Exorcist' and 'Star Wars' has a distinctive look thanks to director Ridley Scott. But its a very thin horror film, overly dependent on slimy gruesomeness. The excellent cast has little to do."

When Alien came out, I recall a few critics not liking the movie. From a critical point of view, I suppose Alien was a fairly groundbreaking movie. Sci-fi horror was a pretty new concept and I'm not sure how well it was received by the public overall. But over the years, the high regard for Alien has garnered a lot of steam and "thin horror film" is far removed from the praise I hear these days.

Sorry Dark. I am afraid the book was written long after Aline came out. Nice try to save it. But failure! And its accurate. I said already--horror films are rarely that scary. Kubrick's 'The Shining' was one very few horror flicks to actually be scary.

Actually, it is the unscary but action-packed first sequel that changed Alien's perception. Alien is not that terrifying a film and never will be but the first sequel was a lot of fun.

@Benton12 said:

Sorry Dark. I am afraid the book was written long after Aline came out. Nice try to save it. But failure! And its accurate. I said already--horror films are rarely that scary. Kubrick's 'The Shining' was one very few horror flicks to actually be scary.

Couldn't disagree more. Huge fan of this genre, and I thoroughly enjoyed Alien. Granted, it won't appeal to everyone.

You being a fan and enjoying is not the point. There was no reason for critics to find the film any better (as far as scarier)more recently than back then. It did depend on slimy gruesomeness to try to frighten its audience as critics stated (effort unsuccessful). They called the cast excellent but they obviously knew little of Stanton's pre-Alien roles.

And Dark, it is not that scary, horror films in general. Most miss the mark.

I wish horror films were all as terrifying as the Shining of 1980 but just about none ever are!

The Shining was listed in a Star TV movie guide as frightening as few films are. (The Shining BTW was made just down the hall from Alien in 1978.)

Dark, what film did you see that you found the single scariest ever?

What must have disappointed the critics about Alien was that its TV trailer was 20 times more frightening than the actual film.

Dark, I did not see every film you did. So it is only fair to give you chance to prove what you said. If you alone choose to answer my above request please base it on horror film that you found the most legitimately petrifying of all films you ever remember seeing. Thanks!