My Top Ten Films All-Time, For the Moment, Subject to Change!

Written By Zachary strupp

I am prone to hyperbole. I often exaggerate things for the drama of it. I want the world to be more grandiose than it is. I want to be better than I am. The truth of it is, being a latch key kid who was also an undiagnosed bipolar, I used hyperbole as a crutch. I wanted to be noticed. I wanted to be loved by someone, anyone. I dyed my hair crazy colors, I went through a goth phase that got me ejected from my High School campus… Oh yeah, on top of being on my own from the age of fifteen and having severe mental health issues, I was also kept on scholarship at a strict Right-Wing Christian school. The stories from my youth would be great CW fodder. I didn’t have many people who enjoyed my company. I can’t blame them. As an adult I’ve been medicated, I’ve picked up a little wisdom, and I’ve toned down the exaggeration. Except when it comes to movies!

I’m known to say, “That is one of my all-time favorites!” I say it a lot. So, I thought I would put myself to the test. Here are my top ten films as of this moment, 06/29/2021.

10. All That Jazz (1979) Admit it, you expected this list to be nothing but ultra-violence? It may be hard to believe by the quality of my writing, but I do have some class. All that Jazz is Bob Fosse’s epic retelling of his own life. It’s not like the vaseline-lensed, self-serving Oscar bait Biopics that celebrities make to get each other off nowadays. This is a gritty vision into not only Fosse’s life, but the lives of everyone behind the scenes on Broadway. That includes his loving ex-wife, whose heart he continues to break every day with his womanizing and drug use. Bob Fosse was troubled, as most geniuses are. He’s hooked on drugs, sex, and being the best at what he does. That doesn’t leave room for committed relationships, sleep, or his daughter. It is a brutal film for a person to make as all of the sins in Fosse’s avatar, Joe Gideon, are his own flaws. It has an incredible score and scene stealing performances by John Lithgow and Jessica Lange. The real star is of course Roy Scheider. He revels in playing against type. He imbues the anti-hero Joe Gideon with a lovable quality that keeps you on the edge of your seat

10. All That Jazz (1979)

Admit it, you expected this list to be nothing but ultra-violence? It may be hard to believe by the quality of my writing, but I do have some class. All that Jazz is Bob Fosse’s epic retelling of his own life. It’s not like the vaseline-lensed, self-serving Oscar bait Biopics that celebrities make to get each other off nowadays. This is a gritty vision into not only Fosse’s life, but the lives of everyone behind the scenes on Broadway. That includes his loving ex-wife, whose heart he continues to break every day with his womanizing and drug use. Bob Fosse was troubled, as most geniuses are. He’s hooked on drugs, sex, and being the best at what he does. That doesn’t leave room for committed relationships, sleep, or his daughter. It is a brutal film for a person to make as all of the sins in Fosse’s avatar, Joe Gideon, are his own flaws. It has an incredible score and scene stealing performances by John Lithgow and Jessica Lange. The real star is of course Roy Scheider. He revels in playing against type. He imbues the anti-hero Joe Gideon with a lovable quality that keeps you on the edge of your seat

9. Trancers (1985)This is the pinnacle of Full Moon pictures in my mind. It isn’t their biggest production or most lavish, but its an honest to God movie! Is it cheese? Absolutely, but it’s Sharp Chedder baby. This is the perfect example of a low budget movie using every trick in the book to make itself respectable. Of course, this movie had two things that most low budget films don’t have, Tim Thomerson and Helen Hunt. Tim Thomerson is an all-time great genre actor. He’s stolen scenes in classics like Cherry 2000 and Near Dark. Anytime I see his name pop up in the credits of a movie, I’m in. Helen Hunt was a relative unknown TV actress. As far as I can tell, this was her first starring role on the big screen. She would of-course go on to upstage Sarah Jessica Parker in Girls Just Want to Have Fun shortly after this. Speaking of fun… See this movie. It’s been remastered on blurry and Amazon Prime. It’s got time traveling cops, time freezing watches, and shape shifting emo zombies.

9. Trancers (1985)

This is the pinnacle of Full Moon pictures in my mind. It isn’t their biggest production or most lavish, but its an honest to God movie! Is it cheese? Absolutely, but it’s Sharp Chedder baby. This is the perfect example of a low budget movie using every trick in the book to make itself respectable. Of course, this movie had two things that most low budget films don’t have, Tim Thomerson and Helen Hunt. Tim Thomerson is an all-time great genre actor. He’s stolen scenes in classics like Cherry 2000 and Near Dark. Anytime I see his name pop up in the credits of a movie, I’m in. Helen Hunt was a relative unknown TV actress. As far as I can tell, this was her first starring role on the big screen. She would of-course go on to upstage Sarah Jessica Parker in Girls Just Want to Have Fun shortly after this. Speaking of fun… See this movie. It’s been remastered on blurry and Amazon Prime. It’s got time traveling cops, time freezing watches, and shape shifting emo zombies.

8. Tremors (1990)Just watch it. If you watch the trailers or read reviews, it’ll spoil the experience. I remember when we walked the aisles of Video Powerstore and found this gem on the new release shelf. It’s the one and only time I remember my parents buying the tape from the rental store after a single viewing. This film is a family tradition. It’s an heirloom that I will pass down to my daughter. It’s a who’s who of character actors led by Kevin Bacon and Fred “Remo Williams” Ward.When your supporting cast is legends like Michael Gross and Victor Wong, you’ve already won. Incredible practical effects teamed with actors who loved the material leads to a joyous viewing experience. If you can find the Uber-expensive 4k edition, I highly recommend it.

8. Tremors (1990)

Just watch it. If you watch the trailers or read reviews, it’ll spoil the experience. I remember when we walked the aisles of Video Powerstore and found this gem on the new release shelf. It’s the one and only time I remember my parents buying the tape from the rental store after a single viewing. This film is a family tradition. It’s an heirloom that I will pass down to my daughter. It’s a who’s who of character actors led by Kevin Bacon and Fred “Remo Williams” Ward.When your supporting cast is legends like Michael Gross and Victor Wong, you’ve already won. Incredible practical effects teamed with actors who loved the material leads to a joyous viewing experience. If you can find the Uber-expensive 4k edition, I highly recommend it.

7. Martyrs (2008)There are movies and there are experiences and then there’s Martyrs. Martyrs is the peak of the French Extreme movement. It is not an easy film to watch. Most people that watch it will hate it, but they will remember every single detail. What I love about the French Extreme movement is that the films’ ultra violence belies the true trauma, the message. All of the films from Martyrs, Inside, Frontiers and so on have a message fueled by discontent, resentment, and anger. Anger at a society that abandoned its responsibilities and neglected its youth. Martyrs is a movie in two parts. Part one is the illness, part two is the treatment. Vague, right? I don’t want to ruin it. Imagine a supernatural slasher film that is also an illuminati documentary. Both Mylene Jampanoi and Morjana Alaoui give gut gutwrenching performances that feel too real. This film scars you. Once you see it, you aren’t the same.

7. Martyrs (2008)

There are movies and there are experiences and then there’s Martyrs. Martyrs is the peak of the French Extreme movement. It is not an easy film to watch. Most people that watch it will hate it, but they will remember every single detail. What I love about the French Extreme movement is that the films’ ultra violence belies the true trauma, the message. All of the films from Martyrs, Inside, Frontiers and so on have a message fueled by discontent, resentment, and anger. Anger at a society that abandoned its responsibilities and neglected its youth. Martyrs is a movie in two parts. Part one is the illness, part two is the treatment. Vague, right? I don’t want to ruin it. Imagine a supernatural slasher film that is also an illuminati documentary. Both Mylene Jampanoi and Morjana Alaoui give gut gutwrenching performances that feel too real. This film scars you. Once you see it, you aren’t the same.

6. Nightbreed (1990)Clive Barker is my favorite author and his book Cabal is my favorite novel. This adaptation of the ground breaking work of fiction stars as faithful as it can to the source material. It helps that it was written and directed by Clive Barker with a musical score by Danny Elfman. The Romeo and Juliet tale between a man turned monster and the woman who makes him feel human is just the beginning of this descent into a historical injustice. The amount of practical effects in this movie is mind breaking. There are hundreds of different creatures walking, crawling, and flying through the incredibly designed city of monsters. Much like in the story tho, the humans are the scariest thing in this movie. David Cronenberg steals the show as the heartless serial killer Decker. He is one of few movie villains to give me nightmares as a kid. See this on the Shout Factory remastered Director’s cut which is also on Amazon Prime.

6. Nightbreed (1990)

Clive Barker is my favorite author and his book Cabal is my favorite novel. This adaptation of the ground breaking work of fiction stars as faithful as it can to the source material. It helps that it was written and directed by Clive Barker with a musical score by Danny Elfman. The Romeo and Juliet tale between a man turned monster and the woman who makes him feel human is just the beginning of this descent into a historical injustice. The amount of practical effects in this movie is mind breaking. There are hundreds of different creatures walking, crawling, and flying through the incredibly designed city of monsters. Much like in the story tho, the humans are the scariest thing in this movie. David Cronenberg steals the show as the heartless serial killer Decker. He is one of few movie villains to give me nightmares as a kid. See this on the Shout Factory remastered Director’s cut which is also on Amazon Prime.

5. In the Mouth of Madness (1994)Having grown up worshipping the ground John Carpenter stubbed out his cigarettes on, I was overjoyed when it was announced he would be making a cosmic horror film. He made the Thing, true, but that was an adaptation of a Howard Hawkes film with designs that were Lovecraftian. In the Mouth of Madness pulls from the entire Cthulhu mythos to weave a tale as grotesque as it is fun. With a cast consisting of Sam Neill, Julie Carmen, Charlton Heston, and John Glover, how could you ever go wrong? That’s not even mentioning the dream team of special effects artists that made this one of the shining examples of 90’s practical effects. Howard Berger, Robert Kurtzman, and Greg Nicotero pulled out all the stops making dozens of Lovecraftian beasts and ghouls. In classic Carpenter style this film is a dark comedy about the end of the world. Carpenter always imbues his work with his own sense of humor and this is one of the best examples. It’s gooey fun mixed up in a cosmic mystery.

5. In the Mouth of Madness (1994)

Having grown up worshipping the ground John Carpenter stubbed out his cigarettes on, I was overjoyed when it was announced he would be making a cosmic horror film. He made the Thing, true, but that was an adaptation of a Howard Hawkes film with designs that were Lovecraftian. In the Mouth of Madness pulls from the entire Cthulhu mythos to weave a tale as grotesque as it is fun. With a cast consisting of Sam Neill, Julie Carmen, Charlton Heston, and John Glover, how could you ever go wrong? That’s not even mentioning the dream team of special effects artists that made this one of the shining examples of 90’s practical effects. Howard Berger, Robert Kurtzman, and Greg Nicotero pulled out all the stops making dozens of Lovecraftian beasts and ghouls. In classic Carpenter style this film is a dark comedy about the end of the world. Carpenter always imbues his work with his own sense of humor and this is one of the best examples. It’s gooey fun mixed up in a cosmic mystery.

4. Candyman (1992)I know, I know, I’m a Barker Fanboy. You can’t be mad at me. He’s the greatest writer of sensual horror that’s ever lives. He arouses you with his prose only to shatter your desires against thorny wall of consequence. The horror in Barker’s work is often a horror on man’s own making. Candyman is not different. The monster in Candyman isn’t so much the eponymous villain, but the society that created him. Overt racism created the monster when a wealthy land owner had Daniel Robitaille brutally murdered. The subtle societal racism of segregating the African American population into the projects kept him alive and fed his ongoing quest for vengeance. Clive Barker masterfully adapts his story “The Forbidden” into film changing the setting from Liverpool to the much more frightening inner city of Chicago. The writing teamed with Phillip Glass’ iconic score mesmerize you. This film is more dream than reality. Virginia Madsen is her usually goddess self. I will forever be in love with her, but the real star of the film is Tony Todd. Probably the most underrated horror actor of all time. Tony Todd imbues Candyman with a dark poetic lust. His voice is a song just for you, the victim. He courts you as a lover would, pulling you in close for one last embrace. He is the greatest slasher villain of all time. Why? Because you love him.

4. Candyman (1992)

I know, I know, I’m a Barker Fanboy. You can’t be mad at me. He’s the greatest writer of sensual horror that’s ever lives. He arouses you with his prose only to shatter your desires against thorny wall of consequence. The horror in Barker’s work is often a horror on man’s own making. Candyman is not different. The monster in Candyman isn’t so much the eponymous villain, but the society that created him. Overt racism created the monster when a wealthy land owner had Daniel Robitaille brutally murdered. The subtle societal racism of segregating the African American population into the projects kept him alive and fed his ongoing quest for vengeance. Clive Barker masterfully adapts his story “The Forbidden” into film changing the setting from Liverpool to the much more frightening inner city of Chicago. The writing teamed with Phillip Glass’ iconic score mesmerize you. This film is more dream than reality. Virginia Madsen is her usually goddess self. I will forever be in love with her, but the real star of the film is Tony Todd. Probably the most underrated horror actor of all time. Tony Todd imbues Candyman with a dark poetic lust. His voice is a song just for you, the victim. He courts you as a lover would, pulling you in close for one last embrace. He is the greatest slasher villain of all time. Why? Because you love him.

3. Midsommar (2019)As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, I have battled mental illness my entire life along with various addictions. The worst of those addictions has always been toxic relationships. Most people will call Midsommar a horror film. I don’t see it that way. I see it as an end to codependency. I see it as freeing. This film lifted me up on his broad Swedish shoulders and carried me into the loving arms of the old gods. Ari Aster is the greatest horror filmmaker working right now. As Heredity took place primarily at night, Midsommar is bathed in the bleaching light of the midnight sun. Most horror films feature breathtaking, big breasted thirty year olds playing seventeen. Midsommar casts Florence Pugh as Dani, a woman who has lost her entire family to tragedy. She depends on her boyfriend Christian, played by Jack Reynor for support. Their chemistry is incredible as they play out realistic scenarios of gaslighting and toxicity that mirrors the violence approaching them. This film is gorgeous both visually and audibly as it lulls you into its world. I’ve never wanted to join a Swedish Cult more.

3. Midsommar (2019)

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, I have battled mental illness my entire life along with various addictions. The worst of those addictions has always been toxic relationships. Most people will call Midsommar a horror film. I don’t see it that way. I see it as an end to codependency. I see it as freeing. This film lifted me up on his broad Swedish shoulders and carried me into the loving arms of the old gods. Ari Aster is the greatest horror filmmaker working right now. As Heredity took place primarily at night, Midsommar is bathed in the bleaching light of the midnight sun. Most horror films feature breathtaking, big breasted thirty year olds playing seventeen. Midsommar casts Florence Pugh as Dani, a woman who has lost her entire family to tragedy. She depends on her boyfriend Christian, played by Jack Reynor for support. Their chemistry is incredible as they play out realistic scenarios of gaslighting and toxicity that mirrors the violence approaching them. This film is gorgeous both visually and audibly as it lulls you into its world. I’ve never wanted to join a Swedish Cult more.

2. Another Heaven (2000)This is basically Japan’s version of Se7en. Meaning that it’s absolutely nothing like Se7en, other than it rains a lot. Two hardboiled detectives are tracking a killer who likes to devour brains via gourmet cooking after their kills. Normal day in Japan right? Up until the killer is shot dead by police and the killings don’t stop. Much like other Japanese films of this time the melding of heavy philosophical message, slapstick comedy, and ultra violence comes together to make something unlike anything we would ever conceive in the US. It was released in the States alongside other classics like Suicide Club and Audition, but never gained the same notoriety. Track down a copy on DVD. It’s not streaming anywhere and its not on Blu-ray.

2. Another Heaven (2000)

This is basically Japan’s version of Se7en. Meaning that it’s absolutely nothing like Se7en, other than it rains a lot. Two hardboiled detectives are tracking a killer who likes to devour brains via gourmet cooking after their kills. Normal day in Japan right? Up until the killer is shot dead by police and the killings don’t stop. Much like other Japanese films of this time the melding of heavy philosophical message, slapstick comedy, and ultra violence comes together to make something unlike anything we would ever conceive in the US. It was released in the States alongside other classics like Suicide Club and Audition, but never gained the same notoriety. Track down a copy on DVD. It’s not streaming anywhere and its not on Blu-ray.

Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie VernonIn a world where Freddy and Jason are real comes Leslie Vernon the next great killing machine. That is, if he can get enough cardio in before hand. This mockumentary is top notch in ever regard. It has heart to go along with some pulse pounding thrills. It’s a send up of all 90’s horror. Every time I watch it, I see a new Easter egg, and I’ve watched it a ton. Nathan Baesel give this only starring performance and he makes the most of it. He devours every scene with his charisma and charm. Even when his temper flares and he lashes out, you feel for him. He’s a man with a dream. His foil is no less ambitious. Played by Angela Goethals, Taylor is a young woman who wants to be strong. She idolizes Diane Sawyer and dreams of being the next great investigative journalist. That is, if she survives her first assignment. Flanks by legends of horror like Scott Wilson, Robert Englund, and Zelda Rubenstein, the cast is loaded. Every scene is a joy as the cast flows together with a rare chemistry only seen in John Hughes films. This movie is a horror comedy, but its got a heavy heart. This is widely available through Shout Factory’s remaster. You can see it on Shudder and Amazon Prime. Please buy a new copy to support this film. Hopefully a sequel will happen someday.

  1. Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon

    In a world where Freddy and Jason are real comes Leslie Vernon the next great killing machine. That is, if he can get enough cardio in before hand. This mockumentary is top notch in ever regard. It has heart to go along with some pulse pounding thrills. It’s a send up of all 90’s horror. Every time I watch it, I see a new Easter egg, and I’ve watched it a ton. Nathan Baesel give this only starring performance and he makes the most of it. He devours every scene with his charisma and charm. Even when his temper flares and he lashes out, you feel for him. He’s a man with a dream. His foil is no less ambitious. Played by Angela Goethals, Taylor is a young woman who wants to be strong. She idolizes Diane Sawyer and dreams of being the next great investigative journalist. That is, if she survives her first assignment. Flanks by legends of horror like Scott Wilson, Robert Englund, and Zelda Rubenstein, the cast is loaded. Every scene is a joy as the cast flows together with a rare chemistry only seen in John Hughes films. This movie is a horror comedy, but its got a heavy heart. This is widely available through Shout Factory’s remaster. You can see it on Shudder and Amazon Prime. Please buy a new copy to support this film. Hopefully a sequel will happen someday.

Zachary strupp https://www.filthyhorrors.com
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