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Top 21 Scariest Horror Films from the 1970s

Welcome to the world of the Sinister Seventies

So you are one of those keen horror fans, who like to travel back in time to experience the frights and terrors of earlier cinematic eras. So are we!

The spooky stuff of the 1970s may be a thing of the distant past, but thanks to an enthralling, good old invention called Film, it will never be really gone.

Whenever you miss those good old days and feel like you want to shiver and scream, all you have to do is sit tight, bite on your nails, and enjoy the thrills that only a 1970s horror movie can give you.

It will be a pleasure to drag you kicking and screaming through the blood-chilling frames of each horror film featured here, so let’s proceed to the terrifying collection where you’ll be chased by a gang of psychopathic convicts, demons, pagans, zombies, aliens, ghosts, vampires, a cannibal with a chainsaw, a great white shark and even the Devil’s own son.

This is not your average horror film list featuring only the scariest and goriest films. We treat horror as the broad genre it actually is. Thus, we tried to diversify this collection as much as possible.

We picked exploitation- and surrealist horror films, supernatural-, folk- and giallo horror movies, dramatic- and adventure horror mystery thrillers, independent slasher- and zombie horrors, science-fiction and fantasy horror films and even horror comedy musicals.

Ready to jump and scream in front of the screen? Buckle up then, and let the best horror films of the 1970s scare the living heck out of you!

This collection is an episode of FrameTrek’s Best Horror Movies of All Time. A mega-journey dedicated to identify the spookiest films of each cinematic era, chronologically. It starts with the Horrors of the Silent Era and wanders ahead decade-by-decade, all the way to our ever moving present.



Presenting the 21 Best Horror Movies of the 1970s

Chronologically


The Last House on the Left (1972)

The Last House on the Left (1972), Wes Craven, Sandra Peabody, Lucy Grantham, David Hess, Best horror movies of the 1970s
Where to Watch?   More info

Exploitation horror film written and directed Wes Craven, starring Sandra Peabody, Lucy Grantham and David Hess.

Story: Two teenage girls heading to a rock concert for one’s birthday try to score marijuana in the city, where they are kidnapped and brutalized by a gang of psychopathic convicts. (IMDB)

Between Frames:
✪ A mixture of red and blue food coloring mixed with caramel syrup was used for the fake blood, which contrary to most film “blood,” actually looks real.
✪ Actress Sandra Peabody felt traumatized and was genuinely terrified throughout most of the shoot, at one point walking off-set. Eventually the filmmakers caught up with her and convinced her to return and finish the film.

Its visceral brutality is more repulsive than engrossing, but The Last House on the Left nevertheless introduces director Wes Craven as a distinctive voice in horror.

Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus

Why is The Last House on the Left among the best horror movies from the 1970s?
✓ It was initially damaging to Craven’s career and was controversial for its marketing, with the tagline “Can a movie go too far?”, advertising its violence. Audiences were said to have vomited and fainted during initial screenings.
✓ Critics derided the film for its confrontational violence and Craven’s use of black comedy—scenes of slapstick comedy intercut with scenes of rape and humiliation.
✓ Over the years, the film has achieved a significant cult following, although many of the other actors involved in the movie have expressed regret for starring in it decades after its release.



The Exorcist (1973)

The Exorcist (1973), William Friedkin, Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Linda Blair, Best horror films of the 1970s
Where to Watch?   More info

Supernatural horror film directed by William Friedkin, starring Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow and Linda Blair.

Story: When a 12 year-old girl is possessed by a mysterious entity, her mother seeks the help of two priests to save her. (IMDB)

Between Frames:
✪ The bedroom set had to be refrigerated to capture the authentic icy breath of the actors in the exorcising scenes.
✪ Linda Blair injured her back when a piece of the rig broke as she was thrown about on the bed.

The Exorcist rides its supernatural theme to magical effect, with remarkable special effects and an eerie atmosphere, resulting in one of the scariest films of all time.

Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus

Why is The Exorcist among the scary horror movies of the 1970s?
✓ Some viewers went into hysterics, suffered adverse physical reactions, fainting or vomiting to scenes in which the protagonist undergoes a realistic cerebral angiography and later violently masturbates with a crucifix.
✓ It had a significant influence on popular culture and has received critical acclaim, with several publications regarding it as one of the greatest horror films ever made.
✓ Included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die and become the first horror film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, one of the 10 Oscars for which it was nominated.
✓ The Library of Congress selected the film to be preserved as part of its National Film Registry as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.



The Wicker Man (1973)

The Wicker Man (1973), Robin Hardy, Edward Woodward, Diane Cilento, Christopher Lee, Best horror films from the 1970s
Where to Watch?   More info

Folk horror mystery thriller film directed by Robin Hardy, starring Edward Woodward, Diane Cilento and Christopher Lee.

Story: A puritan Police Sergeant arrives in a Scottish island village in search of a missing girl, who the Pagan locals claim never existed. (IMDB)

Between Frames:
✪ The temperatures were so cold during filming that, in order to avoid their breath from showing, the actors had to suck on ice cubes between takes.

This intelligent horror film is subtle in its thrills and chills, with an ending that is both shocking and truly memorable.

Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus

Why is The Wicker Man among the top horror movies of the 1970s?
✓ Included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die.
✓ It won the Saturn Award for Best Horror Film and the Total Film magazine called it the sixth-greatest British film of all time.
✓ It had a significant influence on modern popular culture and it is well-regarded by critics.



Don’t Look Now (1973)

Don’t Look Now (1973), Nicolas Roeg, Julie Christie, Donald Sutherland, Top horror films from the 1970s
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Dramatic horror mystery thriller film directed by Nicolas Roeg, starring Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland.

Story: A married couple grieving the recent death of their young daughter are in Venice when they encounter two elderly sisters, one of whom is psychic and brings a warning from beyond. (IMDB)

Don’t Look Now patiently builds suspense with haunting imagery and a chilling score — causing viewers to feel Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie’s grief deep within.

Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus

Why is Don’t Look Now among the most famous horror movies of the 1970s?
✓ Featured in Roger Ebert’s Great Movies list and included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die.
✓ It is renowned for its innovative editing style, recurring motifs and themes, and for a controversial sex scene that was explicit by the standards of contemporary mainstream cinema.
✓ The film’s reputation has grown in the years since its release and it is now considered a classic and an influential work in horror and British film.



The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), Tobe Hooper, Marilyn Burns, Edwin Nealand, Gunnar Hansen,
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Slasher horror film produced and directed by Tobe Hooper, starring Marilyn Burns, Edwin Nealand and Gunnar Hansen.

Story: Two siblings and three of their friends en route to visit their grandfather’s grave in Texas end up falling victim to a family of cannibalistic psychopaths and must survive the terrors of Leatherface and his family. (IMDB)

Between Frames:
✪ Marilyn Burns, whose character was chased by Leatherface through the undergrowth, actually cut herself on the branches quite badly, so a lot of the blood on her body and clothes is real.
✪ Her clothing was so drenched in fake blood that it was virtually solid by the last day’s shoot.

Thanks to a smart script and documentary-style camerawork, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre achieves start-to-finish suspense, making it a classic in low-budget exploitation cinema.

Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus

Why is The Texas Chain Saw Massacre among the scary horror films from the 1970s?
✓ Included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, and it gained a reputation as one of the best and most influential horror films.
✓ When it was first released, the film was so horrifying that people actually walked out on sneak previews for it.
✓ Credited with originating several elements of the slasher genre, including the use of power tools as murder weapons, the characterization of the killer as a large, hulking, faceless figure, and the killing of victims.



Black Christmas (1974)

Black Christmas (1974), Bob Clark, Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea, Margot Kidder, Greatest horror movies of the 1970s
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Canadian horror mystery thriller film produced and directed by Bob Clark, starring Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea and Margot Kidder.

Story: During their Christmas break, a group of sorority girls are stalked by a stranger. (IMDB)

Between Frames:
✪ Margot Kidder insisted on drinking real alcohol for the various scenes where Barb was to be drinking and be intoxicated.
✪ Due to the film’s low budget, some of the actors were encouraged to provide some of their own clothes for the film production.
✪ Shooting the search party scenes in the park proved to be quite difficult, as the temperature was a freezing 10 degrees Fahrenheit (-12 Celsius) during the night of filming.

The rare slasher with enough intelligence to wind up the tension between bloody outbursts, Black Christmas offers fiendishly enjoyable holiday viewing for genre fans.

Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus

Why is Black Christmas among the greatest horror films from the 1970s?
✓ Upon its release, Black Christmas received mixed reviews, but it has since received critical re-appraisal, with film historians noting it for being one of the earliest slasher films.
✓ Aside from its earning a cult following since its release, the film also received retroactive recognition and has been regarded as one of the greatest horror films ever made.



The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), Jim Sharman, Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, Most famous horror movies from the 1970s
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Musical comedy horror film directed by Jim Sharman, starring Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick.

Story: A newly-engaged couple have a breakdown in an isolated area and must seek shelter at the bizarre residence of Dr. Frank-n-Furter. (IMDB)

Rocky Horror Picture Show brings its quirky characters in tight, but it’s the narrative thrust that really drives audiences insane and keeps ’em doing the time warp again.

Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus

Why is The Rocky Horror Picture Show among the most popular horror movies of the 1970s?
✓ 
Included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die.
 Selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.
 The film gathered a large international cult following and has been considered by many as one of the greatest musical films of all time.



Jaws (1975)

Jaws (1975), Steven Spielberg, Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, Robert Shaw, Most popular horror films from the 1970s
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Adventure horror thriller film directed by Steven Spielberg, starring Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw.

Story: When a killer shark unleashes chaos on a beach community, it’s up to a local sheriff, a marine biologist, and an old seafarer to hunt the beast down. (IMDB)

Between Frames:
✪ The prop arm looked too fake in the scene where Chrissie’s remains are discovered, so instead, they buried a female crew member in the sand with only her arm exposed.
✪ Director Steven Spielberg shot roughly 25% of the film from water level to provide the viewers the perspective as if they were treading water.
✪ Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss could not stand each other and the two argued all the time, which resulted in some good tension between Hooper and Quint.

Compelling, well-crafted storytelling and a judicious sense of terror ensure Steven Spielberg’s Jaws has remained a benchmark in the art of delivering modern blockbuster thrills.

Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus

Why is Jaws among the best horror movies of the 1970s?
✓ Included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die and Roger Ebert’s Great Movies list.
✓ Winner of 3 Oscars, and nominated for the ‘Best Picture of the Year’ Academy Award. The Library of Congress selected it for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.
✓ It was pivotal in establishing the modern Hollywood business model, which pursues high box-office returns from action and adventure films with simple high-concept premises.



Deep Red (1975)

Deep Red (1975), Dario Argento, David Hemmings, Scariest horror movies of the 1970s
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Italian giallo horror film co-written and directed by Dario Argento, starring David Hemmings.

Story: A jazz pianist and a wisecracking journalist are pulled into a complex web of mystery after the former witnesses the brutal murder of a psychic. (IMDB)

Between Frames:
✪ The close-up shots of the killer’s hands, clad in black leather gloves, were performed by director Dario Argento himself.

The kinetic camerawork and brutal over-the-top gore that made Dario Argento famous is on full display, but the addition of a compelling, complex story makes Deep Red a masterpiece.

Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus

Why is Deep Red among the best horror films of the 1970s?
✓ The film was released during the height of the “giallo craze” of Italian popular cinema, and was a critical and commercial success.
✓ Retrospective reviews have been equally positive, and the film is considered one of the genre’s definitive entries, as well as one of Argento’s best works.



Carrie (1976)

Carrie (1976), Brian De Palma, Sissy Spacek, Scariest horror movies from the 1970s
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Supernatural horror film directed by Brian De Palma, starring Sissy Spacek.

Story: Carrie White, a shy, friendless teenage girl who is sheltered by her domineering, religious mother, unleashes her telekinetic powers after being humiliated by her classmates at her senior prom. (IMDB)

Between Frames:
✪ For her screen test, Sissy Spacek rubbed Vaseline into her hair and didn’t bother to wash her face. She also wore a sailor dress with the hem cut off.
✪ After being covered in fake blood, for continuity purposes, Spacek refused to wash the effect off. She elected instead to sleep in her bloody clothes for three days of filming.

Carrie is a horrifying look at supernatural powers, high school cruelty, and teen angst – and it brings us one of the most memorable and disturbing prom scenes in history.

Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus

Why is Carrie among the best horror movies from the 1970s?
✓ Included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die and selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.
✓ Upon release, it became critically and commercially successful and it has significantly influenced popular culture ever since, with several publications regarding it as one of the greatest horror films ever made.
✓ Featured on Empire’s list of The 500 Greatest Movies of All Time, on Entertainment Weekly’s list of the 50 Best High School Movies, and on the American Film Institute list of 100 Years…100 Thrills.



The Omen (1976)

The Omen (1976), Richard Donner, Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, Harvey Stephens, Best horror films from the 1970s
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Supernatural horror film directed by Richard Donner, starring Gregory Peck, Lee Remick and Harvey Stephens.

Story: Mysterious deaths surround an American ambassador. Could the child that he is raising actually be the Antichrist? The Devil’s own son? (IMDB)

Between Frames:
✪ One of the reasons why Gregory Peck accepted the role of a tortured father, conflicted with guilt, was because he hadn’t been around when his son Jonathon committed suicide in 1975.

The Omen eschews an excess of gore in favor of ramping up the suspense — and creates an enduring, dread-soaked horror classic along the way.

Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus

Why is The Omen among the top horror films of the 1970s?
✓ It received mixed reviews from critics but was a commercial success, and retrospective reviews of the film have been more favorable.
✓ Featured on the American Film Institute’s 100 Years… 100 Thrills list and the Chicago Film Critics’ Association named it the 31st-scariest film ever made.



Eraserhead (1977)

Eraserhead (1977), David Lynch, Jack Nance, Top horror movies from the 1970s
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Surrealist horror film written, directed, produced and edited by David Lynch, starring Jack Nance.

Story: Henry Spencer tries to survive his industrial environment, his angry girlfriend, and the unbearable screams of his newly born mutant child. (IMDB)

Between Frames:
✪ The mutant baby was apparently created from the embalmed fetus of a calf, although David Lynch has never confirmed this or described how he articulated it. He only offered cryptic comments on the baby prop, at times stating that “it was born nearby” or that “maybe it was found.”

David Lynch’s surreal Eraserhead uses detailed visuals and a creepy score to create a bizarre and disturbing look into a man’s fear of parenthood.

Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus

Why is Eraserhead among the greatest horror films of the 1970s?
✓ Included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die and selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.
✓ Initially opening to small audiences and little interest, Eraserhead gained popularity over several long runs as a midnight movie. Since its release, it has earned positive reviews over the years and is now considered a cult film.
✓ Its surrealist imagery and sexual undercurrents have been seen as key thematic elements, and its intricate sound design as its technical highlight.



Suspiria (1977)

Suspiria (1977), Dario Argento, Jessica Harper, Greatest horror movies from the 1970s
Where to Watch?   More info

Italian supernatural horror film directed by Dario Argento and starring Jessica Harper.

Story: An American newcomer to a prestigious German ballet academy comes to realize that the school is a front for something sinister amid a series of grisly murders. (IMDB)

Between Frames:
✪ Director Dario Argento composed the creepy music with the band Goblin and played it at full blast on set to unnerve the actors and elicit a truly scared performance.

The blood pours freely in Argento’s classic Suspiria, a giallo horror as grandiose and glossy as it is gory.

Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus

Why is Suspiria among the most famous horror films of the 1970s?
✓ Included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die.
✓ It has received a positive response from critics for its visual and stylistic flair, use of vibrant colors and its score.
✓ Recognized as one of the most influential movies in the horror genre and cited by critics as a cult film.



The Hills Have Eyes (1977)

The Hills Have Eyes (1977), Wes Craven, Susan Lanier, Michael Berryman, Dee Wallace, Most famous horror films from the 1970s
Where to Watch?   More info

Horror thriller film written, directed, and edited by Wes Craven, starring Susan Lanier, Michael Berryman and Dee Wallace.

Story: On the way to California, a family has the misfortune to have their car break down in an area closed to the public, and inhabited by violent savages ready to attack. (IMDB)

Between Frames:
✪ The desert filming locations were extremely rough on the crew. The rocky terrain was difficult to walk, let alone run through. The temperature was as high as 120 degrees Fahrenheit (48 Celsius) during the day, dropping to 30 degrees F (-1 C) after sunset.
✪ The rattlesnake used in the film actually escaped while preparing to shoot a scene in a narrow mountain crevasse. The entire crew fled at once from the narrow passage frightened.

When it’s not bludgeoning the viewer with its more off-putting, cruder elements, The Hills Have Eyes wields some clever storytelling and a sly sense of dark humor.

Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus

Why is The Hills Have Eyes among the most popular horror films of the 1970s?
✓ Included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die.
✓ Reviews for the film were mostly positive, with critics praising its tense narrative and humor.
✓ Widely considered an influential cult classic.



Halloween (1978)

Halloween (1978), John Carpenter, Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasence, Scary horror films of the 1970s
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Independent slasher horror film directed and scored by John Carpenter, starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasence.

Story: Fifteen years after murdering his sister on Halloween night 1963, Michael Myers escapes from a mental hospital and returns to the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois to kill again. (IMDB)

Between Frames:
✪ The story is based on an experience John Carpenter had in college touring a psychiatric hospital. He met a child who stared at him “with a look of evil, and it terrified me.”
✪ John Carpenter’s intent with the character of Michael Myers was that the audience should never be able to relate to him.
✪ The stabbing sound effect is actually a knife stabbing a watermelon.

Scary, suspenseful, and viscerally thrilling, Halloween set the standard for modern horror films.

Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus

Why is Halloween among the most popular horror movies from the 1970s?
✓ Included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die and selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.
✓ Primarily praised for Carpenter’s direction and score, it is now considered one of the greatest and most influential horror films ever made.
✓ It was largely responsible for the popularization of slasher films in the 1980s and helped develop the slasher genre.



Dawn of the Dead (1978)

Dawn of the Dead (1978), George A. Romero, David Emge, Ken Foree, Scott Reiniger, Scary horror movies from the 1970s
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Zombie horror thriller film written, directed, and edited by George A. Romero, starring David Emge, Ken Foree and Scott Reiniger.

Story: Following an ever-growing epidemic of zombies that have risen from the dead, two Philadelphia S.W.A.T. team members, a traffic reporter, and his television executive girlfriend seek refuge in a secluded shopping mall. (IMDB)

Between Frames:
✪ Some of the zombies were actual amputees. It took up to three hours in makeup to transform someone into a zombie and some of the cast were made physically sick by the makeup work.

One of the most compelling and entertaining zombie films ever, Dawn of the Dead perfectly blends pure horror and gore with social commentary on material society.

Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus

Why is Dawn of the Dead among the best horror movies of the 1970s?
✓ Included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die.
✓ It has garnered a large, international cult following.
✓ Noted for its satirical portrayal of consumerism, it has received widespread critical acclaim since its initial release, and is widely considered to be one of the greatest horror films ever made, as well as the greatest zombie film.



Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), Philip Kaufman, Donald Sutherland, Jeff Goldblum, Leonard Nimoy, Scariest horror films of the 1970s
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Science-fiction horror film directed by Philip Kaufman, starring Donald Sutherland, Jeff Goldblum and Leonard Nimoy.

Story: When strange seeds drift to earth from space, mysterious pods begin to grow and invade San Francisco, replicating the city’s residents one body at a time. (IMDB)

Employing gritty camerawork and evocative sound effects, Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a powerful remake that expands upon themes and ideas only lightly explored in the original.

Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus

Why is Invasion of the Body Snatchers among the best horror films of the 1970s?
✓ It initially received varied reviews from critics, though its critical reception has significantly improved in subsequent years and it is now hailed as one of the greatest remakes ever, as well as one of the best science-fiction horror films of all time.




Alien
 (1979)

Alien (1979), Ridley Scott, Sigourney Weaver, Scariest horror films from the 1970s
Where to Watch?   More info

Science fiction horror film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Sigourney Weaver.

Story: After a space merchant vessel receives an unknown transmission as a distress call, one of the crew is attacked by a mysterious life form and they soon realize that its life cycle has merely begun. (IMDB)

Between Frames:
✪ Shredded condoms were used to create tendons of the beast’s ferocious jaws.
✪ The front (face) part of the alien costume’s head is made from a cast of a real human skull.
✪ The embryonic movements of the facehugger, prior to bursting out of its egg, were created by Sir Ridley Scott using both of his rubber-gloved hands.

A modern classic, Alien blends science fiction, horror and bleak poetry into a seamless whole.

Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus

Why is Alien among the best horror movies from the 1970s?
✓ Included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die and Roger Ebert’s Great Movies list.
✓ It was met with critical acclaim and box-office success, winning the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, three Saturn Awards, and a Hugo Award, along with numerous other nominations
✓ Consistently praised in the years since its release, and is considered one of the greatest films of all time.
✓ Selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.



The Amityville Horror (1979)

The Amityville Horror (1979), Stuart Rosenberg, James Brolin, Margot Kidder, Best horror films from the 1970s
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Supernatural horror film directed by Stuart Rosenberg, starring James Brolin and Margot Kidder.

Story: Newlyweds and their three children move into a large house where a mass murder was committed. They start to experience strange, inexplicable manifestations which have strong effects on everyone living in or visiting the house. (IMDB)

Between Frames:
✪ Due to all the unwanted fame the book and film had brought upon the real house in Amityville, the current owners have replaced the “evil eyes” windows with normal rectangle-shaped windows.
✪ Honey was rubbed on Rod Steiger’s head to draw the flies to him.

Dull and disappointing, the best that can be said for The Amityville Horror is that it set a low bar for its many sequels and remakes.

Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus

Why is The Amityville Horror among the top horror movies of the 1970s?
✓ It was a major commercial success and became one of the highest-grossing independent films of all time.
✓ It received mostly negative reviews from critics, though some film scholars have considered it a classic of the horror genre.



Phantasm (1979)

Phantasm (1979), Don Coscarelli, Angus Scrimm, Michael Baldwin, Top horror films from the 1970s
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Science fantasy horror film directed, written, photographed, and edited by Don Coscarelli, starring Angus Scrimm and Michael Baldwin.

Story: A teenage boy and his friends face off against a mysterious grave robber, known only as the Tall Man, who employs a lethal arsenal of unearthly weapons. (IMDB)

Between Frames:
✪ Phantasm was a locally financed independent film; the cast and crew were mostly amateurs and aspiring professionals.
✪ The stone-looking interior of the mausoleum was actually constructed of plywood and marble-colored plastic contact paper.

Phantasm: Remastered adds visual clarity to the first installment in one of horror’s most enduring — and endearingly idiosyncratic — franchises.

Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus

Why is Phantasm among the greatest horror movies of the 1970s?
✓ Though initial reviews were mixed in regard to the dreamlike, surreal narrative and imagery, later reception was more positive and the film became a cult classic.
✓ It has appeared on several critics’ lists of best horror films, and it has been cited as an influence on later horror series.



Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979)

Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979), Werner Herzog, Klaus Kinski, Isabelle Adjani, Bruno Ganz, Most famous horror movies of the 1970s
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Dramatic horror film written and directed by Werner Herzog, starring Klaus Kinski, Isabelle Adjani and Bruno Ganz.

Story: Count Dracula moves from Transylvania to Wismar, spreading the Black Plague across the land. Only a woman pure of heart can bring an end to his reign of horror. (IMDB)

Between Frames:
✪ The scene where Nosferatu arrives in the city required thousands of grey rats. Real grey rats were unavailable and therefore white ones were painted grey and used instead.
✪ It has been stated by director Werner Herzog that the rats that appear in the film behaved better than Klaus Kinski (playing Count Dracula) during the shoot.
✪ The coach that picks up Jonathan Harker at the Borgo Pass was a real hearse that was actually still in use in Bulgaria at the time of the shoot.

Stunning visuals from Werner Herzog and an intense portrayal of the famed bloodsucker from Klaus Kinski make this remake of Nosferatu a horror classic in its own right.

Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus

Why is Nosferatu the Vampyre among the most popular horror films of the 1970s?
✓ Featured in Roger Ebert’s Great Movies list and included among the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die.
✓ It was very well received by critics and enjoyed a comfortable degree of commercial success.



…end of the reel…

So there you have it: The 21 Greatest Horror films of the 1970s

If you want to take a look at the movies listed above, without all that info between the titles, here’s a quick recap:

Top 21 Horror Movies of the 1970s
Chronologically
The Last House on the Left 1972
The Last House on the Left (1972)
The Exorcist 1973
The Exorcist (1973)
*Part of the Collection: Original Exorcist Franchise
The Wicker Man 1973
The Wicker Man (1973)
*Part of the Collection: Robin Hardy’s Wicker Duology
Don’t Look Now 1973
Don’t Look Now (1973)
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 1974
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
*Part of the Collection: The Original Texas Chain Saw Massacre Franchise
Black Christmas 1974
Black Christmas (1974)
The Rocky Horror Picture Show 1975
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
Jaws 1975
Jaws (1975)
*Part of the Collection: Jaws Quadrology
Deep Red 1975
Deep Red (1975)
Carrie 1976
Carrie (1976)
*Part of the Collection: Carrie Duology
The Omen 1976
The Omen (1976)
*Part of the Collection: The Omen Quadrology
Eraserhead 1977
Eraserhead (1977)
Suspiria 1977
Suspiria (1977)
*Part of the Collection: The Three Mothers Trilogy
The Hills Have Eyes 1977
The Hills Have Eyes (1977)
Halloween 1978
Halloween (1978)
*Part of the Collection: Original Halloween Franchise
Dawn of the Dead 1978
Dawn of the Dead (1978)
*Part of the Collection: George A. Romero’s Living Dead Franchise
Invasion of the Body Snatchers 1978
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
Alien 1979
Alien (1979)
*Part of the Collection: Aliens and Predators Cinematic Universe
The Amityville Horror 1979
The Amityville Horror (1979)
Phantasm 1979
Phantasm (1979)
Nosferatu the Vampyre 1979
Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979)
*Click any Title for more Info and for Streaming / Disc Buying options.

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