EVIL DEAD Director Sam Raimi Reveals His Favorite Horror Films and They're a Solid Mix
Sam Raimi, the filmmaker who brought us the gloriously unhinged chaos of Evil Dead, has shared the some of his favorite horror movies and as you’d expect he’s got some solid taste.
With Send Help on the horizon, his upcoming survival horror flick that sees Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien battling more than just their toxic work dynamic on a desert island, Raimi took to a Reddit AMA to chat with fans and drop some horror knowledge.
When asked to name his favorite horror movies, Raimi shared his unexpectedly diverse list:
“Some of my favorite horror films are Robert Wise’s The Haunting, Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, Takashi Shimizu’s The Grudge, and Alejandro Amenábar’s The Others,” he said.
That’s a great list of horror films! Each one is terrifying in its own way, whether it’s the subtle psychological dread of The Others or the sheer monster movie panic of Jaws. Raimi clearly doesn’t stick to just one flavor of fear.
The Others, in particular, is one of those underrated gems that deserves way more love. That eerie slow-burn story, with Nicole Kidman unraveling in a haunted house, still holds up with its creepy atmosphere and smart twists.
As for The Haunting, we’re talking about the 1963 version by Robert Wise, not the overblown 1999 remake. The original remains one of the genre’s best examples of less-is-more, filled with unnerving sound design and shadows that seem to move on their own. It’s no wonder it stuck with Raimi.
Rounding out the list, The Grudge brings J-horror chills that hit hard, and Jaws still is just a classic film that changed the film industry.
If you’re looking for a horror movie marathon curated by the mind behind Evil Dead, this is the list to start with.
In the meantime, horror fans won’t have to wait long to see what Raimi has cooked up next. Send Help hits theaters on January 30. With a stranded workplace nightmare turning into a brutal fight for survival, you can bet it’s going to be a bloody good time.