Likely the best decade for horror ever.
BY TOM MOORE
Although most would cite ’80s slashers as the era that defined the horror genre because of their popularity and commercial success, it was really the decade prior that delivered some of the most influential horror films of all time. Horror films of the 1970s evoked a sense of realism, for the most part, and stylistic storytelling that many modern horror filmmakers try to recapture for their own horror stories.
Most recently, writer/director Ti West created his own take on 70s horror with his latest film, X, being a gruesome homage to ’70s slashers. The ’70s saw some of the biggest horror franchises and characters come to life, some of which continue their reign of terror to this very day. So, as some of these notable films continue to inspire filmmakers to follow in their footsteps, it’s a great time to delve into which ’70s horror films truly defined the genre.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
In 1974, Tobe Hooper and Kim Henkel crafted one of the most visceral horror experiences of all time with The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and brought one of horror’s most notable slashers, Leatherface, and his chainsaw to life.
None of the sequels, reboots, or requels that followed ever matched the sweltering and desolate atmosphere Hooper created or the documentary-like feel that makes The Texas Chain Saw Massacre feel like you’re watching a real-life massacre take place. Leatherface’s creepy visage continues to be a haunting force in the genre, and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is still regarded as one of the most influential horror movies ever, so much so that Ti West created a great homage to it with X.
Halloween (1978)
Although The Texas Chain Saw Massacre released four years prior, John Carpenter’s Halloween is often credited as the film that started the modern slasher craze.
From Friday the 13thto A Nightmare on Elm Street, many have utilized the formula created by Carpenter and Debra Hill to make their own slashers, yet not many have become as iconic as Michael Myers’, known as The Shape to some, reign of terror in Haddonfield on Halloween night or Jamie Lee Curtis’ Laurie Strode, who is undoubtedly the ultimate final girl. Not only did Halloween define the traits of the slasher, but it continues to re-define the slasher genre with Blumhouse’s modern trilogy.
The Hills Have Eyes (1977)
Before Wes Craven created Freddy Krueger or Ghostface, he created a family of deranged cannibalistic hill dwellers in The Hills Have Eyes.
While Craven was stylistically inspired by Hooper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, he created an original disturbing fight for survival between a family of travelers and cannibals that disturbed and horrified everyone that watched it. It has become a likely inspiration for the Wrong Turn series and even got a remake from Alexandre Aja in 2006 that some might say rivals Craven’s original.
Blacula (1972)
Although a blaxploitation horror film like Blacula might be simply viewed as a fun take on Dracula, its impact and legacy stretches far beyond that.
Blacula not only made director William Crain one of the first black filmmakers to achieve strong commercial success, but also caused a wave of black horror films to follow and is still cited as one of the most important and pivotal black films in film history.
Suspiria (1977)
Suspiria is likely the first film that comes to mind for many when they think of legendary filmmaker Dario Argento, as it’s the film most people use when defining the Italian sub-genre, giallo.
Argento’s distinct color palette and stylistic flair made Suspiria the archetype for giallo and is truthfully one of many films in Argento’s filmography that have influenced modern filmmakers, most recently James Wan with Malignant.
Carrie (1976)
Brian De Palma’s 1976 adaptation of Stephen King’s iconic novel Carrie is still regarded as one of the best King adaptations to date for Sissy Spacek’s incredible performance and De Palma’s eerie direction.
Nowadays, there are a lot of coming-of-age styled horror movies, including the upcoming adaptation of King’s Firestarter from Keith Thomas, and there have even been other adaptations of Carrie, but there have been few that have matched De Palma’s approach and filmmaking, both of which are paid homage to often throughout pop culture.
The Wicker Man (1973)
No, we’re not talking about the highly meme-able and unintentionally hilarious 2006 remake starring Nicolas Cage, but rather the 1973 original directed by Robin Hardy.
The Wicker Man is the ultimate cult story, as it follows a police sergeant heading to a remote island in search of a missing girl only to become ensnared into the activities of a hidden cult. The Wicker Man’s imagery and story have inspired the likes of Ari Aster in creating Midsommar and many still find it to be creepy as hell.
Alien (1979)
Ridley Scott created one the most successful and iconic horror franchises back in 1979 with his breakout sci-fi horror hit Alien.
His depiction of H.R. Giger‘s chilling Xenomorph aliens created a horror villain truly not of this Earth, and Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley has become the standard for bad ass female heroes. Both Ripley and the Xenomorphs have become some of the most iconic characters in pop culture, and whenever a movie comes out having people face off against an unknown alien force, it instantly gets compared to Alien because of how it defined the space horror movie.
Jaws (1975)
While it’s not too uncommon anymore to have horror movies be summer hits, Steven Spielberg broke the mold with Jaws as it became the first big summer blockbuster.
Spielberg’s filmmaking, the impact of John Williams’ iconic score, and the sharp editing from Verna Fields created the film that made people afraid of sharks and it’s become one of the widely known films of all time. To this day, it’s referenced throughout pop culture and remains one of Spielberg’s best films.
The Exorcist (1973)
Often regarded as one of the scariest films of all time, William Friedkin’s The Exorcist delivers one of the tensest, most disturbing experiences you’ll see.
The Exorcist is the archetype for plenty of possession films we see nowadays, but most rarely ever reach the chill-inducing heights of The Exorcist or have the great balance of character-driven narrative and unnerving suspense it provides.
