Top 10 Horror Movies from the 1970s

 

Did you know there are some benefits to watching horror movies?

Apparently, watching horror movies helps boost the immune system by triggering the fight or flight response of the body. It also helps with anxiety and dealing with fear because you are exposed to scares in a safe zone, which is either a cinema hall or your home.

There are many who prefer horror movies over other genres. For those who want to venture into the genre but don't know where to start, here are some movies from the seventies that are well-known and talked about until today.

1) The Exorcist: Released in 1973, this horror movie was based on a novel by William Peter Blatty.

The production house was initially sceptical of its success, but The Exorcist was an instant success.

The story was about a mother who asks the help of priests to save her daughter from possession.

Interestingly, the filming was attached to a curse. There were deaths, accidents, and fires.

The Exorcist has several sequels. In 2022, it was announced that a direct sequel to the 1973 version of the movie would be released in 2023.

If you think you will enjoy movies about possessions, this is the movie to watch.

2) Halloween: This 1978 film is a cult classic and had several sequels including last year's controversial Halloween Ends.

The movie gave birth to a villain called Michael Myers who became popular as the knife-wielding villain who goes on a killing spree on Halloween night.

The original movie starred Jamie Lee Curtis who made her debut as a babysitter targeted by the killer.

The movie is said to have inspired future slasher movies as well.

Halloween was another successful horror movie made on a small budget and it was known as the most successful independent movie of that time.

This is the movie to watch if you enjoy slashers.

3) Jaws: Directed by Steven Spielberg, this 1975 film was based on a novel by Peter Benchley.

The movie was about a police officer, a shark hunter, and a marine biologist who hunt down a great white shark that was spotted at a beach.

Lives are lost as the Mayor ignores warnings and allows people to visit the beach. It's when the shark attacks that the hunt takes place.

The movie was a commercial success and talked about till today.

If you are into shark attack movies, this is the one to watch first.

4) The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The movie was initially promoted as being based on true events but was actually fictionalised, obviously.

The story was about a group of friends who are attacked by cannibals when they are visiting their homestead. Upon release, the critics described the movie as being violent and gory. However, the movie gained popularity and spawned eight sequels with the character of Leatherface becoming one of the most popular villains.

5) The Wickerman: This 1973 movie has gone on to inspire several horror movies, namely Midsommar, Apostle and The Ritual.

The movie was about a police sergeant, travelling to an island to look for a girl. However, he finds that the islanders follow a different religion. Towards the end, the sergeant realizes the girl is part of a scheme to trap the police sergeant and offer him as a sacrifice.

6) Suspiria: This 1977 supernatural horror movie was remade in 2018 although the remake did not meet with the same success as the original.

The story was about an ballet student who attends a prestigious ballet academy only to realize that the school has some really dark secrets.

Although the film wasn't well received by critics at that time, it was later hailed as a cult film and still talked about today.

7) Carrie: Not only was Carrie Stephen King's first published novel, it was also a box office hit upon release.

The story was about a girl called Carrie who is being bullied at school. Unknown to everyone around her, Carrie has telekinetic powers. When her bullies play a mean prank on her during prom, Carrie unleashes her dark powers.

The movie was praised by critics and the actors even went on to win awards.

The movie is known for its iconic scene of pig's blood being dumped on Carrie.

8) The Omen: The movie may not have been received well by critics but it was a huge box office hit because of its premise.

The Omen was about Damien who is the son of an American diplomat. As it turns out, the diplomats actual son had died at childbirth and so the father had replaced the baby without telling his wife.

As luck would have it, ominous events take place and they all point to Damien. He happens to be the antichrist and has a birthmark of three sixes to prove it.

The movie spawned several sequels and even a remake, although none of them were as successful as the original.

9) The Hills Have Eyes: This movie was released in 1977. Yes, most horror movies have been remade from seventies horror movies.

The Hills Have Eyes was written and directed by Wes Craven.

According to rumors, the crew wasn't excited about the movie as it was being shot in the desert. It was up to Wes Craven to motivate his crew.

The result was a box office hit that spawned sequels and was labelled a cult classic.

The story was about a family getting stuck in a desert and being targeted by cannibals.

10) Alien: This 1979 sci-fi horror movie was directed by Ridley Scott and starred Sigourney Weaver. As this was her first lead role, the movie launched her career and made her an icon.

The movie was about a crew encountering a deadly lifeform during an investigation.

The movie may have received mixed reviews but it was a box office hit and went on to win several awards for best visual effects as well as best sci-fi movie.

Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.