Something is in the water, lurking in the woods and whatever it is, it’s coming for you! Horror films are great and while the supernatural seems to take the center stage today let’s look at the films that haunt us due to the creatures that are relentless in their pursuit. While this list can be expanded, here are the best of the best “creature features” to feast on! They are suspenseful, scary and above all else entertaining!
#5 – Piranha 3D
A loose remake of the original 1978 film, this updated version is packed with gory violence, aggressive piranhas that make the shark from Jaws seem lame and featuring gratuitous nudity, Piranha 3D is the perfect summer movie about killer fish and is exactly what you’d expect. A great cast and very funny script is what makes this film work so well.
French Horror Director Alexandre Aja brings the scares, gore and a ridiculously good time all while showcasing these brutal piranhas. In reality, piranhas are actually quite timid and aren’t as ferocious as they are portrayed on-screen, although the scent of blood is something that excites them greatly. Not to forget they really do have sharp teeth. Be careful where you go swimming and don’t get cut!
#4 – Mimic
Cockroaches are bad news if you’ve seen them in your home but imagine if those pests turned into the size of a human! Well, that’s the case for Mimic, a creepy thriller that tells the story of a geneitcally mutated cockroach that is able to evolve into something much worse and could cause a threat to the human population. A smart script, great characters and fine direction from Guillermo Del Toro makes Mimic a dark horror film that actually has a brain. The cockroaches are big, scary and not something you can just step on. Who knew heading down to the subway can stir up that much trouble and carnage for the scientists investigating!
#3 – Creature From The Black Lagoon
Something has been spotted deep in the Amazonian jungle and people want to know what it is. It swims underwater and is a wonder to the expedition team who first discover a fossilized remain of what appears to be a sea creature that resembles human form.
One of the best “monster horror films” of its time when it was released in 1954, the “creature” is amazing to look at and the movie is written in a way of study rather than just straight horror. The ending scene is the most memorable moment among many others and even Guillermo Del Toro credits this movie to his Oscar Winner The Shape of Water for inspiration. When looking at a classic monster tale, look no further than the Creature from the Black Lagoon.
#2 – The Birds
Alfred Hitchcock, the Master of Suspense, terrified audiences with one of his most iconic films. There is a central plot to the film but it takes a turn for the worse when birds start attacking people. It’s never explained why but it doesn’t matter because seeking shelter is the most important and the ending scene is one of the scariest scenes in horror films and will surely have you on the edge of your seat. This movie has been remade but no one can ever capture what Hitchcock did back in 1963!
#1 – Jaws
The movie that made people afraid to go into the water, the movie responsible for the “creature features” following its debut in 1975 and one of Spielberg’s finest films, Jaws is simply a masterpiece!
Realistic, scary and brought together by a phenomenal cast, Jaws is still an impact today as it was back then. Although sharks were built for the film which didn’t work, it was decided to film from the shark’s perspective underwater making way for a unique look while the iconic theme by John Williams played. Amity Island was never the same after the Great White Shark claimed the island as his feeding ground and even today people are nervous when swimming in the ocean.
Jaws is the perfect film blending horror, humor and great storytelling into one complete package. There’s nothing like looking into the black eyes of the killer beast. “You’re gonna need a bigger boat,” is such an understatement for the ordeal the characters go through when man faces off against the beast.