Paul Sheldon used to write for a living. Now, he's writing to stay alive.

Starring: James Caan, Kathy Bates, Frances Sternhagen, Richard Farnsworth, Lauren Bacall, Graham Jarvis, Jerry Potter

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I thought you were good Paul...but you're not good. You're just another lying ol' dirty birdy." – Annie Wilkes

Why watch this? ... so that you will always be on the lookout for crazy fans.

Plot Summary: Famous author, Paul Sheldon, after finishing his latest book, crashes his car in a blizzard. He's rescued by Annie Wilkes, a former nurse who claims to be his "number one fan". However, Paul soon discovers Annie's obsession takes a dark turn, and he becomes her prisoner in her secluded home. Annie forces Paul to write a new novel, dictating the story to suit her desires, while Paul desperately attempts to escape his captivity.

Dad's Preview: I cringe at films where someone is trapped in an impossible situation, especially when their captor is bat-shit crazy. This film introduced us to the incredible Kathy Bates. She is demented, as she imprisons her favorite author, hog-ties him to the bed, and keeps him locked up. And, man, when she has had enough of his escape attempts, she gets serious by breaking out the trusty old sledgehammer... time to avert the old eyes!

Castle Rock Entertainment, Nelson Entertainment; Columbia Pictures

The Terrifying Lover Who Died - Yet Lived!

Starring: Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Michael Gough, Melissa Stribling, Carol Marsh, John Van Eyssen, Valerie Gaunt

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"To liberate her soul and give her peace we must destroy that shell for all time. Believe me there is no other way." - Dr. Van Helsing

Why watch this? Christopher Lee is the best Dracula on film. Sorry, Bela.

Plot Summary: Posing as a librarian, Jonathan Harker travels to the castle of Count Dracula with the secret intention of destroying the vampire. After Harker falls victim to the Count, his friend and fellow vampirologist, Dr. Van Helsing, investigates his disappearance. Van Helsing soon discovers Dracula has relocated and is preying on Harker's loved ones, forcing the doctor to relentlessly pursue the villain to stop his reign of terror.

Dad's Preview: This is Lee's (and Hammer film's) first go as the blood-thirsty Count. Opposite him is Peter Cushing as the determined Van Helsing. This pair would go on to two star in over a dozen films together. This quasi-remake exudes a lot more sexuality than the 1931 classic from Universal. It's brooding Victorian atmosphere and creepy setting perfectly fits the genre. Hammer would make seven more Dracula films, most of them with Mr. Lee.

Hammer Film Productions; Universal-International

Bolt your doors. Lock your windows There's something in The Fog!

Starring: Adrienne Barbeau, Tom Atkins, Jamie Lee Curtis, Hal Holbrook, Janet Leigh, Nancy Loomis, Ty Mitchell, Charles Cyphers

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"We were aided by an unearthly fog that rolled in, as if Heaven sent, although God had no part in our actions tonight." – Father Malone

Why watch this? This is one film I cannot watch with the lights off.

Plot Summary: On the eve of its centennial, the small coastal California town of Antonio Bay becomes shrouded in a mysterious, glowing fog. This fog brings with it supernatural occurrences and the vengeful spirits of shipwrecked sailors seeking retribution for their deaths, which were caused by the town's founders a century earlier. As the fog rolls inland, a diverse group of residents, including a radio DJ, a priest, and a hitchhiker, must fight for their lives against the mist.

Dad's Preview: The idea of the vengeful undead rising to exact revenge on the ancestors of their betrayers is freaking wicked! And add some thick fog into the night's setting and you will be creeped out. Director John Carpenter made a great decision to not show the long-rotting pirates up close (well, he did once). This makes them that much more terrifying. Of course, the eerie mood is enhanced by Carpenter's self-crafted soundtrack.

Debra Hill Productions; AVCO Embassy Pictures

The scenes... the story... The stars... BUT ABOVE ALL - THE SUSPENSE!

Starring: Robert Mitchum, Billy Chapin, Sally Jane Bruce, Shelly Winters, Lillian Gish, James Gleason, Evelyn Varden, Peter Graves, Don Beddoe, Gloria Castillo

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Not that you mind the killings! There's plenty of killings in your book, Lord..." - Rev. Harry Powell, praying to God

Why watch this? Unique. Nightmarish. Visually Stunning. Ahead of its time. That's why.

Plot Summary: During the Great Depression, the imprisoned, self-proclaimed preacher finds out that his cellmate robbed a bank, taking $10,000, then hiding at his house in West Virginia. When the cellmate is executed, Powell thanks The Lord for this opportunity to woo the vulnerable wife, and get the two children, John-age 9 and Pearl-age 4, to confess where the loot is stashed.

Dad's Preview: This film is based on Davis Grubb's original novel of the same name. The film's director, the world famous British actor Charles Laughton (Mutiny on the Bounty (1935), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939), Witness for the Prosecution (1957)), breaths an entirely new interpretation into this nightmarish, adult fairytale about the serially homicidal "Preacher" Harry Powell. The incredible genius of this black-and-white film is that director Laughton chose to intertwine German expressionism with noir naturalism to create a work of art that is both stylish and creepy in its economies of simplicity. The film, much of it from the children's perspective, centers on duality: shadow and light, love and hate (on Powell's knuckles), good and evil. At the box office, it was a flop, which crushed its director. The actors all deliver excellent performances, but it is Robert Mitchum, as the hymn-singing, slow-strolling pastor, who both captivates and terrifies. To close, it's unique that a film stays with me. It has to be memorable and unique. This influential film really stands firm, even after all these years. It, and I can state this with full confidence, is a perfect film.

Paul Gregory Productions; United Artists

Suspense and shock beyond anything you have seen or imagined!

Starring: Rod Taylor, Tippi Hedren, Jessica Tandy, Suzanne Pleshette, Veronica Cartwright, Ethel Griffies, Charles McGraw, Lonny Chapman

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I have never known birds of different species to flock together. The very concept is unimaginable. Why, if that happened, we wouldn't stand a chance! How could we possibly hope to fight them?" – Mrs. Bundy

Why watch this? The idea of peaceful birds, turning on man, is literally terrifying.

Plot Summary: A wealthy San Francisco socialite follows a handsome lawyer to a small coastal town. The two connect, yet upon her arrival, the local bird population begins behaving strangely and attacking people. As the attacks escalate and become more violent, the residents must fight for survival against the inexplicable avian threat.

Dad's Preview: Hitchcock was the master of suspense. Every frame of his movie builds on something with an eventual payoff. I love this film because it has some horrifying moments. Hitch wonderfully utilizes lulls. There is a nice, long build-up to the first attack. Then for no reason, the birds stop. This gives the audience a chance to catch their breath. Then comes the next build-up. I think the birds are more terrifying when they are sitting still, on the jungle gym, on the roof, in the drive way. Looking... Planning... Waiting...

Alfred J. Hitchcock Productions; Universal Pictures

They came to CONQUER the EARTH!

Starring: Gene Barry, Ann Robinson, Les Tremayne, Bob Cornthwaite, Lewis Martin, Paul Frees, Housley Stevenson Jr. William Phipps

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"The jets went in, but not one of them came out. I watched high-level bombers drop everything they carried. They were knocked out of the sky and their bombs did nothing. Nothing was effective against them." - Dr. Clayton Forrester

Why watch this? This is the best of the early sci-fi films about aliens.

Plot Summary: Earth is suddenly invaded by Martians in powerful war machines, initiating a global conflict as humanity struggles to defend itself. Scientist Clayton Forrester and Sylvia Van Buren are among those who experience firsthand the devastating attacks and attempt to find a weakness in the invaders' seemingly impenetrable defenses.

Dad's Preview: Though I prefer the more terrifying remake in 2005, the original movie is a class above its 1950's sci-fi counterparts. I am sure back then, this film shocked a more innocent audience. Released during the Cold War, it was influenced by the paranoia regarding the Russians and their atomic weaponry. The film won the Oscar for Special Effects. The film was based on the novel by H. G. Wells, a pioneer in sci-fi writings.

George Pal; Paramount Pictures

A duel is about to begin between a man, a truck, and an open road.
Where a simple battle of wits is now a matter of life and death.

Starring: Dennis Weaver, Jacqueline Scott, Eddie Firestone, Lou Frizzell, Gene Dynarski, Tim Herbert, Carey Loftin, Eugene Dynarski, Lucille Benson, Charles Seel

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I'd like to report a truck driver who's been endangering my life." – David Mann

Why watch this? Few actors so show utter terror better than Dennis Weaver.

Plot Summary: David Mann is a traveling salesman, driving through the rural California desert to a business meeting. During his journey, he finds himself terrorized and pursued by the unseen driver of a rusty 18-wheeler semi-truck. What starts as an ordinary trip escalates into a relentless cat-and-mouse game between David and the unseen driver, pushing David to his limits as he fights for survival against the monstrous truck.

Dad's Preview: This made-for-TV movie was Steven Spielberg's directorial debut. This tense thriller gave folks an early taste of his genius. I also really enjoyed Dennis Weaver, a TV actor with his own show called McCloud. His portrayal an ordinary man, attacked for no reason, is stellar. We never see the truckers face, and that makes it more terrifying. This thriller cores major points for realism.

Universal Studios; ABC

The screen's master of suspense moves his camera into the icy blackness of the unexplained!

Starring: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, John Gavin, Martin Balsam, John McIntire, Simon Oakland, Frank Albertson

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Well, a boy's best friend is his mother." - Norman Bates

Why watch this? Ah, Norman Bates and his mother... for its time, this film was disturbing, and generated quite the buzz.

Plot Summary: Marion Crane is a secretary who embezzles money and flees, eventually seeking refuge at the isolated Bates Motel. There, she encounters the timid and troubled proprietor, Norman Bates, who lives with his domineering mother in the house overlooking the motel. The film then delves into the dark secrets and psychological complexities surrounding the Bates family and the mysterious events at the motel.

Dad's Preview: I resisted viewing this film for years because I shy away from films that I feel (often unjustifiably) are over-hyped. However, this psychological thriller, which may be the first slasher film, certainly plays with your head. As Hitch loves to do, it steadily builds in tension to a knock-your-socks-off ending. Perkins' memorable and creepy performance typecast the handsome young actor for years.

Shamley Productions; Paramount Pictures

The Man Who Made A Monster

Starring: Colin Clive, Mae Clarke, John Boles, Boris Karloff, Dwight Frye, Edward van Sloan, Frederick Kerr, Lionel Belmore

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"You have created a monster, and it will destroy you!" - Dr. Waldman

Why watch this? It is a landmark in horror cinema history.

Plot Summary: Dr. Henry Frankenstein, obsessed with creating life, pieces together a human body from various sources and successfully brings it to life through electricity. However, the creature, despite its initial innocence, faces fear and rejection from society, leading to tragic consequences. The film explores themes of ambition, the dangers of unchecked scientific advancement, and the impact of isolation and prejudice on both the creator and his creation.

Dad's Preview: Hot on heels of Dracula (1931), Universal Studios created its second iconic monster film. Though only loosely based on the original Mary Shelly novel, we do see Baron Frankenstein create life. All goes wrong as that life becomes too dangerous to contain. Boris Karloff, wearing an incredible makeup application, gives the monster an unexpected level of humanity. However, he will kill when provoked. This helped to kick off many more Universal monster films and spawned a slew of B-movie sequels.

Universal Pictures

Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), Director: Francis Ford Coppola rated R for strong violence, nudity, scary scenes

LOVE NEVER DIES

Starring: Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins, Keanu Reeves, Richard E. Grant, Cary Elwes, Tom Waits

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"You will, I trust, excuse me if I do not join you. But, I have already dined, and I never drink... wine." - Dracula

Why watch this? Gary Oldman's portrayal of Dracula is singularly unique... and terrifying!

Plot Summary: In 1897, a young solicitor, Jonathan Harker, travels to Transylvania to handle a real estate transaction for the mysterious Count Dracula. Upon seeing a photograph of Harker's fiancée, Mina, Dracula believes she is the reincarnation of his deceased wife. Imprisoning Harker, the Count travels to London to find Mina, unleashing a reign of terror and seduction upon those seek to protect the girl.

Dad's Preview: Universal Studio's Dracula (1931), starring the iconic Bela Lugosi, is certainly beloved, but I grew to love this rendition more. This is a masterpiece of film art. It's visually stunning, using state of the art make-up and special effects, vivid imagery, lighting, shadows, and creative scene transitions. It creates a creepy mood and suffocating tone, aligned with Jonathan Harker's descent into the clutches of the Count and his sirens. How good is this film? Good enough to negate Keanu Reeves' not-so-realistic British accent. Also good is Gary Oldman as the Count - he's both menacing and sophistocated.

American Zoetrope, Osiris Films; Columbia Pictures

From a dimension beyond the living, a terror to scare you to death.

Starring: JoBeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson, Beatrice Straight, Dominique Dunne, Heather O’Rourke, Zelda Rubinstein

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"It lies to her, it tells her things only a child could understand. It has been using her to restrain the others. To her, it simply is another child. To us, it is the Beast." - Tangina

Why watch this? Nightmares come to life in this disturbing, apparition-filled experience.

Plot Summary: The Freeling family's seemingly normal suburban home becomes the site of increasingly strange and frightening supernatural occurrences. These manifestations initially seem playful, but they quickly turn menacing, eventually leading to the disappearance of the youngest daughter, Carol Anne. Desperate to rescue her, the family enlists the help of paranormal investigators and a spiritual medium to confront the malevolent forces that have invaded their home.

Dad's Preview: Everyone loves a good ghost story. This is Spielberg's version and it is full of spooky moments: a creepy clown doll, a little girl kidnapped, corpses in the swimming pool, a terrifying demon. One strength of the film is the family being besieged.  With all the crazy and unnatural things happening around them, they stick together.  A great reveal at the end explains why the spirits are so angry. This is certainly one to watch... with the lights on.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, SLM Prod. Gp., Mist Ent., Amblin Ent.; MGM/UA Ent. Co.

Watch out! They get you while you're sleeping!

Starring: Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, Leonard Nimoy, Jeff Goldblum, Veronica Cartwright

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I keep seeing these people, all recognizing each other. Something is passing between them all, some secret. It's a conspiracy, I know it." – Elizabeth Driscoll

Why watch this? The original 1956 film was creepy. This remake is downright terrifying.

Plot Summary: A San Francisco health inspector, Matthew Bennell, and his colleague Elizabeth Driscoll discover that residents are slowly being replaced by alien duplicates. These duplicates appear identical to the humans they replace but are devoid of emotion and empathy. As the alien takeover spreads throughout the city, Bennell and Driscoll, along with two friends, must attempt to survive and warn others of the impending global invasion.

Dad's Preview: The premise alone is too unbearable to imagine. The filmmakers succeed in creating the sense of dread from the original 1956 film, but it is much more unnerving, which elevates this masterpiece. The ending will stay in your mind for quite some time.

Solofilm; United Artists

IS HE A MAN... OR UNHOLY BEAST?

Starring: Claude Rains, Lon Chaney Jr., Warren William, Ralph Bellamy, Maria Ouspenskaya, Patric Knowles, Bela Lugosi

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Even a man who is pure in heart, and says his prayers by night, May become a wolf when the wolf's bane blooms, and the autumn moon is bright." - Maleva, the gypsy

Why watch this? This timeless classic still remains my favorite werewolf movie.

Plot Summary: Returning to his ancestral home in Wales, Larry Talbot becomes entangled with a gypsy carnival and the local folklore surrounding werewolves after a fateful encounter in the woods. A gypsy woman informs Larry that he was bitten by a werewolf, implying that he will transform into one himself. The film then follows Larry's tragic descent as he grapples with the terrifying possibility of becoming a monster.

Dad's Preview: Set in the Universal Studio monster universe, this big screen tale introduced the world to Lon Chaney Jr., son of silent-film film legend Lon Chaney (known as the "Man of a Thousand Faces" for his incredible feats using make-up). Lon Jr. would go on to portray the Wolf Man four more times. Chaney has donned the make-up for all four of Universal's marquee monsters: Wolf Man, Dracula, Mummy, and Frankenstein's monster. This is by far his best, most enduring effort. To his character, the tragic Larry Talbot, he brings a sense of helpless dread, and viewers feel pity for him - a man who cannot control his lycanthropic transformations. When he is the wolf, he will kill anyone near him, even loved ones. For that, he seeks death for himself, which is a noble gesture indeed.

Universal Pictures

Who will survive and what will be left of them?

Starring: Marilyn Burns, Paul A. Partain, Edwin Neal, Jim Siedow, Gunnar Hansen, Allen Danziger, William Vail, Teri McMinn

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"They could not have expected nor would they have wished to see as much of the mad and macabre as they were to see that day. For them an idyllic summer afternoon drive became a nightmare." - Narrator

WARNING: THIS FILM IS DISTURBING!

Why watch this? Just seeing the trailer traumatized me.

Plot Summary: Five friends on a road trip through rural Texas pick up a disturbed hitchhiker and soon find themselves in a horrifying encounter with a family of cannibals. The group discovers a nearby abandoned house, unknowingly stumbling upon the home of the deranged Leatherface and his equally unsettling relatives. What begins as an innocent excursion quickly devolves into a desperate fight for survival.

Dad's Preview: It took until 1979, when I was seventeen, to muster the courage to see this film. Back then folks were still saying it was real footage of a true story that happened somewhere in my home state.  Six of us went to its traditional midnight showing. It scared the shit out of us. So (naturally) we drove to the creepy ghost town of Denton Valley where the old Williams place lay a mile off the road. We parked and slowly walked to the old house with flickering flashlights... Julie's fingernails were dug deep into my arm as we ventured inside, finding strange satanic writings on the dusty walls. We ran back to the car screaming - the massacre could have occurred right there! This film is realistic, scary, disturbing and one of the best horror films ever made.

Vortex Inc.; Bryanston Distributing Co.

The Night HE Came Home!

Starring: Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis, Nick Castle, P. J. Soles, Nancy Loomis, Tony Moran, Nancy Keyes, Brian Andrews, Charles Cyphers, Kyle Richards

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I spent eight years trying to reach him, and then another seven trying to keep him locked up for I realized what was living behind that boy's eyes was purely and simply... evil." – Dr. Sam Loomis

Why watch this? It's the scariest film I have ever seen. 

Plot Summary: Welcome to Haddonfield, Illinois. A few years back a young boy, Michael, killed his teenage sister on Halloween night. He was sent away. Fifteen years later, Michael escapes and returns to his hometown. Hot on his trail is Dr. Samuel Loomis, a psychiatrist who has studied Michael Myers all his life. The doctor knows that Michael is mentally beyond reach, and he will leave a lot of bodies in his wake.

Dad's Preview: In 1979, I was always looking for a way to get a date to dig her hands into my arm. Horror movies were ideal for that purpose. This film, holy crap, it made previous "scary" movies seem like a Disney flick. This journey into terror, may be the scariest film ever made. After Halloween, the term "slasher film" became a thing, even its own horror genre. For all the jumps and murders, there is very little blood on screen. When we see Michael Myers, in that freakin' white mask, it still sends chills up our spines! Luckily, Jamie Lee Curtis was there to survive, and go on to star in several of the many sequels to follow.

Compass Int'l Pictures, Falcon Int'l Productions; Aquarius Releasing

Something beyond comprehension is happening to a girl on this street, in this house . . .
a man has been sent for as a last resort. That man is The Exorcist.

Starring: Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Jason Miller, Linda Blair, Lee J. Cobb, Kitty Winn, Jack MacGowran, Father William O'Malley

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"The demon is a liar. He will lie to confuse us. But he will also mix lies with the truth to attack us. The attack is psychological, Damien, and powerful. So don't listen to him. Remember that - do not listen." – Father Merrin

Why watch this? The actual exorcism scenes are terrifying.

Plot Summary: When a young girl begins to exhibit disturbing and violent behavior, her mother seeks both medical and psychiatric help without success. As the girl's condition worsens, manifesting in bizarre and terrifying ways, the desperate mother turns to the Catholic Church. Ultimately, two priests, one older and experienced and the other facing a crisis of faith, are called upon to confront the mysterious entity possessing the child.

Dad's Preview: This film is not for children, and perhaps not even for people of strong faith. It is disturbing on so many levels. That said, it's still one of my top films. Here we see the battle of good versus evil, as played out for the soul of a young, innocent girl. When the possession fully manifests, you will be shaken to your very core, as the devil himself would want it.

Hoya Productions; Warner Bros.

The Ultimate in alien terror.

Starring: Kurt Russell, Keith David, Richard Masur, Wilford Brimley, T. K. Carter, Richard Dysart, David Clennon, Charles Hallahan, Peter Maloney, Donald Moffat

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #44 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of The Thing

"You see, what we're talkin' about here is an organism that imitates other life-forms, and it imitates 'em perfectly." - Doc Blair

Why watch this? ... the blood test scene is worth the prices of admission alone.

Plot Summary: A team of American researchers stationed in isolated Antarctica encounter a hostile alien life form that can perfectly imitate other organisms. The creature's ability to seamlessly impersonate their victims creates an environment of intense paranoia and distrust among the nervous crew. As the researchers struggle to identify and destroy the shape-shifting alien, they face a harrowing battle for survival.

Dad's Preview: Unlike film critics in 1982, I instantly was gaga over John Carpenter's updated version of The Thing from Another World (1951). Seriously, what's not to like? The story is science fiction gold. Kurt Russell shines when he's mean and in command. This film is intensely scary. It's gory, bloody and slimy. Hell, even the ending is wonderfully nebulous. It was certainly ahead of its time, and has since received the recognition (and imitators) it so richly deserves.

The Turman-Foster Co.; Universal Pictures

An American Werewolf in London (1981), Director: John Landis, rated R for language, nudity, sex, violence, gore and scary scenes

 BEWARE THE MOON

Starring: David Naughton, Jenny Agutter, Griffin Dunne, John Woodvine, Brian Glover, David Schofield, Frank Oz

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #32 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of An American Werewolf in London

"On the moors, we were attacked by a lycanthrope, a werewolf. I was murdered, an unnatural death, and now I walk the earth in limbo until the werewolf's curse is lifted.” – Jack

Why watch this? The first transformation scene is worth the price of admission.

Plot Summary: Two American backpackers, David and Jack, are attacked by a creature on the English moors. One is killed, while the survivor, recovering in London, experiences terrifying nightmares and hallucinations. Soon, he discovers the horrifying truth about his attack and faces the potential of his own monstrous transformation.

Dad's Preview: This cinema classic is a different kind of horror movie. It has this almost tongue-in-cheek humor to it. This serves to relax the audience, makes them feel safe... then it literally bites your arm off! However, it is more than that, too. It has great performances and a brilliant soundtrack. The star of the film is Rick Baker's incredible makeup effects (which won an Academy Award). David's first transformation is a horrifying work of cinematic art.

PolyGram Pictures, Lycanthrope Films Limited; Universal Pictures

Alien (1979), Director: Ridley Scott, rated R for sci-fi gore, violence, language

In space no one can hear you scream.

Starring: Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, John Hurt, Ian Holm, Yaphet Kotto

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #24a - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Alien

"Wait a minute. If we let it in, the ship could be infected." - WO Ellen Ripley

Why watch this? It introduced cinema sci-fi to a xenomorph and Sigourney Weaver.

Plot Summary: The crew of a commercial space tug, Nostromo, is awakened from cryosleep to investigate a distress signal from a nearby planetoid. They discover a derelict spaceship and a lower chamber filled with strange eggs. When one of the eggs is disturbed, a deadly extraterrestrial creature comes aboard the Nostromo and proves to be quite lethal.

Dad's Preview: In the wake of Star Wars (1977), this film gave audiences a very different sort of alien encounter. Director Ridley Scott went to great lengths to create a futuristic space setting anchored in realism. The creature they encounter is what you might call a "worse case scenario" - deadly, unmerciful and all but indestructible. Sigourney Weaver, in her first starring role, steals every scene as a strong, confident, capable leader in a crisis. There are lots of scary moments as the crew tries to find the alien, only to realize that it is hunting them.

Brandywine Productions; 20th Century Fox

The nation's #1 best-selling novel is now the year's most terrifying movie.

Starring: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine Gary, Murray Hamilton, Carl Gottlieb, Lee Fierro

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #1 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Jaws

"Well, this is not a boating accident! It wasn't any propeller, it wasn't any coral reef, and it wasn't Jack the Ripper! It was a shark." – Matt Hooper after examining the remains of Chrissie Watkins

Why watch this? It's Dad's top film, numero uno. It's ignited the love of film within a curious 10-year-old.

Plot Summary: Chief Martin Brody, new to the small island community of Amity, faces a terrifying challenge when a massive great white shark begins attacking beachgoers during the peak summer tourist season. Despite Brody’s efforts to close the beaches, the town's mayor, fearing economic repercussions, prioritizes tourism over safety. As the attacks escalate, Brody teams up with an expert marine biologist and a seasoned shark hunter to track and kill the formidable creature.

Dad's Preview: Jaws was the first major film from a young director named Steven Spielberg. It is adapted from Peter Benchley's bestselling book about a hungry great white shark dining on bathers off the New England coast. There is suspense at every turn thanks to deft direction and an incredible Oscar-winning, John Williams soundtrack. There's drama, dread, and some of the best jump-scares on film. The film perfectly captured the novel's mood, and added its own levels of character development, humor and bloody terror. After this movie, which stayed in theaters for OVER A YEAR, folks would start using the term "Summer Blockbuster".

Zanuck/Brown Company; Universal Pictures