Every now and then a particular shot composition in a horror film grabs your eye.  It could be lighting technique, clever placement of objects, a well-executed special effect, or any other number of factors.  Whatever the case, these are those images that make us stop to consider the more technical and artistic aspects of a film.  Here are some that strike a chord with me.

Halloween: My favorite horror film of all time, largely due to Carpenter’s artistic depiction of Michael Myers/The Shape.  Whether ominously standing in the shadows or violently attacking his victims, Myers is the quintessential killer.  The shot selection in this movie resonates with Carpenter’s theme – pure evil.

Hellraiser: A feast of hand-made special effects and gore, this 1987 classic surpasses most effects made today.  Beyond that, Hellraiser is dark, gritty and often repulsing.  What’s not to love here?

Suspiria: About six years ago, I took a chance on this film after seeing it included as one of the most influential horror efforts of all time.  I hadn’t heard of it and even today, most people unfamiliar with non-mainstream horror have no clue what it is.  Though it has a great, coherent plot (which can’t be said for all Argento films), Suspiria is really an exercise is artistic color usage and shot composition.  It manages to make death look beautiful.

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