BLACK SUNDAY (1960)

I'll admit that as a kid I definitely had a boyhood crush on Italian starlet Barbara Steele and Black Sunday by Mario Bava definitely was the impetus of it all - from the gruesome effects (a mask with spikes hammered into a woman's face, yikes!), to the foreboding atmospherics, to the weird mixture of eroticism and bloodshed, Black Sunday should top any list of Italian horror classics and serve as a launching point to a fantastic director's career.

Gotta have an Argento though rather than the more obvious Suspiria I've got to go with Phenomena (Creepers in the US), starring a young Jennifer Connely as a clairvoyant young woman who talks to bugs and stays (where else) at an all-girl boarding school being plagued by murders. With a truly bizarre storyline (monkey murders?) and sickening set pieces (a vat of maggots and bugs!), Argento still manages to make every kill look like a Renaissance painting with his use of light and atmosphere. Brilliant stuff.

TORSO (1973)

This little-known precursor of the slasher movement hails from Italy and has been experiencing a much-deserved resurgence in attention, fitting for a movie that features a hacksaw as one of the main weapons. Yes Torso brings the goods, whether it's gratuitous nudity or shameless violence, all shot in the picturesque landscape of the Italian woods, sunlight peeking down between the leaves, where every scene feels like a cinematographer's wet dream come true.

THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (1974)

Being from Texas it's only right to include Tobe Hooper's ode to independent slash and gash, the grandaddy of all the great horror cut-em-ups, the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Abrupt character killings, chainsaws to kids in wheelchairs, frightening landscape that made people afraid of the South for years to come (we're not really like that folks....well, maybe a little), the film is the coupe de grace of independent horror.

CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD (1980)

Perhaps the most grim and devilish choice on my list, Fulci's City of the Living Dead (Gates of Hell in America) tells the story of a town terrorized by undead hordes commanded by a priest whose hung himself, thereby opening a portal to the underworld. Featuring some vomit-inducing kills (a woman barfs her own intestines!), teleporting zombies, and the inimitable Christopher George (personal hero), City of the Living Dead remains one of the best ever.

ARMY OF DARKNESS (1992)

Here's one for all the Bruce Campbell fans out there, and what better addition to any list of doom than the ultimate culmination of Raimi's Evil Dead trilogy and our favorite large-chinned actor's greatest performance ever ('This....is my boomstick', 'Hail to the King, baby', one-liners from heaven). Yes some may prefer the schlock and awe approach of the first two films, but Army of Darkness lets Campbell really embrace the role and Raimi hasn't made a movie with this much heart since (to those who disagree I say, 'Come get some').

LET THE RIGHT ONE IN (2008)

Here's one I saw recently that shot up into my top ten without much thought - the Swedish indie-hit Let the Right One In. Finally a vampire movie that doesn't shy from all the hard questions about the morality of the creatures' existence but still manages to hang on to the romanticism of the blood-sucking genre. Plus there's a scene that includes three dead bullies and pool - has to be seen to be believed.

HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES (2003)

Can't have a list without including my man Rob Zombie who manages to simultaneously craft a picture-perfect ode to old-school schlock horror while at the same time create an entirely new world for his malevolent mayhem. Zombie's devilish creations in House of 1000 Corpses showcases not only a fantastic horror vision but a love for independent filmmaking that goes above and beyond your average director - plus killer clowns are always a plus in my book.

Takashi Miike probably should hold the rank of the sickest man in the world, especially after efforts like Visitor Q and Gozu - still, it's one of his first forays into horror with Audition that makes my list. The slow, plodding storyline builds to a behemoth of a payoff and has made me nervous of demure, quiet girls ever since. If you haven't checked out this meditation on obsession give it a whirl, but turn away if you're squeamish of gruesome amputation and needles in your eyes - ouch.


Captain Clegg and the Night Creatures can be seen in Rob Zombie's upcoming HALLOWEEN II, where they'll be the featured entertainment as Uncle Seymour Coffins' presents Haddonfield's 4th Phantom Jam! Make sure to see 'em on the big screen when the film hits theaters on August 28th, 2009.


On the very same day, the Capt.'s full-length LP, ROB ZOMBIE presents CAPTAIN CLEGG & THE NIGHT CREATURES (music from HALLOWEEN II) will be released, giving the music world a much-need dose of macabre and decidedly evil psychobilly.

Finally, the Capt.'s real-life alter-ego, Jesse Dayton has been playing shows featuring the music of the Night Creatures. For info on where you can catch the man behind the 'Cap, visit Jesse on MySpace or his Official Site.


For more:

• http://www.myspace.com/cleggandthenightcreatures
• http://www.myspace.com/captaincleggfansite
• http://www.jessedayton.com
• http://www.myspace.com/jessedayton
• http://www.halloween2-movie.com

Special thanks to John Bradley and Jesse Dayton for helping wrangle the 'Cap for the List of Doom!

• |2009-06-23 20:32:54 kelly
  

  Woohoo!!! Fantastic list!! I can't wait to see H2!!
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• |2009-06-23 20:30:16 lessthanthreeu
  

  Great List!!! Keep it up Cap'n!!!
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• |2009-06-21 19:41:19 swurleez
  

  wow... i've seen most of these! captain clegg has great taste!! :D
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• |2009-06-20 17:57:04 ben
  

  The list the Capt. makes is pretty bullet-proof...can't wait to hear the whole Capt. Clegg record!!!
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• |2009-06-19 15:28:35 CannibalCheerleader
  

  This list has a lot of bold choices! Phenomena over Suspiria? Torso? I have to admit I'm pretty impressed with this guy's cajones. Even if you don't agree with him he knows what he's talking about. Way better than other Lists of Doom.
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• |2009-06-19 08:05:42 Zombie
  

  A standard list, with the exception of House of... which is pretty bad (talk about bias here). Dario's best are Suspiria or Deep Red. If we DO talk about horror, the first Evil Dead is easily the best .Where are Psycho, Cannibal Holocaust or Beyond the Darkness?
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• |2009-06-16 19:55:28 GoreGore_Dancer
  

  Now that's a real top 10 list right there!Many kudos to the Captin,he's knows where the good stuff is at!
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• |2009-06-16 19:27:13 Jgray
  

  Phenomena, really? Don't get me wrong it's a great movie, but if you going to throw in an Argento film he has got much better films. Deep Red or Inferno? The rest are good, not a huge fan of Audition, Japanese horror are all pretty predictable.
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