The Descent, 2005.
A group of cave explorers end up lost in a series of tunnels. It was their own fault, really. They didn’t tell anyone where they were going. To compound the problem, they also chose to explore a cave system that is unmapped. AND it’s full of predatory humanoid creatures with really sharp teeth. This movie has terrific atmosphere; it feels frightfully moody and claustrophobic. The creatures are truly scary and add an element of terror to a movie that would have been decent, even without them.
Lake Placid, 1999.
The same Director as Friday the 13th, Steve Miner brings us this gem. An oversized crocodile is terrorizing a lake in Maine. This is probably the best role I have seen for Betty White. Who would have guessed she had such a foul mouth? She swears like a trucker and looks quite at home doing it. She’s been feeding the crocodile for years, I suppose that’s why it’s grown to such huge proportions. Decent effects and good acting make this one for the DVD collection.
Open Water, 2003.
Sharks get pretty bad PR. They really aren’t all murderous eating machines with an insatiable spirit for blood lust. Two scuba divers on vacation get left behind when their tour guide miscounts the people aboard his boat. Floating in the middle of the ocean with little to no chance of rescue really puts a strain on a relationship. Naturally, the sharks end up having their way with the couple.
Creepshow, 1982.
The fourth short story in Creepshow may not be a feature length movie, but it warrants a mention on this list. The creature that lives in the crate has a voracious appetite. Rightly so. According to the label on the crate, it’s over 100 years old. The first victim is the janitor, who is pulled into the crate and eaten entirely. The creature looks a bit like a Sasquatch, only with a head full of incredibly long, pointy teeth. I really like the element of the supernatural here. The creature is impossibly old and it can apparently survive underwater. It’s got some of the un-killable characteristics that I love. Like Jason or Freddy.
There are so many great creature movies out there that I don’t have room for all of them. I would like to give a nod to both the Predator and Alien series. They would be obvious choices, I just wanted to give some props to some other greats.
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Not a bad list. Totally agree on: The Thing, Splinter, The Mist, Cloverfield, The Blob, The Fly, and maybe Lake Placid. However, NO creature movie list is complete without: Alien (1979), The Host (2006), The Relic (1997), Pumpkinhead (1988), and King Kong (2005).
oooo king kong was ruff
Wow, never noticed how so many of the greats start with “The” …
Umm…wow… this was a pretty awful list. No Alien, or Jaws, or Anaconda. I could understand not including Predator, or Species. Gremlins? The Cave? Don’t be Afraid of the Dark? Come on!
I have to take serious exception with the plot description of The Descent. “They” weren’t the ones who chose not to tell anyone which cave system they were caving in. “They” also weren’t the ones who chose an unmapped system. It’s a very significant plot element (especially at the end) that only *one* of the characters is responsible for the mess everyone gets into.
Those pink tentacle things in ‘King Kong’ that basically raped that one guy stuck in my mind days after watching it.
Three movies I do not agree with The Fly, The Descent and Lake Placid
How old is the person who wrote this list? Many of these movies are from the 90′s and 00′s with nothing going back further than 1982. The sharks in Open Water make it in over the shark from Jaws? No Alien? No demonically possessed Linda Blair in The Exorcist? Even Boris Karloff’s Frankenstein was scarier than some of the creatures on this list.
This author has a short memory. Either that or he/she is 15-20
Glenn I am lost on the intent of your insult. Please elaborate.
The fact is this list only goes back to the 80′s. It makes it look like the person who made it either young or has never seen a movie before 1982.
Aliens?, Pennywise?, etc….How old was the person who made this list? Cause call me crazy, but I’m pretty sure movies were made before the 1980′s.
No mention of Pazuzu? which continues to be used as an internet screamer long into 2013…
How do you not have The Creeper from Jeepers Creepers? That thing was freaking terrifying.
The Thing with Kurt Russel, should be in top 3.
IF not #1. Minimal CGI and some of the best practical effects that still hold true to this day. The Thing and Alien are my favorie Sci-Fi/Horrors of all time. And deserve to be up here.
Did you forget the Howling movies?
Dog Soldiers! Campy as hell, entertaining, scary, and laughable. Arguably one of the most underrated films ever.
Def should be on this list.
ALIEN?
Tremors? H.A.L.? An American Werewolf in London? Creature From the Black Lagoon? How can you have a creature list and not have the Black Lagoon? But this is your own opinion…
I’m with Dan, no list is complete without American Werewolf in London.
How do you not have *(insert creature movie here)* on this list?
Come on people. You can’t have it all. If you don’t like the opinions, make your own fucking blog.
I think the creature in Cloverfield was the most creative.. without question.. but it will take a back seat to the newest creature from ‘Pacific Rim’ when that comes out…. If the topic was about the scariest real-live subject.. Jaws.. nothing will ever come as close unless it bit you
Top 10 ways to waste your time …
Lets hear your top 10.
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