Jurassic Park (1993)

Jurassic Park (1993)

[9] If you think of this movie as Jaws on land, as director Steven Spielberg has suggested, it can't quite compare to that masterpiece. The characters aren't strong enough. But it's still a hell of a summer event movie, delivering…
Pumpkinhead (1988)

Pumpkinhead (1988)

[9]

As far as monster movies go, this is the one to beat. It’s the only film directed by the late Stan Winston, the special effects wizard who brought so many creatures and otherworldly characters to life in movies like Jurassic Park, Terminator 2, and Edward Scissorhands.  I always wished he’d directed another movie, because Pumpkinhead is creepy as hell, a superb dark fairy tale that’s drenched in atmosphere. 

The Fly (1986)

The Fly (1986)

[9] David Cronenberg's remake of The Fly is still the most fowl and disgusting film I have ever seen. It just about makes me barf every time I see it, and I love that. Jeff Goldblum plays an inventor who…
Gremlins (1984)

Gremlins (1984)

[10] Does it mean anything that Gremlins is my favorite Christmas movie?  Am I bad person because I eschew the sentimentality of It's A Wonderful Life for the malevolent rampage of little green monsters? Actually, sentimentality plays a big part…
Alien (1979)

Alien (1979)

[10] Ridley Scott's sci-fi/horror opus Alien is a haunted house movie set in outer space, where a ragtag team of "space truckers" do battle with one of the most fascinating monsters in movie history. Scott is one of the finest…