Movie night...suggestions please?

[Acidburn]

Hello one and all. It has been ages since I have been around here.  
Now I have a slight delima. I have a friend who, I just found out, has only seen about two movies of the horror genre.  One being the ring (ugh) and the other was one of the friday the 13th movies.  
Now I have talked her into a night of horror! An entire evening of  nothing but some of the best horror movies I can get my hands on to see if I can plant the seed for a love of the genre. Which brings us to my question for you fine people...I need about 5 very good intense movies. I would love your suggestions.  Just try to keep them halfway mainstream so I would be able to find them at some of the local stores.
Thanks in advance,
Acid

[RCMerchant]

1.the first TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE
2.the EXORCIST
3.the 2nd version of the THING
4.the DEVIL'S REJECTS
  and of course...                                                              

5..the original NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD

[ulthar]

I absolutely second THE THING and the original (b&w) NOTLD.  Also, Carpenter's THE FOG is a good old fashioned ghost story (not real intense, but entertaining nonetheless).  The movie GHOST STORY is pretty creepy, but it is kinda slow (I would never characterize it as "intense").

How about some classics; I think one can get a real appreciation for the genre from the oldie-but-goodies.  For example:

THE MUMMY
DRACULA
FRANKENSTEIN

If you want one from the "Bad" list for fun horror viewing, I'd suggest RE-ANIMATOR.  A couple of others to consider from the 'fun' side:

GATES OF HELL (kids vs. demons)
ALONE IN THE DARK (Jack Palance as a nutjob in a gory slasher; very good flick imo)
TRICK OR TREAT (Gene Simmons, Ozzie Osbourne - ya gotta love him as a Falwell-esque anti-rock preacher, Skippy from "Family Ties" and a great soundtrack by Fastway).


And finally, if you want to show her what horror REALLY is, make her, MAKE HER watch GIGLI.

(Sorry, I could not resist)

[Doc Daneeka]

For variety (and a damn log marathon): (some may qualify for more than one category, you may have to research)

Slasher:
Halloween
Halloween II
A Nightmare on Elm Street

Zombie:
Re-Animator
Braindead
Return of the Living Dead
Return of the Living Dead Part II

Effects:
Fright Night
Frigh Night Part II
The Thing (Carpenter)

Classics:
The Shining
Night of the Hunter
An American Werewolf in London
Psycho

B-film:
Abominable Dr. Phibes
Dr. Phibes Rises Again
Theatre of Blood
The House that Dripped Blood
Evil Dead 2
Waxwork

Psych:
Funny Games
Saw

Ghost:
The Exorcist
The Fog
The Frighteners

Sci-Fi:
Alien

Killer Animal:
Pet Sematary
Pet Sematary 2
Cujo
Monkeyshines: An Experiment in Fear

Killer Inanimate Object:
Child's Play

Humor:
House
House II
Shaun of the Dead
The Fearless Vampire Killers

I can't guarantee how scary these will be, some are just flat entertaining, but I just tried to give a variety of classics along with some of my personal favorites.

[ulthar]

Good list, Mr. Briggs.  I totally spaced on FRIGHT NIGHT, THE SHINING and AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON (I have all three).  Very Good Choices.

[Shadowphile]

Alien
Serpent and the Rainbow
The Grudge
Blair Witch Project
The Birds

[peter johnson]

Night of the Hunter!  Night of the Hunter!!
Mr. Briggs knows his stuff -- especially in the Classics category --
By the way, Mr. Briggs, I've been meaning to ask you -- Whatever became of Mr. Phelps?
peter johnson/denny crane

[LilCerberus]

The Legend of Boggy Creek.
Albeit, a cheesey pseudo documentary, but it has it's creepy moments.

[Ash]

I definitely agree on The Thing.
I picked the collector's edition of that movie up a couple weeks ago and have watched it twice since.
Awesome movie!

Someone mentioned The Blair Witch Project.
Excellent choice.
Turn all the lights off and watch that.

[Doc Daneeka]

Thanks for the thanks! Although I have doubts about how many of these movies that they'll end up actually watching in the end!

[Yaddo 42]

I was going to suggest some europrean and foreign horror just to mix it up, but instead I'll just suggest Takeshi Miike's "Audition". Good mix of suspense and gore.

[The Burgomaster]

Here are a few suggestions:

* THE EXORCIST

* ROSEMARY'S BABY

* INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (okay, so it's technically sci-fi . . . but it's scary . . . either the original or the Donald Sutherland version will be okay)

* NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD

* THE OMEN (original)

* HALLOWEEN

* TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE

* EVIL DEAD

* THE HAUNTING (original)

* And how about a David Cronenberg film.  Maybe SHIVERS (aka THEY CAME FROM WITHIN)

[Acidburn]

Thank you for all of the suggestions, so far I have definatly decided on The Exorcist, Night of the Living Dead and Halloween. I think I will throw Shaun of the Dead or Army of Darkness in there just to kind of lighten things up a bit after a couple of good creepy movies.  I will likely end the night with something like the haunting or some other haunted house story....you know just to make her sleep well  :).

[peter johnson]

Hey!  Not so fast, buster!
We spill our guts out here on these pages and not so much as a lousy handshake?  
Listen, Johnny, you gotta watch Night of the Hunter, you just gotta --
peter j./cenny d.

[Acidburn]

Night of the hunter?  Alright then, if I can find it I will definatly add it to the list.  The problem is I live in a very small town and finding some of the less mainstream movies can be quite difficult.  But if it is indeed as much of a must see as you say I may take the trip to birmingham and find it.  *Shakes Peter j's hand* Thank you for the suggestion :)