Take Two: classic horror movies

Which modern "elevated horror" movie has a higher Rotten Tomatoes score: 2015's The Witch or 2018's Hereditary?

"Elevated horror" is what many have described a number of horror movies over the last 10-plus years that focus less on classic jump scares and focus more on atmosphere and themes. Both The Witch and Hereditary are great examples of this, but when it came down to their Rotten Tomatoes score, The Witch (91%) bests Hereditary (90%) by one percentage point.

Which classic slasher character has more official series entries: Friday the 13th’s Jason or Halloween’s Michael Myers?

Along with Freddy Kreuger from The Nightmare on Elm Street movies, Jason and Michael Myers are two of the iconic slasher movie villains of the late 70s and 80s. We specified official series entries, so the mashup of Freddy vs Jason didn't factor into the overall number for each movie. With that in mind, Halloween edges Friday the 13th, ironically, 13 to 12. Halloween can thank its recent trilogy that concluded with Halloween Ends in 2022 to give it the win.

Which movie took the top spot in Variety’s 100 best horror movies of all time list: The Exorcist or The Texas Chainsaw Massacre?

Variety, the historic Hollywood trade publication, recently got a bunch of critics together to create what they think are the 100 best horror movies of all time. It's a fun list that features many fan favorites but also some hidden gems for people to discover. But it all came down to 1973's The Exorcist and 1974's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre for the top spot, and Leatherface came away with the crown, as Variety named The Texas Chainsaw Massacre as the best horror movie ever.

Which version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers has a higher Rotten Tomatoes score: 1956 or 1978?

Critics believe you can't go wrong when selecting between the original 1956 Invasion of the Body Snatchers or the 1978 remake (both movies are on Variety's top 100 list as well), but which earned a bit more love? Per Rotten Tomatoes, 1956's Invasion of the Body Snatchers comes out ahead with a 97% score compared to 1978's 93%.

Which horror movie received more Oscar nominations: The Exorcist or Get Out?

The Oscars have not traditionally been the place for horror movies to get their due, but on occasion, an exception is made. While The Silence of the Lambs is seen by many as the only horror movie to win Best Picture, the movie is as much a thriller as anything. If we're looking at more traditional horror, then William Friedkin's The Exorcist and Jordan Peele's Get Out are two of the most successful movies with the Academy. But it is Friedkin's movie that earned the most nominations, netting 10, including Best Picture and Best Director, and winning two (Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Sound), while Get Out had four nominations, also including Picture and Director, and winning one for Best Original Screenplay.

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Michael Balderston

Michael Balderston is a DC-based entertainment and assistant managing editor for What to Watch, who has previously written about the TV and movies with TV Technology, Awards Circuit and regional publications. Spending most of his time watching new movies at the theater or classics on TCM, some of Michael's favorite movies include Casablanca, Moulin Rouge!, Silence of the Lambs, Children of Men, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest and Star Wars. On the TV side he enjoys Only Murders in the Building, Yellowstone, The Boys, Game of Thrones and is always up for a Seinfeld rerun. Follow on Letterboxd.