Whether you date back to the Alfred Hitchcock classics full of intrigue and suspense, or whether you prefer the graphic, computer-generated gore of today's horror flicks, almost everyone has a favorite scary movie.
Here's a totally unscientific Daily Sentinel survey of a few local public figures and their opinions of the best scary movies of all times.
SFA Vice President for University Affairs Steve Westbrook — I would say "The Birds," probably because it was the first scary movie that I remember ... so that set the bar for the rest.
Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace David Perkins — My favorite will have to be "Chain Saw Massacre" ... Maybe telling my age on this, but I believe it was filmed in Texas, which makes it the best.
NPD Public Information Officer Sgt. Greg Sowell — I can't remember the exact title, but, in 1970, I saw a Dracula movie at the Main Theater in downtown Nacogdoches. It was a Saturday matinee, and I remember that several of us 9-year-olds ran out of the theater into the afternoon sun, screaming and scared to death. I have not watched a horror movie since. Real life is scary enough for me.
Expo Center Manager Bill Plunkett — OK, I'm going back a few years but, Alfred Hitchcock ... either "The Birds" or the one with the man on the wing of the airplane.
SFA President Dr. Baker Pattillo — I would have to say the best horror film is "Frankenstein" with Boris Karloff — it is a classic horror film that stands the test of time.
Municipal Court Judge Juanita Springer — I cannot remember the name of the movie, but it has to be some Godzilla movie. I was around 10-11 years old and my parents dropped me and my brother off at the movie theater. When the monster appeared out of the ocean, I could not move or scream. I love scary movies now.
County Attorney John Fleming — I think John Carpenter's "Halloween" (1978) is the scariest show I've ever seen. I saw it with a group of friends when I was 10 or 11 over at another friend's house — my parents didn't know I was seeing it. My dad wouldn't have minded my seeing it, but my mother would have been upset. The music really made the show come alive, and the acting was authentic. The movie didn't rely on gore to scare you — it relied on suspense and a somewhat believable story. Some interesting trivia about the show: the mask for Michael Myers was actually a Halloween mask of William Shatner of "Star Trek" fame — I think that is correct. And one last note — I think the show is scary to me in part because I had to walk home after the movie (about three blocks) — it was 10 or 11 at night and no one was out. It was a long three blocks.
Sheriff Thomas Kerss — In my opinion, "The Exorcist" would have to rate as the best scary movie of all time. Despite having been made long before computer graphics imagery was used to enhance scenes, the movie offered great performances and a sense of realism that left you believing you were in the same room with them. I rank it just above "The Shining," which was another jewel.
Judge Ed Klein, 420th District Court — "The Shining." It just is.
Judge Campbell Cox, 145th District Court — I can't really answer the question. I am too cheap to pay money to have a movie scare me.
Chamber of Commerce President Bruce Partain — The best film of the horror genre has to be "Young Frankenstein." The casting, directing, dialogue and physical humor are all classic. "Jaws" and "Terminator" scared me enough that now I steer away from those types of films. And of course Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" probably scared more of the population than any of the above.
SFA Provost Richard Berry — I vote for "JAWS." Reason — the first five minutes!
Nacogdoches Police Chief Jim Sevey — My wife said "The Stand" scared her. I think "Devil's Advocate" was pretty freaky.
District Attorney Nicole LoStracco — Sorry ... I am too chicken to watch scary movies. The news and what I see at work is scary enough for me.
