Eraserhead
Another cult classic and entry into the National Film Registry, David Lynch’s first film, Eraserhead, is a visual enigma, defying conventional rules and standards. Open to individual interpretation, it is a film rife with surrealism and symbolism. Lynch worked from 1971 until 1977 to complete the film, raising money wherever he could, including utilizing jobs and friends generosity.
The Evil Dead
Five college students visit an abandoned cabin in the woods only to release evil spirits that possess and attack the others. Sam Raimi made The Evil Dead on a budget of less than $500,000 over the span of one and a half years. Filmed at a cabin in the woods near Morristown, TN, Raimi employed unique special effects to achieve the gory and sometimes comical scenes. Lead character, Ash, played by Bruce Campbell, is a widely recognized, and often quoted personality.
The Exorcist
An adaptation of William Peter Blatty’s novel of the same name, this film chronicles the case of an exorcism of a young girl. Possessed by a demon, young Regan is subjected to extreme physical atrocities, as the demon inhabits her body. This film became one of the highest earning movies of all time, it is one of the most recognized films of that era.
The Entity
Barbara Hershey gives a brilliant portrayal of Carla Moran, a woman who becomes terrorized and abused, physically and sexually, by an unseen paranormal entity. Despite her pleas for help, she receives suggestions that her mental health is faltering. She finally meets some parapsychologists who agree to investigate. This movie was supposedly based on a true story that took place in 1976. It is a shocking movie that will keep you waiting to see what will happen next.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
In 1982, Stephen Spielberg presented a film that introduced an alien and a little boy who touched the hearts of millions of people. The story, written by Melissa Mathison, was a coming of age tale where a young boy, Elliott, finds an alien, E.T., left behind on Earth. Their special bond grows as the movie progresses, and Elliott, along with his siblings and friends, help to return E.T. back to his home. The film went on to become the highest grossing film of all time for ten years. It currently holds the title of the greatest science fiction film ever made at Rotten Tomatoes. By the end of the film’s first theatrical run, it had grossed $619 million worldwide 