March 23, 2017

Horror anthologies. Everyone loves ’em. And what’s fun about them is debating, after the fact, about which segments were the strongest, scariest, most fun, etc. It’s also easily the most subjective sub-genre within horror. You and your friends can all sit in and watch the same anthology, and yet each of you will more than likely have a different favorite. But are there any perfect anthologies? Films that don’t have a weak link in the bunch. Movies that are solid from start to finish?

We can argue plenty of features that fit this very high criteria, but when we got together to record last week’s episode of the Shock Waves podcast, we decided to do a little homework assignment. What would be our perfect horror anthology? I asked my co-hosts to pick their 5 favorite segments from all the horror anthologies out there, with an optional wrap-around segment, and curate the “perfect” horror anthology.

This task proved far more difficult than we initially anticipated! I mean, think about it. When you look at your 5 favorite anthology segments written down on paper, does that necessarily make them the best? Do they play well together? What’s the appropriate order? How would this thing actually play if someone edited them together?

What was great was that between my 3 co-hosts, and our special guest Darin Scott (who knows a thing or two about anthologies, having been the producer on TALES FROM THE HOOD and FROM A WHISPER TO A SCREAM), we all came up with eclectic selections! I’ve decided to share with you my picks below.

Rob G.’s Horror Anthology:

“Drop Of Water” directed by Mario Bava from BLACK SABBATH (1963)
“The Raft” directed by Michael Gornick from CREEPSHOW 2 (1987)
“The School Bus Massacre” directed by Michael Dougherty from TRICK ‘R TREAT (2007)
“And All Through The House” directed by Freddie Francis from TALES FROM THE CRYPT (1972)
“Bobby” directed by Dan Curtis from DEAD OF NIGHT (1977)
Wrap-Around: TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE: THE MOVIE

And for a very different take, here’s what our special guest Darin Scott picked as his perfect anthology:

“Amelia” directed by Dan Curtis from TRILOGY OF TERROR
“Blind Alleys” directed by Freddie Francis from TALES FROM THE CRYPT (1972)
“And All Through The House” directed by Freddie Francis from TALES FROM THE CRYPT (1972)
“The Black Cat” directed by Roger Corman from TALES OF TERROR (1962)
“Drop Of Water” directed by Mario Bava from BLACK SABBATH (1963)
Wrap-Around: ASYLUM (1972)

And here are the ones from my co-host Elric Kane. We were a little more in sync and had some cross-over, but it’s still a vastly different anthology than the previous two mentioned.

“The Drowned” directed by Christophe Gans from NECRONOMICON: BOOK OF THE DEAD (1993)
“And All Through The House” directed by Freddie Francis from TALES FROM THE CRYPT (1972)
“Bobby” directed by Dan Curtis from DEAD OF NIGHT (1977)
“The Crate” directed by George A. Romero from CREEPSHOW (1982)
“Drop Of Water” directed by Mario Bava from BLACK SABBATH (1963)
Wrap-Around: ASYLUM (1972)

What would be your perfect anthology picks? Sign off in the comments section below. And to hear the selections that both Ryan Turek and Rebekah McKendry picked, listen to our episode embedded below!