1978 год: золотой век ужасов, когда вышли «Зомби-апокалипсис» и «Я плюю на ваши могилы»

1978 was a transformative year that arguably defined '70s cinema. A year marked with so much excellence and acclaim, it was truly one of the best years in movies, period. From the blockbuster monster hit Superman to the Best Picture-winning epic The Deer Hunter. It was a time to really be a movie fan, and nearly every popular genre thrived. But none more so than the horror genre. Horror helped shape '70s cinema into how we know it today. Yet, it was 1978 that saw some of the biggest highlights from this decade, featuring legendary classics and landmark masterpieces that have changed the face of horror for the rest of the century. New subgenres kicked off this year, and there was just so much creativity and terror released every month. From a cult classic B-movie to one of the greatest zombie films of all time, here are ten movies that prove 1978 was a tremendous year for horror. 10 'Jaws 2' Kicking things off is the sequel to one of the most beloved adventure horror movies ever, Jaws 2. Directed by Jeannot Szwarc, this admittedly rushed, uneven continuation to the first Jaws from 1975 may not be anywhere near as good as its predecessor, but it has its moments and is slowly getting slightly better recognition. Reluctantly starring Roy Scheider, who only appeared as a contractual obligation, it sees him as Chief Martin Brody, who once again must protect his community when another killer great white shark stalks the shores of Amity Island. Yeah, its pacing is slow, the new supporting characters aren't as complex or as iconic as the ones in the original, and the story is an obvious rehash of its predecessor, but for all its faults, Jaws 2 has a few great moments that certainly make it at least worth watching once. The action is still tense, the higher body count and gore are certainly a plus, and although it's well-known that Roy Scheider didn't want to be in the film, he still brought his level of professionalism and managed to play Brody with just as much care and intrigue. It's not a perfect horror film at all, but Jaws 2 is steadily becoming a cult favorite among some fans. Plus, say what you want about this film, but it still is not as bad as the two other atrocious sequels. 9 'Attack of the Killer Tomatoes!' Get ready to laugh at one of the most hilariously bad horror B-movies of all time, Attack of the Killer Tomatoes! A film that truly embodies the meaning of a cult classic, this cheesy, goofy monster attack flick instantly draws you in with its wacky, nonsensical premise about mutated tomatoes that go to large sizes and start consuming humanity. It's wild, insane, full of hammy dialogue and bizarre performances, perfectly cementing itself as one of the most recognizable films of this year. It's by no means actually well-made, but there's no denying its cultural impact and continued popularity today. It doesn't try to take itself seriously, and that's what makes it so rewatchable and strangely timeless. Attack of the Killer Tomatoes! represented the strange, light-hearted spirit of late '70s B movies, and some fans still can't get enough of it. 8 'Patrick' We journey to Australia for this next one. Directed by Richard Franklin, the twisted horror thriller Patrick is an obscure but brilliant concoction of science fiction and supernatural terror, all blended into a near-perfect film that deserves all your attention. After murdering his parents and falling into a catatonic state soon after, the deranged Patrick (Robert Thompson), over time, develops psychokinetic powers and begins terrorizing the staff of a hospital. This mind-bending Aussie horror flick may have slipped under most audiences' radars for a long time, but it's steadily on the rise in recent years thanks to a slow-building fan base who enjoy its unique, eerie premise. It's a film where the killer strikes without even leaving his bed. There's hardly anything more one-of-a-kind in horror than this creative premise, and it's because of its creativity, shockingly splendid kills, and genuinely solid direction that has made this underrated '70s horror gem truly more noticeable now. 7 'Piranha' If there's one film that better exemplifies Jaws' influence on the horror genre in the late 1970s, it would be Piranha. Directed by the king of horror comedies, Joe Dante, this Jaws-inspired animal attack flick is arguably the best and most recognized Jaws rip-off in cinema. While noticeably campy, clichéd, unoriginal, and incredibly low-budget, it's honestly a blast of fun that requires you to not put much thought into it, as it just wants to tell a story about scientifically engineered and aggressive piranha that escape captivity and go on a rampage in a public river. While it never came close to capturing the suspense, terror, or even the quality of Jaws, Piranha is still an amusing thrill ride that serves as a perfect horror pop-corn flick. It's cheesy and at times over-the-top, but isn't boring, and just wants to have fun with its premise. If you have time to kill, this B-horror cult classic can distract you for a few hours, giving you a fun but goofy experience. 6 'Damien: Omen II' Richard Donner's masterpiece The Omen passed the 1970s, becoming one of the scariest, most captivating American horror films of all time. But its great success and timeless terror did not carry over to any of the sequels it spawned, as none of them could recapture its magic. But, in 1978, the first sequel, Don Taylor's Damien: Omen II, arguably came the closest. Starring Academy Award winner William Holden, it follows a now thirteen-year-old Damien Thorn (Jonathan Scott-Taylor) as he slowly begins to understand his dark destiny to take over the world. Though far from fully recapturing the intense suspense and eerie mystery of the original, Damien: Omen II does have its moments of pure terror, creepy death scenes, and some fascinating performances from a talented cast of mostly A-listers. It also feels fresh for a sequel, trying to actually continue Damien's story rather than rehash parts of the first film. Is it all perfect, not exactly, but it's still scary, thrilling, and the story can still really satisfy hardcore fans of the original. 5 'I Spit on Your Grave' Hailed as one of the most conversational films of the 20th century, Meir Zarchi's B-movie splatter thriller classic I Spit on Your Grave cemented the brutally violent tone of the late 1970s exploitation horror craze. It is quite literally a hard film to watch, a relentlessly bleak and graphic tale of murder, revenge, and utter depravity. When a young aspiring writer is horrifically assaulted and left for dead by four men, she dishes her own deadly kind of justice on them. It's bloody, horrific, and certainly not for the faint of heart. While some might find its mean-spirited tone and relentless violence a bit of a turnoff, it's remarkable and brave for pushing the envelope on showing this kind of subject matter in cinema. It's not easy to watch all the way through, but that's what's made it so iconic all these years. Overall, I Spit on Your Grave not only defined horror in 1978, but became a timeless cult classic that's just as harrowing and intense as it was upon release. 4 'Magic' By far the most underappreciated horror gem of 1978, the late Sir Richard Attenborough's dark psychological thriller Magic deserves its place as one of the best horror movies of the decade. Two-time Oscar winner Sir Anthony Hopkins shines in one of his many compelling horror roles, playing a disturbed ventriloquist whose life spirals out of control when he acquires an eerie-looking dummy that seemingly has a murderous mind of its own. Sure, it's slow in parts, and the third act is a bit all over the place, but it's got a perfect balance of suspense and mystery, plus a superb performance by the great Anthony Hopkins, who scared the pants off audiences in 1978, thirteen years before donning the iconic role of Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs. A twisted blend of mind-bending tension, suspense, and even dark humor, Magic is quite a remarkable cult classic that can scare anyone who gives it a chance. 3 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' Philip Kaufman's tremendous remake of the 1956 seminal sci-fi horror classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers perfectly encapsulated the fear and uncertainties of late 1970s America. A trailblazing classic in its own right, this 1978 retelling cranks the terror and suspense of the original up to eleven, bringing the idea of a secret invasion hitting much closer to home. The late Donald Sutherland stars as a San Francisco health inspector who leads a dwindling group of survivors through the city as it's being taken over by an extraterrestrial race of doppelgängers. Trading 1950s Cold War tension with post-Watergate government worries, the 1978 version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a bold, fresh interpretation that outshines its predecessor in many ways. It's ageless and just as paranoia-inducing to watch now as ever before. The suspense is palpable, the performances are riveting, and it never lets up the intensity. It's a standout of the 1970s and is often considered one of the greatest horror remakes of all time. 2 'Halloween' 1978 continued the meteoric rise of the slasher craze with arguably the classic that cemented the subgenre's legacy, Halloween. Directed by the king of horror, John Carpenter, Halloween is not only a perfect slasher but simply one of the most legendary horror films in history, a film that has changed the landscape of cinema and given pop culture endless influence. Starring Donald Pleasance and the great Jamie Lee Curtis in her breakout role, it sees the streets of a normal American town turned into a hunting ground as a deranged masked serial killer, Michael Myers, escapes captivity to go on a killing spree, leaving his psychiatrist to find and stop him before it's too late. From Carpenter's impeccable directing talents and eerie film score to the dark, claustrophobic suburban setting, Halloween has plenty to satisfy and terrify any who experience it, and have them coming back for multiple rewatches. It was a landmark for slashers and horror itself for creating some truly iconic characters and moments that have since become immortalized in cinematic history. We can't seem to give enough praise for this staple of the genre, and, of course, it remains one of the best horror films of 1978, as well as the rest of the decade. 1 'Dawn of the Dead' While Halloween would have topped this list based on how recognizable and influential it is alone, there's one more that arguably deserves to be placed here, and that's the late George A. Romero's magnum opus of the zombie subgenre, Dawn of the Dead. This molded zombies into the pop-cultural sensations that we know them today. The story is purely perfect, following four survivors during the early days of a zombie outbreak as they work together to secure and turn an enormous shopping mall into their new home. With flawless writing, remarkable direction, solid performances, and thoughtful, timelessly praised critiques that address public consumerism and modern capitalism, Dawn of the Dead is simply magnificent and one that horror lovers all need to see. It placed zombies on top as the most recognizable movie monsters for decades, and its influence continues to stretch far today and across several forms of entertainment. It not only defined horror in 1978, but transcended this year and became just one of the most compelling horror movies ever made. Dawn of the Dead - Release Date - September 2, 1978 - Runtime - 127 minutes Cast - David EmgeStephen "Flyboy" Andrews - Ken ForeePeter Washington A nurse, a policeman, a young married couple, a salesman and other survivors of a worldwide plague that is producing aggressive, flesh-eating zombies, take refuge in a mega Midwestern shopping mall. - Director - George A. Romero