When it comes to some of the best horror movies ever to be shot, quite a few were released in the 1970s. More than a few fantastic, terrifying films started franchises just when people really started to love the idea of a slasher coming for them, or Satan or one of his minions rising from Hell. Whatever people were looking to see, some of the best horror films around were all released in the same decade. Quite a few of them even hold up to later horror films that had better special effects available.
On the other hand, some films here and there that caught an audience's attention that might not have been quite as good as people wanted to believe. A couple of movies simply weren't good enough to get as much love as they did. There were more than a few horror movies eleased in the 1970s that were quite overrated, and don't hold up decades later. That doesn't necessarily mean that the movies were all that bad. In fact, there were so many good movies in that decade that even the overrated ones were still good. They just weren't as good as their fans have claimed.
The Omen (1976)
It might surprise some hardcore horror fans to see The Omen on the list. This movie is often acknowledged as one of the best in the genre. However, the film benefits from some excellent acting and a plot that is spooky on its own. With the wooden little boy that played Damien, and some other weird decisions that involved overacting by some supporting cast members, the film wasn't as good as it could have been. With and no acting at all by some members of the cast, the movie was not nearly as good as people once claimed.
That's not to say that this film is bad; not by any stretch. But there's also reason why the films that followed weren't considered anywhere near as good. Still, the idea of portraying a child as the anti-christ is a very interesting horror topic. With Gregory Peck playing Damien's father, it would have been hard for fans to not love the movie, even if it wasn't all that good.
Suspiria (1977)
Suspiria was such a beloved movie in the 1970s that it actually got a remake in 2018. One of the reasons Suspiria is so beloved is because of its music. It also features some surreal, trippy visuals in the that have made the movie quite popular. However, the flick mainly relies on those weird visuals and creepy sounds and haunting music. When the layers are really peeled back, the movie leaves quite a lot to be desired when it comes to the actual carrying out of the plot. In fact, there are plenty of times when the movie is far more weird than scary.
Just like The Omen, that doesn't mean that it's actually a bad film. Some aspects certainly make it stand out among other movies that came out in the same decade. The story itself, though, isn't all that great, especially when comparing the movie to others that came out around the same time. Suspiria is worth a watch, but it pales in comparison to some other excellent horror movies to hit theaters in the 1970s.
Last House On The Left (1972)
Last House on the Left got a lot of press because of its subject material, but it turns out the actual film and the way it was carried out was simply not all that good. One of the reasons for the film's hype was because Wes Craven was the man behind the camera. He has quite the touch when it comes to making horror films, but this was one of his first, and it showed.
That's not to say that it didn't hit home with some people — there was even a remake of the flick not that long ago. It just so happens that the basic premise of the film is a bit more appealing than what Craven did with the finished product. The truly brutal violence that unfolds is really not nearly as engrossing as Craven wanted it to be; it was actually more repulsive than scary. Body horror is a bit more popular these days, but that doesn't mean it's always good. This film loses something in the storytelling when it decided to lean on grossing out the audience with the buckets of gore and blood.
Carrie (1976)
Adapted from the legendary Steven King's novel, Carrie had a solid plot. However, the way the film was carried out leaves something to be desired. Carrie's powers are quite impressive to behold onscreen, and when she loses her mind and starts going on a killing spree, most audiences were horrified.
On the other hand, some of the characters in the film seemed to be cartoon parodies, especially Carrie's mother. There's an argument to be made that she was supposed something of a caricature, but it can come off as cheesy instead of frightening. It's quite entertaining, but this wasn't the kind of film that was going to actually scare people.
Phantasm (1979)
One of the biggest strikes against Phantasm is that the movie is just plain weird. Certainly, there are plenty of films whose popularity stands on weirdness, but this one didn't play it quite right. A sci-fi horror film,Phantasm certainly offers up an interesting idea, one that intrigues audiences.
Unfortunately, the film is not able to overcome the problems that it offers up. The film clearly tried to portray a villain that is nothing like anything that's been seen on film. The problem is that while the tall man and his killer machine are certainly original, the actor playing the tall man isn't exactly outstanding, and he comes off a bit goofy at times. Like the other films on this list, it's not bad and is definitely worth watching. It's simply not quite good enough to match up with what people say about this horror movie.