LONDON: “The Exorcist”, William Friedkin's 1973 Academy Award-winning movie, has been rated best horror film ever made, according to a poll by entertainment retailer HMV.

“The Shining”, the 1980 film remake of Stephen King’s novel, was placed second in the poll, followed by Ridley Scott’s 1979 science fiction/horror film “Alien”.

Classics from the 1970s and 1980s such as “Halloween” (6th), “A Nightmare on Elm Street” (7th), “The Wicker Man” (9th), and “The Omen” (10th), all managed spots in the top 10.

Rounding up the top 10 list are “The Silence of the Lambs” (4th), “Saw” (5th), and “Ring” (8th).

The oldest film on the list is FW Murnau's 1922 “Nosferatu”, while the most recent horror films are “The Mist” and the US remake of Thai film “Shutter”.

- CNA/sl