In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with backing or negative voting films you have not seen. If there is good reason to do so. This is especially true with neg voting. For example, if you know that a certain film does not fall into the category of horror (at least your definition of it). Of course, I have generally avoided doing so because I believe it is best to have seen a film, in order for you to form an opinion; however, I do not agree that there are no instances that blind voting or negative voting would be okay.

Interesting thought. But I should note, as you offered a possible reason for one giving a Neg vote on a film that one haven't seen, you also rightfully also indicate why you personally wouldn't do it. I really don't think anyone can give a good reason to do it.

That's really my point: if you respect your fellow members' opinions, you don't display your disrespect for them by negating their opinion with your assumption. If your fellow HDC member has decidedly determined a film is a Horror film by viewing it for definitive Horror elements, why the hell would anyone negate that without even seeing the film in question. That would be illogical and best, and at worst, I shouldn't write what I'm thinking.

If YOU are uncomfortable in voting for a film YOU haven't seen, then don't vote for it, but I think its a little much to start deciding for other people how they should cast their votes and what logic they should apply. Some people are prepared to take into consideration the arguments laid out by others and use their votes to support those movies, please don't presume to apply your standards to their decisions....

Well, I base that on the disrespect for any other opinion...

Nah, I'm not trying to rebel against anything. Like I said - I stated an opinion, just like everybody else has. Others have questioned whether or not some of us care about horror or a "real fans" because of what we backed or voted for. So why is my post such a big deal?

So would I. Taking these things into consideration is not that same as forming an opinion on that alone, though.

What I DON'T agree with is that you can judge a movie you haven't seen at all. Yes, you can have an idea about what it might be like, and maybe it'll give you a good reason to see for yourself - but you can't judge it before you have actually seen it. I'm sorry if that opinion offends you.

I have to agree with Straker. I have a few times on here backed a film purely on the opinions and reviews given by people on this forum whose film knowledge and expertise i admire including Neverending and Straker. Despite not having seen those movies, i respect and trust in their backings and know that they do not lightly give such praise and merit to films without a reason to do so.

I have not yet watched a film that the two of them have suggested that i didnt like. I think in cases like that or even in ones where people have convinced people to watch those movies, back them or just convinced them of their prowess as a film it is completely acceptable to blind back a film. You have to also consider that not everyone on here has seen all the same films, without going on the opinions of others, a lot of people wouldn't be voting for movies that deserve to be on this list and it wouldn't be much of a list.

Look at like this... it's 2013, you can see any 90min film on the internet 24/7. If you feel strongly enough about a film, or someone's opinion, then just post, "Hey guys, give me 24hrs to review movie such-&-such." If it's important to you, you can find 90 mins in 24 hours to see the film and give an informed decision. Let's just do that.

I appreciated the backing and I knew it wasn't a decision that was taken lightly or without thought. And that for me is what is relevant here, everytime there has been a 'blind' vote cast it has been done with careful consideration, if anything I'd be willing to bet that the blind votes have actually been harder for people to bring themselves to do than voting normally.

I'd totally understand if we just had a bunch of people blind voting for every movie their friends like, but we are literally talking about less than 1% of the votes received.

I don't know about you but i don't always have time to watch a movie whenever i want to and honestly i don't feel like i need to quickly watch a movie so that i can give an informed decision about it. The fact that they speak so strongly about it and are fighting for it is enough for me to back the film. I trust their opinions as i would anyone who had such strong conviction for the movies that they are fighting for and honestly if i want to back their decisions, i have the right to do that so don't tell me that i can't or shouldn't and that i should take the time to watch the movie myself.

You can do things your way, i'll do things mine.

You're right it was a lot harder for me to blind back a film as opposed to just backing one that i've seen and like. The reason i did so was because of the passionate compelling arguments that you and Neverending made towards those films. Any movie that can elicit that kind of response to make you fight so hard for it, has to be good and like i said i trust your opinion. I wish others could see and understand that. I kinda thought that was part of this whole thing, to give compelling reasons why certain movies should be included. You're also right about the 1%. I don't understand why they have such a problem with it.

That sorta sums up what I've always considered this thread to be. It's not just a list of what we individually like, and it's also not necessarily a list of the obvious, standard, award-winning films. It's what we, the experts, in this community consider to be the "best" "horror." Not necessarily our favorites, but the "best," and not necessarily what scares us the most, but what might be classified as "horror" by some reasonable understanding of the the genre. Inevitably (and hopefully), the list will be influenced by our personal tastes, but it will also be limited to what makes sense to be on this particular list.

You make a good point, Straker. I shouldn't have the power to force you to apply my standards to these decisions you're making. Your decisions are your own. And I also highly applaud your honesty about it.

On a side note, in regards to your comment, "please don't presume to apply your standards to their decisions", let me remind you, people have been applying their standards to others' decisions throughout this thread. There are plenty of black kettles and pots talking here.

I'm just giving my opinion, and I know it's just my opinion. I'm REQUESTING of my fellow members, that they refrain for voting for, or more so Negging, a film they haven't seen -- and instead trust in this thread's group decision process. I'm aware members are entitled to disregard this. The rarer the better.

We still haven't found our final film for the 50s.

Both aforementioned films (War of the Worlds, Beast from 20,000 Fathoms) are still in the fray, with plenty others (I Was a Teenage Werewolf, The Day the Earth Stood Still, El Vampiro) breathing down their necks.

http://www.horror.com/forum/showthre...616#post953616

I'll also back The Day the Earth Stood Still. For some reason, I thought it was already on the list.

3 films in the fray now for that final spot. Competition is heating up!

The 3, or 4 actually, being:

3 The War of the Worlds (1953) (backed by Sculpt, Kandarian Demon, metternich1815)
3 The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953) (backed by The Villain, realdealblues, Straker)
2 The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) (backed by Kandarian Demon, metternich1815)
2 El Vampiro (1957) (backed by Straker, neverending)

Actually Villain posted, in effort to sew things up, "If no one else casts a vote, I'll remove my backing from War of The World's since I backed both it and Beast from 20,000 Fathoms...". Villain initially un-backed War of Worlds to break our tie, and then Metternich backed War of the Worlds. Villain, if you really meant "If no one else casts a vote", and you want to break the tie again, let us know if you want to re-back War of the Worlds. Or we could wait for more votes.

The Day The Earth Stood Still has 3 backings, not 2.

And if we are also taking 2 backings into account, I Was A Teenage Werewolf has 2 backings as well. That makes it 5 films vying for that final spot for the 50s.

I said if no one casts a vote. The way I figured it was my backing hadn't been removed yet.

So, do you want to keep your backing for The War of the Worlds, Villain? If yes, it will be our 22nd and final choice for the 50s.

I guess the debate is for whether it's more of a sci-fi film than horror. But, as an impartial host, I will go with whatever you folks decide.

Although I'd rather have Beast in the list, I'll keep my backing of War of The Worlds since it doesn't seem like anyone else is casting a vote

Otay! Here's our 19050's page http://www.horror.com/forum/showpost...&postcount=726

For our 6 Honorable mentions, I support:

The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953)
The Amazing Colossal Man (1957) - (thought it had a lot of heart and was shocking to me when I saw it as a kid)
The Killer Shrews (1959) - (cult classic for a reason. It's dark moody scary quicken pace to it. Some dark characters too. A bit like being trapped in the house in The Birds film. May have to see it understand what I mean.)
Tarantula (1955) - (A generalized classic. I actually liked it's slower character driven pace. Kind of a sleepy rainy day horror film).

There are better films in the list, such as Day the Earth Stood Still and This Island Earth are wonderful films. I don't personally consider them Horror, but I've seen both these films included in Horror collections of various types. So I have no wider objection to their inclusion.

Forget i said anything

That's a bit of an overreaction, Villain, my friend. Sculpt is just stating his preferences and opinions on some of the films.

I'll also back The Amazing Colossal Man and Beast From 20,000 Fathoms.

I also agree with Sculpt that I don't consider Day the Earth Stood Still and This Island Earth to be horror films, but I won't beef if they get in. I managed to railroad my thriller in, after all. :p

For my honorable mentions Beast from 20,000 Fathoms and Amazing Colossal Man should be in. I still think Rodan should be included as well. Also i just noticed It Came From Beneath the Sea failed to make it in the list, must've slipped by me. I think that should be mentioned as well.

Hold on to your horses, Sculpt. I haven't moved to the Honorable Mentions yet. Stop jumping the gun.

The Villain places his backing again on The War of the Worlds, and now we have that and The Night of the Hunter making it into the final 22 for the 1950s, by majority of backings.

All in agreement?

Guess I wasn't overreacting. Sounds good to me.

Sounds good.

Sorry about that, guys! I need to lasso my enthusiasm a bit! I should have waited for your thread admin, V.

Yes, sounds good!

What about the others?

We have at least 10 members involved in the project right now. Unless I get the Aye from the majority (as the earlier periods), we can't move ahead.

Go for it man.

Yes from me to...

Sure...continue on V.

That's cool with me...

Okay, majority are in agreement so our top 22 for the 50s are sealed.

Let's now look into the Honorable Mentions. The underlined films below the "IN THE CUT" section have the most backings so far, and they are SIX in number. Any debates for/against any of them? If no, we can shortlist them and move into the 60s.

All in agreement, or there's scope for debate for those SIX films underlined?

http://www.horror.com/forum/showthre...616#post953616

One thing I will say is that I pretty much consider most, if not all, of the sci-fis of the 50s to be horror (and I have seen many horror movie documentaries and so forth do the same). After that decade, I am more selective. I am not saying that after the fifties I do not include sci-fis, merely that I actually look at the film's characteristics and determine if I would consider it to be horror.

As much as I love Day the Earth Stood Still, I still don't consider it to be a horror movie. I think the film directly below it, The Quatermas Xperiment is much more of a horror film.

I back The Quatermas Xperiment.

Though, I won't beef if Stood Still makes it in.

I really do love Tarantula, but there is one other film that I think better deserves to be on the list and that is the film I will back. So, I will negative vote Tarantula and back The Quatermass Xperiment.

Tarantula drops out, Quatermass comes in. We still have SIX shortlisted.

Anyone else agreeing/against those selected?

Agree...............

I'm not sure if I can or need to back anything at this point, but if I can, I'm backing The Quatermass Xperiment too.

That all sounds good to me. Good movies on that list