Exclusive: Ozzy Osbourne's Favorite Horror Movies
I met the devil and he was charming as hell. Yesterday at the Hard Rock Cafe, I caught up with Ozzy Osbourne, who was here in the wormy Apple promoting Electronic Arts' compelling new Madden NFL 08 and his song, I Don't Wanna Stop, which appears prominently on the football game's soundtrack. Once I had him cornered, I had to ask the affable Prince of Darkness about his favorite horror movies.
Says Ozzy, "I like them crazy ones like They Saved Hitler's Brain. I like Re-Animator, too. I like them hokey ones."
HIt the jump to find out which film really made Ozzy's skin crawl. (Photo: Helen Pfeffer)
"I remember when I first saw The Exorcist with Black Sabbath in Philadelphia." Ozzy grabs his head and opens his eyes wide, saying, "It freaked us all out. We wanted to go see The Sting afterwards just to get our minds off of it. The effects were so new. That's part of what made The Exorcist scary. It wasn't like the old Hammer films where you could see the wire that made bats fly."
Confession time: I've never seen 'The Exorcist'! I'm too afraid! haha. If even Ozzy Osbourne was scared of it...I'll stick to my wire-exposed Hammer films, I think. Unless maybe AMC shows it all cut-up for tv or something.
I felt the same way until about a year ago when I mustered the courage to finally watch it. In some ways it's scary and not-scary. While the puking and the head turning are very unsettling, I think it's the film's terror lies in its ability to make you question the nature of good and evil and the pervasiveness of either. That kind of metaphysical horror - that kind that gets in your head and shakes your soul - that's terrifying.
Court, Don't recommend watching it alone. It'll make your head spin! ;) I heard about it so much as a kid...I just had to watch it later. (There aren't any dog soldiers.)
First, I need to get this out of the way.. woohoo Madden '08 and Ozzy. Great pair. Madden '08 has kept me plenty busy this evening.... ok, done.
Anyways, what can one say about The Exorcist that hasn't already been said? Is it scary? It is if you haven't seen it before. I love showing it to first-timers, I get a real kick out of it. My wife will see it on TV and run to the next room. You know, I just realize something... The Exorcist is a good way to win the battle for the remote. Hahaha.
Best horror film ever made? To many it is, but to me it's a Top 10, but far from #1. That honor goes to James Whale's awesome Universal classic, Frankenstein.
I do find it odd that a man who bit the head off of a bat would be scared of little ol' Reagan. But c'mon, you gotta love the Ozzman!
You should have seen the look in Ozzy's eyes as he described watching The Exorcist. It was like he was reliving the terror! Ihave a video of it on my digital camera. Maybe I'll put it up on a youtube channel sometime. But like everyone else, I still get shivers from that movie when I see it -- same goes for the book. Both really pushed the envelope.
well Court, i would tell you something about the exorcist but AX and Malice took the words right out of my mouth. what else is there to say, its pretty creepy.
Goldberg, ive been a long time ozzy fan and have seen countless specials, footage, ect. with ozzy and am getting a kick out of a mental picture of ozzy talking about the exorcist. he does it all the time, he sticks his hands in his hair and his eyes get big, hiliarious.
Thanks everybody! I'm sure I'll give it a chance sometime...when I'm surrounded by friends...with all the lights on...I would love to see that Ozzy video too, Goldberg. haha.
But I agree %100 with Malice--my favorite ever horror film is also 'Frankenstein.' I prefer the old classics, I have to say.