10 PERFECT Monster Movies You MUST Watch

10. Pumpkinhead

Special effects guru Stan Winston is revered for his work in such films as The Terminator, Aliens, and Predator. Because of this, his directorial debut, Pumpkinhead, was met with a real sense of anticipation.

The folk horror centres around a father, Ed Harley (Lance Henriksen), who summons a demon to exact revenge on the teens who murdered his son. Rather than being a straightforward monster flick, Pumpkinhead deals with how grief and vengeance can be misdirected and weaponised, leading to further pain. Ed sees through the demon's eyes, forcing him to bear witness to the destruction his actions have caused firsthand.

The titular fiend is strikingly unnerving, conveying immense power and evil every moment he's on-screen. Winston's impeccable use of lighting, sound mixing, and tight angles turns this already imposing demon into a truly soul-stirring villain. Even when Pumpkinhead is off-screen, there's a great sense of the gangly brute's ferocity and menace, accentuated further by the cast's performances.

Stan Winston didn't have much luck with directing afterwards (as can be seen in the dreadful A Gnome Called Gnorm), but there's no doubt Pumpkinhead is among his finest projects.