A film crew discovers the “eighth wonder of the world,” a giant prehistoric ape, and brings him back to New York, where he wreaks havoc.
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[+] Top10nerScore87.356 / 100
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DIRECTOR: David Cronenberg
WRITERS: David Cronenberg, Charles Edward Pogue, George Langelaan
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Mark Irwin
STARRING: Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis, John Getz
GENRE: Body Horror, Science Fiction, Psychological Drama
When Seth Brundle makes a huge scientific and technological breakthrough in teleportation, he decides to test it on himself. Unbeknownst to him, a common housefly manages to get inside the device and the two become one.
The Fly is a prime example of masterful practical effects and body horror. Jeff Goldblum’s transformative performance and David Cronenberg’s direction deliver a compelling and grotesquely captivating psychological drama. The film remains a benchmark in creature feature cinema.
[+] Top10nerScore87.473 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Edgar Wright
WRITERS: Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg
CINEMATOGRAPHY: David M. Dunlap
STARRING: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kate Ashfield, Lucy Davis, Dylan Moran
GENRE: Black Comedy, Horror Comedy, Horror, Parody
THEME: Zombie
Shaun lives a supremely uneventful life, which revolves around his girlfriend, his mother, and, above all, his local pub. This gentle routine is threatened when the dead return to life and make strenuous attempts to snack on ordinary Londoners.
Shaun of the Dead reinvents zombie horror with wit and gore, transforming suburban mundanity into a battleground of survival. Sharp satire meets classic horror aesthetics, delivering relentless tension, grisly thrills, and a cleverly subversive homage to undead cinema.
[+] Top10nerScore87.657 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Satoshi Kon
WRITERS: Sadayuki Murai
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Hisao Shirai
STARRING: Junko Iwao, Rica Matsumoto, Shiho Niiyama, Shinpachi Tsuji, Masaaki Okura, Yosuke Akimoto, Emiko Furukawa
GENRE: Anime, Psychological Thriller, Mystery, Psychological Horror, Postmodernism
A retired pop singer turned actress’ sense of reality is shaken when she is stalked by an obsessed fan and seemingly a ghost of her past.
Perfect Blue is a riveting psychological horror praised for its innovative animation techniques and Kon’s visionary direction. Blending reality and fantasy seamlessly, it captivates audiences with its mind-bending narrative and insightful exploration of identity in the digital age.
[+] Top10nerScore87.800 / 100
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DIRECTORS: Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack
WRITERS: Leon Gordon, Merian C. Cooper, James Ashmore Creelman, Ruth Rose, Edgar Wallace
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Vernon L. Walker, Edward Linden, J.O. Taylor, Kenneth Peach
STARRING: Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot, Frank Reicher, Sam Hardy, Noble Johnson
GENRE: Adventure, Natural Horror
THEME: Giant Monster
A film crew discovers the “eighth wonder of the world,” a giant prehistoric ape, and brings him back to New York, where he wreaks havoc.
King Kong towers as a titan of early horror cinema, weaving a tale of primal fear and spectacle. Its pioneering special effects and poignant tragedy blend seamlessly, crafting an enduring testament to the power of imagination and the allure of the unknown.
[+] Top10nerScore88.042 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Sam Raimi
WRITERS: Sam Raimi, Scott Spiegel
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Peter Deming
STARRING: Bruce Campbell, Sarah Berry, Dan Hicks, Kassie Wesley DePaiva
GENRE: Black Comedy, Splatter, Supernatural Horror, Horror Comedy
THEME: Haunted House
Ash Williams and his girlfriend Linda find a log cabin in the woods with a voice recording from an archeologist who had recorded himself reciting ancient chants from “The Book of the Dead.” As they play the recording an evil power is unleashed taking over Linda’s body.
Evil Dead II seamlessly blends horror and humor, showcasing Raimi’s innovative approach to storytelling. Campbell’s iconic performance, combined with inventive practical effects, establishes the film as a cult classic. Its influence on the horror-comedy genre remains evident.
[+] Top10nerScore88.162 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Roman Polanski
WRITERS: Gérard Brach, Roman Polanski
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Gilbert Taylor
STARRING: Catherine Deneuve, Ian Hendry, Yvonne Furneaux, John Fraser, Yvonne Furneaux
GENRE: Psychological Horror, Psychological Thriller
In Roman Polanski’s first English-language film, beautiful young manicurist Carole suffers from androphobia (the pathological fear of interaction with men). When her sister and roommate, Helen, leaves their London flat to go on an Italian holiday with her married boyfriend, Carole withdraws into her apartment. She begins to experience frightful hallucinations, her fear gradually mutating into madness.
Repulsion masterfully explores the disintegration of the mind through Deneuve’s haunting performance. Gilbert Taylor’s innovative visuals enhance the psychological horror, creating an enduring classic that delves into the unsettling depths of isolation and mental unraveling.
[+] Top10nerScore88.212 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Jack Clayton
WRITERS: Truman Capote, William Archibald
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Freddie Francis
STARRING: Deborah Kerr, Martin Stephens, Pamela Franklin, Peter Wyngarde, Megs Jenkins, Michael Redgrave
GENRE: Gothic Horror, Psychological Horror, Mystery
THEME: Haunted House
A young governess for two children becomes convinced that the house and grounds are haunted.
[+] Top10nerScore88.928 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Dario Argento
WRITERS: Dario Argento, Daria Nicolodi
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Luciano Tovoli
STARRING: Jessica Harper, Stefania Casini, Joan Bennett, Alida Valli
GENRE: Supernatural Horror, Mystery
THEME: Gothic
From the moment she arrives in Freiberg, Germany, to attend the prestigious Tanz Academy, American ballet-dancer Suzy Bannion senses that something horribly evil lurks within the walls of the age-old institution.
Suspiria mesmerizes with its vivid cinematography, vibrant colors, and innovative use of sound. The film’s atmospheric tension, coupled with Goblin’s haunting score, creates a uniquely immersive experience, solidifying its status as a groundbreaking work in the horror genre.
[+] Top10nerScore89.038 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Tomas Alfredson
WRITERS: John Ajvide Lindqvist
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Hoyte van Hoytema
STARRING: Kåre Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson, Per Ragnar
GENRE: Drama, Romance, Gothic Horror, Dark Fantasy
THEME: Vampire, Coming-of-Age
Set in 1982 in the suburb of Blackeberg, Stockholm, twelve-year-old Oskar is a lonely outsider, bullied at school by his classmates; at home, Oskar dreams of revenge against a trio of bullies. He befriends his twelve-year-old, next-door neighbor Eli, who only appears at night in the snow-covered playground outside their building.
Let the Right One In captivates with its haunting beauty and subtle terror. This Swedish gem delicately weaves a tale of friendship against a chilling backdrop. Its mastery lies in the poignant exploration of innocence amidst darkness, redefining horror through empathy and quiet unease.
[+] Top10nerScore89.069 / 100
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DIRECTOR: John Carpenter
WRITERS: Debra Hill, John Carpenter
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Dean Cundey
STARRING: Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasence, Nancy Loomis, P.J. Soles
GENRE: Slasher
THEME: Halloween
Fifteen years after murdering his sister on Halloween Night 1963, Michael Myers escapes from a mental hospital and returns to the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois to kill again.
Halloween remains a quintessential horror classic, celebrated for its chilling simplicity and relentless suspense. Carpenter’s deft direction and eerie score set an ominous tone, while Jamie Lee Curtis delivers a standout performance, heightening the film’s visceral scares.
[+] Top10nerScore89.090 / 100
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DIRECTOR: James Whale
WRITERS: William Hurlbut, Robert Florey, Edmund Pearson
CINEMATOGRAPHY: John J. Mescall
STARRING: Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, Ernest Thesiger, Elsa Lanchester, Valerie Hobson
GENRE: Gothic Horror, Science Fiction
Bride of Frankenstein begins where James Whale’s Frankenstein from 1931 ended. Dr. Frankenstein has not been killed as previously portrayed and now he wants to get away from the mad experiments. Yet when his wife is kidnapped by his creation, Frankenstein agrees to help him create a new monster, this time a woman.
The Bride of Frankenstein remains a chilling triumph in horror cinema, seamlessly blending eerie atmosphere with profound emotional depth. Its iconic portrayal of Dr. Frankenstein’s tormented creation and the tragic quest for companionship sets a benchmark in horror storytelling.
[+] Top10nerScore89.160 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Andrzej Żuławski
WRITERS: Andrzej Żuławski, Frederic Tuten
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Bruno Nuytten
STARRING: Isabelle Adjani, Sam Neill, Heinz Bennent, Margit Carstensen
GENRE: Psychological Horror, Psychological Drama, Surrealism
A young woman left her family for an unspecified reason. The husband determines to find out the truth and starts following his wife. At first, he suspects that a man is involved. But gradually, he finds out more and more strange behaviors and bizarre incidents that indicate something more than a possessed love affair.
Possession masterfully intertwines psychological horror and political allegory, delivering a unique cinematic experience. Adjani’s mesmerizing performance and Zulawski’s visionary elevate this film into a haunting exploration of human relationships amidst societal turmoil.
[+] Top10nerScore89.194 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Tobe Hooper
WRITERS: Tobe Hooper, Kim Henkel
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Daniel Pearl
STARRING: Marilyn Burns, Gunnar Hansen, Allen Danziger, Edwin Neal, Jim Siedow, Paul A. Partain
GENRE: Slasher, Hixploitation
THEME: Southern Gothic
When Sally hears that her grandfather’s grave may have been vandalized, she and her paraplegic brother, Franklin, set out with their friends to investigate. After a detour to their family’s old farmhouse, they discover a group of crazed, murderous outcasts living next door. As the group is attacked one by one by the chainsaw-wielding Leatherface, who wears a mask of human skin, the survivors must do everything they can to escape.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre slices through expectations with raw intensity, delivering a visceral plunge into primal terror. Its gritty realism and relentless suspense redefine horror, crafting an unforgettable nightmare that lingers in the mind with chilling authenticity.
[+] Top10nerScore89.638/ 100
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DIRECTOR: George A. Romero
WRITERS: George A. Romero
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Michael Gornick
STARRING: Ken Foree, David Emge, Scott H. Reiniger, Gaylen Ross, David Crawford
GENRE: Splatter, Horror
THEME: Zombie, Siege Film
During an ever-growing epidemic of zombies that have risen from the dead, two Philadelphia SWAT team members, a traffic reporter, and his television-executive girlfriend seek refuge in a secluded shopping mall.
Dawn of the Dead is a pioneering horror film, celebrated for its groundbreaking use of special effects and social commentary. George A. Romero’s vision of a zombie apocalypse remains a cultural touchstone, captivating audiences with its blend of gore and satire.
[+] Top10nerScore90.129 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Jordan Peele
WRITERS: Jordan Peele
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Denson Baker, Toby Oliver
STARRING: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Catherine Keener, Bradley Whitford, Lil Rel Howery
GENRE: Psychological Horror, Satire, Psychological Thriller
Chris and his girlfriend Rose go upstate to visit her parents for the weekend. At first, Chris reads the family’s overly accommodating behavior as nervous attempts to deal with their daughter’s interracial relationship, but as the weekend progresses, a series of increasingly disturbing discoveries lead him to a truth that he never could have imagined.
Get Out skillfully navigates the horror genre, blending social commentary with suspense. Jordan Peele’s directorial debut captivates with its insightful exploration of race relations, delivering a thought-provoking narrative that’s both culturally relevant and cinematically compelling.
[+] Top10nerScore90.897 / 100
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DIRECTOR: George A. Romero
WRITERS: George A. Romero, John A. Russo
CINEMATOGRAPHY: George A. Romero
STARRING: Duane Jones, Judith O’Dea, Karl Hardman, Marilyn Eastman
GENRE: Horror
THEME: Zombie, Siege Film
A group of people try to survive an attack of bloodthirsty zombies while trapped in a rural Pennsylvania farmhouse.
Night of the Living Dead redefined horror with its raw intensity and pioneering concept of flesh-eating ghouls. Its claustrophobic setting and unrelenting suspense keep viewers on the edge, showcasing horror’s ability to tap into primal fears with chilling effectiveness.
[+] Top10nerScore91.855 / 100
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DIRECTOR: F. W. Murnau
WRITERS: Henrik Galeen
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Fritz Arno Wagner, Günther Krampf
STARRING: Max Schreck, Gustav von Wangenheim, Greta Schröder, Alexander Granach
GENRE: Gothic Horror
THEME: Vampire
MOVEMENT: German Expressionism
The mysterious Count Orlok summons Thomas Hutter to his remote Transylvanian castle in the mountains. The eerie Orlok seeks to buy a house near Hutter and his wife, Ellen. But Orlok is also the vampire Nosferatu, and when Hutter struggles to escape the castle, he knows that Ellen is in grave danger.
Nosferatu is a haunting marvel of early cinema, weaving a tapestry of dread and fascination. Its stark black-and-white visuals and eerie silence evoke primal fear, capturing the essence of horror as a genre that delves deep into human psyche and supernatural intrigue.
[+] Top10nerScore91.906 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Steven Spielberg
WRITERS: Peter Benchley, Carl Gottlieb
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Bill Butler
STARRING: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Murray Hamilton, Lorraine Gary
GENRE: Natural Horror, Thriller
MOVEMENT: New Hollywood
When an insatiable great white shark terrorizes the townspeople of Amity Island, the police chief, an oceanographer and a grizzled shark hunter seek to destroy the blood-thirsty beast.
Jaws remains a timeless icon of horror, seamlessly blending suspense with visceral thrills. Spielberg’s deft direction and Williams’ haunting score create an atmosphere of relentless tension, amplifying the primal fear of the unknown lurking beneath the ocean’s surface.
[+] Top10nerScore92.095 / 100
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DIRECTOR: William Friedkin
WRITERS: William Peter Blatty
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Owen Roizman
STARRING: Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair, Jason Miller, Max von Sydow, Lee J. Cobb, Kitty Winn
GENRE: Supernatural Horror
MOVEMENT: New Hollywood
12-year-old Regan MacNeil begins to adapt an explicit new personality as strange events befall the local area of Georgetown. Her mother becomes torn between science and superstition in a desperate bid to save her daughter, and ultimately turns to her last hope: Father Damien Karras, a troubled priest who is struggling with his own faith.
The Exorcist remains a landmark in horror cinema, skillfully blending psychological terror with supernatural intrigue. Its chilling atmosphere and groundbreaking effects set a spine-tingling standard, ensuring its place as a timeless example of how to deeply unsettle an audience.
[+] Top10nerScore92.886 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Roman Polanski
WRITERS: Roman Polanski
CINEMATOGRAPHY: William A. Fraker
STARRING: Mia Farrow, Ruth Gordon, John Cassavetes, Sidney Blackmer, Maurice Evans, Ralph Bellamy
GENRE: Mystery, Psychological Horror, Psychological Thriller
MOVEMENT: New Hollywood
A young couple moves into an infamous New York apartment building to start a family. Things become frightening as Rosemary begins to suspect her unborn baby isn’t safe around their strange neighbors.
Rosemary’s Baby stands as a chilling testament to the potency of psychological horror. Polanski’s deft direction and Mia Farrow’s haunting portrayal create an atmosphere of palpable unease, deftly blending suspense with a disquieting exploration of maternal fears.
[+] Top10nerScore93.081 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Robert Wiene
WRITERS: Carl Mayer, Hans Janowitz
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Willy Hameister
STARRING: Werner Krauß, Conrad Veidt, Friedrich Fehér, Lil Dagover
GENRE: Mystery, Psychological Horror, Gothic Horror
MOVEMENT: German Expressionism
Francis, a young man, recalls in his memory the horrible experiences he and his fiancée Jane recently went through. Francis and his friend Alan visit The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, an exhibit where the mysterious doctor shows the somnambulist Cesare, and awakens him for some moments from his death-like sleep.
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari revolutionized cinema with its groundbreaking expressionist visuals, ushering in a new era of psychological horror. Its surreal set design, innovative narrative structure, and enduring influence on the genre mark it as an unparalleled milestone in film history.
[+] Top10nerScore95.653 / 100
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DIRECTOR: John Carpenter
WRITERS: Bill Lancaster
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Dean Cundey
STARRING: Kurt Russell, Keith David, Wilford Brimley, Donald Moffat, T.K. Carter
GENRE: Body Horror, Science Fiction, Psychological Horror, Cosmic Horror
THEME: Alien Invasion
A team of American scientists investigate the empty, destroyed base of their Norwegian counterparts in Antarctica, only to discover a terrifying life force that can take the form of its prey.
The Thing remains a pinnacle of horror, blending palpable tension with groundbreaking practical effects. Its chilling atmosphere and visceral creature design redefine fear, keeping audiences on edge throughout. A timeless classic that sets the standard for suspense and creativity.
[+] Top10nerScore98.082 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Ridley Scott
WRITERS: Dan O’Bannon, Ronald Shusett
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Derek Vanlint
STARRING: Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt, Ian Holm, Yaphet Kotto, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton
GENRE: Science Fiction, Horror
THEME: Extraterrestrial
During its return to the earth, commercial spaceship Nostromo intercepts a distress signal from a distant planet. When a three-member team of the crew discovers a chamber containing thousands of eggs on the planet, a creature inside one of the eggs attacks an explorer. The entire crew is unaware of the impending nightmare set to descend upon them when the alien parasite planted inside its unfortunate host is birthed.
Alien redefines terror in space, crafting an immersive nightmare where claustrophobia and suspense collide. Ridley Scott’s visionary direction plunges us into an abyss of fear, with Sigourney Weaver’s iconic Ripley anchoring a chilling symphony of horror that still resonates.
[+] Top10nerScore98.337 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Stanley Kubrick
WRITERS: Stanley Kubrick, Diane Johnson
CINEMATOGRAPHY: John Alcott
STARRING: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, Scatman Crothers, Barry Nelson, Philip Stone
GENRE: Psychological Horror
THEME: Haunted House
Jack Torrance accepts a caretaker job at the Overlook Hotel, where he, along with his wife Wendy and their son Danny, must live isolated from the rest of the world for the winter. But they aren’t prepared for the madness that lurks within.
The Shining is a chilling tour de force of psychological horror, captivating audiences with its eerie atmosphere and Jack Nicholson’s iconic performance. Its meticulous direction and haunting imagery linger in the mind, ensuring its place as a genre-defining classic.
[+] Top10nerScore98.703 / 100
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DIRECTOR: Alfred Hitchcock
WRITERS: Joseph Stefano
CINEMATOGRAPHY: John L. Russell
STARRING: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, John Gavin, Martin Balsam
GENRE: Psychological Thriller, Mystery, Horror
Marion, frustrated with her job and her lover, decides to follow a sudden impulse to steal $40,000 and leave town. She stops for the night at the ramshackle Bates Motel and meets the proprietor Norman Bates, a young man with an interest in taxidermy and a difficult relationship with his mother.
Psycho revolutionized horror cinema, masterfully blending suspense, psychology, and shock. Hitchcock’s direction and Perkins’ iconic portrayal of Norman Bates elevate it to a timeless classic. Its psychological depth and innovative narrative structure continue to captivate audiences, cementing its status as…
The Greatest Horror Film of All Time
| Aliens | 1986 |
| American Psycho | 2000 |
| Army of Darkness | 1992 |
| Climax | 2018 |
| Coraline | 2009 |
| Dead Ringers | 1988 |
| Diabolique | 1955 |
| Faust | 1926 |
| Funny Games | 1997 |
| Little Shop of Horrors | 1986 |
| Misery | 1990 |
| One Cut of the Dead | 2017 |
| Phantom of the Paradise | 1974 |
| The Incredible Shrinking Man | 1957 |
| The Phantom Carriage | 1921 |
| The Rocky Horror Picture Show | 1975 |
| The Silence of the Lambs | 1991 |
| Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me | 1992 |
| What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? | 1962 |
| What We Do in the Shadows | 2014 |
| A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night | 2014 |
| A Quiet Place | 2018 |
| A Tale of Two Sisters | 2003 |
| Angel Heart | 1987 |
| Black Sunday | 1960 |
| Ginger Snaps | 2000 |
| Gremlins | 1984 |
| Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer | 1986 |
| In the Mouth of Madness | 1994 |
| It Follows | 2014 |
| Martyrs | 2008 |
| Near Dark | 1987 |
| Tenebre | 1982 |
| The Beyond | 1981 |
| The Brood | 1979 |
| The Cabin in the Woods | 2011 |
| The Conjuring | 2013 |
| The Lost Boys | 1987 |
| The Wolf Man | 1941 |
| Us | 2019 |
We hope you enjoyed the list and discovered some inspiration for your next movie night.
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