Thx for the rec I can't remember you telling me but now I am downloading it
I think child protagonists usually help too unless it's a kid that is usually screaming or always doing things that get others in trouble, funny enough those are usually boys (Cujo, The Black Scorpion). Tormented (1960) has a great performance of a girl of about 8 who is really vital in the story. Very young Bailee Madison's performance is also the reason I liked Don't be Afraid of the Dark (a movie I remember you rated poorly). But I did like the dark fantasy/fairy tale angle in this movie too. That's also the reason I like Dolls that much. Pan's Labyrinth ditto. Urban legends on the other hand I usually don't care much for such as Candyman or Child's Play which are basically just vegneful killers like most of the slashers. Dagon surely had a dark fantasy aspect but the story somehow didn't appeal to me. I have a soft sport for old sci-fi horror and for the classic zombies. The FRankenstein like movies however are usually hit and miss. I really love Re-Animator however Dead and Buried (before halfway I already predicted the ending), Cemetary Man (too artsy and enhanced boobs never help) and the Ressurected (very slooooow) weren't really my cup of tea.

If there were ever a movie that was up your alley - then this was it! Thanks for your reply. I feel like I now have a better understanding of your tastes. We do have different tastes but there are a few movies that we both like. No, unfortunately, i didn't like Don't be Afraid of the Dark, for many reasons, but I appreciate that you like it.

I, myself, like the more atmospheric character driven horror. I like a horror movie with good character development and I like gore but not gore for gore sake. I like intelligent horror.

Well let me elaborate further matey.
I'm not completely sure what you consider intelligent horror. I know gore is not really seen as the intelligent horror. However I'm a pretty big fan of the movies of Herschell Gordon Lewis. His concepts are a bit brutal at times but I find these rather unique for its time and they are brought in a rather light hearted way without going over the top. Plots are simple and not much character development here. I still love it, guilty pleasure or have I become less demanding or have I become tired of the more complex stuff? I guess it's a mix of them all.

Ya know there is nothing wrong with horror that makes you think, some mystery and such. But I really have grown tired of movies that like to make it more complex than it should be. Especially J-horror is often like that and for me that has become tedious. Lynch and other surreal movies I don't gain anything from that either or the surreal part must be minor or built a plot around is that is easy to follow, for example Company of Wolves, Paperhouse, Celia. I really got sick of people saying but you don't understand and go back to the simple action stuff and blabla. A lot of the praised stuff for being smart I think is pretty pretentious and that is not limited to horror. Actually these crime movies like Godfather and such are well made but I find nothing intelligent about it. Of course I don't give a rat's ass about such stories so that will colour my view too.

I surely have seen plenty of atmospheric horror, I love it. I'm a fan of black and white cinematography, I love the great shadow work and as much as you don't care much for silents I think they have some of the best atmosphere I can think of. Ok not all of the stories or character development are strong here but a few I think are just pure genius: Hands of Orlac, Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, The Bat. Phantom of the Opera, Cat and the Canary, Hunchback of Notre Dame are visually a feast with still interesting plots. There is plenty others that came later with and without colour with good story and character development. I also really like myself a gothic setting. The Innocents is probably my favorite, not overly rich on visuals but the setting, the camerawork, the threatening but still subtle apparitions, the rather risky theme and ambigue ending. That movie is close to a 10 for me. Black Sunday might not be as strong plot or character wise but the setting it's damn near perfect. No wonder Mario Bava is my preferred Italian director over Fulci and Argento. Fulci seen most of his and most of it are pretty weak on story and focuses too much on the visuals and gore. Argento I don't consider much better there. His concepts are more interesting sure enough but scenes go on and on and I'm like yeah that girl/guy is going to die I get it, get on with it. Becomes a tedious watch. So while I like the concepts (especially the one from Phenomena where Jennifer Connelly could communicate with insects) but I'm disappointed as it always tends to become another movie with killings, chase scenes etc. The concept that made me warm is merely a misleading side attraction to me. Ok Mario Bava is a lot less interesting once he entered the 1970s but give him a gothic setting and it can usually keep me entertained. And best character driven horror to me is The Bad Seed, if not for the shitty ending that would have been a perfect score from me.

nice work with the poll

Stuart Gordon & Brian Yuzna are responsible for bringing a lot of HPL inspired stuff to screen & they're all fun to some degree. Dagon is more serious, very atmospheric movie. I'd also rec The Dunwich Horror 1970 with a young Dean Stockwell taking on psychadellic cosmic beastie offspring, Dan O'Bannon's The Resurrected 1991, Corman & Price's The Haunted Palace 1963 & i've not seen Pulse Pounders 1988 but you've mentioned it here recently & apparently HPL inspired the The Evil Clergyman segment.

King is the better novelist but Lovecrafts work is superior on celluloid IMO.