My recommended 10 to a newbie would be. In no particular order.
An American Werewolf in London (1981)
The Fog (1980)
Halloween (1978)
The Omen (1976)
Black Sabbath (1963)
Hellraiser (1987)
Witchfinder General (1968)
Alien (1979)
The Evil Dead (1981)
The Wicker Man (1973)
Remembering the impact these films had on me as i was getting into horror... yes, just that. All the films left a lasting impression on me.