
Bone Tomahawk. The
western made a comeback in a big way this year, and Bone Tomahawk did a fantastic job of seamlessly combining the
western genre and the horror genre. This movie is chock full of everything a
western should have – outlaws, a quest to save a damsel in distress, a desolate
landscape, a sheriff and his sidekick (the inimitable Kurt Russell and Richard
Jenkins) – plus inbred cannibals and some particularly nasty gore. It’s a bit
slow if you’re not already into westerns, but that’s not a detriment to fans of
the genre.

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night. If there’s a movie that can get by on style alone, it’s this. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is a bit slim in story, but man is it gorgeous to look at. Sheila Vand is mesmerizing as The Girl, and the perfect vehicle for conveying what is, at its heart, a rather sweet story. It’s also one of the most original horror movies of the year, which is why it’s one at the top of my list.
The Gift. One of
the least horror-y horror films on this list, it still gets a place here
because it masterfully illustrates the term “psychological horror.” This movie
is so restrained, yet it’s positively brimming with suspense. There’s no big
bang of an ending, just a simmering, lingering uneasiness, and yes, horror.
What We Do in the
Shadows. A masterful horror comedy. I’m not sure any other movie this year
has made me laugh as hard as this one. There’s not really much more to say,
except that I hope the rumors of a werewolves-not-swear-wolves sequel are true!
Deathgasm. Heavy
metal and horror is obviously a match made in heaven, and this movie has the
gore, laughs, and loveable characters (Zakk + Brodie + Medina 4ever) to make
this movie an instant favorite. Between this and Blood Punch, Milo Cawthorne is becoming someone to watch out for.
Which brings me to…
Blood Punch. I
was shocked by how much I liked Blood
Punch. If we’re being totally honest, I’m not 100% sure this movie would
have made the best-of list if it weren’t for the fact that I only saw it last
Thursday, after I had already posted my notable horror films of the year list. Butttt, it’s definitely a toss-up,
because I really, really enjoyed it. Milo Cawthorne and Olivia Tennet were
fantastic – Tennet was really a standout – and the plot was of the
twisty-Bermuda-Triangle type that I absolutely love. Definitely worth seeing
multiple times.
Crimson Peak. I
won’t lie, aesthetics are the main reason I loved this movie. The story is as
predictable as any gothic-horror-fairytale, but that doesn’t detract at all
from how enjoyable it is. Even so, it’s the lush costumes and unbelievably
gorgeous sets that make this movie so worth watching. Just a feast for the
eyes.
It Follows. Obviously this made the list, for all the reasons everyone has already said so many times in so many places: The unrelenting tension, the unique take on a supernatural monster, the beautiful cinematography. The sense of timelessness. Not to mention how rich the material is for analyzing (see my essay on it here). It Follows is sure to be talked about for years to come, and rightfully so.
It Follows. Obviously this made the list, for all the reasons everyone has already said so many times in so many places: The unrelenting tension, the unique take on a supernatural monster, the beautiful cinematography. The sense of timelessness. Not to mention how rich the material is for analyzing (see my essay on it here). It Follows is sure to be talked about for years to come, and rightfully so.
So that's it! We've come to the end of another year of horror. Agree with my choices? Disagree? Let me know in the comments, or on Twitter! And happy new year!
No comments:
Post a Comment