This is the place in an article where I would talk about how great of a horror year it has been, & honestly, it has. Fresh faces, originality, and innovations in the medium made an undeniable dent last year. Here’s what scared me for the better in 2015.
13. Unfriended
Maybe it’s the scary amount of time I spend in front of a screen, or the fact that living millennials are quickly becoming scarier than undead…well…anything, that secured this “type a mile on their keyboard”, uploaded footage flick, not only a place in my heart, but on this list. Although my experience was theatrical, I highly recommend you take this in with dim lights, on a MacBook. You’ll never hear the Skype tones the same way again.
12. A Girl Walks Home Along at Night
Unarguable proof that originally within the Vampire sub-genre isn’t dead. If this was the Top 13 Cool, & Confidant Horror Films of 2015, Ana Lily Amirpour’s directoral debut would be number one by a long shot. I dare you to not fall in love with this striped shirt wearing, skate boarding, vinyl loving vampiress. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is far less Urban Outfitter-y than my last sentence leads you to believe.
11. The Visit
Although I entered into the theater a nervous, Shyamalan sympathizer, I left not only unscathed, but smiling. Wide/ear-to-ear. Equal parts awkward comedy & unsetting terror, with effective moments of emotional, family drama. Who knew M. Night had such range? And if you’re wondering is he did “it” again, he did. Out of nowhere, & it worked.
But if M. does happen to read this…no more rapping, k?
10. Deathgasm
Uhhhh….br00tal? This is a love letter addressed not only to horror fans (respectfully nodding at films like Evil Dead and Dead Alive), and metal heads (with an unreal soundtrack featuring Nunslaughter, Axeslasher, & Emperor), but to anyone who has ever felt like an underdog. Misunderstood. Outcast. Director Jason Lei Howden is in perfect tune. I would consider this a date movie…just for a specific kind of couple…
Also, they fight the demons with dildos for a couple minutes. So that’s cool.
9. Creep
Creep hurdles over modern POV expectations, & brings us back to raw roots. As a genre, found footage has strayed far from it’s initial charm. Plagued by numerous cuts points, suspiciously cinema quality cinematography, & that feeling welling up inside audiences, screaming, “Why the fuck are you still filming?!”. The honestly, & believability that director/star Patrick Brice was able to bring to screen is truly a breath of fresh, dread-humidified, air.
8. Spring
What I wouldn’t give to be a parasite inside Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead’s brain… Maybe then I could share the secret of masterfully mixing romance & disturbance, while simultaneously mirroring its internal beauty onto the screen. How to successfully execute an original idea in a climate saturated (less now than a couple years ago…) with remakes, reboots, & reimaginings. However, I am not an invading cerebrum organism, digesting grey matter isn’t how knowledge is gained, I’m bad at metaphors, & I’m alright with that.
The chemistry between Nadia Hilker & Lou Taylor Pucci is so mesmerizing, that I’m guessing it’s a significant source of resentment that a lot of indie horror directors are currently discussing with their therapists. This is the perfect horror date movie. Fair warning, you’ll be to busy visually eating up frames, to begin phase two of “Netflix & Chill”. Save that for the credits.
7. We Are Still Here
If you’re a listener of our podcast, you know that to me, ghosts tend to frustrate more than frighten. But ladies & gentlemen, this is supernatural on another level. Come for the Fulci-esque atmosphere, leave with a grin glued to your crimson-speckled face. If you could physically wring out a DVD or Blu-ray copy of We Are Still Here (which shouldn’t be attempted, but if you insist, gloves should be worn. Safety first), on the floor might be physical, residual, dread. …or blood from your cut hands.
Either way, Ted Geoghegan wins at horror.
6. Krampus
Krampus could have easily fallen victim to my ungoverned expectations, indifference to the Holiday Season, or the schizophrenic homeless man, loudly counting change five theater seats to my left. Not even a perfect storm of irritation could prevent me from falling in love with this Michael Dougherty joint. His ability to combine the charisma of classics like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, and Gremlins, with such a deep, dark cloud (both physical & emotional) of despair, solidifies my belief and trust in Dougherty as the man for the job when it comes to holiday horror. This new standard has something for everyone. At least everyone worth caring about.
Can’t wait for him to tackle Easter…or Thanksgiving. I’m sick of waiting for Eli Roth.
5. The Final Girls
The last thing I expected to leave The Final Girls with was wet eyes. And sure, I could have played it off as dust, or the excuse of hard laughter, but I won’t. Director Todd Strauss-Schulson displays massive range that’s effective on all fronts. This ensemble cast gave everything they had in their respective fields of expertise. Beyond the engrossing cinematography, & hilarious meta-slasher stereotypes, this film has a surprising amount heart.
4. Pod
Out of everything I’ve watched this year, Pod managed to effect my respiratory rate the most. The intensity brought to the table by Lauren Ashley Carter, Dean Cates, & Brian Morvant, backed up by Giona Ostinelli’s dreadful (the good kind) score, left me completely still, mouth open, & brimming with glee. I could see where some may be put-off my the aggressive, emotional back and forth, but I am a pretty big fan of NBC’s Parenthood, so it worked for me. In spades.
Bonus points for a Fessenden.
3. Bone Tomahawk
Westerns? I don’t like Westerns…how did this happen? Was it the all-star cast, running on all cylinders (most likely out of love of the material, for little pay)? The Coen-esque patience of director S. Craig Zahler? Maybe the unflinching approach to violence at the hands of cannibalistic troglodytes? Watch this with your Grandpa & let me know how he handles the third act.
2. What We Do in the Shadows
I know, I know…this was on my list last year. But because of our newly enforced NO FESTIVAL RELEASES rule, I have the honor of praising it one more time. Not only is What We Do in the Shadows the funniest horror film of the year, it’s the funniest film. Period. Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement are craft-masters, in perfect comedic control of every scene. My horror heart swelled/is swollen/continues to swell at the accuracy and respect they gave to the genre. Specifically to vampire lore (both modern and classic). A pitch perfect experience from title to credits. Can’t wait for more (not) swearwolves in the future.
1. It Follows
My New Years Resolution this year is to manage my expectations. Luckily, I didn’t have to for It Follows. Simultaneously cinematically charming, & terrifying, director David Robert Mitchell has made my year. The world he allowed my eyes to wander for an hour and forty-seven minutes is flawless, effortlessly sliding from dreamy to nightmarish. We have witnessed the birth of a horror icon in Maika Monroe (The Guest, Independence Day: Resurgence), who’s performance as Jay has permanently changed the “final girl” game. I purchased the soundtrack (by tension technician Disasterpeace) on my phone, in the theater parking lot, and it remains the most consistency played album while I write. In fact, I’m listening to it right now (track 11, “Lakeward”). Bottom line, I didn’t think I could fall in love with horror more than I already was. This was a horror vow renewal. A second honeymoon.