2016 has been a terrible year overall, but a good year for horror. It was hard for me to narrow my picks to 13 and there were a few that just missed the list (plus a few I didn’t get to watch). A lot of the films on my list are suspenseful and focus more on atmosphere. The surprises for me are the possession and supernatural themed films plus the ones I expected to be horrible. All of these films left a lasting impression on me with their acting, visuals, message, or emotional impact.
[customfont1]13. I Am Not a Serial Killer[/customfont1]
I read the book of the same name a few years ago and this film adaptation captures the story and characters very well. John is apparently a sociopath who tries to keep his urge to kill at bay by forcing himself to spend time with other people and paying compliments when he wants to attack. A serial killer comes to their town and he has to balance his fascination for the murders with his urge to solve the mystery. He discovers it’s supernatural in nature. The effects of the creature are impressive and much different than expected. There’s a nice balance of horror, drama, and humor to keep the story from getting too heavy.
[customfont1]12. Ouija: Origin of Evil[/customfont1]
I expected to hate this movie because Ouija was horribly boring. This one is the polar opposite. It first establishes a broken family of people doing their best to survive and move on. The setting in the 60’s was well done and immersive fromt the Universal symbol to the cigarette burns in the corner. I went in expected a predictable plot, but it surprised me with some twists and turns. Once the action starts, it seems like the family can finally move on and prosper, but there was always an undercurrent of something not right. This was the biggest surprise of the year for me.
[customfont1]11. 10 Cloverfield Lane[/customfont1]
This film has almost nothing to do with Cloverfield, thank goodness. It starts with an apocalypse situation and extends past it in a claustrophobic bunker. John Goodman is frightening in his role as Howard, who keeps everyone under control with his extreme and unpredictable mood swings. Mary Elizabeth Winstead is the capable final girl as Michelle who makes clearheaded decisions while still mourning her loved ones and fearing Howard. The ending is definitely polarizing, but I loved it.
[customfont1]10. The Handmaiden[/customfont1]
This film is based on Sarah Waters’ novel Fingersmith, set in 1930’s Korea. It’s told in three parts from the perspective of different characters, often retreading scenes to give a new view of what happened. It pushes boundaries with its frank view of lesbian sexuality in a meaningful rather than exploitative way. The horror aspects aren’t apparent until the end of the film, but it becomes clear that everyone was effected by this horrific character the entire time even though he wasn’t present often. I didn’t have high hopes for the film going in, but it won me over with its romance, horror, and intrigue.
[customfont1]9. The Eyes of My Mother[/customfont1]
This monochromatic film has beautiful cinematography and a slow pace. Although it’s short for a horror film, each scene feels uncomfortably long and almost intrusive to the characters. While horror usually focuses on acts of violence, there are few to be found here. The focus is on the prelude and aftermath of violence instead which makes the audience mentally fill in their own version of events that are probably worse than anything any filmmaker could come up with.
[customfont1]8. The Neon Demon[/customfont1]
This is the most beautiful film I’ve seen all year. Every visual aspect of this film from the lighting to the costumes is carefully designed and oftentimes feels surreal. The deliberately slow pacing and sparse dialogue give more focus to the visuals and retro score, but also create a dreamlike atmosphere. The horrific elements don’t come in until the end, but it’s extreme and unexpected. The film references other films, but stands out on its own as a unique work.
[customfont1]7. Train to Busan[/customfont1]
I know people might be tired of zombies, but Train to Busan is something different. The zombies move and function differently than the traditional type. I cared about the characters and the story packed a surprising emotional punch. Danger also comes from other humans in the formation of two factions: the ones willing to help others and the ones only out for themselves. These factions tie to social classes as well and show flaws in that society. Even without the deeper message, Train to Busan is an entertaining and heartfelt zombie movie.
[customfont1]6. Southbound[/customfont1]
This anthology connects its segments with themes, characters, a radio show, and the same desolate highway. Each segment has a different focus and a slightly different horror sub-genre, but the direction and connecting elements make the whole work cohesive. These stories are snapshots of the characters’ stories and it left me wondering about events before. While there are some flaws, it’s a chilling journey across a dusty highway that continues traditions of classic horror anthologies.
[customfont1]5. The Autopsy of Jane Doe[/customfont1]
I watched this late in the year and avoided trailers and reviews before watching. The majority of the film takes place one room with father and son coroners performing an autopsy. Their relationship and experience in their field is immediately apparent because of the subtle acting of Emile Hirsch and Brian Cox. Olwen Catherine Kelly may play dead Jane Doe, but her facial expressions change in small ways throughout the film and tell volumes about the character. It’s not a perfect movie, but the claustrophobic atmosphere and unpredictable plot make it stand out. It doesn’t follow or reference genre tropes, so it feels like brand new territory.
[customfont1]4. The Witch[/customfont1]
This film is unlike every other horror film this year. It’s much more quiet and takes place in colonial America. The language is authentic to the time and takes some getting used to. I consider it to be up to the interpretation of the viewer and I took it to be a story about ill prepared colonists fighting against nature in addition to their own sinful, hypocritical shortcomings. This is another film that I needed to some time to process my feelings about it afterwards, but the authentic storytelling and quietly disturbing nature won me over.
[customfont1]3. The Wailing[/customfont1]
This is a movie I wasn’t sure I liked after I finished it. I didn’t know a lot of the cultural elements necessary to understand what was going on with the figures of the film. Once I did a little research, it all made sense and I loved it. Even without the background, the film is viscerally uncomfortable and I constantly questioned who was the villain. It deals with some touchy subjects like racism and Japanese imperialism which fleshes out the supernatural elements and makes them relevant. The film is long, but no scene feels unnecessary including the humorous beginning.
[customfont1]2. Green Room[/customfont1]
I went into this film with no expectations and I was blown away. It has a pretty fun start and quickly builds up and sustains heavy suspense. The characters aren’t always likable, but I was rooting for them to survive the whole way. They proved to me more formidable against the Neo-Nazi threat than anyone, even themselves, expected. The best part of the film for me was the pacing. Some events are built up and extended while others happen quickly but both are effective.
[customfont1]1. Don’t Breathe[/customfont1]
My expectations going into Don’t Breathe were pretty high after hyping it in my head for months and it still managed to exceed them. The tense atmosphere created in the film is unparalleled. I felt the people around me in the theater where making too much noise because of the subtle sound design. I was fully immersed in the film and invested in the flawed characters as they tried to survive. It has twists, turns, and excellent performances from Stephen Lang and Jane Levy. I could see both sides of the conflict and their performances even make the villain worthy of sympathy.