Top Twenty Horror of 2011 (and 2012 Contenders)
2011 was rocky for horror movies. I came up with a top twenty of my favorites. I’ve also included, at the bottom of this page, some movies that aren’t coming out until next year that will probably be my top ten then or I think people should keep an eye on. Overall I saw 55 of the 2011 horror movies and of this writing 181 horror movies total. It’s not a bad number but I know there were so many smaller releases and some foreign ones I missed. I did miss The Thing because the reviews were so terrible. You may also notice I’m including two movies I had on my Top Five from last year. This is because I came to my senses this year and decided to pick movies released this year and not just ones I saw. And it’s my list and I can do what I want!
Anyways, here’s my favorite of all the ones I saw.
20. Grave Encounters
I’m not one of those people who think the first person camera style has been done to death. I do think it can still be effective if done right and this movie does it well. It has some nice scares and I completely love the premise and how it devolves into utter insanity as it rolls along at a quick pace.
19. Seconds Apart
Every year I seem to have an After Dark movie I pick for my top list. last year it was Lake Mungo and this year it’s this creepy tale of twins with the powers of telepathy. I loved the effects and the payoff and the two leads are cringe inducing, in a great way.
18. Kidnapped
Brutal home invasion movie. While it doesn’t bring a lot new to the table, I found it to be effective and beautifully shot. It’s use of long shots, some as long as 10 minutes, really builds the tension and pulls the viewer in to the terror the victims are experiencing.
17. Little Deaths
I’m a sucker for anthology horror and when new ones come around I’m always excited to see if they deliver. When I found out one that featured Simon Rumley and Sean Hogan was out at SXSW I knew I couldn’t miss it. I’m not actually a fan of the middle story, Mutant Tool which is why it’s not higher on my list but this movie is absolutely worth catching for Hogan’s House & Home and Rumley’s Bitch (the latter one being the one I love the most). Sexuality explored in ugly, dark and sometimes beautiful ways, it’s all very fresh and exciting.
16. The Skin I Live In
I’m sure this could be a controversial pick either because I picked it as a horror movie or that it’s so low on the list. One, it’s clearly a horror movie. Holy hell, did you see it? And while I think it’s quite masterful movie making and classic Almodóvar, I had other movies stick in my craw longer. Still, this is a jaw dropping piece of film making and left me pretty breathless when all was said and done and it might be the best thing Banderas has done.
15. Hobo With A Shotgun
How about that Jason Eisner huh? Holy hell, did he make one fucking awesome exploitation movie. Yeah, I liked Grindhouse but this movie really captures the essence of the past. And the casting couldn’t be more perfect. A movie that’s a face fucking ride from frame one until last.
14. Red State
Is this really a Kevin Smith movie? Look, the camera is moving! It’s also a horror film. I’ve heard some disparaging stuff about this movie, but I was pretty blown away. Love the cast, think the premise is whip smart, and while I would of loved a slightly different take on the ending [you know what I mean!], I think Smith has done a bang up job. It’s the type of movie I’ll watch over and over on cable.
13. TrollHunter
Really, this film kind of blows my mind when I watch it. Not only is it done well, but the idea and execution are very well done. The chase scene across the plains of Norway with the giant Troll is now very iconic for me. An all around fun movie and one that I think will last.
12. Undocumented
I’m sensitive to the subject matter of immigrants, being that I’m from El Paso, a border town. And this movie really takes some of the more extreme attitudes I’ve witnessed myself and creates a shocking, brutal horror movie out of it. An all around solid cast and moments that leave you jaw dropped make this a movie worth seeing.
11. Fright Night
Okay, yes, I love the original movie. But, I also think the remake stands on it’s own and while I miss Evil Ed, who was clearly one of the more iconic of the characters in the original, I think Colin Farrell’s performance in this more than makes up for the loss. I’d be hard pressed to think of another actor who had as much fun with the material in a horror script than he did and just plain spit charisma off the screen.
10. Cold Sweat
Adrián García Bogliano is one of the best horror movie directors working today that people aren’t paying attention to. Cold Sweat marries a pair of killers, a totally fresh way to off victims, and beautiful, soaking wet Argentinian women. It’s insane, sexy and then once they start exploring the apartment, it turns the craziness up twenty notches. I never saw where this was going and it builds tension with humor and insanity like few films I saw this year.
9. Black Death
Another director who it seems only horror heads follow with a rabid passion, myself included, is Christopher Smith. This year he came out with a period piece starring Sean Bean and David Warner that just blows it out of the park. Gritty, grimy and utterly freaky, his take on the plague of medieval times is an absolute must see.
8. Insidious
When I was done with this movie I wasn’t even sure I liked it. Actually, I do think the last 20 minutes are still pretty corny. But, no other film this year has stuck with me when I’m walking through my house at night, in the dark, like this James Wan helmed ghost story has. There are three or four incredible jump scares in it that still make a shiver run down my spine. And because I think Rose Byrne, Patrick Wilson, Leigh Whannell and Barbara Hershey do such an amazing job with the material, it just has to be in my top ten.
7. The Innkeepers
Ti West knows how to build tension slowly until it explodes in your face like a firecracker. The House of the Devil is one of my favorite movies of 2009 and The Innkeepers is no slouch. Sara Paxton and Pat Heely have undeniable chemistry and are so cute and funny together than when shit hits the fan, and boy does it ever, I was on the edge of my seat. And Kelly McGillis? Wow, it’s exciting seeing her back on the big screen and so unafraid of the role of a washed up actress. She was awesome.
6. The Woman
You know when you see a film and it leaves you stunned by what you saw, in a real primal way? The Woman did that for me. Ketchum has had some misses on his adaptations but Red by Lucky McKee was a definite winner and now this movie shows they can work together and create something special. Is this movie shocking? Hell yes it is, but it’s also well done and has a moral undercurrent that’s well overlooked by people only glancing at the superficial. And that’s what makes it a great horror movie. And special shout out to Pollyanna McIntosh for such an amazing, unflinching performance.
5. Cold Fish
I had this on last year’s list and it’s still deserving to be here now. From the old post: Saw this gem at Fantastic Fest and when it was done I had to take some deep breaths to recover from the final act. Shion Sono delivers a bleak, dark, ugly tale where an unsuspecting family gets involved with a serial killer and ends up unleashing a wave of evil into their lives.
4. A Horrible Way To Die
I hate to say it but its only this year that Adam Wingard came to my attention. And I’m glad he did. From Pop Skull to Autoerotic to this and next year’s You’re Next, the guy is killing it. Loved this movie, loved Amy Seimetz and AJ Bowen and think it’s a terse, solid, nasty thriller.
3. Tucker and Dale Vs Evil
It’s very hard to get a mixture of funny and horror to work. When it does, it almost immediately becomes a classic because of its accessibility. I won’t go so far as to say this is a classic, but it’s as fun as a greased pig at a picnic. I’ve been a fan of Tyler Labine’s from his work on Reaper and Sons of Tucson and Alan Tudyk is always fantastic. I’ve watched this movie a couple of times this year and it gets more hilarious each viewing. The premise is creative and luckily for us, it delivers in spades.
2. I Saw The Devil
This was actually lower on my list last year, but on reflection it absolutely deserves to be higher compared to this year’s picks [and yes, even over Cold Fish now]. It’s a film that gets under your skin. From last year: Nobody does revenge and realism like Korea and when you have Ji-Woon Kim directing Byung-hun Lee [The Good, The Bad and The Weird] and Choi Min-shik [Old Boy], you’re creating cinematic dynamite.
1. Attack the Block
I know this movie has been a victim of over hype for many of my colleagues, but no horror movie going experience this year was as exciting for me as it was seeing Attack the Block. I watch a lot of old creature features and this captured not only that feeling but mixed in my love of British urban culture (I’m an old DJ, raver and drum and bass head). So smart, such amazing performances from a young cast, and the monsters look fantastic. I love everything about this movie and it’s pure cinematic joy for me.
Top Five Films To Watch For Next Year
5. DeadHeads
Zombie films have been done to death so it takes a lot to bring something new to the table. How about a pair cognizant zombies who go on a road trip to find one of their exes, with some funny comedic moments and an insane group of vigilantes hunting them down? Yeah, it’s different and it mostly works. I give a lot of props to this movie for doing something new and I think people will have a lot of fun with it next year when it gets a first quarter release.
4. The Corridor
This Canadian sci-fi horror film has a really interesting premise and it delivers a lot of blood and outrageous plotting with a slight hand. It’s not 100% perfect but I enjoyed it at Fantastic Fest and am always happy to see new, interesting horror tales with a sci-fi bent such as this.
3. Sleep Tight
Jaume Balagueró is well know for the [REC] movies but this is a departure and it’s one of those realistic thrillers that will have you squirming in your seat. Featuring some very strong performances from the leads and hair raising scares, Sleep Tight is one to keep an eye out for.
2. Rabies
It almost sounds beyond repetitive at this point after the positive word this movie has gotten, but here’s Israel’s first horror movie and it’s really good. A cast of hot women, douchebag guys and a forest where anything and everything goes utterly wrong. This movie is a hit on the festival circuit and it very well should be. It’s clever, entertaining and even very funny. I’m looking forward to hearing more positive word about it once it hits the general audiences.
1. You’re Next
Look at my top movies of last year and you’ll see Step Up 3D which stars Sharni Vinson. This year I had the absolute pleasure of not only meeting her at Fantastic Fest but seeing her completely shine again in Adam Wingard’s You’re Next. It may sound hyperbolic but I’m even going to predict this will end up in my top five movies of next year. A home invasion movie for the intelligent, where every kill kicks your ass, the music won’t leave your head, and a female heroine who kicks everyone’s ass in a smart, cleverly directed horror movie. When this movie hits the public, I predict it’ll explode. At least, that’s my hope. I want the best for this movie because I love it so much.
So there you have it. Hoping next year has a lineup of fantastic films, as well.
Mirrored from [noahphex.com].