I can't say there is much deviation in their lists versus mine when I sat down to come up with my own top ten ranking, although there is some slight variation. However, the ones that do show up multiple times indicate that those particular films are most righteous and probably should be viewed if you have never seen them. The rules are that we take films from 2002-present So after sitting down and whittling a preliminary list down to ten, here is what I came up with. But first:
Honorable mention: Malevolence (2005)- A simple understated take on the horror slasher. It starts as a story about a bank robbery and kidnapping and then takes a left turn about halfway in and becomes increasingly disturbing. Also, filmed in the Bethlehem area.
28 Days Later (2002)- Killed me to leave this one off the list as I really love aspects of it including the deserted nature of London. However, I think the film takes a while to get into second gear and you could argue it comes a little too late into the film.
Paranormal Activity (2009)- While I generally liked the film and found it scary, I don't see it having the same appeal on a second viewing. The situation is still terrifying, but much of what it is gearing towards is based off the unknown and once you see the beats it's hard to forget them for the second time around.
Dawn of the Dead (2004), Shaun of the Dead (2005), & The Strangers (2008)- The last three films I cut off my list and each one had a big internal debate. On the first one, Zach Snyder's take on the Romero classic is well done but seeing as I just spent 3 weeks writing a 25 page paper on the original I find it hard to ignore that the subtext of the film is stripped in the new one. It's scary but it's empty. Shaun is a movie that is as hilarious as it is scary, and it is generally scary at times. There are some brilliant scenes and I think you should absolutely see it if you never have. The last one was a pleasant surprise of a movie to me and while a normal person would've escaped no less than 5 times it still manages to create an atmosphere that is haunted at every turn.
10. Let the Right One In (2008)/ Let Me In (2010)- You can call this a cheat if you want but there are not a bunch of huge differences between the Swedish film and its American remake. In fact, there is one aspect I like more in the remake and one thing I like less in the remake so in the end it becomes a bit of a wash to me. It is a horror movie of sorts but there is a loving romantic sentiment that permeates throughout the film. There is some gore at spots but it is the relationship between the young vampire and the boy who feels attached to her. A haunting film and beautiful even with a bleak slate.
9. Final Destination 2 (2002)- I know at this point for many the series is played out (although I think the new one reignites the franchise with some clever turns and the best "sometime later" sequence in the franchise), but in 2002 this series was hot and they followed up a great first effort with this sequel which found a new way to play with the formula. It stripped away much of the character introduction and instead upped the ante on the Rube Goldberg style gonzo kills. An elevator, a pipe, and an airbag are the death blows here with the latter setting off a huge set piece killing off a number of characters. However, it is all about that car crash that sets the film in motion as the premonition. It is an exhilarating 2-3 minute sequence with new obstacles popping up over and over again before carnage is all that is left. One of the best car crash scenes ever put on film and it helped differentiate the sequel from the sequels that followed.
8. Saw (2003)- Another series that by now has run its course but that should not detract from how great the first one is. The series turned to garbage by the middle of the third one and this film did lead to the torture porn genre that drew the ire of many. However, it should be remembered that the first film did not rely on its gruesome traps to draw its suspense. The central question at the heart of the films was "How far would you go to protect yourself and ultimately value your life?" And then that ending- that ending is what launched the film from a nice scary little horror movie to a massive worldwide franchise.
7. Pontypool- What happens when the English language turns on you? That is the central question in this film as zombies are spreading but it is not bites but rather the spoken word that is spreading the disease. If you've ever had a word, phrase, or song stuck in your head this movie will resonate and make you cautious of the words you say for the next week or so after viewing.
6. Insidious (2011)- It is a recent film but it is really well done and has the feel of a Gothic Hitchcock movie. The sound editing is top notch on this film as it creates scares and tension without resorting to cheap fake jump scares. The strings on the soundtrack reverberate fear into the viewer and then there are some absolutely terrifying images throughout including one of the best jump scares in the past 10 years. What really sets this film apart though is that director James Wan really wants you to be forever scanning the screen for what lurks in the corner or on the periphery of the action. There is one creepy scene that takes place in the middle of the two and features two "Did I just see that moments?" which work incredibly well. There may be some complaints about the last third of the movie but the first two thirds are so well done it gave the filmmakers a little bit of leeway with me. I didn't find the explanation of what was happening to be great but it wasn't terrible like some try to claim.
5. The Devil's Rejects (2005)- Some like House of 1000 Corpses better but to me this film is the pinnacle of Zombie's film work as it works as a horror movie, road trip film, with some touches of black comedy sprinkled throughout. By giving the villains from the first film characters and personalities he found a way to make the viewer identify with the killers and blurred the line between good and bad. William Forsythe is great as the cop but his methods make you question if he is really the good guy in all of this. On top of that it has a great wild climax set to "Free Bird" for the entire duration of the song. Unfortunately Zombie has really dropped the ball with his films after this.
4. The Mist (2007)- Stephen King can be hard to get right on screen but Frank Darabont has had considerable success in adapting King's work for film. With this movie he does a great job at drawing scares even while the CGI is delightfully cheesy at times. While it is a monster movie, at its core it is about what regular people would do under extreme circumstances. It isn't about the monsters outside against us but rather about the monsters on the insider. How we respond to things happening around us and how we gauge our friends and neighbor's reactions. It carries a special kind of weight being that it came out in such a polarizing climate. That ending as well, while different from the book, is amazing and one of the more jaw-dropping scenes I've ever seen. You could generally feel a hush come over the theater when the scene happened. That closing imagery will haunt you.
3. Slither (2006)- Equal parts funny and scary- this films works on multiple levels. What is disheartening is that the film did not find an audience at theaters as I think people didn't know how to take the horror comedy. There are great performances, some great lines, and Michael Rooker being as awesome as Michael Rooker normally is. I implore those that have never seen this film to watch it.
2. Drag Me To Hell (2009)- Before he graduated to big budget superhero movies, Sam Raimi was a well received horror director by helming the cult classic Evil Dead series. His return to the genre came with big fanfare and this really felt like the former graduate coming back to give a commencement speech. He took a formula he was good at and infused it with some of the big budget tricks he learned on the bigger pictures. It is a film that is PG-13 but earns its horror stripes by focusing on some vicious, and viciously gross, scenes. Plus Alison Lohman is just wonderful as the lead character. You feel for her throughout and it brings you into her plight from the beginning and by the end you are rooting hard for her.
1. The Descent (2005)- One of the most harrowing films I've ever experienced in theaters. Often it is dark and the camera positions itself in such a way that it carries a horrible sense of claustrophobia throughout. it is a fresh take on the monster film genre as it keeps the characters hidden for a majority of the film and it pivots on the relationships between the women in the cave. Because the film takes a long time to set up the story it pays off in the end when things get crazy. I prefer the ending of the British version of the film as it is far bleaker than the American ending but both work in various ways. Many of the scenes are pulse-pounding and create tension even though, and usually because, you're not always quite sure what is happening.
Awesome list and thanks for the shout-out!
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