So I've already started 2007's Best/Worst thread, I figured that being a
horror forum, it would only be right to single out last year's
horror films.
Also, in light of the "Is the genre in trouble" thread, I feel as though I have to stick up for what has turned out to be a pretty damn good year for horror movies.
I honestly believe that 2007 was a phenomenal year for indie horror films. It wasn't just about low-budget, it was about deconstruction, introspection, and consideration of the genre as a whole. These movies took what has already been done and created the genre in a completely whole new light. Or, just did something completely different.
Chronogrl's Top 10 Horror movies of the year (in no particular order):- Bug
- 28 Weeks Later
- Crazy Eights <- (After Dark Film Fest Flic)
- Borderland <- (After Dark Film Fest Flic)
- Mulberry Street <- (After Dark Film Fest Flic)
- Fido
- Planet Terror
- The Host
- Severance
- Murder Party
I would recommend for
any horror fan who has not seen these movies:
Go see these movies.
The following films certainly deserve honorable mentions. While they did not make my top 10 horror list of the year, I recognize their importance in keeping the genre fresh, new, and inciteful.
Honorable Mentions:- Hatchet
- Behind the Mask
- Black Sheep
- Sunshine
- Death Proof
Even the Blockbusters were worthy of note last year. While I was hugely disappointed with all other summer Blockbusters (as I have already ranted about), I thought it was an outstanding year for
Horror Blockbusters.
NOTE: The "Blockbusters" certainly weren't my
favorite horror movies of the year (save "Sweeney Todd," which I have a HUGE weak spot for). I am not a huge fan of Hostel II, Saw IV, or Halloween, but I recognize their popularity within the horror community and would be ignorant if I completely omitted them from this list. And while yes, the argument can be that remakes and sequels do nothing but to tread ground, well, that's part of what
makes this genre in the first place (think the Halloween, Friday 13th, Nightmare, Candyman, etc. franchises); these films are but following in their footsteps (be that good or bad) to keep that element of the horror genre alive.
Blockbusters:- Hostel II
- Saw IV
- Halloween
- 30 Days of Night
- Sweeney Todd
- I Am Legend
- The Mist
So my point is that, while a lot of critics will continuously knock the horror genre as being on a slippery slope to low or bad art, we should definitely recognize that, as a genre, horror is still swelling and has a lot of promise for continuing to hold its own.
How about you guys - Any other
horror films that were worthy of note from this year? Any movies above that you would maintain were utter crap? Want to learn more about movies you haven't seen?