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4th January 2011

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Top Ten Horror Flms of 2010

There were some great films that came out this year, but over all I think it was just an average year. From the Top Ten lists I have seen with the exception of one or two all have the same films listed. Mine is no exception, but you probably didn’t see any of those guys/girls Top Ten’s so you get mine instead. Aren’t you lucky? So here they are. Enjoy.

10. PIRANHA 3D directed by Alexandre Aja

If you know me, you know I hate 3D movies, though this one was the most fun I have ever had in 3D. It wasn’t a direct remake, which is good. It had some bad acting, a silly story, jokes, Eli Roth and some great gore! It was everything I wanted it to be and more.

09. HATCHET II directed by Adam Green

I was more excited for this movie more than any other this year. Morgan and I drove to Pennsylvania to see it; because that was the closest it was playing. Sadly, I was slightly disappointed. Now, don’t get me wrong, I liked the movie a lot, but it didn’t live up to the original or my expectations for that matter. HATCHET II picks up right where the first leaves off; we see a few familiar faces going back into the swamp to hunt Victor Crowley down. The movie focuses on more comedy than it should, I would have liked it to be just a tad bit more serious. The gore was fantastic and the kills were just as creative and over the top as the first films. These were some of the best kills of the year! Unfortunately because of the rating it was only shown in an AMC theaters and it was actually pulled opening weekend. HATCHET II had the largest unrated theatrical run in something like twenty-five years, that’s very impressive. Hopefully you guys will all check this one out when the DVD and blu-ray is released.

08. THE LAST EXORCISM directed by Daniel Stamm

Now I love a good exorcism flick and this is exactly that. Never did I think a film on this subject would give some of the same chills and thrills that THE EXORCIST gave me as a child and still to this day. The acting was top notch, it’s got a great story and it has some legitimate scares. I also loved the ending, I’m not sure how many friends asked me to explain it to them and they still didn’t understand. I thought the ending was really powerful, a man who has lost his faith finally has a reason to believe again. I will say I saw the ending coming but I wasn’t disappointed in the slightest by it. I hope you all get a chance to see it, but if you’re going to tell me you hated it, give good reasoning.

07. LET ME IN directed by Matt Reeves

The remake of the Swedish LET THE RIGHT ONE IN isn’t quite as good but it’s still amazing. Honestly when I heard about this I wasn’t excited until I found out Matt Reeves  (CLOVERFIELD) was behind it. It’s as close to a shot for shot remake as you can get without doing so. It’s going to make a lot of Best Of lists this year; I can only hope every one checks it out, but also please watch the original.

06. BURIED directed by Rodrigo Cortés

I wasn’t expecting much from this one, but it blew me away! Ryan Reynolds, whom I hate, gave a very compelling performance. I couldn’t imagine being buried alive; it would probably be one of the worst ways to go. For a film that takes places solely in a casket there is a lot going on. I felt so bad for Reynolds character, I damn near teared up when he had his second to last phone call. I think this film was majorly overlooked; it deserved much more publicity than what it had. I highly recommend this amazing film.

05. THE LOVED ONES directed by Sean Byrne

This is a nice little high school love story, of the most sadistic kind. The story is filled with love, lust, abduction, torture and a whole lot of crazy! Absolutely loved this movie! Can we get a Region 1 release for God’s sake!?!

My review for THE LOVED ONES

04. [rec]2 directed by Jaume Balagueró & Paco Plaza

This is another film that I was insanely excited for! I loved [rec] and hated its remake QUARANTINE and I have to say I loved this sequel. It takes the story in another direction after the twist ending of the first one and in my opinion improves it. Now, if you have seen the first, it doesn’t stray away from the idea that you are given, it just furthers it along. They are going to make four films in total and I cannot wait, although I would settle for the moment for both of these on blu-ray.

03. FROZEN directed by Adam green

Adam Green makes his second appearance on this list with FROZEN. He is one of my favorite directors and with good reason, FROZEN hit me in the gut halfway through and my stomach didn’t it feel right until after the credits. I know the idea seems stupid; three friends stuck on a ski lift for the weekend, but it works. We see three characters that you cant seem to like literally go through hell. I couldn’t help but feel horrible for them, just when you think it couldn’t get any worse, it does. I know a lot of people really hated this movie, but don’t listen to them. See it for yourself.

02. SHUTTER ISLAND directed by Martin Scorsese

In my opinion Scorsese is one of the greatest directors there has ever been and when I heard he was going to dabble in my favorite genre, well needless to say I was pumped! Leonardo DiCaprio was fantastic and the camera work, music and visuals were damn near spellbinding. I’m not sure if Marty is going to sweep up at the Academy Awards with this one, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t amazing.

01. BLACK SWAN directed by Darren Afronofsky

I can’t say enough to tell you how much I loved BLACK SWAN. Natalie Portman gave the performance of her career! Portman’s character has been cast in the role of the Swan Queen in the ballet’s upcoming performance of Swan Lake. She is told she is perfect for the white swan, but not the black swan because she is too structured and the black swan is more sensual and carefree, so she has to try and improve herself. In an effort to become the black swan she becomes consumed by the role. She starts to feel like the new dancer in her company played by Mila Kunis is only being friendly and supportive to get into her head and steal her role and that her mother, an ex-ballerina, is also trying to ruin her big chance. As Portman’s character dives further into insanity she starts her metamorphosis into the black swan. The film is beautifully shot and the story holds your attention the entire time. I found myself enthralled by a film about ballet, that’s saying something. This one didn’t hit nearly as many screens as it deserved. It also seems that Afronofsky has another potential Academy Award winter on his hands and I hope it wins.

So there you have it, my Top Ten, late as usual. I really hope some of you actually take the time to watch some of these. They are all solid films and they deserve your time.

Honorable mentions:

Cold Prey 2 (Follow up to a great slasher)

Machete (wow, this was over the top fun)

Monsters (not quite a horror film, sort of boring, but very good)

Night of the Demons remake (a very fun watch)

Burning Bright (what do you get when you mix a girl, her autistic brother and a tiger locked in a house? An amazing film.)

Black Death (Medieval times Satanism)

Devil (I don’t care what you say, IT WAS GOOD!)

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (Do people in Finland believe in this, if so I want to be Finnish)

Splice (this film gives you good reasons why you shouldn’t have sex with your science project)