I meant to include ten films from each year to make a nice-n-weighty (that's my style) master list, but damn...some years just stunk and I had a tough time finding even a couple of titles to feature (2005, I'm looking at you!). On the other hand, 2007 and 2008 saw some fucking terrific movies. Oh, and release dates/years might be wonky, as they sometimes are, but again- that's just how we do. Links to reviews are provided, if I done reviewed 'em. Oh, and they're not in any particular order, but I'm going to put an asterisk next to my favorite selection from that specific year. A couple years, phew, it was a tough choice. Anyway, without further ado...
Fuck yeah! Later, decade!
2000
- Cherry Falls
- Final Destination
- American Psycho
- Nightmare
- Pitch Black
- The Convent*
- Dagon
- Cookers
- Anal Paprika
- Just Seeing If You Were
- Paying Attention
- But That Really Is A Movie
- Session 9*
2002
2003
- Dead End
- Final Destination 2
- Wrong Turn*
- Dawn of the Dead
- Shaun of the Dead*
- Dead Birds
2005
2006
- Bug*
- Cold Prey
- All the Boys Love Mandy Lane (ha ha ha, "2006"!)
- Silent Hill
- Wilderness
- Black House
- Joshua
- Planet Terror
- Let the Right One In
- Martyrs*
- Pontypool
- Resident Evil: Degeneration
- Splinter
- Drag Me to Hell*
- Paranormal Activity
- My Bloody Valentine 3D
- Orphan
And there you go. Don't you feel more fulfilled now? I know I do.
So wait, those asterisks...does that mean that I liked The Convent more than I liked American fucking Psycho? Yes, it's true. Of the two, is The Convent the better film? Most certainly not. But "quality" doesn't always relate to "entertainment value", and I had more fun with the day-glo nuns. That's just the way it goes sometimes, homies. There's no accounting for taste.
2008 and 2009 were perhaps the most difficult for me to choose a "favorite". Did I actually enjoy Martyrs? That's really really not the right word, but it's a film I'm still thinking about months after seeing it...it's a film I'm still trying to wrap my head around enough to even write up something on it, something that the movie deserves. So yeah, I guess it was my favorite of that year. For 2009, it really came down to Drag Me to Hell and Orphan, for I so loved them both and had a grand time with each. Esther faltered a bit in the final lap, however, so the prize goes to the yuck-toothed gypsy. Hooray!
Looking back at the decade, it's remarkable how far the genre evolved between 2000- coming off the age of Scream and "WB horror"- and 2009. First of all, the WB doesn't exist anymore. Second, it seems that filmmakers are responding to the desires of the audiences (whether consciously or not) for smarter, more thought-provoking, effing scarier films. Sure there's always going to be stuff for us to complain about, from remakes to sucky sequels to general lameness, but if there's one thing I've learned from this post, it's that it's a great time to be a horror fan.
17 comments:
Some love for Orphan! Yes! There will be a place for both Esther and Lorna Haver on my 10-best, I think!
Stacie, it is my distinct pleasure to bestow upon you a very special honor. Come on over and see what it is!
Nice to see someone else who rates ORPHAN.
That movie was probably the most enjoyable and well-made piece of trash of the year.
*Gasp* Did you steal the Jesus riding Falcor picture from my blog!!?
Drats! I thought I was the only one to receive this picture in my search results after searching "Yay!"
Super list- props to making it your own
My favorite moment of the convent is when Christine tells her story and in the flashbacks, she says they noticed how strange the nuns were acting-ignoring to mention that they all looked like monsters. Apparently, this did not strike the students as abnormal.
What a fun movie. In fact, I am watching it this very second as I type this.
The DAGON love here delights. And the number of movies I ha'n't seen.
I'm almost as curious to read your thoughts on ANAL PAPRIKA as I am your KILLER WORKOUT review.
Terrific list. I need to check some of these out. And, oh, is that Jesus riding the muppet from "Neverending Story"?
Dennis, thank you SO MUCH! I need to chime into your blog with a thanks. That really means a lot coming from you! :)
Yes, I love Orphan. I thought it was so much fun, and it was much better than I'd expected. The acting was terrific.
Andre, is that from your blog? Ha! :D I googled YAY and it came up on the 1st page. There was a LOLcat I was going to use, but Jesus riding Falcor really can't be denied. I steal, but I don't hotlink...which I guess is like saying I don't commit murder, only homicide. Or something.
Robson, I haven't actually SEEN Anal Paprika (nor used it, I suppose I should mention)- the title just came up in a search. I can't say I'm not completely intrigued, however!
Every October I go crazy on horror films. This list will be a great guide in 2010. If only I can remember to check back here like nine months from now.
I have almost entirely good memories of The Ring – I was working on a DVD mag when it came out and saw a press screening about six months before its cinema release. Every journalist in there, before it started, said "I don't like horror films!" except me; when we all walked out, they all looked like someone had shit on their pillows and made them sleep in it. I liked it so much I paid to see it when it was released with my flatmate, and (I don't know if they do this un the US, but it's true for the UK) when the quick cut comes to the girl's deformed face early on, the cinema erupted and everyone started chatting. It's a reassurance thing for audiences, I think. A sure sign that the scare really, really worked.
Also interviewed Martin Henderson for this - lovely fella.
Hahah Well I used it in my "5 Things I learned This Year" post. I'm glad I'm not the only person that uses strange words to google image search! I also tried "Exciting!" "Awesome!" and "Best Thing Ever" but none of those were as rewarding as Yay! I need this image on a t-shirt ASAP!
I enjoyed Orphan for what it was, too, though Peter Sarsgaard's character annoyed me a bit...his intelligence as an actor shines through too much for him to be playing someone so a) oblivious and b) tripping off a single bottle of wine as if he'd dropped some major acid.
I can't believe Shark Attack 3: Megalogon didn't make it for the best film of 2002. Hell, I'd put it on the short list for best of the decade...which I guess you did as well.
For the record, it has the best line of dialogue. Take that Citizen Kane!
Andre- That. Is. Rad. I found briefcase woman the same way- I'm not sure what exactly I googled, but it was something ridiculous. Apparently you're mah sista from anutha mista!
Repoman- I know...I KNOW. That was a tough one, and I feel...I don't know. Maybe I caved. Shark Attack 3 is in a category all its own- maybe it didn't seem fair to choose it. Oh, the dilemmas of the heart!
Great list, in that I completely agree with the ones I've seen -- yay, Convent! -- and am intrigued by the titles I haven't. But should have. But didn't. Except for the titles I haven't heard of. But now must check out.
And screw waiting for Halloween... everyday is Halloween (yeah, Ministry reference. Whatever).
Did you catch Alien Raiders? Silly name, but one of those flicks that had me from the opening credits (Siouxsie!) all the way to the final line. Thematically an older sister to Splinter, it's one D2DVD that I thought should have played in theaters.
I'm a little surprised not to see Trick 'r Treat mentioned, but I'll get over it... just.
Totally agree with you about Matyrs - an impressive, but not neccessarily "enjoyable", film... sort of... I think.
Glad to see that Dog Soldiers made the list - I love that film.
I've heard Alien Raiders is quite good, from the few who've actually seen it. I'll have to check it out.
As for Trick r Treat...yeah, maybe I should've included it. I don't know. I didn't remember it when I was making the lists, so that's kind of an indicator, I think. Honestly, I didn't love it as much as I wanted to. I sort of enjoyed it, but I wasn't blown away.
Maybe because I was REALLY hungover when I watched it, I don't know...
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