TEN MORE TERRIFYING FILMS

TEN MORE TERRIFYING FILMS or;

how I learned to stop worrying and love scary movies

- Grant Kanigan -

It's once again that time of year: Halloween! Last year, I posted my Top Ten Horror Films of All Time, and received quite a response from readers. This year, I've decided to simply highlight ten horror films, some of which are excellent genre pieces - others so bad they're absolutely hilarious. Without further ado, (and in no particular order), here's ten more frightening flicks to get you in this months mindset:

10. The Babysitter, (2017):

When the director of your horror film is named "McG," how can you go wrong? Known for such critical darlings as Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, Terminator: Salvation and 3 Days to Kill, and a ridiculous name that sounds like a hidden item on McDonalds' dollar menu, McG has been hollywood's go to guy for making competent films that are more about making a quick dime off star power or a franchise than actual filmmaking. Still, it seems that McG has found his calling with this homage to 80's stoner comedies and slasher flicks. Riding the line between comedy and horror, and mostly nailing it, the Babysitter starts off as Fast Times at Ridgemont High-lite, before jarringly moving into an ultra violent splatter-fest about love, growing up and sacrificing your friends to the Devil. It's weird, offensive, gross, profane, funny, and I loved every blood-soaked minute of it. Here's hoping McG finally moves onto more interesting fare - when he does, his uniqueness shines through.

The Babysitter is now available on Netflix.

9. IT, (2017):

After suffering through development hell for years, the weight of it's source material, and the received portrayal of Pennywise the Clown by Tim Curry in the 1990's TV-movie of the same name, 2017 director Andy Muschietti had his work cut out for him. Additionally, the fact that the film features a cast of unknown 12 and 13 year olds in violent, profane and often disturbing subject matter, made it a minefield in terms of what the filmmakers should and shouldn't show onscreen. What an achievement. Blending artistry with gothic horror, King's subject matter with cinematic concessions and adapting the story into a 135 minute film that still made sense is one of the most impressive feats I've seen in horror cinema. Not since Kubrick's The Shining has a Stephen King adaptation been so good - and so scary. Equal parts scary, thrilling and hilarious, IT is the breakout hit of the summer, and one of the best horror films of the year.

It is playing in cinemas nationwide.

8. The Green Inferno, (2013):

Eli Roth, best known for helping to create the 'torture-porn' horror film genre with Hostel and playing the iconic 'Bear Jew' in Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds made a film that's disgusting, darkly hilarious and often right on the money with it's social commentary. Following a group of student activists protesting clear cutting in the Amazon rainforest, the audience is in for a, (ahem), treat when their plane crash lands near an undiscovered tribe of cannibals. The cannibals then slowly torture and eat the students as students try their best to outwit and escape their captors. Based off of the infamous 1980 Italian horror film Cannibal Holocaust, which found itself under investigation on suspicion the filmmakers murdered their cast, (the cast members had to show up in court to prove the film was fiction), Roth has crafted a film that truly showcases his warped auteur style. The Green Inferno is not for everyone, and is one of the few horror films that's actually made me feel sick, but it's a hell of an adrenaline rush.

The Green Inferno is available on DVD and Blu-Ray now.

7. Friday the 13th, (2009)

Most people are aware that a Friday falling on the 13th of any month means people making jokes about a man who wears a hockey mask that runs around killing people with a machete, and that he's from a 1980's film called Friday the 13th, (technically - spoiler alert - Jason's mom is the killer in the first film, and he doesn't appear until the sequel). What most people don't know is that Friday the 13th is actually a pretty terrible, poorly made ripoff of John Carpenter's Halloween, and it's only highlight is seeing a pre-fame Kevin Bacon get stabbed through the chest. Thankfully, the crew behind the 2009 remake knew that their source material wasn't serious cinema to begin with, so they had fun with the premise. Milking the goofiest and most self-aware aspects of the genre, Director Marcus Nispel finds new, (often so ridiculous they're hilarious), ways to kill the poor teens within Friday, and make fun of the genre, while also enjoying the suspenseful aspects of it. Aaron Yoo, who had a breakout role in Disturbia and then pretty much disappeared, is absolutely hilarious here. It's by no means perfect. Or good. Or technically that much of a 'movie,' but it's ridiculous, suspenseful and entertaining as hell.

Friday the 13th is available on DVD now

6. The Devil's Rejects, (2005)

Rob Zombie, perhaps best known for his decent remake of Halloween and his heavy metal single "Dragula" made a truly disturbing, original and unsettling film about three psychopaths driving across America leaving a path of bodies and despair in their wake. Like Silence of the Lambs meets Easy Rider, Zombie's Rejects is one of the best horror films to come out of the 2000's - largely because it's mostly human nature and the portrayed lack of human decency that are so terrifying. Presenting the killers as the protagonists and letting the audience experience the film's verisimilitude through their perspective is a daring move, and part of why the film is so inaccessible for a popular audience. Sadly, Zombie has been trying to top Rejects ever since, to goofier, and increasingly boring results. His recent 31 was an exercise in self congratulation and pushing boundaries just for the sake of pushing boundaries. Still, if The Devils Rejects is the only 'hit' to come out of Zombie's original filmmaking career, it's one hell of a one hit wonder.

The Devil's Rejects is available on DVD/Blu-Ray now.

5. Saw, (2004)

When it burst onto the scene in 2005, Saw was explosive. Combining elements of ethical quandaries, with slasher horror tropes, psychological terror and Rube Goldberg-esque murder contraptions, Saw was truly original. The main villain, too, with his final, shocking appearance made for the best anti-hero since Freddy Kruger. While the original leaves some acting to be desired, it still holds taut and offers jolts like no other film before or since. Writer-director James Wan, too, got his start with Saw, and moved on to make the most entertaining Fast and Furious film, Furious 7, and some other highlights of the horror genre with Insidious, as well as the Conjuring. The Saw franchise fell off the rails halfway through the third film, but here's hoping the upcoming Jigsaw lives up to the original's legacy.

Saw is available on DVD/Blu-Ray now.

4. The Final Girls, (2015)

Playing like a warped version of The Last Action Hero meets Friday the 13th, Todd Strauss-Schulson's Final Girls is a horror-comedy love letter to b-grade slasher cinema. Following a group of teens who get sucked into a 1980's film called "Camp Bloodbath" during a revival screening, Max and her friends must figure out the killer's methods, how to defeat him, and how to make it out alive. Elements from the Scream movies, and improvised humour from a wicked ensemble cast make The Final Girls an underrated horror-comedy gem, with a lot of imagination to boot.

The Final Girls is available on DVD/Blu-Ray now.

3. Freaks of Nature, (2015)

Like The Final Girls, Robbie Pickering's film is an homage to all of the best cliches in horror cinema. Featuring vampires, werewolves, aliens and zombies, Pickering's film imagines a world where these creatures all live in harmony in their small town - until aliens arrive and set the entire town into a blood soaked frenzy. Virtually a complete comedy that 'happens' to be a horror film, Freaks of Nature features some hilarious cameos from Keegan-Michael Key, Denis Leary, Bob Odenkirk, Joan Cusack, Patton Oswalt and even Werner Herzog. Throwing everything they can at the wall in hopes something sticks by either making the audience puke or laugh, the minds behind Freaks of Nature hit far more often than they miss. While it may be a little too 'inside baseball' for non-horror fans, (and 'horror comedy' seems like somewhat of a oxymoron when you think about it), it's an absolute delight for fans of the genre.

Freaks of Nature is available on DVD/Blu-Ray now

2. Ava's Possessions, (2015)

This underrated horror/comedy flew under the radar when it was released in 2015, but has recently found new life on the streaming service Netflix. It's not all that gut-bustlingly hilarious, or all that scary, but it's really weird, and completely original. Following a demonic possession that caused her to hurt, maim and mock those around her, the titular Ava must undergo treatment at Possession Anonymous, and confront the issues that led to her possession. As a metaphor for alcoholism, toxic relationships and confronting one's own demons, Ava's Possessions is pretty on the nose, and features great performances from Louisa Krause, Wass Stevens, and, (surprisingly), Dan Fogler. Additionally, although the film never quite dives headfirst into the subject, it does flirt with issues surrounding women, female-empowerment, and individuals rights. It's probably the oddest film on this list, but also one of the most interesting, with a lot of wit as well.

Ava's Possessions is now streaming on Netflix

1. Red State, (2011)

Kevin Smith is best known for his talky, philosophical stoner comedies like Clerks, Chasing Amy, Mallrats and Dogma, so it was completely unexpected when he announced he was self-producing and distributing a horror film called Red State in 2011. Knowing that the satire of Catholicism that was Dogma featured some grisly violence, I excpected Red State to pretty much be the same film, with Republican Christians replacing Catholics. I could not have been more wrong. A straight laced psychological horror thriller, Red State follows the capture of three young men for their sacrifice to a cult-like christian organization, much like The Westboro Baptist church. What follows is violent, deeply unsettling, cruel and whip-smart screenwriting that sees both the US Government and Christian fanatics satisfy their bloodlust and most fascistic tendencies. Kevin Smith writes a little too close to reality for most filmgoers, but like some of the best horror films, it's worth viewing at least once, as there's ample subject matter to analyze, discuss and ponder. Featuring John Goodman playing against type and the late Michael Parks in a career defining role, Red State is a film like no other, that pulls no supernatural punches, and takes no prisoners.

Red State is available now on DVD/Blu-Ray