The Best of 2018

Another year, another slew of horror both good and bad. These are the ones I consider the best. But first, some honorable mentions:

The Strangers: Prey at Night

While it was far too late for a follow-up to 2008's 'The Strangers' and 'Prey at Night' is a bonkers and more traditional slasher film, It felt like the filmmakers are putting their best efforts into a mediocre script. There's a strong visual appeal to everything, taking inspiration from the films of John Carpenter and others of the 1980s and I will still defend it now as I did the first time, the swimming pool confrontation is one of the best scenes in a movie I've seen all year. It wasn't perfect, but I still dug it.

 

Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich

I'm not sure why it took so many entries in this series to finally just give us something straight-forward, nasty, and fun? The film is a semi-reboot of the long running franchise and gives it the fresh breath of air it sorely needed. That being said, It's still at the end of the day a 'Puppet Master' film with many of the same cheap special effects and plot holes aplenty but the film relishes in its campy and exploitative nature making for an entertaining bloodbath.

 

Leprechaun Returns

2018 seemed to be the year of the soft reboots, and 'Leprechaun Returns' was one that certainly took me by surprise. I honestly don't think even the most hardcore of us horror fans were really clamoring for this one, but hey like 'Puppet Master', this sequel just takes the elements that work and crafts a fun and surprisingly gory flick with some humor that didn't make me cringe (for the most part).

And now onto my top 10 of 2018...

Overlord

A last minute entry this year is a new film from Bad Robot Productions that feels like a 'Wolfenstein' game come to life. While Nazi zombies are certainly nothing new in the horror genre and have been done much better (Dead Snow) 'Overlord' has some strong performances, likeable characters, and some great action sequences throughout. It's on the bottom however because the horror elements don't really come into play until the final act, giving the film some strong tonal whiplash.

   

 Hellraiser: Judgment

Clive Barker's 1987 film 'Hellraiser' will always be one of the best in the horror genre, but this series is by far one of the worst when it comes to its numerous sequels. After eight sequels that range from okay to unbearable, I really did not expect this year's entry to be so entertaining for me. Right from the beginning, it introduces a fascinating idea of eternal damnation by having the lost soul go through a processing of sorts before they are assigned their punishment. It's one of the most brilliant ideas for a story let alone a 'Hellraiser' sequel but the biggest issue here is the budget. This film is obviously very cheap and not all of the film's ideas get across very well due to these limitations. I still highly recommend 'Judgment' if you're desperate for another good 'Hellraiser' film.

Upgrade

To be fair, this is leaning more towards science-fiction, but writer/director Leigh Whannell created one of the best modern sci-fi films in years. Taking elements from 'Blade Runner' and the body horror of director David Cronenberg 'Upgrade' takes you on a roller coaster of constantly changing themes and emotions until your head just explodes. First it's this gritty revenge drama, then we get some comedy, then gore and horror elements. Man, this film is just all over the place but its pieced together perfectly so as not to crumble under all the madness. If you missed out on 'Upgrade', I highly recommend you catch it.

   

 Mandy

Really, all I have to say here is Nicholas Cage goes insane with a chainsaw and you're instantly hooked. 'Mandy' is a bizarre wave of ultra-violence and what one must see on every drug known to man. For a film with such a basic premise, that of a man on a mission of vengeance but twists it in such a way that there's truly nothing like 'Mandy', not now or even in the heyday of the drug-fueled 70's. It's 100% unique and for that I cannot recommend it highly enough. 

 

 The House That Jack Built

Lars Von Trier's new film over hypes itself with its shocking content a bit too much for its own good, but there is something special hidden within this one. The film's overarching story, its ideas, its religious and mythological elements take the film far beyond what's on the surface. Von Trier unfortunately frequently masks what he is trying to say with some very over the top and nasty moments. Still, it is a different experience than I'm sure many are used to and if you can stomach a bit of violence then check it out and see if it says anything to you.

  

Hereditary

Much like 'Jack' this one will heavily depend on the viewer's tolerance but not in the same way. This one is a slow burn to put it mildly and requires your utmost attention, but I feel those who do so will be greatly rewarded with a surreal and eerie horror film with some award worthy performances (screw you Golden Globes) and that final shot will stay with me forever. Hail Paimon!

Suspiria

Talk about coming out of left field, I never expected this film to be great or even good. "Remaking one of the best films of all time?! You must be insane!" said most of the horror community and while this one certainly divided people I gotta be honest, this is easily in my top three this year. It's a film that can be viewed in its own world, rather than being compared to the Dario Argento classic. It tells its own story and even with its hefty running time, I was sitting there entranced and totally invested in it to the very end. 2018's 'Suspira' is a beautiful art piece that may not click with you but it's still something you need to see at least once.

 

 Halloween

I seriously considered this to be my top pick this year but really in the end 'Halloween' is still a basic slasher movie. Don't get me wrong, it's a brilliantly done slasher and is by far the best sequel in the series. Jamie Lee Curtis's return was worth the long wait as she comes back in full form as if she never left. Director David Gordon Green and writer Danny McBride proved everyone wrong and did the unthinkable: a sequel that is almost on par with the original.

 

A Quiet Place

I know this is pretty predictable for me to pick as my top film, but again defying and going beyond the audiences expectations and not only crafting one of the finest horror films of the modern age, but doing it with minimalist techniques that ramp up the tension. A cast that cannot speak but can still act as strongly as here is the biggest proof that an actor has talent, and Emily Blunt and company are some of the finest in the industry. 'A Quiet Place' just does everything right without resorting to cheap tricks or gore but pure suspense and atmosphere. This is the best horror film of 2018.

Thank you to everyone who supports this page by coming on here and reading my funny little opinions. It really means something to me for you to all still be here after all this time. Be sure to check back in a while for my 'Worst' list. Have a happy new year readers.