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Best 6 Horror Films of 2018 – Dylan Church’s Picks
This year has been a messy one, and it appears to only be getting worse as we near the conclusion of it; with civility, and the environment burning at an unprecedented rate.
On the plus side, this was a truly mesmerizing year for horror and not just in film; books, comics, and especially television have been churning out some of the best quality terror in recent memory. And streaming services such as Shudder, Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon have been responsible for distributing many of the brilliant pieces of work we’ve been blessed with in 2018.
The majority of the films I have chosen can be found on one or more of the aforementioned streaming services as I will point out below. Hopefully I can do them some justice and inspire you to seek them out. So without further ado, here is my list for best horror of 2018 in no particular order.
Disclaimer: I haven’t seen Halloween, Overlord, or Suspiria yet (don’t hate me).
6.) Revenge (Shudder)
I haven’t seen too many rape-revenge films–in fact, I intentionally avoid them. But the visuals and conceptual design of Coralie Fargeat’s directorial debut were to captivating to ignore.
The film takes the harshness of sexual assault, extreme violence, and the desert; three things so far removed from what many might call–beautiful, and makes them so. It is an undoubtedly gorgeous film; soaked in vibrant colors and bloodshed. And although the film may follow the typical format of the rape/revenge sub-genre, but with Fargeat’s direction and visual style she was able to create an electrifying experience that transcends its predecessors and will keep viewers on their toes until the final frame.
5.) Await Further Instructions (Amazon)
Ignore the negative reviews; if you enjoy shows like the Twilight Zone or Black Mirror then Await Further Instructions should be right up your alley. The end of the film in particular feels like an episode ripped right out of the Twilight Zone!
I believe a lot of the flack stems from how unlikable the characters are, which is a fair criticism. Many of the characters are terrible people, but they’re supposed to be. This film represents the turbulent divide between the right and the left and the strong (and sometimes dangerous) influence the news media and public figures can have on a population. Director Johnny Kevorkian puts this concept on display, while adding claustrophobia, bloody violence, and sci-fi chills within the confines of a dysfunctional English family.
4.) Hold the Dark (Netflix)
Director Jeremy Saulnier continues his signature style of crime-horror noir, and doesn’t disappoint. Much like his previous films: Green Room, and Blue Ruin–Hold the Dark is a bleak, bloody, and vicious experience. And often focuses on how monstrous people can become when they are driven to the edge; by retribution or by the desire to survive.
Hold the Dark can be a little confusing at times, and I think much of it stems from a lack of knowledge of native-Alaskan culture, which is unfortunate because its a major theme within the story and a key trigger for the animosity between characters. But isn’t a major distraction, and viewers can still enjoy the experience despite its shortcomings in the script.
3.) The Ritual (Netflix)
David Bruckner delivers the Scandinavian chills with his latest film. Not only does it feature one of the most original monsters in recent memory, but Bruckner was able to take the classic cliche of hikers lost in the woods and make it scary (and unique).
The dialogue feels completely genuine between the four main characters, and I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of it was adlibbed by the actors. The decision by Bruckner to keep the monster hidden in the background until the third act, was a brilliant maneuver that created a unsettling atmosphere chalked full of memorable moments of fear.
2.) Annihilation (Amazon)
Alex Garland’s followup to Ex Machina leans more towards the science-fiction genre but it has plenty of horrific moments. One scene in particular was shocking and deeply disturbing. The film carries a somber tone throughout its entirety, and when its violent–it can be bloody, and even hard to watch. The film is gorgeous, well shot, and features some great performances–especially from Natalie Portman.
I don’t understand the mixed reviews, people seem disappointed that there either wasn’t enough horror or enough sci-fi. I think the balance was handled pretty well. Personally I would have enjoyed a little more horror but It just depends on your preference. The movie is great regardless, and definitely worth the watch!
1.) Terrified (Shudder)
This Argentinian film is a trip, one that I’m still trying to wrap my head around! At 88 minutes it is a very short movie, and with its insane visuals and cosmic-horror influences, it flies by! I think the movie could have been a lot better if it was a bit longer. The third act seems rushed and the very end is particularly confusing.
This haunted-house flick does some things that I haven’t seen before (like the haunting taking place over an entire neighborhood instead of one house) and gets really inventive with its scares. The “haunting” itself is something different, and perhaps more effective and chilling of an idea than your traditional demonic possession. The paranormal investigators are a lot of fun to follow, and despite the chilling atmosphere they offer up some much needed (but brief) comedic relief to cut through the blistering suspense.
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Movies
‘The Strangers’ Invaded Coachella in Instagramable PR Stunt
Renny Harlin’s reboot of The Strangers isn’t coming out until May 17, but those murderous home invaders are making a pit stop at Coachella first.
In the latest Instagramable PR stunt, the studio behind the film decided to have the trio of masked intruders crash Coachella, a music festival that takes place for two weekends in Southern California.
This type of publicity began when Paramount did the same thing with their horror movie Smile in 2022. Their version had seemingly ordinary people in populated places look directly into a camera with an evil grin.
Harlin’s reboot is actually a trilogy with a more expansive world than that of the original.
“When setting out to remake The Strangers, we felt there was a bigger story to be told, which could be as powerful, chilling, and terrifying as the original and could really expand that world,” said producer Courtney Solomon. “Shooting this story as a trilogy allows us to create a hyperreal and terrifying character study. We’re fortunate to be joining forces with Madelaine Petsch, an amazing talent whose character is the driving force of this story.”
The movie follows a young couple (Madelaine Petsch and Froy Gutierrez) who “after their car breaks down in an eerie small town, are forced to spend the night in a remote cabin. Panic ensues as they are terrorized by three masked strangers who strike with no mercy and seemingly no motive in The Strangers: Chapter 1 the chilling first entry of this upcoming horror feature film series.”
The Strangers: Chapter 1 opens in theaters on May 17.
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Movies
‘Alien’ Returning to Theaters For a Limited Time
It’s been 45 years since Ridley Scott’s Alien hit theaters and in celebration of that milestone, it is headed back to the big screen for a limited time. And what better day to do that than Alien Day on April 26?
It also works as a primer for the upcoming Fede Alvarez sequel Alien: Romulus opening on August 16. A special feature in which both Alvarez and Scott discuss the original sci-fi classic will be shown as a part of your theater admission. Take a look at the preview of that conversation below.
Back in 1979, the original trailer for Alien was kind of terrifying. Imagine sitting in front of a CRT TV (Cathode Ray Tube) at night and suddenly Jerry Goldsmith’s haunting score begins to play as a giant chicken egg starts to crack with beams of light bursting through the shell and the word “Alien” slowly forms in slanted all caps across the screen. To a twelve-year-old, it was a scary pre-bedtime experience, especially Goldsmith’s screaming electronic musical flourishes playing over scenes of the actual movie. Let the “Is it horror or sci-fi?” debate begin.
Alien became a pop culture phenomenon, complete with kid’s toys, a graphic novel, and an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. It also inspired dioramas in wax museums and even a frightening setpiece at Walt Disney World in the now-defunct Great Movie Ride attraction.
The film stars Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, and John Hurt. It tells the tale of a futuristic crew of blue-collar workers suddenly awakened out of stasis to investigate an undecipherable distress signal coming from a nearby moon. They investigate the source of the signal and discover it’s a warning and not a cry for help. Unbeknownst to the crew, they have brought a giant space creature back on board which they find out in one of the most iconic scenes in cinema history.
It is said that Alvarez’s sequel will pay homage to the original film’s storytelling and set design.
The Alien theatrical re-release will take place on April 26. Pre-order your tickets and find out where Alien will screen at a theater near you.
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News
Home Depot’s 12-Foot Skeleton Returns with a New Friend, Plus New Life-Size Prop from Spirit Halloween
Halloween is the greatest holiday of them all. However, every great holiday needs amazing props to go with it. Luckily for you, there are two new amazing props that have been released, which are sure to impress your neighbors and frighten any neighborhood children who are unfortunate enough to wander past your yard.
The first entry is the return of the Home Depot 12-foot skeleton prop. Home Depot has outdone themselves in the past. But this year the company is bringing bigger and better things to their Halloween prop lineup.
This year, the company unveiled its new and improved Skelly. But what is a giant skeleton without a loyal friend? Home Depot has also announced that they will release a five-foot tall skeleton dog prop to eternally keep Skelly company as he haunts your yard this spooky season.
This bony pooch will be five feet tall and seven feet long. The prop will also feature a posable mouth and LCD eyes with eight variable settings. Lance Allen, Home Depot’s merchant of decorative Holliday gear, had the following to say about this year’s lineup.
“This year we increased our realism within the animatronics category, created some impressive, licensed characters and even brought back some fan favorites. Overall, we are most proud of the quality and value we are able to bring to our customers with these pieces so they can continue to grow their collections.”
But what if giant skeletons just aren’t your thing? Well, Spirit Halloween has you covered with their giant life size Terror Dog replica. This massive prop has been ripped out of your nightmares to appear frighteningly on your lawn.
This prop weighs in at almost fifty pounds and features glowing red eyes that are sure to keep your yard safe from any toilet paper throwing hooligans. This iconic Ghostbusters nightmare is a must have for any fan of 80s horror. Or, anyone who loves all things spooky.
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