joel.'s top 13 horror films of 2018.... #5

Every year, you never know what the horror genre is going to unleash upon the world. You have an unsuspecting audience, just waiting to have their deepest and darkest fears manipulated.... all in the comfort of an air conditioned theater or their home. Not every year has been full of winners, some have proven to be better than others, but 2018 has yielded some very interesting genre fare that is full of a little bit of everything under the sun. My fellow creeps, I've put together what I feel (in my humble opinion) to be the best of the best for this year. There were a few that were nudged out by only inches and that's not a bad thing. It just proves that there are more stories to tell and makes me dream about all the amazing scares yet to come. So, without further adieu, I give you my top 13 horror films of 2018! (based on release dates and not the years they were filmed.... although some may be in the last quarter of 2017.)

5) 'To Hell and Back: The Kane Hodder Story'

Documentaries are not the normal fare for a 'Top 13 Horror Films' list, but this one is an exception. When the focus of the documentary is a horror icon, then it's one that must be seriously considered and 'To Hell and Back: The Kane Hodder Story' is deserving of a top spot. His story is an amazing one. This film is everything a good documentary should be, but Kane is such a kind man with a huge heart and it all just oozes off the screen. He's dedicated his life to film and more specifically horror films. He's become a cornerstone in our genre and a poster boy for all the good aspects that people tend to overlook. Even if you've never seen any of his films, this is still a story that will move you. If you're a fan of his work or the films he's been a part of, it'll hit you even harder. Don't miss this one. It's a must watch!



Suggested snack to eat while watching: something killed

joel.'s top 13 horror films of 2017.... #5

Every year, you never know what the horror genre is going to unleash upon the world. You have an unsuspecting audience, just waiting to have their deepest and darkest fears manipulated.... all in the comfort of an air conditioned theater or their home. Not every year has been full of winners, some have proven to be better than others, but 2017 has yielded some very interesting genre fare that is full of a little bit of everything under the sun. My fellow creeps, I've put together what I feel (in my humble opinion) to be the best of the best for this year. There were a few that were nudged out by only inches and that's not a bad thing. It just proves that there are more stories to tell and makes me dream about all the amazing scares yet to come. So, without further adieu, I give you my top 13 horror films of 2017! (based on release dates and not the years they were filmed.... although some may be in the last quarter of 2016.)

5) 'Better Watch Out'

A VERY late entry this year, this one seemed to come out of nowhere and hit me upside the head like a baseball bat. I had absolutely no idea what I was getting into and I'm glad that I didn't. Part of the brilliance of this film, is being blissfully unaware. Avoid the trailer, don't read the reviews, just put it on and suspend all disbelief. This film is just flat out, balls to the wall, fun. It's very original and treads familiar ground, but with two different pairs of shoes on. I didn't know where the film was going from the beginning up until the end. It flipped everything upside down and left me wondering how this ended up being so good? There's far too many times where a film maker will try and color outside the lines and end up just ruining the picture. In this case, he turned it into a masterpiece. This is one that may start making people's annual 'must watch' Christmas lists. Get in on the ground floor, kids!



Suggested snack to eat while watching: pizza and candy canes

Will's top 7 horror films of 2017.... #5

5) 'Gremlin'

This movie was a breath of fresh air to me in this somewhat stale ocean of monster films. The story of a family with a cursed item that has a horrifying secret that likes to play. Here is a hint, this is no Gizmo. I do believe Gremlin was made for a modest budget, but pays off in story, acting and special effects. So don't always think of cute little adorable Mogwai when you hear the word Gremlin. Think more of the fed after midnight, rip you throat ones.

Jeff’s Top 13 Horror Films of 2017: #5

#5

The Killing of a Sacred Deer 

Dr. Steven Murphy is a renowned cardiovascular surgeon who presides over a spotless household with his wife and two children. Lurking at the margins of his idyllic suburban existence is Martin, a fatherless teen who insinuates himself into the doctor's life in gradually unsettling ways. Soon, the full scope of Martin's intent becomes menacingly clear when he confronts Steven with a long-forgotten transgression that will shatter his domestic bliss forever.

Every so often there comes along a movie that provides such a poignant and profound impression that once it is over you can tell yourself that not only is it one of the best films you’ve ever seen, you are fulfilled and definitely don’t need to see it again. Fortunately, and unfortunately, The Killing of a Sacred Deer is one of those films. From the start, we are drawn into a confusing world where sinister intentions, vengeance, and awkward interactions dominate every scene. We’re not sure what the relationship between Dr. Murphy and Martin entails and find ourselves uncomfortable as Martin continually invades not just the Doctor’s life but our own. As Martin’s true intentions are revealed it is hard to distinguish between supernatural intervention, brainwashing, and coincidence. During the mental breakdown of the characters, it will continue to make you feel uncomfortable as you realize the director has purposefully put you in a voyeur position that feels more wrong. Keoghan’s performance is Oscar-worthy. Farrell and Kidman are perfectly awkward. The film is a piece of disturbing art that forces you to make moral decisions that, no matter the outcome, will damn you to hell.

my top 12.... 'Friday the 13th' films - number 5

With the upcoming release of the new 'Friday the 13th: The Game', on Xbox One, it's had me thinking a lot about one of my favorite franchises. Granted, it's a bit of a guilty pleasure, Jason has always held a soft spot in my heart among the horror icons. With a new film seemingly in development hell, there is a bright spot with the fan made 'Never Hike Alone', currently in production. However, there's 12 other feature films that have been released since 1980 and I thought it might be fun to rank them, according to which ones I consider to be the best. So here we go, my personal top 12 'Friday the 13th' movies....

Number 5) Friday the 13th part VI: Jason Lives

With the massive let down of the 'Scooby Doo' ending of part 5, producers were keen on bringing back the original madman in a mask. So, we resurrect Jason from the dead and have him get back to work, offing the local campers. A much more 'fun' entry in the series, part 6 holds a soft spot in a lot of peoples hearts. A worthy contender in my top 12 list and a 3 1/2 out of 5 star entry.

my top 13 "Final Girls".... #5

What's a 'Final Girl' you might ask? She's the last woman standing at the end of a horror film. Usually the one who defeats the killer. In this list, I'll give you my top 13 'Final Girls' in horror of all time. Without furtur ado....

#5: Alice Hardy from 'Friday the 13th' played by Adrienne King
Betsy Palmer singled out the counslers of Crystal Lake for her revenge, but didn't expect Alice to make her lose her head. She, sadly, didn't make it past part 2.... but she'll always be remembered fondly.