joel.'s top 13 horror films of 2017.... #6

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.)

6) 'Creep 2'

Patrick Brice's original 'Creep' made my top 13 last year. Mark Duplass' portrayal of the incredibly likable serial killer, was the reason. This year, they're back at it again, as they work towards a trilogy and final completion of the story. This time around, the basic idea is the same, but it kind of turns the serial killer/slasher genre sideways. It is slightly larger in scope, while remaining very small. Only 3 people in the entire cast and they work brilliantly together. At times, it feels a little disjointed, but that's the way you should feel. This is not a story about a good man with good intentions. Even if you're not a fan of the found footage kind of film, this is one you can look past that and see something so much more. A horror film where the victim and the killer have equal footing.



Suggested snack to eat while watching: peaches

Will's top 7 horror films of 2017.... #6

6) 'Death Note'

So I have not watched Anime since the early 90's and I didn't see this original for this film, but I enjoyed Death Note never the less. Revolving around a a young couple that comes across a special notebook that grants the owner the power to kill, by writing the name of the intended in its pages. Once they find out the book belongs to a demon, they find out there is some powers best left alone. If anything, the gore hounds will love this for all the kills and there are plenty. Oh and did I mention William Defoe plays the voice of the demon? So there is at least one reason to check out this gem.

Jeff’s Top 13 Horror Films of 2017: #6

#6

It Comes at Night

After a mysterious apocalypse leaves the world with few survivors, two families are forced to share a home in an uneasy alliance to keep the outside evil at bay -- only to learn that the true horror may come from within.

I guess I’m just a sucker for horror films that spend more time delving into the darkness that is the human condition than with the catalyst that is usually something simple like a zombie apocalypse. We don’t know anything about the apocalyptic conditions we find our displaced families in other than a few scenes that allude to zombies without ever showing them. We do know there’s a virus that kills and changes people, presumably into zombies, since shooting them in the head is the best thing to do at this point. Ultimately what we get is a tale of caution about the dangers of letting in strangers just because you are lonely. Isolation and distrust of others are the real monsters here and there’s just enough outside force to keep the tension palpable.

joel.'s top 13 horror films of 2017.... #7

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.)

7) TIE: 'Mayhem' and 'The Belko Experiment'

My first split decision, for this year. Greg MacLean's 'The Belko Experiment' was all over the place. When you have that caliber of director behind the lens, there's bound to be interest in what he's creating. Meanwhile, lurking in the shadows was Joe Lynch's 'Mayhem'. A film that's similar in story, but entirely different. The methods behind the madness are not the same, but the locations are. The characters are similar, but the outcome is not. However, both films pulled off the same thing, a fantastically entertaining film going experience that left me wondering when I could watch them again. 'The Belko Experiment' left itself open for a potential sequel, not unlike the way 'The Purge' did. The world building alone, could lead to a franchise that could be pretty amazing. 'Mayhem' is more of a one off kind of film, maybe? The big thing that separated this one for the other is the ending. There was a message to be heard and it was made loud and clear. Both films are solid and should be seen, but don't expect them to be cut from the same cloth. They may look similar, but they are each their own animals.





Suggested snack to eat while watching: break room snacks from the vending machine

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

7) 'It: Chapter One'

To start off my list this year, is a remake of an old TV mini series, 'It' by Stephen King. This is part one of what I am guessing is a two part series of films telling the tale of group of teenagers terrorized by a evil entity disguising its self as a clown. I have to admit that at first I didn't want to see this movie. Mainly because of the hype and the clown factor, I don't find clowns funny nor scary, to me they are just blah. This past few months after seeing It and thinking more on the movie there was a lot I liked about it and I want to see It again. So soon I will give it another go, I just hope I don't like it and I wished I had put it further up my list for 2017.

Jeff’s Top 13 Horror Films of 2017: #7

#7

Get Out

Now that Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) and his girlfriend, Rose (Allison Williams), have reached the meet-the-parents milestone of dating, she invites him for a weekend getaway upstate with Missy and Dean. At first, Chris reads the family's overly accommodating behavior as nervous attempts to deal with their daughter's interracial relationship, but as the weekend progresses, a series of increasingly disturbing discoveries lead him to a truth that he never could have imagined.

What can I say about Jordan Peele’s horror entry that hasn’t already been said? Yes, it deserves all the accolades being bestowed upon it despite only making the halfway point on this list. Here’s what's great about this movie… It sets you up to be the stereotypical racists ladened story that should lead to torture and death for our hero. But in that you’d be very wrong. There is march darker and sinister plot at play here that while recognizes the stereotypes, sinks much lower inter the realm of mad scientist. Get Out is a top shelf horror film worthy of oscar nominations, a psychological thriller that is must see for all horror fans.

joel.'s top 13 horror films of 2017.... #8

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.)

8) 'The Void'

This film was primarily seen by me, because of the marketing campaign and word of mouth. The grass roots approach really seemed to pay off for this one. The posters were vague, but the imagery was strong. I had absolutely no idea what I was getting into, when I saw this film. It's one of the most original pieces of horror, I've seen in several years. The concept is terrifying and the execution of the story line reaches near Cronenberg levels. This is what independent horror should look and feel like. It's dark, gritty, dirty and legitimately deserving of all the praise it's received. I'm not a fan of body horror or all out gore, but this uses those things to induce terror into the viewer in the best way possible. I found myself on the edge of my seat and unclear what in the hell would happen next. It's almost a cousin to 'Baskin', that came out last year, but far superior in my humble opinion. This is not your father's horror film.... or maybe it is?



Suggested snack to eat while watching: anything that requires a knife