Pulse (2001)
Toho Company / Via wordpress.com
Ring might have started the whole J-Horror fad but Pulse is where it’s at. Genuinely creepy, unnerving and just opaque enough to leave you constantly intrigued, this is what an art house director’s most accessible horror effort looks like.
A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)
B.O.M. Film Productions Co. / Via tumblr.com
Remade in the U.S. as The Uninvited in 2009, as per usual, the original is the one to stick to. A wicked stepmother, an eerie kid under the sink and a bloody sack which contents are twitching all make this a genuinely unsettling experience and twisted fairy tale.
Shutter (2004)
Phenomena Motion Pictures / Via tumblr.com
Japan might have taken all the credit for the Asian horror wave which swept the globe around the millennium but this Thai shocker ranks among the very best in the genre. Who knew the ghosts of the dead could be sitting right there on your shoulders?
Inside (2007)
La Fabrique de Films / Via wordpress.com
One of two entries of the New French Extremity on this list, Inside deals with a woman whose partner has recently died but who still carrying his child. If that wasn’t bad enough, someone is stalking her and is hell bent on getting her baby. Before it’s born the regular way that is. Go French Extremity.
The Signal (2007)
Magnolia Pictures / Via i44.photobucket.com
Three different directors direct the three different acts of the one story, resulting in one hardcore opening, one darkly funny second act and one utterly weird finale. If you want to see something different, The Signal will do the trick.
Splinter (2008)
Magnolia Pictures / Via media.giphy.com
A parasite transforms its hosts into some serious nasty creatures. Whilst the limited budget does show at times, the enthusiasm of the filmmakers jumps off the screen and makes Splinter a horror flick which deserves a lot more exposure and appreciation. It’s fresh.
Pontypool (2008)
Ponty Up Pictures Shadow Shows / Via tumblr.com
Maybe not for everyone, Pontypool is one hell of a different take on the zombie genre. Moody and funny, it’s certainly not the goriest entry on this list but it might be the most original one. For those who like their horror more cerebral.
Let The Right One In (2008)
Magnet Releasing / Via media.giphy.com
Whilst the American 2010 remake Let Me In certainly did a decent job, the Swedish original takes home the cake. As melancholic as bizarre, this is a very fresh take on the vampire film and a beautifully made film. A must for all serious lovers of the genre.
The Broken (2008)
Versus Entertainment / Via tumblr.com
Under seen and under appreciated, The Broken is a stylish British doppelgänger mystery which presents a story line which is as fractured as its main characters. Cold, unsettling and with a nightmare logic, this movie is ripe for re-evaluation.
Lake Mungo (2008)
Arclight Films / Via wordpress.com
A faux documentary done right, Lake Mungo is partly a ghost story, partly an examination of grief and partly a comment on the medium of film itself. Never going for big scares, this Australian chiller maintains its sense of mystery and dread throughout whilst simultaneously exploring some serious themes often lacking in these types of films.
Martyrs (2008)
Wild Bunch / Via tumblr.com
Relentless, unforgiving, utterly disturbing and definitely not for the faint of heart, Martyrs is the second New French Extremity entry on this list and it certainly fits the bill. Those who can handle the truly extreme and confronting will be in for a treat although others might want to give this one a miss as it doesn’t get more intense than this. A true modern classic.
Triangle (2009)
UK Film Council / Via tumblr.com
A true mind-bender, Triangle is a psychological horror thriller which keeps you guessing till the end and also delivers in its satisfying finale. A Twilight Zone episode successfully drawn out to feature length, here’s another little gem more people need to see.
The Loved Ones (2009)
Ambience Entertainment / Via tumblr.com
Wonderfully twisted and subverting some genre tropes, The Loved Ones is a sick little Australian film that goes for the jugular and never lets go. Not since Carrie has a prom been so messed up.
The Crazies (2010)
Participant Media / Via tumblr.com
A remake of a lesser known film by horror maestro George A. Romero, The Crazies doesn’t waste any time getting into its story of an outbreak of zombie-like creatures and has more memorable scenes than a few of your average zombie shockers combined. Fast paced and entertaining, this one is highly accessible and the definition of a successful update.
Kill List (2011)
Rook Films / Via tumblr.com
A wildly original mix between British kitchen sink drama, a small time crime movie and pagan horror, Kill List doesn’t show its true nature until the very end but for those who stick with it, it’s a ride well worth taking. This is what would happen if Mike Leigh directed The Wicker Man.
Maniac (2012)
IFC Midnight / Via wordpress.com
A remake of the infamous 1980 slasher, shot entirely from the killer’s point of view and thereby making the viewer complicit in the murderer’s horrendous deeds, Maniac is a stylish, nasty and distressing little movie starring Elijah Wood, who clearly set out to shed his hobbit image. Job well done.
We Are What We Are (2013)
Entertainment One / Via cdn.bloody-disgusting.com
The rare remake that actually improves upon its original, We Are What We Are is a very slow burn with a very big pay-off. This is American Gothic at its best and it has cannibalism to boot. What’s not to like?
Starry Eyes (2014)
Snowfort Pictures / Via wordpress.com
Best described as the twisted little love child of David Cronenberg and David Lynch, Starry Eyes explores what we are willing to do for fame and how it transforms us…literally. Dark and disturbing, this one keeps building tension until it explodes in a gory finale.
Spring (2014)
XYZ Films / Via joblo.com
Highly original, this mix between love story and Lovecraftian nightmare blends genres effortlessly and comes out as something truly innovative. Beautifully shot, well acted and with some impressive effects, Spring is a remarkable low-budget treat.
It Follows (2014)
Dimension Films / Via imagesmtv-a.akamaihd.net
Proving that blood and guts aren’t necessary to bring on the chills, It Follows takes an original concept and runs with it. Maintaining a sense of dread throughout its entire run time, this movie looks stunning and feels like something John Carpenter would have done in his prime. And that tall guy is seriously creepy.
No comments:
Post a Comment