It's been a pretty stellar year for horror so far, and not from the avenues you'd probably expect. Sure, The Conjuring 2 cemented James Wan's status as a modern-day genre God, but plenty of other fantastic efforts have seemingly flown under the radar.
Intruders (Dir. Adam Schindler): Home invasion films often run the same course, which is what makes Intruders so damn fun. Just as everything seems figured out, Schindler plays his trump card and takes us on a far wilder ride than expected.
Ava's Possessions (Dir. Jordan Galland): The Hangover, but with a lot more demons - I've said it before, and will say it again. Imagine a blend of Memento, The Hangover, and most exorcism films - except way weirder and quirkier. In a great way.
Darling (Dir. Mickey Keating): Those of you looking for a retro, black and white throwback are in luck! Darling oozes Hitchcockian, Polanski-influenced tension thanks to a dynamite lead performance from Lauren Ashley Carter. Those eyes, man...
Nina Forever (Dir. The Blaine Brothers): A fucked up fairy tale says it all - emphasis on the fucked up. We're talking a three-way love triangle between two lovers, and a man's undead ex-girlfriend. So fun, so freaky, and so, SO entertaining...
The Wailing (Dir. Na Hong-jin): This two-hour-plus Korean watch is worth every twist and turn, playing out like two wholly different movies. Jovial and light to begin, then an energetic, intense ending closes on nothing but sheer terror. *Bows*
The Witch (Dir. Robert Eggers): Yes, this is horror. Yes, this belongs here. Yes, you should see it - as long as a slow-burning, Puritan nightmare sounds up your alley. I mean, it's a colonial fright flick. Set expectations correctly, and enjoy.
Holidays (Dir. Various): The horror anthology format is fun, but when the theme is holidays, it becomes a hell of a lot more engaging. Valentine's Day stands as my favorite, but there's something for everyone in this bag of twisted genre treats...
Bite (Dir. Chad Archibald): Want a movie that'll keep you from going on any tropical vacations this year? Bite is your flick. Gross-out effects highlight this vile infection thriller, but there's plenty of story and character work worth the nausea.
Carnage Park (Dir. Mickey Keating): Alright, I'm cheating here because Carnage Park opens July 1st, but I've seen it already, and NEED you to see it too. Mark your calendars. Political paranoia meets John Carpenter grooves. Keating times two!
Jerzalem (Dir. The Paz Brothers): Found footage is usually a kiss of death, but this unholy takeover bucks an otherwise annoying trend. It's not perfect, but righteous creature work and some hellish set pieces deliver exactly when needed.
Southbound (Dir. Various): Closing my list is Southbound, a surefire pick for my "Best of 2016" list to come later on. An open-road vibe connects a handful of "traveling terror" segments, but each one hits in its own way. Solid, talented filmmaking.
It’s been a pretty stellar year for horror so far, and not from the avenues you’d probably expect. Sure, The Conjuring 2cemented James Wan’s status as a modern-day genre God, but plenty of other fantastic efforts have seemingly flown under the radar.
We’re talking about the little guys, who fight a (completely silly) stigma that comes along with the words “VOD release.” No longer are these non-theatrical openings a wasteland of avoid-at-all-cost titles, and furthermore, companies like A24 are giving these lesser titles the in-movie releases they deserve. This is a great time for horror – you just have to look hard enough.
If you follow my weekly film reviews, then you already know I watch a lot of horror. Like, probably an unhealthy amount (if you ask my family). But, in doing so, I’m able to offer recommendations with a much deeper knowledge, as I spread the good word of all that is dark, twisted, and totally ‘effing awesome.
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So – because I’m such a nice guy – I’ve decided to look back on 2016 at this half-year mark, and pick out some of my favorite horror films so far that you might not have heard of. No big studio releases or anything here, just talent, hard work, and a whole lot of courage.
Disclaimer: There’s a pick on here that you’ve DEFINITELY heard of, but given its other qualifications, it still belongs. You’ll immediately know which one I’m talking about. It’s no goat.
Also, for my in-depth, theatrical reviews on all the films listed in the gallery above, hit the We Got This Covered archive, search the site, check out my Rotten Tomatoes page, or head over to my author’s page!
