I was feeling pretty confident about this year’s crop of horror movies throughout 2015, but it wasn’t until I put this list together that I realized how special this year’s line-up really is for one significant reason - there’s a remarkable amount of variety. We’ve got a vampire satire, a horror western and another movie that plays out entirely on a laptop screen. There’s also technical achievements, great strides in storytelling techniques and a striking respect for the importance of character development across the board.
2015 didn’t just deliver a batch of quality horror movies that we can continue to enjoy for years to come. It also highlighted the genre’s boundless potential and proved that we’ve got a ton of filmmakers who are recognizing and seizing the opportunities it affords.
10. Unfriended
I don’t want to give the impression thatUnfriendedmade the cutjustbecause it’s one heck of a technical achievement, so let me start off by saying that the movie rocks commendable performances and a narrative that turns the timely topic of teen bullying into a very effective horror film in a surprisingly respectful way. Okay, now for the main reason why I can’t stop talking about this film.Unfriendedplays out in real time, on one character’s laptop screen during a video call. It shouldn’t work, but it does. I’d like to bet the camera set-up had a lot to do with it (click hereto hear directorLevan Gabriadzeand writerNelson Greavesbreak down the process), but it also stems from the fact that the visual effects are superb and that the movie is insanely well edited. When Blaire (Shelley Hennig) navigates from window to window on her computer screen, the cursor movements are shockingly natural. And the same goes for the moments when she types a message. She types, stops, deletes and re-types in a way that you might reconsider sending a message in real life.Unfriendedreflects natural, everyday computer use so well that when I went home after my first screening, the alert sound on my Mac made my heart skip a beat more times than I care to admit.
9. The Visit
M. Night Shyamalanis back! Okay, maybe saying “he’s back” is a bit of a stretch, especially consideringThe Visitis vastly different from anything he’s made in the past, but it is his first quality feature in quite some time. The whole movie is shot handheld with the story being told from the prospective of our videographer, Rebecca (Olivia DeJonge), and her little brother, Tyler (Ed Oxenbould). They’ve never met their grandparents before so when they’re sent to spend some quality time with them, Rebecca decides to make a documentary out of the experience. At first their quirks seem like typical old folks issues, but the more time they spend with Nana (Deanna Dunagan) and Pop Pop (Peter McRobbie), the more they come to believe that something is seriously wrong with them. Shyamalan has loads of fun with the scenario delivering simple yet effective bumps-in-the-nights and then going big with zanier scares like when Nana chases the kids on all fours underneath the house. As one might expect from a Shyamalan film, it does have a twist, but the success of the movie isn’t totally reliant on it, largely because Shyamalan strikes a very appealing balance between playful and pure horror, and because DeJonge and Oxenbould deliver such strong work.
I first caughtPatrick Brice’sCreepin March 2014 at SXSW so it’s about time I got the chance to include it on a Top 10 list! The film didn’t get the most traditional release having gone from The Weinstein Company to The Orchard to Netflix, so just in case it flew under your radar,Creepis a shaky cam-style film starring Brice andMark Duplass. Brice plays a videographer who responds to a Craigslist ad and accepts a gig to film the terminally ill Josef (Duplass) so that he can have video of himself for his unborn son. Josef is a quirky character right from the start, but then things get weird - really weird. Just wait until you meet Peachfuzz. However, Duplass still manages to infuse Josef with enough earnestness to keep you on your toes, challenging you to assess his behavior in attempt to figure out what’s really going on.Creepis quite the showcase for Duplass who navigates a startlingly wide spectrum and it also serve as another directorial win for Brice who also directed this year’sThe Overnight.
7. Krampus
I’m a bit obsessed withTrick ‘r Treat, so it’s no surprise thatKrampuscan’t compare, but directorMichael Doughertycame close enough to confirm that he’s a talented director who excels in the holiday horror realm.Krampusis absolutely packed with freaky yet mesmerizing Christmas creatures, including Krampus himself, and Dougherty puts them to use so well that one of the movie’s only significant shortcomings is the fact that he didn’t use his villains enough. However, Dougherty does put the film’s slower and calmer moments to good use. There are some kind, likable members of the Engel family, but then there are folks like the incredibly obnoxious uncle Howard (David Koechner) and his über bratty twins Stevie (Lolo Owen) and Jordan (Queenie Samuel). You may be rooting for them to get picked off first all throughout the first act, but as the movie progresses, Dougherty actually manages to highlight the importance of family coming together to such an extent that you wind up liking and fearing for every single member of the family by the end of the film.
you’re able to go to some pretty crazy places if you lay the groundwork first and that’s exactly what directorsJustin BensonandAaron Moorheaddo inSpring. Minus the occasional hint that something isn’t quite right, Louise’s (Nadia Hilker) relationship with Evan (Lou Taylor Pucci) could have come straight out of any traditional romantic drama. Evan does cause a bit of trouble at the beginning of the movie, but Pucci still has no problem selling him as a stand-up guy, so when he meets, falls for and eventually wins Louise over, it’s an absolute delight. When Benson and Moorhead start to divulge more about Louise’s condition, it definitely comes as a shock because it calls for some pretty startling visuals, but the duo paves the way to the big reveal in a way that lets you have some fun with how wildly messed up it is while still keeping the focus on how it affects their relationship.
5. Bone Tomahawk
Bone Tomahawkisn’t for everyone so I don’t think it would have been well-suited for a wide release, but it most certainly deserved more attention than it got. It’s an extremely well-made horror western that features stellar performances fromKurt Russell,Patrick Wilson,Matthew FoxandRichard Jenkins. Those points alone should be enough to sell the film, but in case you’re on the hunt for some serious blood and guts,Bone Tomahawkalso delivers one heck of a third act massacre. It’s a slow burn that centers on a group of men riding out into the desert to rescue one man’s wife and a town deputy from a group of cannibals and when it hits the more violent and sadistic portions of the story, boy does it go to the extreme - but it earns it. I enjoyedEli Roth’sThe Green Infernomuch more than most, but after watchingBone Tomahawkit’s easy to make the distinction between guilty pleasure torture porn and high quality horror like this.
4. The Final Girls
If I dreamt up my own personal fantasy world, it might look something like the Camp Bloodbath Max (Taissa Farmiga) and her friends step into inThe Final Girls. Clearly I’m the Duncan (Thomas Middleditch) in this situation, but what makesThe Final Girlsso much more than a brilliant slasher nostalgia fest is the fact that there’s a surprisingly heartfelt mother/daughter story at the center of it. You get to see the familiar horror movie stereotypes in action, a masked slasher hacking up unsuspecting victims with a machete andAngela Trimburdoing that unforgettable dance, butThe Final Girlswinds up making a far more powerful impression than you might expect from a movie boasting clever slasher satire and quick thrills because what Max and her mother (Malin Akerman) experience really means something in the end.
3. What We Do in the Shadows
Think you’re sick of vampires? Not ifJemaine ClementandTaika Waititihave anything to do with it! Theduoputs a fun, fresh spin on the vampire genre, sparking one laugh after the next while also honoring the need for proper character development. You’ll get a kick out of Viago (Waititi), Vlad (Clement) and Deacon’s (Jonathan Brugh) bizarre, unusual and clever antics from start to finish, but the movie also has this wonderful “lived-in” sort of feeling that ensures you’ll grow comfortable in the environment and become attached to the characters much like you would while watching a reality show, or any show for that matter. Over the summer,Clement did confirmthat aWhat We Do in the Shadowssequel is in the works, but I find it surprising that no one’s seriously considering going the scripted series route. I’d kill for weekly misadventures with this group.
2. Backcountry
I had absolutely no clue whatBackcountrywas, but thenthis clippopped up. It builds more suspense in just under three minutes than most films achieve in ninety.Missy PeregrymandJeff Roopdeliver fantastic work as Jenn and Alex, highlighting that they genuinely love each other while also conveying that they’ve got some serious issues and potentially insurmountable differences. By taking the time to build them as individuals and clearly establish their relationship dynamic, the more horrific portions of their hike become immensely more powerful than your typical lost in the woods nightmare. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I can assure you that it won’t be easy shaking off what goes down in the tail end of this film. It’s a stellar first feature fromAdam MacDonaldthat highlights an exceptional ability to build suspense and earn his carnage.
1. It Follows
It Followscelebrated its world premiere in May 2014 at the Cannes Film Festival and hit well over two dozen festivals after that. The movie finally made its way into select theaters in March 2015 and then scored a wide expansion thanks to some very impressive opening numbers. Just recentlyIt Followsappeared onmy personal Top 10, ourBest Movie Kills of 2015list and theBest Film Scores of 2015list, amongst others. There’s a reason this movie has been showered in so much love from our staff and beyond - it’s exceptional.
First off, how about that core concept: an STD that appears in the form of a ghoulish looking human being who will kill you if he or she catches you. The only way to stay safe is to pass it on, but the question is, are you willing to essentially sacrifice someone else to spare yourself? It’s a fascinating predicament to consider. Then you’ve gotMaika Monroe. What a find! Hopefully she can shine in flashy blockbusters likeThe 5th WaveandIndependence Day: Resurgence, but betweenIt FollowsandThe Guest, she’s already proven herself a standout leading lady with a unique and natural on-screen presence. We’ve also got directorDavid Robert Mitchell’s distinct camera style that perfectly suits the subject matter and ensures that you remain on the lookout for “Its” right along with the main characters. And then there’s that score. I said it in my Top 10, but it’s well worth saying again: theIt Followstheme is one of the most memorable tracks of the year.
You don’t get such smart, fresh and well-made horror movies like this often so perhaps it’s a good thingIt Followsspent such a long time on the festival circuit and came out so early this year. The more time we have to celebrate this achievement, the better!
Honorable Mentions:Turbo Kid,Deathgasm,The Lazarus Effect,The Boy,Poltergeist
For much more of Collider’s Best of 2015 coverage,click here.
