The Definitive Top 10 Horror Films Of 2019 – Forbes

The Lighthouse (dir: Robert Eggers)

Its the end of the 2019, and once more its time to take stock of the best films of the year. Its a year of top-tier, complex, and diverse horror films. Weve witnessed insane lighthouse keepers (The Lighthouse), menacing doppelgngers (Us, The Hole In The Ground), drugged-out dancers (Climax), and shapeshifting clown entities (It: Chapter Two). Weve seen malevolent forces hunted (The Head Hunter), pitted against each other (Doctor Sleep), and weaponized against drug lords (Tigers Are Not Afraid). Weve discovered that zombies continue to plague small towns (The Dead Dont Die), movie sets (One Cut Of The Dead), and kindergarten field trips (Little Monsters).

Weve learned to never read strange stories (Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark), use strange cell phones (Wounds), or drink with strange people (Ma). We know not to visit obscure European cults (Midsommar), join elite music schools (The Perfection), get married (Ready Or Not), or buy dresses (In Fabric), toys (Childs Play), or art (Velvet Buzzsaw). In sum, the world is a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad place.

You know what IS safe? Catching up on this years best horror entries. Heres your Top 10 Horror Films of 2019.

10. Sweetheart (dir: J.D. Dillard) - on Netflix.

A shipwreck survivor stranded on an island discovers that each night shes visited by a dangerous creature from the sea. The premise is simple, but lead Kiersey Clemons excels as protagonist Jenn. The cinematography is lovely, the creature design is absolutely excellent, and the entire third act establishes Jenn as one of horrors most badass and tactical heroines. You need this film in your life.

9. The Hole In The Ground (Dir: Lee Cronin) - on Amazon Prime Video.

A woman and her son move to the Irish countryside to start a new life. After an argument her son, Chris, runs into the surrounding woods. The mother, Sarah, follows, discovering that their new rented house sits aside a huge and ominous sinkhole. Alarmed, she finds her son eventually returnedbut she becomes convinced he is not, indeed, her son. Beautiful cinematography, palpable emotions, and some very well-developed tension and paranoia make for a strong horror entry.

8. Ready Or Not (dir: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett) - on video.

You know how sometimes you marry into a wealthy family with a game empire, and sometimes that family forces you into a life-or-death game of hide and seek on your wedding night where you die if they find you? No? Well, good, but Grace (an electric Samara Weaving) had a way worse wedding night than she expected. This film is cleverly written, well-paced, and anchored by an absolutely marvelous performance by Samara Weaving that you cant help but have fun. Take some time and watch a fantastic heroine take down an evil family of wealthy psychopaths, will you? We need sequels.

7. Doctor Sleep (dir: Mike Flanagan) - in theaters.

Adapted from Stephen Kings own literary sequel to The Shining, Doctor Sleep is centered around an adult Dan Torrance who has long hidden his shine until he meets a young girl with her own immense shine... and shes in grave danger. Rebecca Fergusons Rose the Hat is a charismatic and frightening villain, and the film has excellent writing and cinematographydont let the films surprising box office woes mislead you, Doctor Sleep is one of the years best horror films and the best Stephen King adaptation of the year.

6. Midsommar (dir: Ari Aster) - on video.

Its a great year for sophomore films by talented auteurs, including Ari Asters Midsommar. The film follows a group of friends who travel to Sweden for a rare festival and find themselves subject to an increasingly dangerous set of pagan rituals. The lead performance by Florence Pugh is electric, and the film is a rare film for displaying its horrors in broad, bright daylight. Midsommar showcases Asters unique take on horrorthe audience is connected to characters on the low point of an emotional spiral, and once the emotions are at a 10/10 then the horrors start. A tough horror film to watch, but for all the right reasons.

5. The Perfection (dir: Richard Shepard) - on Netflix.

Richard Shepards The Perfection follows an increasingly unhinged rivalry at a mysterious, corrupt music academy between its world-class pupil and a former world-class student, true, but that superficial description hides a plot far more shocking and surprising than youd ever expect. Nothing is as it seems, and the result is a disturbing, unpredictable, and clever story of corruption, betrayal, revenge, and pretty much every other emotion you can think of, and this electric yet bizarre cinematic concoction is easily one of the years most original and interesting horror tales.

4. Starfish (dir: A.T. White) - on Hulu.

A.T. Whites impressive Starfish is many thingsa well-executed cosmic horror entry, an emotionally rich story of loss and guilt, and a truly unique viewing experience. An absolute must-watch. Aubrey breaks into her deceased friends apartment to grieve and be alone, when she discovers her friend had been collecting information on an apocalyptic invasion of cosmic horror entities. Following her friends clues, Aubrey goes on a journey to honor and remember her friend while saving the worldits something you have to experience for yourself.

3. Us (dir: Jordan Peele) - on video.

While Jordan Peeles sophomore film Us isnt the only top-tier horror-thriller about class relations this yearParasite and Knives Out have strong, class-conscious lenses in the thriller vein, while Ready Or Not is a horror-comedy par excellanceUs is a fantastic, complex journey loaded with more detail and metaphor than many films this year. Youll be thinking a lot about its doppelgngers The Tethered long after the film is done, and youll definitely never look at funhouses the same: a great and complicated film.

2. The Lighthouse (dir: Robert Eggers) - in select theaters, on video Jan. 7th, 2020.

Robert Eggers The Lighthouse is a surreal, frenzied fever-dream of a film shot on glorious black-and-white film. Following the descent-into-madness of two isolated lighthouse-keepers, the film keeps you pulled along as you wonder what will happen next, if theres truth to some of the more... surreal happenings... and what the true mystery of the lighthouse really is. The Lighthouse is a frantic treat and one of the most unique and visually arresting experiences of the year in any genre.

1. Tigers Are Not Afraid (dir: Issa Lpez) - on Shudder.

Tigers Are Not Afraid follows Estrella (Paola Lara), a young girl orphaned in a Mexican city overrun by drug lords. She receives three pieces of chalk, each one worth one wish, and discovers that her newfound powers are both real and have harrowing consequences. Tigers Are Not Afraid is a magical, emotional experience. Its Pans Labyrinth for the drug war, and if you want to experience one of the most unique, vibrant horror films of the year you absolutely need to see it... and you can, its streaming on Shudder.

Honorable Mentions: Crawl is a great, old-school-style creature feature. Daniel Isnt Real is a great work of psychological horror. One Cut of the Dead is a hilarious zom-com. Parasite is a black-comedy-thriller, not a horror film, but it has horror elements and its the best film of the year. And Godzilla: King of the Monsters isnt horror but its exactly what a monster movie should be and I love every minute of it.

Excerpt from:
The Definitive Top 10 Horror Films Of 2019 - Forbes

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero