The Best Horror Movies of 2018 – filmschoolrejects.com

You may not have heard, but horror is dying. Or maybe its enjoying a renaissance? I cant keep up, but the one thing I do know is that I saw some fantastically great horror films this year. What are they you ask? Terrific question. Now keep reading for the answer as I present to you the 18 best horror movies of 2018.

A quick note: four of this years best horror new releasesmade 2017s best horror list on the strength of their festival premieres, so Im not including them again as part of the numbered ranking below. I am including them at the head of the list, though, as they officially released this year, are fantastic and deserve your attention.

This zom-com Christmas musical from Scotland is an epic blast of genre fun, and its bloodletting, wit, and aurally-addictive songs deserve to be in the eyes and ears of people who love awesome things. Which should be everyone. The film brings the funny without losing sight of more horrific beats, and it gives us an appealing mix of characters who quickly start biting it or being bitten brought to life by a roster of talented performers. See it with a crowd, see it home alone, just see it and revel in the glory of the most entertaining thing to come out of Scotland since our very own Kieran Fisher.

Writer/director Giddens Ko previously delivered the sweetly affecting coming of age tale,You Are the Apple of My Eye, but his latest shows him to be equally adept at exploring a far darker look at the pains of youth. There are mean and sad themes at work here, and the fact that it hits those bloody, nihilistic, and painfully honest beats while also being incredibly funny is something of a minor miracle. Its a story featuring monsters, both human and otherwise, telling a tale of bullying, consequences, and accountability, and its ultimate observation devastates and haunts us long after the credits roll.

The familiar trappings of a zombie apocalypse are just the beginning here, but theyre taken in directions most similar films dont attempt. The undead are still human, their pain is still very real, and their purpose is a mystery in its own right. Its beautiful, bloody, and sad to boot, and unlike most zombie films the story has its share of mystery.

Rape/revenge tales are rarely presented as attractively-shot daylight affairs,but thats precisely whats accomplished with Coralie Fargeats feature debut. She wisely avoids forcing viewers to witness the assault and instead focuses her film on the pursuit of the title. Its gorgeous outdoor landscape offers a fantastic backdrop for the chase and vengeance.

Bigfoot movies are my jam seriously, I ranked 47 of them in 2017 and Ill always watch new ones despite the sad truth that most are unmemorable. This year has already seen a few, and this is both the best of the bunch and a terrifically fun horror movie period. Its a crass creature feature in some ways and stands apart from the rest of the list, but its great fun. What starts as a familiar horror trope involving a bickering couple shifts gears with threats from nature, armed humans, and Bigfoot creatures whove evolved beyond mere growls and arm-swinging. Script creativity, solid practical effects, and a unique creature design make for a fun time with Sasquatch.

Slashers arent exactly whats expected from directorDavid Gordon Green, but he brings his skills to the genre with the same intelligent eye hes applied to indies and comedies alike. Its a slick, attractively shot film with memorable tracking shots of Michael moving through an oblivious Haddonfield and dispatching human prey. Green also doesnt shy away from the grisly kills, and while several are captured postmortem, the resulting carnage is brought to life with some fantastic practical effects work. Michael stays busy throughout racking up nearly twenty kills which is fairly impressive for someone in their sixties who still refuses to run after his targets. The script is bumpy at best, but theres no denying the power of seeing Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) face down an equally graying Michael one last time. (Well, last for now anyway.)

This creepy and scary South Korean flick is the only found footage film to make the cut this year, but even one movie using the format is impressive as theyre too often dull and frustrating affairs. Neither adjective applies here as were introduced to a charismatic and enjoyable cast of characters, and the scares start hitting sooner rather than later with beats built on both jumps and atmosphere. Its unassuming and has no pretense of dramatic weight, but it brings the goods in the horror department.

It can be difficult to get excited about zombie movies as there are just so damn many of them and they usually suck, but this year saw a handful that put fresh breathe in the sub-genres lungs. We already know that zombies can be terrifying when they snarl (28 Days Later) and scream (Les Affames), but one ofThe Night Eats the Worlds many highlights is the realization that theyre even scarier when theyre silent. The undead here look and act the part as they bare their teeth, run when in pursuit, and tear into flesh with abandon, but they do it all without uttering a sound. It adds an additional layer of eerie silence to an already quiet and desolate cityscape. Their lack of vocal stylings is fitting for the film as its something of a slow burn punctuated with brief bursts of violence, sadness, and energetic tension.

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The Best Horror Movies of 2018 - filmschoolrejects.com

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero