Horror Highlights

With Halloween fast approaching, it is only natural that many of us will end up looking for good horror films to watch. The following list is essentially a highlight reel of the best horror films of the decade.

28 Days Later (2002)

 

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28 Days Later was not only one of the best horror films of 2002, it was one of the best films in ANY genre that year. In addition to good acting, great visuals, and a well-conceived plot, the movie completely reinvented the zombie subgenre. The "zombies" in the movie are vicious, extremely fast, and highly contagious (they don't have to bite someone to spread the virus), making for visually exciting and frightening scenes. Any fan of zombie movies or horror in general needs to see this film.

Dawn of the Dead & Shaun of the Dead (2004)

2004 had TWO of the greatest zombie movies of all time. Dawn of the Dead, directed by Zack Snyder (director of 300 and Watchmen), is a visually exciting masterpiece. With a fast-paced story, explosive action sequences, and the occasional dose of dark humor, this is a must-watch for zombie fans. By contrast, Shaun of the Dead (featuring the comedic duo of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost) is a less flashy, but still gory comedy. Even though it is clearly a zombie movie, the film focuses more on the living characters and character-driven humor than the zombies themselves. This is a great watch for both horror and comedy audiences and I would even recommend it to people that hate zombie movies. Images belong to owner.

The Descent (2005)

The Descent is one of my personal favorites. It is shot primarily in a dark, claustrophobic environment and the action scenes are fast-paced and exceptionally brutal. The female cast put on solid performances both as actresses and as pickax-wielding badasses. The action scenes are bloody enough to fill an Olympic swimming pool, and in one infamous scene they basically do just that. On top of all that, the film has some decent psychological elements and a twist ending you'll never see coming.

The Hills Have Eyes (2006)

While not a personal favorite of mine, The Hills Have Eyes is a rather twisted slasher film with an interesting concept and grotesque execution. Though it generally holds less appeal for mainstream audiences, it is simplistic entertainment with plenty of wanton violence and gore. Image belongs to owner.

30 Days of Night & 28 Weeks Later (2007)

If 28 Days Later reinvented zombies, 30 Days of Night did the same for vampires. Based on a comic book mini-series of the same name, 30 Days of Night takes place in Barrow, Alaska. The twist: the town is so far north that once a year, the sun does not rise for 30 days. The vampires take full advantage of the situation and a relentless bloodbath ensues. 28 Weeks Later is the explosive sequel to 28 Days Later. It builds off the same concept as the first, but has far more "zombies", bloodshed, and visual effects. Also, the movie makes the best use of a helicopter that I've ever seen in a zombie movie. Image found on IMDb.

Zombieland (2009)

No list of recent horror movies is complete without Zombieland. Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson are hilarious. The script is great. The movie's visuals are excellent. It is a solid movie all around, and in my opinion it is one of the most enjoyable films of the decade. Image belongs to owner.

The Crazies (2010)

 

While not in the same league as 28 Days Later or Dawn of the Dead, The Crazies is a solid film. Good make-up effects, sparing use of suspense and action sequences, and decent character development make the movie appealing to most audiences, though the ending is a tad over-the-top.

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2011 was a disappointing year for horror films and 2012 has yet to impress me.

That's a wrap for now. Thanks for reading.