2016 is over and I can’t wait to see what amazing films 2017 has in store for us all. As we end one year and begin another, I’ve decided to make a top 10 list to highlight my favorite films from 2016. I’ve made this list based only on the sick flicks I was able to see as a reviewer. Here they are.
1. Hell House LLC – I called this movie “the last great found footage flick of our generation,” and it’s absolutely true. It has a slow but suspenseful start and builds into a beast of a movie by the midway point. This is actually one of few movies that have managed to scare me in the last 5 years, thanks to creepy clown, a sinister haunted house, and the fact that it’s the best showcase of found footage style film-making since The Blair Witch Project. I’ve recommended Hell House LLC to two people so far: both have rented it on VOD and both have come back with the same response: Holy fuck! That was scary!
2. Pitchfork – Where Hell House LLC was the greatest found footage flick of the year, Pitchfork is far and away the best slasher flick of 2016. It’s a surprising horror gem that beautifully mixes traditional slasher elements of the 80’s with current film trends that bring audiences to the theaters. Pitchfork definitely would have been a money maker at the box office had it gone to theaters in a wide release, I’m that positive that it would resonate with audiences. It’s bloody, sexy, funny, clever and features the deranged, dog-like killer we’ve all been waiting for. Here’s hoping for a sequel one day!
3. Blood Trap – Blood Trap is the film that made me fall in love with vampires again, hence why it’s ranked so high on my list. It portrays vampires how they should be, how they started out before Twilight… sexy, strong, bloodthirsty, methodical, and alluring. Blood Trap is all of those things, too, but it’s also jam packed with action, cat and mouse games, dark humor and gags, and a shit ton of gore. A lot of people slept on this movie in 2016, but I think you guys should check it out. It’s probably one of the most cohesive films of the year in terms of continuity, story and suspense. And its cast is just phenomenal.
4. Hotel of the Damned – Wrong Turn meets The Hills Have Eyes, Hotel of the Damned may seem like a filler flick to some, distributed only because it was good enough to merit a sale or two. But in reality, this is one of the few titles of the year that will keep you entertained from start to finish. The beginning draws you in, then you get to know your band of misfits, then you get to watch them die at the hands of crazed cannibals in a run down motel. This is a great movie that you can enjoy with a couple beers and a couple of your closest friends. A horror film that serves as a bonding experience? Pencil me in!
5. Blackburn – As with Hotel of the Damned, Blackburn may be overlooked when set against other titles in the horror category, but it has so much more than meets the eye. It’s a ghost story and a slasher story and family of killers story all wrapped into one. It has impressive acting from unlikely cast members and amazing locations that highlight the nostalgic atmosphere and story built into the movie. Blackburn is a movie where you want to see the characters succeed and escape instead of falling victim to the madmen. This is a shining example of independent film making at its best.
6. Scare Campaign – Hailing from Australia, Scare Campaign is the best entry in the reality-horror genre, a subcategory that features reality television elements mixing with aspects of horror. When a prank show goes wrong, the prankers are forced to fight for their lives against a number of enemies. Scare Campaign is a fox in sheep’s clothing, with every turn and plot progression turning into a ploy of evil and a chance for bloodshed. You’ll have no idea how this baby is going to end because of the original, masterful and unforgiving script. This is a movie you watch for the story, not for the blood!
7. Bunny the Killer Thing – Who doesn’t want to watch a movie about a bunny-human hybrid that runs through the woods, beating people to death with his monster-sized penis? During my entire viewing of Bunny the Killer Thing I was either laughing my ass off or wondering what the fuck was going on. This movie isn’t going to win any Oscars anytime soon, but I’ll be damned if it wasn’t entertaining! This fuzzy rabbit is worth a viewing for sheer laugh factor, for nudity and for the gore. Whoever wrote this up and put it into development needs a slap in the face with one hand and firm salute with the other. Highly recommended to folks in their early college years.
8. The Chair – What do you get when you take half a dozen horror icons, lock them away in a dark prison setting, and have them tortured by indie horror’s biggest star, Bill Oberst Jr.? You get The Chair. I wasn’t expecting to include this movie on my list because I left my viewing feeling agitated and depressed, but hey, one response is better than no response. And that’s the beautiful thing here, movies are supposed to get a reaction out of you, especially horror films! If The Chair was able to fill me with dread and hopelessness and claustrophobia, then that only means it’s a masterclass in making cinema an experience. Well done.
9. Dawn of the Deaf – The only short film on list, Dawn of the Deaf takes the classic zombie film of almost the same name, modernizes it and adds a crucial science fiction twist to it. What I liked the most about this one is the dramatic punch to your gut. People with hearing disabilities would already be at a disadvantage with it comes to zombies, but how do they figure things out and prepare to fight without being able to expect their attackers? On the flip side, should this ever be expanded, it has the capability to be a warrior’s effort, where the characters are able to take back their power and be the champions they always wanted to be. Oh, the possibilities.
10. The Girl in the Photographs – The last horror film Wes Craven worked on before his passing. That’s not the reason this makes my list. This isn’t a pity entry. The Girl in the Photographs is a new age slasher, with technology and suspense forming a creepy layer of forbidding. It’s a prime example that slashers don’t always have to be attack at will and hack away, sometimes they can be more calculated and behind-the-scenes. Preparation is key, people! This movie is beautifully shot, well acted and it has a mesmerizing original score. Speaking of layers, it has an extra layer of shock value when you realize its main theme is art imitating life.
Special acknowledgements: Girl #2, The Horde, Night of the Slasher, Pigskin and White Drift
