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Horror Movies &stuff's BEST and WORST, Horror Films of 2011!








With the New Year already upon us, it's time to ring out another year of genre films. And ring in a whole new year of horror pictures! 2011 was indeed an odd year. We got everything from witches (Season Of The Witch), to demons (Paranormal Activity 3), to another brush with death (Final Destination 5). And the prequel'esque-reimagining of a horror classic (The Thing 2011). It was a year chock-full of interesting genre fare. But like any year, it had its Hits and and Misses. Its Ups, and Downs. Hence the reason and sole purpose of this article. To lay out what us here at HM&S.com thought were the Best, and Worst Horror Movies of 2011! Kepe in mind, this list isn't factual or scientific in nature. But rather just an opinion piece to be taken As Such. 2011 started off with Ron Perlman and Nicolas Cage invading cinemas in "Season Of The Witch" While the movie had a good cast with cinema vets Perlman and Cage at the helm. Its overall ability to put together a movie that actually entertained the viewer, and bring along an intriguing storyline was lacking. However that doesn't mean it was a total failure.

Season Of The Witch When you factor in the sweet fight sequences, and the nicely done visual effects of this midieval horror tale, it does indeed hold some weight. But the deciding factor has to be its conclusion. That of which came off as strange and kind of disappointing. As well as uninspiring, I've gotta give this one a "Worst" label. But not by a mile. Had the finale been much stronger and more cohesive than it was. "SOTW" could've made it to be a "Best" this year. Next up we had the Anthony Hopkins-toplined exorcism flick, "The Rite".



While watching this movie, I felt like I had the "Rite" to remain silent. Because we're all quiet when we're asleep, no? You wanna talk boring, tedious, and uneventful? It has to be "The Rite". The film has to also get the award for most boring exorcism flick ever! Not to mention also, the least scariest. Even Anthony Hopkins, who has like a trillion (not literally), movies under his belt. Couldn't rescue "The Rite" from its cinematic doldrums. I think had he busted out with that famous "Silence Of The Lambs" line about "Fava beans and a nice chianti", at some point during the movie...it would've been a lot more entertaining few seconds, than this movie was for its 2-hour duration! "The Rite" gets a "Worst" rating from me. 2011's first scifi/invaders from outer space romp was "Battle:Los Angeles". Unfortunately for me, the only "Battle", I found myself in while watching this film, was an inner-turmoil, regarding whether or not to request a refund at the ticket window once it was over. "Battle:L.A." was another installment into an already saturated market of "evil space-invaders" films. But putting that aside, it wasn't even a good one! Between the hyper one-dimensional characters, and the not-scary-at-all space aliens, "Battle:L.A." definitely earns a "Worst" grade.

Amanda Seyfried got her second starring genre vehicle this year, with "Red Riding Hood". Which for those of you counting at home, has nothing to do with the old kids story. In fact, the movie felt if anything, more like a pre-cursor to "Twilight:Breaking Dawn Part 1"! Again, we have another movie that tries to make its star its bread and butter. And disregards trying to craft an interesting, fun, or entertaining story arc of any kind. Thus, it comes off as boring, droll, and dreadfully stale. And when the big CGI wolf eventually shows up. Things just cannot get any worse than that. Amanda gives a good performance, but not good enough to stop "Red Riding Hood" from making our "Worst" list. James Wan and Leigh Whannell returned to the horror genre in 2011 with "Insidious". A new ghost tale that tries to add in some new ingredients, and infuse some new blood into an often stale, supernatural horror sub-genre.

Insidious


"Insidious" certainly brings some cool new tricks to the table. And some sincerely creepy, disturbing, and suspenseful moments. Especially at the very beginning. A point in most horror films where the writing slacks off. In preparation for the big third act. Throughout the movie, "Insidious" teases you with major scares. Never really delivering. But always making you aware of the possibility that it could. Hence, it keeps you interested all the way through. And while its ending may have felt rushed, and somewhat choppy at times. Overall, the picture was a worthy effort. Thus garnering it our first "Best" label for the year. Ghostface made his return to cinemas earlier this year in "Scream 4". A violent, but also sometimes and often goofy, fourth installment into the popular slasher franchise. That was thought to have concluded for good back in 2000. The new kids on the block played by Hayden Panettiere and Emma Roberts, blend decently enough with the grown ups - Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette.

Scream 4


But at times, the new kids could be overly-cheesy, and at other times...too jokey with their presentation. However, Neve Campbell in her return to the series, manages to steady this at times rocky ship. By making the most of every scene she's in, and making us remember why we've liked Sidney Prescott as the franchise heroine for all these years. Couple that with a just-crazy-enough-to-work finale, and some gruesome and campy death sequences, and "Scream 4" earns a "Best" label from us. Vampires took the big screen by storm in the Spring time with "Priest 3D". Another Sony Screen Gems film starring Paul Bettany as a heavily-armed futuristic hero type. Who has to face down the forces of evil. The previous movie with the same setup being "Legion". "Priest" wasn't going to win any awards for substance or story. But it had lots of style, and some great directing. However, it feasted on the idea of using CGI vampires. Who looked more like weird alien creatures. Instead of in the true cinematic mold of a quote unquote "vampire". Because of that, it gets a "Worst" label from us.

Dead Of Night "Dylan Dog:Dead Of Night" also got a small theatrical release around Spring time as well. Starring Brandon Routh, the movie was released quietly into cinemas after hovering around various stateside release dates for a good 2 years. After seeing the film, I kind of understood why it languished in "TBA" (To Be Announced) land for so long. Feeling more like it was suited for a weekly-bi-weekly episodic television series. Instead of an actual feature film, the movie just didn't have any big screen appeal. Despite its intriguing cast that included everyone from Taye Diggs, to TNA wrestler Kurt Angle. Overall, its off-kilter storyline, bad dialogue, and bland performance by star Routh...earned it a "Worst" rating when all was said and done. JJ Abrams came bearing another question-mark movie in June, with "Super 8". Another "Cloverfield'esque" scifi/horror film where a mystery monster is making trouble for us pesky humans.



Only this time not in New York City, the Big Apple...but instead in some small town in Heartland USA. While not as violent, intense, and overall cool as "Cloverfield"..."Super 8" still manages to entertain on most levels. And great directing by Abrams, mixed with some really intense scenes (the great train derailment for example). Make it worth the money. If you go in expecting "Cloverfield" all over again, you'd be disappointed. But if you went in expecting a whole new adventure with all new quirks and players, like I did...you'd warm up to this one pretty quickly. It gets a "Best" from us, for making June an interesting and intriguing, month at the movies.

Summer then kicked into high gear with "Final Destination 5 3D". Another encounter with death? CHECK. Anything else? NO CHECK. Despite being better than what last came before it, "The Final Destination 3D"..."Final Destination 5" crashes and burns slowly but surely. It starts off strong. But as time goes on, the kills lose quality, the characters become less interesting (which is quite bad considering they started off as pretty boring people to begin with)...and the story grows to one big yawn. Even Tony Todd, who returns after a two film absence...seems less, "Creepy", and effective this time around. But maybe that's because he wasn't standing next to any dead corpses this time around. As he gave one of those awesome speeches about how the rules work. *Shrugs*.

Final Destination 5 3D


When you factor in the laughable and basically retarded ending, "Final Destination 5", which isn't saved in the least by its 3D glasses...gets a "Worst" label from us. What would a year of horror movies be without remakes though ladies and gentlemen? In August, we got two of them. "Fright Night 3D", and Gullermo Del Toro and Troy Nixey's "Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark". "Fright Night" is not helped by its 3D, and killing off one of the movies best characters way too early doesn't help either. Nor does the fact that it goes out of its way to be cheesy as hell, and at the same time...lacks the charm of the original. Oh...and then there's Colin Farrell as vampire Jerry. Who comes off more as a muscle-bound high school bully instead of a classic and classy vampire. Ala Chris Sarandon in the original. And when one has to sit through an Anton Yetchin performance for almost 2 hours, it hurts. BAD. "Fright Night" gets a "Worst" from us.

Fright Night 3D


On the other side of the coin though, the remake of the tele-horror-movie classic "Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark". Was an exceptional exercise in how to make a genuinely creepy, disturbing, and scary movie. Without using vast amounts of blood, gore, or visual effects. With excellent performances by Katie Holmes, Guy Pearce, and little Bailee Madison driving it. And the set piece of the house itself, acting as a great backdrop for the pint-sized antagonists to deliver a super-sized reign of terror...this movie was damn near flawless. With the exception of an ending that was a bit hard to swallow in the sake of fairness and all. Still, it made perfect sense in the context of the film. But I dunno, you can call me a softee on that issue. Either way, "Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark" earns a well-deserved "Best" for the year. September took us to outerspace with "Apollo 18". And then terrorized us on the water with "Shark Night 3D".

Shark Night "Apollo 18" gets a "Best" from us here at HM&S. For doing the terror-in-outerspace thing vastly different from previous scifi/horror features. Originality is always much appreciated. Not to mention, the film was really creepy and disturbing at times. Especially down the end of the movie. "Shark Night 3D" also gets a "Best" from us. If not for some well-done CGI sharks (the more popular older sibling to SyFy Channel's badly done CGI EVERYTHING), and just simply being a fun, end of summer movie. Then for not taking itself too seriously with a title like "Shark Night". The month closed, or should I say "foreclosed"...on a bad note though. with the supernatural thriller "Dream House".



Dream House


It gets a big fat "Worst" from us. Although we've yet to decide if it should be for the terrible script, the dry and uninspired performances, the overall lack of scares, the overall lack of entertainment value, or the absolutely "crap" ending. Maybe all of the above? October meanwhile brought us a duo of new genre flicks with "The Thing" prequel, and another dance with the devil in "Paranormal Activity 3". Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.'s "Thing" prequel gets a "Best" from us. For embodying everything that the quote unquote, "scifi/horror movie" should be. Gross at times. Gory at other times. And overall, really making its monster the focal point of all of the terror which unfolds. While the casts weakness shows at times, it has just enough with Joel and Mary Winstead to get itself over the hump. As for "Paranormal Activity 3", well...it gets a "Worst" from us.

Paranormal Activity 3


Not for being absolutely horrible...but for raising our expectations so high after last year's "Paranormal Activity 2". And then bringing a huge hammer down upon, and crushing them with the third movie. That isn't even close to being as chilling and scary as the previous 2 films. We label it Worst simply because I felt we expected, and futhermore...deserved, better. "Twilight" returned to cinemas in November with "The Twilight Saga:Breaking Dawn Part 1". Bella and Edward's love affair extended into the marriage realm this time around. But this is another scenario like "Paranormal Activity 3". After "Twilight:Eclipse". Which was the darkest and most graphic film of the franchise (atleast in my opinion). "Breaking Dawn Part 1" retracts back into too much mushy and not enough vampire vs. vampire or vampire vs. wolf or anybody vs. anybody combat.

Twilight:Breaking Dawn Part 1


Thus the entertainment value is not there. And when you factor in the directing not even being as good as it was in the first 3 pictures. Well, it's easy to see why we tag this one on the bad end of things. To end the year, and this genre-year-in-review article...we have Chris Gorak's "The Darkest Hour". Another alien invasion movie to mark the year 2011. Better than "Battle:Los Angeles", but not nearly as well-crafted as "Super 8"...this scifi/horror film is mostly sound, visuals, and fury. Signifying mostly nothing. But at times flashes of brilliance. A few good kills, some intriguing space invaders with a nasty attitude (and some equally nasty weapons)...and edgy directing. All "Barely", propel "The Darkest Hour" into the "Best" category for this year. And so goes another year in horror movies. Looking forward to 2012? We sure are!


Article by Mr. HoRrOr











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