Sinister Cinema: The 10's

I love Halloween. Jack-o-lanterns and falling leaves, candy and costumes. The way orange lights bubble up around the neighborhood, bathing houses in the ethereal glow of Autumn. And, of course, there are the horror movies. If you remember, last year I did a Sinister Cinema series in which I wrote about the 15 best horror flicks from the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's, and the 00's. But what about the decade we're living in now? Well, with the 2010's drawing to a close, I think it's fitting to give Sinister Cinema one final spin. Truth be told, this might be my favorite decade of horror yet. Read and enjoy!

2010's

* Honorable Mentions: Evil Dead, Green Room, Insidious, A Quiet Place, The Witch

15.) IT: Chapters 1 & 2 (2017, 2019): I know this is basically cheating, but come on - this is one story, adapted from one book, with a shared cast of characters, concepts, and themes. IT is simply one movie - enough said. And you know what? It's a pretty good one. While the first half steals the show in the scare department, the second half is a fun, freaky thrill ride. Are there problems? Sure. But the heartfelt performances, beautiful cinematography, and iconic villain more than make up for them.

14.) I Saw the Devil (2011): Although there were plenty of fantastic foreign-language horror films in the 2010's (Desierto, A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night, Goodnight Mommy, etc.), not one of them matches the grotesque beauty of director Kim Jee-woon's I Saw the Devil. This thing is vicious - a tale of lost love, bloody revenge, and, of course, a little cannibalism thrown in just for kicks. And the gore? Over-the-top and awesome. This movie definitely isn't for everyone, but if you can stomach the blood and guts, I say give it a whirl.

13.) Black Swan (2010): Directed by Darren Aronofsky, this psychological horror film was the surprise hit of 2010. It was even nominated for 5 Academy Awards (including Best Picture) and winning Best Actress for Natalie Portman. Thankfully, unlike some of the other horror flicks to get Academy approval this decade, it actually deserves the accolades (I'm looking at you, Get Out). This movie is as stylish as it is spooky, with some of the most unsettling screen images the genre has ever given us. With powerhouse performances and visual complexity in spades, Black Swan soars.

12.) The Sacrament (2013): Not many filmmakers understand horror the way Ti West does. His films truly are nightmares, and with each one he explores new terrain in the genre. With The Sacrament, he uses the found footage subgenre to deliver what is essentially a fictionalized retelling of the Jonestown Massacre. It is...wow, it's brutal. Every scene is saturated with a deepening sense of foreboding, one that you can't easily shake. But the movie's best attribute is veteran character actor Gene Jones as "Father," the messianic figure running (ruining?) the community. Oh yeah - and the name of this hellish community is Eden Parish. It doesn't get better than that, does it?

11.) The Ritual (2018): I run into this problem a lot, so here it is again: the less I say about this, the better. Just know that The Ritual is a surreal, cutthroat horror flick from Netflix, completely overshadowed by the popularity of Birdbox and Bandersnatch. Trust me - watch this one, too. It's the best rare gem Netflix has to offer, and if you go in with an open mind, you will not be disappointed. In the lead is Rafe Spall, a British actor who I always knew as one of the Andy's from Hot Fuzz. His performance is absolutely incredible, and anchors you to the outlandish horror premise that gets weirder and weirder as the plot progresses.

10.) It Follows (2015): The concept is simple, the characters are relatable, the scenery (present-day Detroit) is shot beautifully, and the horror is vicious. The less I reveal about this one, the better. I suggest you go in with as little prior knowledge as possible. Just know that It can represent many things (mortality, intimacy, HIV/AIDS) and will scare the bejesus out of you. So turn off the lights, wait until the rest of the house is fast asleep, and enjoy. The tagline is, "It doesn't think, It doesn't feel, It doesn't give up." How great is that? 

9.) Don't Breathe (2016): This is what happens when you take a simple, no-frills concept, and ramp it up to eleven. The writing is concise, the acting is brilliant, and the direction - full of lethal energy, driven to a cunning conclusion - is immaculate. This isn't the best horror movie of the decade, but it just might be the most re-watchable, the one you put on during October to get you in the Halloween spirit. The third act, though borderline absurd, is a masterclass in cinematic suspense. Don't Breathe truly is what its title suggests - breathless.

8.) The Cabin in the Woods (2012): In all honesty, this movie should probably be higher on this list. But the fact that it's satire (ingenious satire, granted), means I can't bear putting it in my top five. Because, while The Cabin in the Woods is definitely a horror movie, it's also a tongue-in-cheek send-up of the entire genre. There are more laughs than scares here, and that relegates it to the number eight position. But that doesn't mean it's not a terrific movie, because it absolutely is. If you want something totally unexpected, something that will leave you scratching your head, then check it out.

7.) Bone Tomahawk (2015): If you needed a reminder that Westerns can be awesome, that they can be filled with realism and weight and unadulterated brutality, then Bone Tomahawk should definitely be in your queue. This is 3:10 to Yuma meets The Hills Have Eyes, and if you think that's a wacky juxtaposition in theory, just wait until you see it in practice. Populated by a terrific cast of characters portrayed by some of Hollywood's best (Kurt Russel, Patrick Wilson, Richard Jenkins, etc.), the magnetic charm of this throwback thriller is undeniable.

6.) The Conjuring (2013): Just when you thought the haunted house genre was dead and done, along comes a classic chiller like James Wan's The Conjuring. It's pretty standard fare, but the sense of dread imbued throughout is beyond unsettling, burrowing under your skin like a tick, almost impossible to get out. The picturesque cinematography sets this tone, and expert performances by a veteran cast really tether this thing to reality. It all builds to an exhilarating finale, one that will stay with you long after the credits have stopped rolling. While the endless spin-offs from this movie are pretty meh (Annabelle, The Nun, La Llarona), the direct sequel - The Conjuring 2 - is also exceptional entertainment. Check them both out!

5.) Annihilation (2018): Transcendentally surreal, shockingly emotional, and skillfully filmed - these are the phrases that perfectly encapsulate Annihilation. Alex Garland, known for directing Ex Machina and writing 28 Weeks Later, adapted Jeff VanderMeer's ponderous novel for the big screen exceptionally well. The entire cast is marvelous, perhaps none more so than Natalie Portman, whose character grapples with both herself and the unknown. It's difficult to find the right words to describe this trippy sci-fi experience, but if I had to boil it all down, I'd say watching it felt a lot like watching 2001: A Space Odyssey for the very first time. It is strange, upsetting, mandatory viewing. And that bear scene? Impossibly haunting.

4.) Willow Creek (2014): Yeah - this is a horror movie about Bigfoot. So what? You may shake your head and cluck your tongue, but until you actually see this movie, you have no idea. Is it a good film? Absolutely. Is the acting believable? You betcha. Is the plot effective? Uh-huh. Is it scary? Oh, words can't quite do it justice. This is the very epitome of cinematic tension, and you'll be covering your eyes and holding your breath until those final screams and the bitter end. I'll put it to you like this: what Psycho did to showers, Willow Creek does to camping. Yeah.

3.) The Clovehitch Killer (2018): While I love a good horror romp, something with a larger-than-life villain and buckets of blood, I nonetheless have a soft spot for the quiet films, too. The Clovehitch Killer is so quiet and unassuming that you won't even notice as it creeps into your home and places the knife to your neck. This is the kind of movie that pierces the depths of human evil, examining the duality of American life and how violence hides in even the most tranquil places. Bolstered by a razor-sharp script and two career-defining performances (newcomer Charlie Plummer and a surprisingly sinister Dylan McDermott), this flick is overlooked, underrated gold.

2.) Train to Busan (2016): It's simply astonishing how good this movie is - the manic horror, the scrambling action, the heart and humor and, of course, the horror. Director Yeon Sang-ho takes the overwrought zombie subgenre and, with a lightning-quick pace and deeply honest performances, makes it new again. In my opinion, this is the best zombie movie ever made, besting contemporaries like 28 Days Later and even classics like Night of the Living Dead. Seriously. Bounce over to Netflix and give this thing a try. If you're a zombie-fanatic or a fan of Asian horror films, give this a watch. By the end, Train to Busan will have thundered down the tracks, off the screen, and into your heart.

1.) The Babadook (2014): Some horror movies provide momentary jolts, the kind you laugh off nervously and forget as soon as you leave the theater. And then there are the truly scary horror films, the ones that you can't leave behind quite so easily. The Babadook is certainly the latter. It keeps you up at night, makes you question that mysterious creaking down the hall, your eyes scanning wildly in the dark, building monsters out of shadows. This is director Jennifer Kent's directorial debut, and it is a definitely top-shelf stuff - emotionally effective and fantastically frightening. The Babadook might be a boogie man of unimaginable cruelty, but it's also the grief and turmoil of our protagonists, and the symbolism works surprisingly well. If you have nerves of steel and can stand the scares, then I urge you to dive into this jolting, jarring gem - easily the best horror movie of the 2010's.