Well lads and ladies, October is finally here, which means it's time to look back at some of the best films that horror had to offer this year. It's safe to say that it's been an excellent year for horror, both in independent cinema and mainstream studio horror films as well. From cannibals, to killer dolls, to everybody's favourite extradimensional clown, it's definitely been an important and diverse year for horror. We've witnessed some brand new nightmare fuel, along with the return of some old favourites looking to scare us yet again, and now it's about time we recap the best of the best. So here we go, the top 10 horror films of 2017.
10. Annabelle: Creation
It's no secret that Annabelle's first solo outing was quite shite, so naturally I wasn't too enthusiastic when news of a prequel surfaced. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Annabelle: Creation was a massive improvement over its predecessor and managed to make the iconic possessed doll scary again. Lights Out director David F. Sandberg managed to craft an engaging and surprisingly atmospheric film, that placed a lot of focus on the use of imagery and sound. Sometimes even a simple shot of the doll was enough to send shivers down ones spine, proving that Sandberg is further developing his talent for the craft. The film does incorporate a lot of jump scares, some of which felt a bit derivative, but Sandberg shows that he's been taking notes from the likes of James Wan by fitting in some equally effective ones too. Annabelle: Creation is important to the world of mainstream horror as it shows that the studio is listening. New Line clearly took on board the criticisms of the first Annabelle film and kept them in mind when developing Creation. It's nice to see certain studios learning from their mistakes and applying this knowledge to future films in order to improve on them. Annabelle: Creation was certainly the surprise horror hit of the year and I look forward to seeing what Sandberg gets up to in the future.
9. The Blackcoat's Daughter (February)
Why this film has two titles I do not know, but what I do know is that I really enjoyed it. Set in an isolated boarding school in upstate New York, the film follows two students who spend their midterm break at school. Strange things begin to happen however, and it soon becomes clear that the girls may not make it through their break. Writer-director Oz Perkins creates this really intense mood in The Blackcoat's Daughter that carries on consistently throughout. There is this constantly eerie atmosphere, present right from the beginning, that gradually builds into a crescendo of blood and chaos. Combined with the isolated, snow-capped location, the sense of dread is incredibly strong here and almost in the same vein as last years The Witch. It's not an explicitly scary film, for the most part anyway, but it gets under your skin and keeps you guessing right up until the very end. Of course, the overall twist is a bit obvious, but it's still interesting to see how it's woven into the narrative so seamlessly. The real highlight of the film however, is actress Kiernan Shipka who plays one of the main girls Kat. She manages to bring out a number of different layers to the character and truly shines in the films final act. It's not one for everyone, but if you're a fan of moody and isolated horror films then look no further than The Blackcoat's Daughter.
8. Cult of Chucky
2017 also saw the release of yet another entry to the Child's Play franchise courtesy of writer/director Don Mancini. Cult of Chucky picks up a few years after the events of Curse and follows Nica Pierce (Fiona Dourif) who now resides in a mental institution after being framed for Chucky's (Brad Dourif) murders in the previous film. Of course, everyone's favourite killer doll isn't too far behind. Child's Play is my favourite horror franchise mainly due to the fact that Don Mancini has managed to maintain a continuous narrative since the first film in 1988. There have been no remakes, no reboots, just the same story of the same killer doll for the last 30 years almost. Cult manages to act as a love letter to the franchise, taking all of its best qualities and a number of its most prolific character and tying them all together in what is by far the most bizarre Chucky film yet. In order to keep things fresh, Mancini introduces elements of psychological horror to the film, which means plenty of dream sequences and hallucinations to mess with the audiences mind. But of course, that doesn't mean things can't get a little gory every now and again, and Cult boasts a number of memorable and often shocking death scenes (look out for the window scene). The film introduces some new ideas to the Chucky mythology which fans may or may not enjoy, personally I'm still on the fence about it but if things go as planned, Mancini said he would expand upon them in a future installment. A surreal amalgamation of everything that makes the Child's Play franchise great, Cult of Chucky is one that will please fans everywhere.
7. The Transfiguration
Taking inspiration from the late George A. Romero's Martin, The Transfiguration is a very grounded vampire film set in New York city. It revolves around a troubled young boy named Milo (Eric Ruffin) who finds solace in vampire mythology, so much so that it becomes an obsession of his. However, Milo's obsession is a dangerous one, and leads him to believe that perhaps he himself is a vampire. The film is an interesting cross between indie drama and vampire film, and the two genres blend together so seamlessly to create this captivating story of obsession and grief. Milo is a very isolated boy, his interactions with other people are usually brief and he doesn't say much, he's quite a sympathetic character. That is of course, until he starts killing. The film takes the viewers sense of morality into question, daring us to get behind a character who may very well be a homicidal killer. Yet, we grow so close to Milo and learn of his troubled past, that it's difficult not to sympathise with him. Would Dracula have been any different if told from the Count's perspective? Ruffin gives an excellent performance that emphasises Milo's sense of detachment from both the real world, and from other around him. He is matched by his female co-star Chloe Levine, who plays an equally troubled girl named Sophie who moves into his building. The two share an interesting chemistry that challenges Milo's way of life and helps him to develop as a character. An enthralling and well-crafted directorial debut from Michael O'Shea, The Transfiguration will get your heart pumping one minute, only to get your tears flowing the next.
6. IT
The highly anticipated Stephen King adaptation helmed by Mama director Andy Muschietti has already established itself as one of the most iconic films of 2017. Not only has the film quickly embedded itself into pop culture with its memorable dialogue and performances, but it has also become the highest grossing horror film ever, even beating The Exorcist. The film is the first of a two-part adaptation of King's novel of the same name and follows a group of children who face off against a shape-shifting child murderer who lives beneath their town. As a huge fan of the book, I could not wait to see how Muschietti handled the extensive source material, and I have to say I was very satisfied. While things are a bit weak in the scare department, the characters and the overall essence of the novel translate perfectly to the screen. Finn Wolfhard and Jack Dylan Grazer stand out in particular as funnyman Richie Tozier and hypochondriac Eddie Kaspbrak respectively, both sharing some of the most memorable dialogue of the film. Sophia Lillis who plays Beverly also stands out, giving a highly compelling performance that brings out the characters many layers. Of course, IT would not be complete without the monster itself, and Bill Skarsgard is absolutely terrifying in the role. Where the film fails with its jump scares, it redeems itself with a number of extremely chilling moments in which Skarsgard takes the spotlight. He proves that he was the perfect choice for the role (Sorry Tim Curry). IT is one of the few Stephen King adaptations that actually feels like a Stephen King adaptation. It encapsulates that sense of childhood nostalgia that made the book so enjoyable, through its characters and the overall tone, we can forgive it for being a little less scarier than it could have been. Roll on chapter 2.
5. It Comes At Night
There are many ways to handle the apocalypse in cinema, ranging from big-budget disaster-style films, to isolated films that rely more on suspense. It Comes at Night falls into the latter category and focuses on a small family held up in their home within the woods during a contagious outbreak. However, when another family arrive seeking shelter, things soon begin to spiral out of control. It Comes at Night is a film riddled with suspense, the isolated location and increasing sense of paranoia make it feel very reminiscent of films like John Carpenter's The Thing. Unlike The Thing, however, this film is a lot more subtle and relies more on what you don't see than what you do. Christopher Abbott takes on the role of Will, the only son of Paul (Joel Edgerton) and Sarah (Carmen Ejogo), who lives with his family in the house in the woods. Will is front and center in the story, and Abbott does a fantastic job of portraying his sense of paranoia that gradually begins to overcome him. Through dream sequences and several moments of isolation, we get a glimpse at Will's inner anguish and how it pushes him to make the choices he does throughout the film. It's a slow-burning film for sure, but the sense of extreme tension is always present, leaving the audience constantly anticipating something terrifying. While the film certainly does deliver, it's not quite in the way you'd think, which is why a lot of people seemed to be a bit let down by this film. It's not an explicit horror, it's subtle, suspenseful, and leaves you thinking once the credits begin to roll. It's the type of film that instantly makes you want to re-watch it in the hope that you'll notice a subtle detail or clue that will make the ending more clear. A Subtle and engaging film that's riddled with suspense, It Comes at Night is sure to be discussed for years to come.
4. Gerald's Game
The second Stephen King adaptation on this list, Gerald's Game tells the story of Jessie (Carla Gugino), a woman who finds herself tied to a bed with no escape after a romantic getaway with her husband Gerald (Bruce Greenwood) goes awry. Mike Flanagan proves yet again that he is definitely one of the most talented newcomers to the horror genre, crafting a film that was thought to be unfilmable. This is understandable, considering most of the film takes place in the one room with one character and the voices in her head, but Flanagan pulls it off with flying colours and crafts an immensely suspenseful film from start to finish. Flanagan manages to convey Jessie's increasingly damaged psyche, through both apparitions and flashbacks, weaving them seamlessly into the narrative so that it flows with ease. Of course, it would be criminal not to acknowledge Gugino's performance as Jessie, essentially playing two characters of both her and the voice in her head. She is a vulnerable, yet determined woman who makes use of her resourceful nature in order to survive. It's difficult not to get behind her. The film manages to blur the lines between dream and reality at times with the inclusion of a mysterious figure that visits Jessie at night, played by Twin Peaks star Carel Struycken. While his screentime is brief, Struycken manages to leave quite an impact as one of the most chilling horror characters of the year. While it is more of a thriller than anything else, Struycken's presence brings these horror elements to the story, making for an extremely eerie isolated thriller. As well as that, the film also has one of the most disgusting moments in horror of the year, I won't spoil it but you'll definitely know it when you see it. A faithful and effective King adaptation, Gerald's Game further proves that Mike Flanagan is one to be watched in the world of horror cinema.
3. Without Name
As an Irishman and a huge horror fan, it's only natural that I was extremely hyped for Irish horror film Without Name. Written by Garret Shanley and directed by Lorcan Finnegan, the film sees land surveyor Eric (Alan McKenna) set off to an ancient forest on the outskirts of Dublin in order to assess it. However, a number of strange occurences and the forests interesting mythology soon cause Eric to slowly lose his mind. Without Name is a film that makes excellent use of the natural landscape, the isolated woodland makes for the perfect location for a psychological horror. Finnegan's direction relies heavily on the landscape, using distorted visuals and lingering shots of the trees to create this underlying sense of unease throughout. The film oozes with atmosphere and burrows itself under your skin to make for a truly unnerving cinematic experience. McKenna does an excellent job of translating Eric's inner turmoil to the screen, and he becomes gradually more unhinged as the film progresses. It is a bit of a slow burner and can test your patience at times, but it all build up to a cathartic finale fuelled by paranoia and magic mushrooms. It's very reminiscent of Ben Wheatley's A Field in England, only it's a forest in Ireland. The film leaves a lot to the imagination and ends on an ambiguous note that will leave you pondering for some time afterwards. Without Name is a film that targets the senses and opts to play on them in order to mess with the audiences heads, it's a subtle, yet incredibly unsettling film that marks an impressive directorial debut from Lorcan Finnegan.
2. Raw
Cannibalism has been a common element in horror cinema for years, from Ruggero Deodato's exploitative Cannibal Holocaust, to the Thomas Harris adaptations about Hannibal Lecter, there have been various approaches to the subject over the years. Raw however, takes quite a unique approach to the topic of cannibalism by placing it in the context of a coming of age drama set in a prestigious veterinary college. The film follows strict vegetarian Justine (Garance Marillier) who begins to develop a taste for meat after being forced to eat rabbit kidney as a college initiation ritual. Raw gained a lot of notoriety due to reports of people passing out during screenings, and while it does have its fair share of gratuitous violence, it's not the main focus of the film. Instead, the film focuses more on the relationship between Justine and her sister Alex (Ella Rumpf), and how they bond over their mutual love for flesh. It's a morbid, yet touching concept that uses cannibalism as a metaphor for a young womans development much like Ginger Snaps did with lycanthropy back in 2000. The violence is infrequent, surprisingly, but when it does happen it's all the more effective due to the use of practical effects that enhance all the gory details. It makes things feel a lot more real and in turn, much more disgusting. Writer/director Julia Ducournau immerses the film in such sophisticated style with help from cinematographer Ruben Impens, allowing for the appealing cinematography to juxtapose with the wonderful gore that follows. Also, that main theme by Jim Williams is tops, definitely up there with the works of John Carpenter and Goblin. Raw is a stylish and grizzly coming of age horror film with underlying themes of femininity and sisterhood, making it a captivating cannibalistic experience.
1. Get Out
Not only is Get Out the best horror film of the year, but it's also one of the most important films of the year as well. First of all, comedian turned filmmaker Jordan Peele managed to get his own artistic vision across that managed to be both critically and financially successful. This shows that the people at Blumhouse have faith in their filmmakers and are willing to take risks. More importantly however, the film highlighted the racial fears faced by the African American community today in a truly unique manner, making it a very relevant film in today's society. The story revolves around budding photographer Chris (Daniel Kaluuya), an African American man, who joins his girlfriend Rose (Allison Williams) on a visit to her white families estate. Naturally Chris has his fears of prejudice upon arrival, but little does he know that there is something much more sinister at work. With Get Out, Peele managed to craft a relevant horror film that found the perfect balance between comedy and terror. While the film is extremely unsettling, Peele knows when to ease the tension by adding a bit of humour to the formula every now and then. Having Chris as the only black man at the estate (who doesn't work for the family) highlights that sense of isolation and paranoia felt by him, and with Kaluuya's charming performance, it's easy for us to empathise with him. This raises the stakes significantly and makes the final act even more intense. What's unique about Get Out is that Peele managed to make a film about racial tensions where the antagonists aren't exactly racists. They're not white supremacists or racist rednecks, they're middle-class, white liberals who (as they state many times) would have voted for Obama. It makes things even more unsettling in a sense, as they're not explicitly threatening, it's not until the final act that we learn the true extent of their menace. Get Out is a triumph for Jordan Peele and a fantastic directorial debut, I mean what a way to break out into the horror genre. I can't even begin to imagine what he will do next.
Honourable Mentions:
A Dark Song
A film about a complex pagan ritual gone wrong.
Split
The one where James McAvoy has 23 different personalities.
Prevenge
A film about a pregnant woman whose unborn child prompts her to homicide.
A Cure For Wellness
A film about eels.. you'll see.
The Devil's Candy
A film about heavy metal, art, and the devil.
Also, I didn't include mother! on the list because I don't really see it as a horror film so it didn't think it counted.
Anyway, that's my pick for the top 10 horror films of 2017, I'd highly encourage anyone to watch them all, along with the honourable mentions that didn't quite make the list. I'll have more horror content to come within the next couple of weeks so stay tuned for that. Until next time!
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