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I'm hoping someone can make some recommendations that prove me wrong here, but taking a look over my IMDB lists 2009 has been the pits for horror.
So far I have seen four good to great horror films from 2009. MARTYRS and THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT represent the most base and sadistic side of the genre. They're both excellent films but I like to think of my horror horizons as a bit broader than 'torture porn'. ANTICHRIST is an art picture with some gore in it that barely qualifies as a 'cabin in the woods' film. ZOMBIELAND is a comedy with zombies in it, as opposed to a comedy/horror like SHAUN OF THE DEAD.
Then there are a few middlers. PARANORMAL ACTIVITY was mildly effective for me on first viewing and remarkable with regards to the filmmaker's thrift, but so ephemeral that I'd never actually watch it again. I also enjoyed HALLOWEEN 2, the cinematography in particular, but I can by no means call it a good movie, and am not going to argue with you if you think it belongs in the 'terrible' pile. I enjoyed the sci-fi aspects of PANDORUM, but found the horror aspects slightly retarded. I wasn't blown away by TRICK 'R' TREAT but at least I have another option on Halloween now besides, well, HALLOWEEN. I liked the western aspects of THE BURROWERS, but the horror aspects not so much.
I've watched a lot of other bad horror movies this year based on warm critical reception. I do not understand the hype for DRAG ME TO HELL, a contrived and silly THINNER-esque gypsy curse story with too much slapstick CGI crap and none of the bite of Raimi's early work. FRIDAY THE 13TH makes Jason Voorhees a pot farmer and manages to tick everything off the Jason checklist except the sense of cheesy 80s fun. ORPHAN presents a cartoonishly evil child with none of the nuance of say, JOSHUA, and then explains why she's so thoroughly evil with a ridiculous twist. HOUSE OF THE DEVIL is boring as hell and makes no sense. Which is one quality of many forgotten 80s horror movies that it emulates so well, so congrats for succeeding at failing. THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT is a tired retread of every other haunted house story you've ever seen. THE HILLS RUN RED is standard DTV junk, and JENNIFER'S BODY is hamstrung by a half-baked concept and a script full of groaners that the actors can't handle.
I didn't see everything. I have high expectations for FROZEN, [REC]2, Romero's new zombie flick, and BAD BIOLOGY. I've heard good word of mouth for THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE but the plot synopsis makes me want to vomit. I have not yet seen DEAD SNOW or GRACE. I had no interest in THE UNBORN, THE FINAL DESTINATION, SAW 6, MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3D, THE UNINVITED, THE STEPFATHER, THE FOURTH KIND, SORORITY ROW, etc etc etc.
Help me out people! I need more weight at the top of the list. What have I missed? My ear isn't close enough to the ground to pick up on some of the sleeper stuff.
So far I have seen four good to great horror films from 2009. MARTYRS and THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT represent the most base and sadistic side of the genre. They're both excellent films but I like to think of my horror horizons as a bit broader than 'torture porn'. ANTICHRIST is an art picture with some gore in it that barely qualifies as a 'cabin in the woods' film. ZOMBIELAND is a comedy with zombies in it, as opposed to a comedy/horror like SHAUN OF THE DEAD.
Then there are a few middlers. PARANORMAL ACTIVITY was mildly effective for me on first viewing and remarkable with regards to the filmmaker's thrift, but so ephemeral that I'd never actually watch it again. I also enjoyed HALLOWEEN 2, the cinematography in particular, but I can by no means call it a good movie, and am not going to argue with you if you think it belongs in the 'terrible' pile. I enjoyed the sci-fi aspects of PANDORUM, but found the horror aspects slightly retarded. I wasn't blown away by TRICK 'R' TREAT but at least I have another option on Halloween now besides, well, HALLOWEEN. I liked the western aspects of THE BURROWERS, but the horror aspects not so much.
I've watched a lot of other bad horror movies this year based on warm critical reception. I do not understand the hype for DRAG ME TO HELL, a contrived and silly THINNER-esque gypsy curse story with too much slapstick CGI crap and none of the bite of Raimi's early work. FRIDAY THE 13TH makes Jason Voorhees a pot farmer and manages to tick everything off the Jason checklist except the sense of cheesy 80s fun. ORPHAN presents a cartoonishly evil child with none of the nuance of say, JOSHUA, and then explains why she's so thoroughly evil with a ridiculous twist. HOUSE OF THE DEVIL is boring as hell and makes no sense. Which is one quality of many forgotten 80s horror movies that it emulates so well, so congrats for succeeding at failing. THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT is a tired retread of every other haunted house story you've ever seen. THE HILLS RUN RED is standard DTV junk, and JENNIFER'S BODY is hamstrung by a half-baked concept and a script full of groaners that the actors can't handle.
I didn't see everything. I have high expectations for FROZEN, [REC]2, Romero's new zombie flick, and BAD BIOLOGY. I've heard good word of mouth for THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE but the plot synopsis makes me want to vomit. I have not yet seen DEAD SNOW or GRACE. I had no interest in THE UNBORN, THE FINAL DESTINATION, SAW 6, MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3D, THE UNINVITED, THE STEPFATHER, THE FOURTH KIND, SORORITY ROW, etc etc etc.
Help me out people! I need more weight at the top of the list. What have I missed? My ear isn't close enough to the ground to pick up on some of the sleeper stuff.
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