Oh my god, Halloween Week is drawing to a close! It’s been a crazy, fun celebration, and what better way to end it all than with a look at horror in 2009? Today, for our final list, we celebrate the best horror films of 2009 so far, and take a look at the horror films we are excited for on the horizon…
Best of 2009 (so far):
Paranormal Activity
The word-of-mouth, small budget film that has become an overnight nationwide sensation, a la The Blair Witch Project. I’ve seen some nasty backlash online from horror fans now that the film is so mainstream, but that doesn’t change the fact that this is one scary, good little movie. With only a few missteps (only one cheesy scene involving an ouija board), this is the kind of movie that might not be so scary when you watch it….but late at night when you wake up from sleep at 3 AM, you remember Every. Freaky. Detail. I don’t scare easy, but I had a few really bad moments in the middle of the night thanks to this film.
Drag Me To Hell
Hey, Good!Raimi is back! I say Good!Raimi because ever since Spidey 2, it’s like an evil bad movie making Sam Raimi automaton has been putting out films. Drag Me To Hell is a return to the horror comedy roots of Evil Dead II/Army of Darkness, blending scares, laughs, and wonderful cheese together in a damn fine movie. Alison Lohman does a bangup job as Christine. I loved this film.
Grace
Ahh, Grace. This is a slower, quieter horror film about a pregnant woman who loses her husband and unborn child in a car accident – but this mother is determined to carry her baby to term anyways. When she gives birth to a stillborn girl, the mother is able by some miracle to will her child back to life, and she names her Grace. Except, something’s not quite right with Grace. She has an appetite for something other than breast milk. This is a really touching, frightening film about the lengths a mother will go for her child – it’s not a traditional shock and gore film, but much more slow and subtle. Another winning film, even if the end is a little cheesy.
Zombieland
I was so very excited for Zombieland, and was ecstatic when it delivered. That kid from Adventureland (aka Michael Cera’s understudy) does a fine job, as do Woody Harrelson, Jules (not sure what her real name is, but she’s Jules from Superbad in my mind) and sweet little Abigale Breslin. Full of laughs, and an AWESOME cameo, this is a film that won me over from the intro narration. Although it got a little catch-phrasy with the whole “Double Tap” and “Nut Up or Shut Up,” the film was so much fun.
Pandorum
I am a sucker for science fiction horror, and despite lackluster reviews, I thoroughly enjoyed Pandorum. The “monsters” were pretty well done, good special effects, solid performances from Dennis Quaid and the dependable Ben Foster…I am a fan.
Haunting In Connecticut
I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. Yeah, it’s predictable and the ending isn’t so hot (well, literally it was HOT, but you know what I mean), but there were some genuinely good scares and images in this one. I liked the eyelid box, the carved bodies, the one scene where the kids are playing hide and seek and you see the ghost behind the genius who chose to hide in the dumbwaiter…worth at least a rental.
Dead Snow
I had been waiting for this movie to hit the US since last year, and when I saw it available On Demand, I was ECSTATIC. And you know what? This movie was everything I was looking for. It’s funny, irreverent, makes a ton of really blatant horror allusions, and the special effects are surprisingly really good. It’s a DVD-er.
My Bloody Valentine 3-D
I’m a sucker for 3-D films. My Bloody Valentine is a remake that I wasn’t expecting, and it was pretty solid. You know, solid crazy guy with a pickaxe slasher. Good tension, good blood, guts, gore, and requisite nudity.
House of the Devil
This film just came out in theaters this weekend, but it was available On Demand for the month of October – and I was lucky enough to snag a viewing. This is an amazingly well-directed, beautiful ode to the ’80s horror film. It’s atmospheric, it’s scary in the way that my favorite horror films (Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist) are. That’s BIG praise, and House of the Devil is worth it.
Horror Films We’re Looking Forward To:
The Fourth Kind
Mila Jovovich effing rules, and this looks pretty damn scary.
The Wolfman
Universal goes back to its horror roots with a remake of The Wolf Man – and as it stars three powerhouse actors (Benicio del Toro, Anthony Hopkins and Emily Blunt), I’m so very excited to watch it.
Piranha 3-D
Alejandre Aja’s new film has been a long time coming, and hopefully we’ll see Piranha in theaters soon!
Dorian Gray
Ok this looks not very accurate, but the Prince Caspian kid is cute, and this poster looks pretty cool.
Anti-Christ
It’s in theaters now, and I think one of the best ways to celebrate Halloween. This looks really disturbing…but I like disturbing.
And that’s it from us! What about you? Any upcoming horror movies you are ready to watch? Any films you want to praise or rant about *cough*TheOrphan*cough*?
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35 Responses to Halloween Week: Horror Movies of 2009
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I saw Haunting in Connecticut– wow, disturbing on so many levels. The eye lids– ewwww. My teens saw Drag me to Hell and hated it, BUT they were too young to remember the Evil Dead movies, so they might have just not got that campiness. I really want to see Pandorum. The Wolfman looks awesome!
Paranormal Activity scared me more than just about any horror movie I’ve ever seen. I’ve NEVER been so afraid to go to bed. I busted out my teddy bear from my childhood after seeing it. Even now…3 weeks or so after seeing it…I still have trouble getting back to sleep if I wake up in the middle of the night.
I loved Pandorum! I thought it was a great movie. Still gotta see Paranormal Activity and the Fourth Kind though! Hopefully this week!
Also, when are you going to review BoneShaker? I look forward to it!
I’m not really a big fan of horror movies, but the list you’ve got here has definitely caught my attention! the anti christ looks pretty scary, would love to check out the storyline,looks like im gonna be watching that soon!
I loved Paranormal Activity! this movie was amazing…it was as scary as all get out and i’ve never seen so many people jump or so many people scream at once in my life…haha it was definitely the best horror movie since forever!!!
LOVE HORROR MOVIES I ALWAYS WANTED 2 SPEND MY EVERY WEEKEND IN CINEMA WITH POPCORN AND HORROR MOVIE MY TOP FAVOURITE MOVIE IS DRAG ME TO HELL ITS GREAT.NICE POST THANKS
I actually thought Paranomal activity wasn’t really that scary.. It did have a good storyline and it was amazing, but not scary. It did give you the occasional suspicion, but thats about it!
Oh I love all these movies! amazing collection! The anti christ is something to watch, you’d think its controversial but it isn’t as bad as you think it is! fascinating stuff..
Amazing set of movies! great collection! I have watched everything on here except for Dorian Gray, any good? I have heard some good reviews on it though..
Great list of horror movies! You cant really put SAW here right? its not really a horror movie, more like a disgusting one if you ask me! great list you got here though!
Love the collection, though i must say the anti christ seems like something different, must give it a watch. Everything else I’ve seen and I loved it!
That is a great list, will definitely watch some of them.
3D movies are hot. Hot, hot. Hot to the point that it can take a warmed-over remake like My Bloody Valentine and turn it into a box office monster. Piranha 3-D is the best movie!
Be sure to see the Piranha 3-D, for all those who love horror, but make sure you do not watch before sleep
Great collection of movies. Really loved them all, specially anti christ! was pretty unexpected script actually. Probably what made it so much more interesting!
You have a great stuffs here! The list of movies you have are really interesting. Of course, I’m referring to the movie story itself.
Antichrist received so many negative opinions from critics before and after the showing of this movie. Maybe because of how they actually deliver the story in a much sensual manner.
Paranormal Activity was the scariest film I’ve ever seen! Definately can’t watch it on my own!
I really love horror movies, this is a great list and some of them I haven’t seen! Can’t wait to check out Dorian Gray and the other movies on there.
Loved Zombie Land, great movie!
The only good movies out of that whole list is Pandorum and Zombieland.
The house of the devil was a great movie !
I actually thought Paranomal activity wasn’t really that scary.. It did have a good storyline and it was amazing, but not scary. It did give you the occasional suspicion, but thats about it!
Paranormal activity scared the living daylights out of me! Dont watch it alone!
Thats a great list of horror films. Paranormal Activity is the best choice i think.
Watched all the listed movies now – anyone have nay good recommendations I can buy for 2010?! Thanks!
Drag me to hell it was one of the best horror movies i saw. Great top and great movies to have a terrifing week-end ^^
Drag Me To Hell was good enough others were just average movies, which I didn’t like.
Paranormal activity was from far the best horror movie ever, its all ooking so real that it really make you think and be scared.
NiceeeeeeeexD i love this kind of movies:) gj
I found Paranormal Activity to be one of the more scary films, I wasn’t sure how I would react to Paranormal Activity but I really enjoyed it even though it was extremely frightening.
zombieland is the best on that list. why? cause its zombie!
love this kind of movies
Dorian Gray was the best! Loved it!
Bit scared to watch devil related…
Paranormal activity and Drag me to Hell made a Horror Blast. Never underestimate horror movies that makes you scream. High quality horror movie.