_____V_____
12-18-2009, 08:56 AM
In alphabetical order...
District 9
First-time director Neill Blomkamp reinvents the alien invasion genre with finesse. When aliens come down to Earth, the creatures are effectively imprisoned in government-run ghettos. After nearly 30 the years, the government tires of them and the evictions begin. District 9 seamlessly merges mockumentary and narrative styles with plenty of action and amazing monsters, making it no surprise that Blomkamp is rumored to be helming the much-anticipated Halo film.
Drag Me To Hell
When a too-nice-for-her-job loan officer chooses to get tough with a desperate old lady, she finds herself cursed and… well, dragged to hell. Sam Raimi (Evil Dead, Spider-man) brings back his signature mix of gore, comedy, and wacky action, making Drag Me To Hell the film that will wash the bad taste of Spiderman 3 out of your mouth.
Grace
Becoming a parent is scary enough. Grace doesn’t make it any easier. The indie shocker sees pregnant Madeline carrying her child to full term, despite the fact that the baby died in the womb midway through the pregnancy. The eponymous child is brought back to life upon birth, but with an appetite for blood – which mommy dearest gives in to willingly. This ride is not meant for expectant mothers.
House of the Devil
Not since the call came from inside the house has baby-sitting gone so very, very wrong. A college student takes a baby-sitting gig only to find out that her clients intend to use her in a satanic ritual. House of the Devil is a total throwback to the 1980's genre flicks, right down to the creepy vintage poster art.
Orphan
When a dysfunctional family adopts a 9-year-old in the hopes of strengthening family ties, things go horribly wrong in the best way possible. It’s kind of like The Omen meets The Hand That Rocks the Cradle. Adopted Esther isn’t the devil’s child; she is just a dark girl with a disturbing secret who teaches a lesson to anyone who crosses her.
Paranormal Activity
This decade’s Blair Witch Project, Paranormal Activity snuck out of the shadows to become the year’s most profitable film. When strange noises and a mysterious presence keep a young couple up at night, they set up a camcorder in an attempt to prove demonic activity. The film, shot in 2006 in the director’s own home with a crew of three and a budget of $15k, proves that script and imagination goes a long way.
Pontypool
This Canadian zombie flick that really isn't a zombie flick slipped in under the radar. A shock jock gets bumped from the airwaves so many times the only gig he finds is broadcasting out of a church basement in Pontypool. But when reports of extreme, flesh-eating violence amongst townsfolk come in, it is discovered that a virus is being spread through language itself. A bizarre little tale, based on the book and given a meager release with the help of IFC Films.
Thirst
Korean director Park Chan-wook brings his over-the-top violence to the horror genre with Thirst. When a priest volunteers as a test subject for an experimental vaccine and almost dies, he is accidentally transfused with vampire blood and goes from holy man to holy terror.
Zombieland
Who knew that the funniest movie of the year would be a zombie flick? This surprise hit sees a ragtag group of zombie apocalypse survivors heading cross-country in order to find a fabled oasis away from the brain-chompers. With equal parts comedy, action and gore, and the best cameo in any film in recent memory, Zombieland is a no-brainer.
Honorable Mention: Trick R Treat
Much to the disappointment of many a gorehound, this infamous flick never made it into theatres, but it finally made it to DVD. This quartet of chilling tales all have a Halloween theme, and have a cast so good it seems silly not to have had a theatrical run: Anna Paquin (True Blood), Leslie Bibb (The Midnight Meat Train), Brian Cox (Red Eye), Tahmoh Penikett (Dollhouse), Moneca Delain (Lost Boys: The Tribe), and Dylan Baker (Fido).
District 9
First-time director Neill Blomkamp reinvents the alien invasion genre with finesse. When aliens come down to Earth, the creatures are effectively imprisoned in government-run ghettos. After nearly 30 the years, the government tires of them and the evictions begin. District 9 seamlessly merges mockumentary and narrative styles with plenty of action and amazing monsters, making it no surprise that Blomkamp is rumored to be helming the much-anticipated Halo film.
Drag Me To Hell
When a too-nice-for-her-job loan officer chooses to get tough with a desperate old lady, she finds herself cursed and… well, dragged to hell. Sam Raimi (Evil Dead, Spider-man) brings back his signature mix of gore, comedy, and wacky action, making Drag Me To Hell the film that will wash the bad taste of Spiderman 3 out of your mouth.
Grace
Becoming a parent is scary enough. Grace doesn’t make it any easier. The indie shocker sees pregnant Madeline carrying her child to full term, despite the fact that the baby died in the womb midway through the pregnancy. The eponymous child is brought back to life upon birth, but with an appetite for blood – which mommy dearest gives in to willingly. This ride is not meant for expectant mothers.
House of the Devil
Not since the call came from inside the house has baby-sitting gone so very, very wrong. A college student takes a baby-sitting gig only to find out that her clients intend to use her in a satanic ritual. House of the Devil is a total throwback to the 1980's genre flicks, right down to the creepy vintage poster art.
Orphan
When a dysfunctional family adopts a 9-year-old in the hopes of strengthening family ties, things go horribly wrong in the best way possible. It’s kind of like The Omen meets The Hand That Rocks the Cradle. Adopted Esther isn’t the devil’s child; she is just a dark girl with a disturbing secret who teaches a lesson to anyone who crosses her.
Paranormal Activity
This decade’s Blair Witch Project, Paranormal Activity snuck out of the shadows to become the year’s most profitable film. When strange noises and a mysterious presence keep a young couple up at night, they set up a camcorder in an attempt to prove demonic activity. The film, shot in 2006 in the director’s own home with a crew of three and a budget of $15k, proves that script and imagination goes a long way.
Pontypool
This Canadian zombie flick that really isn't a zombie flick slipped in under the radar. A shock jock gets bumped from the airwaves so many times the only gig he finds is broadcasting out of a church basement in Pontypool. But when reports of extreme, flesh-eating violence amongst townsfolk come in, it is discovered that a virus is being spread through language itself. A bizarre little tale, based on the book and given a meager release with the help of IFC Films.
Thirst
Korean director Park Chan-wook brings his over-the-top violence to the horror genre with Thirst. When a priest volunteers as a test subject for an experimental vaccine and almost dies, he is accidentally transfused with vampire blood and goes from holy man to holy terror.
Zombieland
Who knew that the funniest movie of the year would be a zombie flick? This surprise hit sees a ragtag group of zombie apocalypse survivors heading cross-country in order to find a fabled oasis away from the brain-chompers. With equal parts comedy, action and gore, and the best cameo in any film in recent memory, Zombieland is a no-brainer.
Honorable Mention: Trick R Treat
Much to the disappointment of many a gorehound, this infamous flick never made it into theatres, but it finally made it to DVD. This quartet of chilling tales all have a Halloween theme, and have a cast so good it seems silly not to have had a theatrical run: Anna Paquin (True Blood), Leslie Bibb (The Midnight Meat Train), Brian Cox (Red Eye), Tahmoh Penikett (Dollhouse), Moneca Delain (Lost Boys: The Tribe), and Dylan Baker (Fido).