2007 - A Surprisingly Good Year for Horror Movies

[ChronoGrl]

So I've already started 2007's Best/Worst thread, I figured that being a horror forum, it would only be right to single out last year's horror films.

Also, in light of the "Is the genre in trouble" thread, I feel as though I have to stick up for what has turned out to be a pretty damn good year for horror movies.

I honestly believe that 2007 was a phenomenal year for indie horror films. It wasn't just about low-budget, it was about deconstruction, introspection, and consideration of the genre as a whole. These movies took what has already been done and created the genre in a completely whole new light. Or, just did something completely different.

Chronogrl's Top 10 Horror movies of the year (in no particular order):

Bug
28 Weeks Later
Crazy Eights <- (After Dark Film Fest Flic)
Borderland <- (After Dark Film Fest Flic)
Mulberry Street <- (After Dark Film Fest Flic)
Fido
Planet Terror
The Host
Severance
Murder Party


I would recommend for any horror fan who has not seen these movies: Go see these movies.

The following films certainly deserve honorable mentions. While they did not make my top 10 horror list of the year, I recognize their importance in keeping the genre fresh, new, and inciteful.

Honorable Mentions:

Hatchet
Behind the Mask
Black Sheep
Sunshine
Death Proof


Even the Blockbusters were worthy of note last year. While I was hugely disappointed with all other summer Blockbusters (as I have already ranted about), I thought it was an outstanding year for Horror Blockbusters.

NOTE: The "Blockbusters" certainly weren't my favorite horror movies of the year (save "Sweeney Todd," which I have a HUGE weak spot for). I am not a huge fan of Hostel II, Saw IV, or Halloween, but I recognize their popularity within the horror community and would be ignorant if I completely omitted them from this list. And while yes, the argument can be that remakes and sequels do nothing but to tread ground, well, that's part of what makes this genre in the first place (think the Halloween, Friday 13th, Nightmare, Candyman, etc. franchises); these films are but following in their footsteps (be that good or bad) to keep that element of the horror genre alive.

Blockbusters:

Hostel II
Saw IV
Halloween
30 Days of Night
Sweeney Todd
I Am Legend
The Mist



So my point is that, while a lot of critics will continuously knock the horror genre as being on a slippery slope to low or bad art, we should definitely recognize that, as a genre, horror is still swelling and has a lot of promise for continuing to hold its own.

How about you guys - Any other horror films that were worthy of note from this year? Any movies above that you would maintain were utter crap? Want to learn more about movies you haven't seen?

[fortunato]

the orphanage (http://imdb.com/title/tt0464141/) was wonderful!
definitely one of the best i've seen in a while.

[Posher778]

Behind the Mask was soo better than Severance!

[ChronoGrl]

the orphanage (http://imdb.com/title/tt0464141/) was wonderful!
definitely one of the best i've seen in a while.

That's true... I was throwing that in with 2008... It definitely belongs on the list.

Behind the Mask was soo better than Severance!

I like the deconstruction element of Behind the Mask. I thought it was incredibly smart, well-written and clever (a much smarter, more mature "Scream," if you will). However, I think it failed as a horror movie and the scares were incredibly uneven.

With Severance it didn't try to be too smart for it's own good, and kept the pacing and mood even.

HOWEVER, I recognize that Behind the Mask was an intelligent film, and it definitely deserves accolades.

[Roderick Usher]

With Cloverfield and Diary of the Dead, 2008 is already looking good.

Not to mention the upcoming films from Carpenter and Argento;)

[Kane_Hodder]

Grindhouse as a whole was a great experience.
I wouldn't put Planet Terror and Death Proof as separate entities, because QT and Rodriguez put together one heck of a film, complete with fake trailers.

[ChronoGrl]

Grindhouse as a whole was a great experience.
I wouldn't put Planet Terror and Death Proof as separate entities, because QT and Rodriguez put together one heck of a film, complete with fake trailers.

I actually definitely agree with you there. The separation of the two was a weakness on my part, based on a conversation I had with my boyfriend, who argued that Planet Terror should be separated out.

But you're right; it was a movie experience in its entirety... Part of the meaning and humor that one derives from the second film comes from the fact that the actors are reused in different roles (something that Tarentino does purposefully and did in Kill Bill).

[Despare]

I actually definitely agree with you there. The separation of the two was a weakness on my part, based on a conversation I had with my boyfriend, who argued that Planet Terror should be separated out.

But you're right; it was a movie experience in its entirety... Part of the meaning and humor that one derives from the second film comes from the fact that the actors are reused in different roles (something that Tarentino does purposefully and did in Kill Bill).

I actually think Death Proof was the best homage to an actual Grindhouse film and love both parts (the slasher film part and the revenge film part) of that movie. I do agree that the Grindhouse should be listed as one film though, I wouldn't even buy the DVDs separately.

Here's a list of horror films that were in theaters in 2007. Keep in mind this list is based on the genres the box office puts them in, for instance, Bug was classified by the box office as a drama. Also, Afterdark was counted in only one spot.

I am Legend
1408
Saw IV
Halloween
30 Days of Night
Pan's Labyrinth
The Messengers
28 Weeks Later
The Mist
The Reaping
Grindhouse
The Hills Have Eyes II
Hostel: Part II
Dead Silence
P2
Black Christmas
Blood and Chocolate
Captivity
The Abandoned
Skinwalkers
Paprika
After Dark's Horrorfest 2007
Fido
The Orphanage
Rise: Blood Hunter
Black Sheep
Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon
The Last Winter
Wind Chill
The Tripper
Hatchet


That's 31 "films" that grossed $681,875,323. In 97' we only had 10 "horror" films...

Scream 2
I Know What You Did Last Summer
Anaconda
Scream
The Relic
Event Horizon
Mimic
An American Werewolf in Paris
Wes Craven's Wishmaster
Thinner

which oddly enough grossed $407,732,973 which is $595,165,777 adjusted for inflation. 21 movies make that difference only $86,709,546 granted some of the 31 were only limited releases and some are still in wide release. Just thought these numbers were kind of interesting.

[ChronoGrl]

I am Legend
1408
Saw IV
Halloween
30 Days of Night
Pan's Labyrinth
The Messengers
28 Weeks Later
The Mist
The Reaping
Grindhouse
The Hills Have Eyes II
Hostel: Part II
Dead Silence
P2
Black Christmas
Blood and Chocolate
Captivity
The Abandoned
Skinwalkers
Paprika
After Dark's Horrorfest 2007
Fido
The Orphanage
Rise: Blood Hunter
Black Sheep
Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon
The Last Winter
Wind Chill
The Tripper
Hatchet


Interesting. I guess Paprika would be considered horror... In that case, it definitely sneaks into my top 10. It would bump out Murder Party.


That's 31 "films" that grossed $681,875,323. In 97' we only had 10 "horror" films...

Scream 2
I Know What You Did Last Summer
Anaconda
Scream
The Relic
Event Horizon
Mimic Horror
An American Werewolf in Paris
Wes Craven's Wishmaster
Thinner

which oddly enough grossed $407,732,973 which is $595,165,777 adjusted for inflation. 21 movies make that difference only $86,709,546 granted some of the 31 were only limited releases and some are still in wide release. Just thought these numbers were kind of interesting.

Hmmm... I wonder if that means that the quality of horror is getting better... but... no one cares...

Then again, gross isn't really that much of a gage, especially since most of the ones that I absolutely adored were more limited release than the big ones.

I wonder if it's a good sign that there aren't huge horror blockbusters like there used to be?

I wonder how that reflects on America as a whole - Maybe they choose to internalize fear, pain, and anxiety as oppose to externalizing it in the form of going to see horror movies in the theater.

[Despare]

Interesting. I guess Paprika would be considered horror... In that case, it definitely sneaks into my top 10. It would bump out Murder Party.



Hmmm... I wonder if that means that the quality of horror is getting better... but... no one cares...

Then again, gross isn't really that much of a gage, especially since most of the ones that I absolutely adored were more limited release than the big ones.

I wonder if it's a good sign that there aren't huge horror blockbusters like there used to be?

I wonder how that reflects on America as a whole - Maybe they choose to internalize fear, pain, and anxiety as oppose to externalizing it in the form of going to see horror movies in the theater.

I don't know if it means horror is getting better financially.

$19,198,896 approx. per film gross in 07' compared to approx. $40,773,297 ($59,516,577 if you adjust for inflation) per movie in 97'. The test I suppose would be simple for us to do though. Simply take this list...


Scream 2
I Know What You Did Last Summer
Anaconda
Scream
The Relic
Event Horizon
Mimic
An American Werewolf in Paris
Wes Craven's Wishmaster
Thinner

and place next to each movie a horror film in 07' that you think is better. If you can easily replace this list then for you, I suppose 07' was a better year.

[ChronoGrl]

I don't know if it means horror is getting better financially.

$19,198,896 approx. per film gross in 07' compared to approx. $40,773,297 ($59,516,577 if you adjust for inflation) per movie in 97'. The test I suppose would be simple for us to do though. Simply take this list...


Scream 2
I Know What You Did Last Summer
Anaconda
Scream
The Relic
Event Horizon
Mimic
An American Werewolf in Paris
Wes Craven's Wishmaster
Thinner

and place next to each movie a horror film in 07' that you think is better. If you can easily replace this list then for you, I suppose 07' was a better year.

I think we're talking around each other. I... don't... understand... the point you're making.

I did NOT say that horror is doing as well financially.

I was making the point that the indies don't get wide-distribution, so they wouldn't gross as much money and wouldn't add to the pot as a whole.

And how does gross gain make it a "good" movie? I'm not judging on the people who went and saw the movies - Just how intelligent they might be.

I was being glib and just saying that financial gain doesn't account for QUALITY (since we have Scream 2, I Know What You Did, and Anaconda)... That people spend money on Blockbusters and aren't interested in the movies that I considered pretty damn good.

So, maybe 2007 wasn't great for the franchise, but it produced intelligent, different, and interesting movies.

[Despare]

I think we're talking around each other. I... don't... understand... the point you're making.

I did NOT say that horror is doing as well financially.

I was making the point that the indies don't get wide-distribution, so they wouldn't gross as much money and wouldn't add to the pot as a whole.

And how does gross gain make it a "good" movie? I'm not judging on the people who went and saw the movies - Just how intelligent they might be.

I was being glib and just saying that financial gain doesn't account for QUALITY (since we have Scream 2, I Know What You Did, and Anaconda)... That people spend money on Blockbusters and aren't interested in the movies that I considered pretty damn good.

So, maybe 2007 wasn't great for the franchise, but it produced intelligent, different, and interesting movies.

Money doesn't make a movie good but it does get more made. I was agreeing with you that the quality seems to be getting better BUT if they don't make more money then fewer original films will be released and we'll continue to be assaulted with remakes and sequels. I was just throwing some figures out there, the only real question I had was can you, personally, find 10 movies from 07' that were better than those in 97'?

[_____V_____]

the only real question I had was can you, personally, find 10 movies from 07' that were better than those in 97'?


Hatchet > Scream 2
Saw IV > I Know What You Did Last Summer
The Host > Anaconda
Sweeney Todd > Scream
Pan's Labyrinth > The Relic
Grindhouse > Event Horizon
28 Weeks Later > Mimic
Wrong Turn 2 > An American Werewolf in Paris
Halloween > Wes Craven's Wishmaster
The Mist > Thinner


:D

[Despare]

Hatchet > Scream 2
Saw IV > I Know What You Did Last Summer
The Host > Anaconda
Sweeney Todd > Scream
Pan's Labyrinth > The Relic
Grindhouse > Event Horizon
28 Weeks Later > Mimic
Wrong Turn 2 > An American Werewolf in Paris
Halloween > Wes Craven's Wishmaster
The Mist > Thinner


:D

I agree with every one of those EXCEPT maybe Mimic/28 Weeks, I loved Mimic. I think mine would be...

Saw IV > I Know What You Did Last Summer
The Host > Anaconda
Pan's Labyrinth > Scream
The Orphanage > The Relic
Grindhouse > Event Horizon
Sweeney Todd > Mimic
Behind the Mask: The Rise and Fall of Leslie Vernon > An American Werewolf in Paris
Halloween > Wes Craven's Wishmaster
Fido > Thinner

[ChronoGrl]

I was just throwing some figures out there, the only real question I had was can you, personally, find 10 movies from 07' that were better than those in 97'?

Oh, oh ohhhhhh... I thought that you were asking me to compare the profit of 10 from '07 to the 10 from '97, and all I could think was, "You douche, you just did that."

hahaha

ok

Of this grouping, there's really two only that I would consider part of my favorite horror movies of all time, Scream and Event Horizon (though I haven't seen Relic or Mimic or Wishmaster).

With the rest of the list:
Scream 2
I Know What You Did Last Summer
Anaconda
An American Werewolf in Paris
Thinner

I would say that I consider any movie from my top 10 of the year would outrank these for me, because I don't really consider any of the above to be particularly strong movies to begin with. And as much as I appreciate Scream, Severance definitely outranks it for me, and Planet Terror or 28 Weeks would outdo Event Horizon.

I appreciate your comparison's, Des. :)

[Despare]

Oh, oh ohhhhhh... I thought that you were asking me to compare the profit of 10 from '07 to the 10 from '97, and all I could think was, "You douche, you just did that."

hahaha

ok

Of this grouping, there's really two only that I would consider part of my favorite horror movies of all time, Scream and Event Horizon (though I haven't seen Relic or Mimic or Wishmaster).

With the rest of the list:
Scream 2
I Know What You Did Last Summer
Anaconda
An American Werewolf in Paris
Thinner

I would say that I consider any movie from my top 10 of the year would outrank these for me, because I don't really consider any of the above to be particularly strong movies to begin with. And as much as I appreciate Scream, Severance definitely outranks it for me, and Planet Terror or 28 Weeks would outdo Event Horizon.

I appreciate your comparison's, Des. :)

Watch Mimic, very good movie and while it isn't Guillermo del Toro's best it's still a great watch.