tammyoler.com

Horror Hall of Awesome: The Aughts!

Well, it looks like horror has done pretty well for itself in the new millennium…

Top of the Awesome

1. Låt den rätte komma in (Let the Right One In) (2008). There’s nothing in this decade that really compares to this powerful, chilling, and inventive Swedish vampire thriller. It’s a dark and compelling (not to mention gender-bending) story of unhinged adolescence and mutual need, framed with some of the best cinematography you’re likely to find in any genre. It’s the best vampire film in two decades, and it’s a major addition to horror.

2. 28 Days Later (2002). Danny Boyle’s film about a post-apocalyptic plague is often misunderstood as a zombie film. It’s not, although it’s highly derivative of Romero’s work (in fact, 28 Days Later is like a fast, high-intensity trip straight through Night, Dawn and Day of the Dead). But I don’t say that as a critique. The film is extraordinary, a relentless thriller (about urban nihilism, mayhaps?) featuring a heartbreaking performance by Brendan Gleeson.

3. The Descent (2005). Neil Marshall’s spelunking nightmare is terrifying even before the creepy-crawlies start appearing. The Descent is unrelentingly claustrophobic, ratcheting up the tension between the film’s heroines and their natural surroundings – as well as each other – before letting all variety of nastiness fly. The Descent is also quite a smashing vision of women in horror.

Bring on the awesome!

4. Shaun of the Dead (2004). It’s really a comedy of manners masquerading as a zombie movie, but c’mon, it’s bloody brilliant.

5. The Ring (2002). It’s the only film to make two lists! No, seriously, Gore Verbinski’s remake of Ringu is, in some ways, superior to the original. It’s got better pacing and more tightly-wound action, and is scary even if you’ve already seen Ringu. It’s actually worthwhile to watch them both. I’m sure you’ll agree: English or Japanese, nobody wants that girl crawling out of their televisions.

6. Rec (2007). Speaking of remakes, you may have seen the English-language remake of this (Quarantine) last year.  Quarantine is pretty much the same film, shot-for-shot, but doesn’t quite add up to the original.  Rec makes the best use of the faux-documentary trope in this decade.

7. El espinazo del Diablo (The Devil’s Backbone) (2001). Hooray (again) for Guillermo Del Toro! This is imaginative and wickedly fun horror.

8. The Others (2001). A graceful, old-fashioned ghost story with a perfectly cast Nicole Kidman. Wonderful.

9. The Last Winter (2006). Finally… a worthwhile, modern eco-horror film! Featuring people with missing eyes and ghostly caribous!

10. Ginger Snaps (2000). Well, of course Ginger Snaps is going to be on this list. Not only is it one of the few sincerely feminist horror films, but it’s also a great little werewolf flick that explores all the terrors – natural and unnatural – of adolescence. Woot!

Keep bringing on the awesome!  Here are some bonus picks that didn’t quite make the list:

• Drag Me to Hell (2009). Sam Raimi returns to form in the greatest horror film about passing the buck ever made.
• Dog Soldiers (2002). The other great werewolf film of the 2000s, by Neil Marshall. (Mark my words here: Marshall will be the next John Carpenter.)
• Dawn of the Dead (2004). I really wanted to hate this remake. But it’s actually pretty radical: great acting, big scares, fantastic action. It’s nowhere near as meaningful as the original, but it’s wowtastically entertaining.
• The Host (2006). Mind-blowing monster film from South Korea!

Finis!