Monte’s Favorite Horror Films
of 2014
It was divisive year for genre filmmaking this year with
numerous horror fans finding support of different films. That’s a very good
thing for the genre because it means that filmmakers are starting to venture
into different directions. While many of the films on my list may not be categorized by everyone as "horror" they all explore
familiar themes within the genre. These films are the ones I found did so with an inventive and individualistic
approach. Here are my standouts for 2014. Enjoy.
10. Borgman (dir.
Alex van Warmerdam)
The introduction to “Borgman” is one the best opening scenes
I’ve seen in some time. This film is difficult to categorize, let alone
explain, but it’s easy to see how horror has directly influenced every frame of
this beautifully composed film. The imagery here is a standout quality while
the fable-like storytelling accommodates the nonsensical devices implemented to
forward the film. With a mix of dark comedy and sadistic motivations, “Borgman”
is an unusual yet engrossing film that will only find further debate once the
credits roll.
9. Late Phases (dir.
Adrian Garcia Bogliano)
It would seem logical for a monster that feeds on a nightly
basis to locate the easiest form of prey. That’s exactly what the beast lurking
in the surrounding woods did when it picked a retirement community as a primary
dinner buffet. Director Adrian Garcia Bogliano takes a no frills approach to
his werewolf film, crafting an exceptional elderly character to challenge the
fearsome creature and a well-executed design that highlights traditional horror
attributes. The throwback style is refreshing, a compliment to what has made
the monster movie effective for so long.
8. Starry Eyes (dir.
Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer)
What lengths will you go to accomplish a goal? Dreams take a
certain, and sometimes consuming, amount of sacrifice. This theme is the
driving force behind “Starry Eyes”, a film that takes aim at the Hollywood system
but also the extreme self-destructive nature of those unwilling to accept
rejection of their ambitions. The lead character is offered very little
empathy, an actress willing to take the abuse to reap the suggested benefits.
The film transitions into a surreal nightmare and effectively crafts a
disturbing character study of aspiration.
7. Honeymoon (dir.
Leigh Janiak)
People change, it’s a theme horror has explored since the
very beginning. “Honeymoon” explores an interesting aspect of change, one that
involves the first steps of a changing relationship and individual identity.
Taken from the perspective of the man in the relationship, “Honeymoon” takes an
inexplicable event and slowly builds into the irrational terrors of the most
non-committal men, mainly not fully knowing the person you just committed a
lifetime with. With wonderful lead performances and a slow burning narrative
that is both subtle and startling, “Honeymoon” was an unexpected surprise.
6. Oculus (dir. Mike
Flanagan)
Mirrors have always played a major influence in horror
films, in many ways becoming an overused prop that is predictably and tediously
implemented. Writer/director Mike Flanagan, along with co-writer Jeff Howard, ingeniously
builds a woven narrative that is accommodated by exceptional performances. The
focus never strays too far from the star of film, the evil Lasser Glass, which
is provided a consuming history that adds a sinister depth. “Oculus” was the
best mainstream offering this year.
5. Housebound (dir.
Gerard Johnstone)
“Housebound” in many regards has everything that I gravitate
towards in a horror film. A clever mix of well-crafted scares assisted by
touches of dark and blatantly lighthearted comedy, the film has a continuously
unpredictable structure. While the funny moments offer playful tension-breaking
opportunities, this haunted house tale steadily remains an unsettling and
creepy film first and foremost. This was one of the most entertaining horror
films of the year.
4. The Sacrament
(dir. Ti West)
Ti West takes horror to a realistic level in “The
Sacrament”. The documentary style approach takes a group of journalists into
the heart of the religious/socialist cult known as Eden Parish. The film is assisted
by the technical design, moving the narrative forward by slowly unraveling the
deadly truths through subtle touches. The film is further assisted by an
impressive portrayal of the cult leader played menacingly by Gene Jones. “The
Sacrament” doesn’t need to utilize supernatural forces to induce scares,
instead taking the horrors of real life and making a nightmare.
3. Only Lovers Left
Alive (dir. Jim Jarmusch)
Jim Jarmusch is one of the best directors working in film
today; an auteur whose film composition is structured around the characters he
meticulously builds. “Only Lovers Left Alive” is a story about the toils of
eternal life and, far secondary to that, a story about vampirism. Jarmusch finds significance through
character, steering the film in a seemingly aimless direction while shrewdly
avoiding the pitfalls that other vampire films have faltered into. Time will
pass but “Only Lovers Left Alive” is the kind of genre film that will only get
better.
2. Babadook (dir. Jennifer
Kent)
First time director Jennifer Kent has crafted one of the
most effective haunting films of the year; a horror film that works on numerous
levels while also being consistently chilling throughout. With influences from
numerous genres and a monster that builds intimidation through the power of
suggestion crafted exceptionally within the narrative. Kent designs a horror
film that burrows and finds a lingering home in the mind of the viewer.
1. Under the Skin
(dir. Jonathan Glazer)
Writer/director Jonathan Glazer’s impressive film “Under The
Skin” is one of the best genre films of recent memory. With a near silent and
purposefully ambiguous narrative, the film moves with a hallucinatory yet
naturalistic aesthetic through the streets of Scotland, following Scarlett
Johannson’s curious and deadly being. The purpose of the lead character is
never fully realized, but it doesn’t matter because the journey is so
ambitiously designed that the mystery becomes nothing short of consuming. “Under
the Skin” is a brilliant addition to the science fiction genre.
- Wolf Creek 2
- The Strange Color Of Your Bodies Tears
- Proxy
- Afflicted
- Tusk
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