Anything Horror’s 10 Best Genre Films of 2010
I started with the worst and now we’ll talk about the best. The other day I posted my list of the 10 Worst Horror Films of 2010 and now we can clean off the stench of those films as bask in the 10 Best Horror Films of 2010. So what’s gonna make the cut in 2010? I must admit that as a whole it was a fruitful year for horror but quantity doesn’t always mean quality. Most theatrical releases were pretty sterile and really fucking boring. But the one’s that made my list are great friggin’ flicks that I’ll enjoy in the years to come. I know that most of my lists are in no particular order, but this time they DO have a particular order that counts down to my favorite horror release of 2010. Enjoy.
10. DENIZEN (directed & written by J.A. Steel. My review)
It seems appropriate that the #10 spot on my list is an indie horror feature … there’s a total of 4 indie films on my Best of List!! DENIZEN is a really fun, crazy film by J.A. Steel about a creature on the loose and the group of scientists who are hunting it down. But this one is so much more!! This has such a crazy energy that you can’t help but love it (think of a hyperactive kid with A.D.D. smoking crack while inserting a meth suppository). In my review I call this one “fun cinematic cheese” and I stand by that comment.
9. THE CRAZIES (directed by Breck Eisner. My review)
Yup a remake has made my list. I hope you’re sitting down but 3 remakes made my list. Every once in a while Hollywood gets it right, what can I say. I really enjoyed THE CRAZIES remake. Yes I’m a fan of Romero’s original, but after watching it right before seeing the remake I realized one important thing … the original really isn’t that good! It has a great story/idea but it wasn’t executed too well (sorry George … you know I love you but I gotta be honest here). The remake captured the outbreak of the illness beautifully and i liked the nihilistic-like ending. Plus Timothy Olyphant did a terrific job.
8. THE WALKING DEAD (directed by Frank Darabont et al. My review)
I know I know … this is a TV movie and not a theatrical or straight-to-DVD release. But who the fuck cares?!?? THE WALKING DEAD is one of the best horror projects of the year. Most zombie novels, graphic comics, and movies either focus too much on the human characters and forget about the zombies or have too much zombie mayhem and wooden, one-dimensional characters. But THE WALKING DEAD nails that balance perfectly. Not only is it intense and scary, but its also gory (especially for TV). And I’m sorry but this has some of THE BEST looking zombies I’ve ever seen.
7. LET ME IN (directed & screenplay by Matt Reeves. My review)
The second remake to make my list. I’ll be blunt here; I love this fucking movie. Yes I also love the original (LET THE RIGHT ONE IN) but I think Reeves just nailed this one and hit it out of the park. He took all the elements that made the original so fucking great and made them his own. I also really dug the way Reeves had this happen in the 1980’s. He totally pulls it off without bashing the 80’s over our heads. And Reeves couldn’t have picked 2 better actors for the leads (Kodi Smit-McPhee & Chloe Moretz). The mood, atmosphere, and isolation are all here. Stop being a snob and give this one a chance!!
6. VINDICATION (directed & written by Bart Mastronardi. My review)
Now I know I’m gonna have a fight to keep this one on my best of 2010 list. This film was originally shot in 2006 but wasn’t completed and released until 2010. And besides, it’s my list and I can include it if I wanna!! And why wouldn’t I wanna? This is the second indie horror flick on my list and it’s better than any big budget Hollywood release. Mastronardi creates one helluva gory, intense, scary, and jaw-dropping flick that you’ll immediately watch over again after it ends. What happens when a man’s guilt manifests into a physical being and starts lashing out? You’ll find out and you won’t soon forget the results!!
5. SLICES OF LIFE (directed & written by Anthony Sumner. My review)
Yup you guessed it … another indie horror flick!! This is another one that was filmed a few years ago and was completed and released in 2010. This is a hugely fun and EXTREMELY gory anthology horror flick. We get sexual parasites, zombies, serial killers, creepy demon kids, and pissed-off embryos (to name just some of the highlights). And if you have the stereotype in your head that indie flicks are either bloodless or the f/x are done terribly then you definitely wanna check this one out. This has some of the best, well-done gore I’ve seen in a long time … and there’s a fuck ton of it!!
4. PIRANHA 3D (directed by Alexandre Aja. My review)
Now I’m not including this one as a remake. If ya wanna argue about it sure … technically it’s probably a remake. But writers Pete Goldfinger and Josh Stolberg really veer far from the original one and make this an exercise in titties, monster fish, and lots and lots of gore. I do love Alexandre Aja!! This is the best and most fun flick of the summer. There’s more T & A here than in 4 Skinamax flicks and the gore is absolutely fantastic. If you haven’t seen this one yet what the fuck are you waiting for??
3. RARE EXPORTS: A CHRISTMAS TALE (directed & written by Jalmari Helander. My review)
Oh HELL yes people. I know what you’re thinking, “How could this be #3 on your list when there’s absolutely no gore in it?” Well its like I say time and again; a flick can be great without having any gore and a gory film can be an overall shitty flick. Well RARE EXPORTS may be goreless but its a hugely entertaining film. What made this one special (for me at least) is that I saw this one about 10 days before Xmas. Ya gotta see this one to believe it. An American expedition digs up the real Santa Clause and boy is he pissed!! This is also a “coming of age” story that doesn’t focus on that element too much and is full of black humor. This one is definitely making my list of the Xmas flicks I’ll watch over and over again each holiday season.
2. SELLA TURCICA (directed & screenplay by Fred Vogel. My review)
I absolutely LOVE this film. Fred Vogel and his ToeTag Pictures was all over my Best of 2009 list and Vogel and crew just keep getting better and better with each film they make. SELLA TURCICA is a slow-burn flick that has well-developed characters, great writing, a surprise reveal at the end, and fantastic gore f/x. Watch all of Vogel’s flicks and see just how much he’s maturing as a filmmaker. Why the hell can’t Vogel get backed by some big money?? I’d love to see what this man could do with a big budget.
1. HATCHET 2 (directed & written by Adam Green. My review)
You know I loved the first HATCHET and Adam Green does not disappoint with his follow up!! HATCHET 2 is as fun, crazy & wild, and excessively gory as the original. The story picks up seconds after the first one and doesn’t waste any time getting to the gore. Victor Crowley is as vicious, bat-shit crazy, and violent as he was in the original. Green does change one thing, though: He gives the character Reverend Zombie (Tony Todd) a way bigger part and Todd puts in what is perhaps his best performance in years. And don’t worry the old-school 80’s feel is completely intact here. This one had a tumultuous limited theatrical opening but I know this is gonna break all records when it finally hits DVD.
There ya have it everyone. My list of the best genre releases of 2010. You know I’m dying for your feedback. Think I left something off my list? Let me know. Wanna argue that one of the films I included doesn’t belong? I wanna hear about it.
Stay Bloody and have a safe and happy New Year!!!
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[...] their films? Last year I watched, loved, and included Anthony Sumner’s SLICES OF LIFE on my “Best of 2010” list. Last week he sent me the link to his new short film, LEWIS, a co-production between [...]
Thanks so much for all the support this year ANYTHING HORROR! And thanks even more for keeping Indie Horror visible! You rock!
It’s been more than my pleasure Anthony!! I don’t get to review such kick ass films all the time so when I get one (especially when it’s an indie) I’m gonna rave about it!! Please keep me in mind when you have future projects your promoting or need reviewed!!
Thanks for including DENIZEN in the top ten!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! You rock!!! All my best! – J
Just like I wrote to Anthony Sumner, J.A., no need to thank me. All you indie filmmakers send me your movies knowing that there’s no guarantee that I’m gonna give out a positive review. I have a lot of filmmakers who chicken out and never send me their films. But you select few (yourself, Anthony, Bart, Soska Sisters, Devi Snively) all have fantastic vision and great projects and don’t hesitate to send me screeners. I feel lucky to be in touch with you all … I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again; indie horror filmmakers are the future of the genre!!
Keep kicking ass J.A!!
I’m sooooo glad you did this list! I missed out a helluva lot of horror in 2010, as I was busy living my own in the divorce. I much prefer the fictional accounts.
There weren’t too many horror films that I can rave about in 2010. But you can rest assure that the films on my Best of List all kick ass!!
Great list! I have not seen most of the movies in this list, but now i know what to look for! Thanks for all the great reviews you wrote this year! Will 2011 be the year that we will see your novel published? I hope so!!!
Thanks Alejandro. Definitely let me know when you start watching the films on my Best of List. I think you’re gonna be happy!!
Maybe 2011 will see the self-publication of my novel, or I might just serialize it and post it for free on my website!!
Happy New Year Scott!! Interesting list. I knew I could count on Anything horror to come up with some titles that didn’t make it on my radar! I seen exactly ZERO horror films from 2010. ZERO! Spent a little too much time this year watching and reviewing films from the 70′s and 80′s!
Happy New Year to you too Terri!! You may not know this Terri but you’re the one who influenced me to start my own website back in December 2009!! Just stick to my Best of List and STAY THE FUCK AWAY from the films on my Worst of List
!!!!
And I’m still visiting your website like every other day … I love it and I love your writing style. If we ever combined our sites together we’d have one comprehensive fucking site!! Keep rocking it out Terri!!
Have a safe and happy new year!
Nice list amigo! I have to say there are some classic Scott picks such as Piranha 3D and Hatchet but most of all I really agree and respect your picks of Let Me In, The Crazies, and The Walking Dead. Although 2 are remakes it is rare that they exceed the original and I believe both met or exceeded expectations. It is even more rare that a made for TV movie/series has more originality and balls than most theatrical relerases but The Walking Dead did. It is truly a once in e generation event and even if it falls flat on its face next fall it accomplished a hell of a lot in a powerful debut. Thank you also for shedding light on the indie films because they are our only hope for any ounce of originality in the genre as Hollywood is never going to take a chance on a new idea and will leave it up to others to develop original content. Original Horror will have to thrive in graphic novels, comics, electronic games, indie films, short stories, online content providers, and traditional novels. That is the only way the genre will ever get on the big screen because Hollywood is not developing enough original scripts. Horror does not make “economic sense” for them. Damn shame! Stay Bloody in 2011 and keep the great content coming!
Out of curiousity where did “Nightmare on Elm Street” rank in your mind? I thought is was worthy of a mention because it also did not disapoint in my humble opinion and was a pleasant addition to the remake genere. I actually liked it better than the original. Happy New Year!
Believe it or not I thought long and hard about the NoES remake. I even subjected myself to a 2nd viewing of it. Here’s where I stand on the remake….. Overall I think it was horrible. The story was terrible, the acting was some of the worst I’ve seen in a theatrical release, and the casting was completely wrong. BUT I think Jackie Earle Haley’s portrayal of Krueger was scarier and better than Englund’s ever was. I loved his vision of Krueger … it was dark, scary, threatening, and pretty realistic overall. I can’t recommend the film but I love Haley’s job in it.
Thanks Bill. Believe me; no one was more surprised than I was that I included 2 remakes on my Best of list!! When I think of it, LET ME IN should have been higher up on my list. It’s a really well-made film in every respect and I think it got screwed over in theaters because people are so jaded by the usual shitty remakes that they just avoided LET ME IN. I can’t blame them, but holy shit people are missing out on a fantastic flick. I liked it more than the original.
And what more can we say about THE WALKING DEAD?? Like you said Bill, “It is even more rare that a made for TV movie/series has more originality and balls than most theatrical releases.” Well said. THE WALKING DEAD was better than 95% of genre releases in 2010!!!
New Years Day. I realised that I had spent too much money on drinking too much booze. I decided to watch the entire first season of The Walking Dead again to make me feel better. Good start to the year
Thats a fantastic way to spend New Year’s Day!!! THE WALKING DEAD is hands down one of the best releases from 2010!!
Thank you so much for including Vindication on your list of the top ten Best Genre films! This means so much!
Bart
Thank you so much for including Vindication on your list of the top ten Best Genre films! This means so much!
Bart
Like I’ve told you before Bart, there’s no need to thank me!!! You’re the one who wrote and made this amazing film. You completely embarrassed big Hollywood releases and are part of that group of indie filmmakers who, in my humble opinion, are the future of the genre!!!
I can’t wait to see what you’ll have for us in 2011!!