- DAWN OF THE DEAD: I ignored Zack Snyder’s 2004 remake of George Romero’s classic a when it was in theatres but checked it to after after a glowing recommendation from a friend of mine. I still wasn’t initially impressed but this movie, full of frantic zombies that ran their prey down instead of stumbling around aimlessly, got in my head somehow and I had zombie inspired nightmares for a week afterwards. So naturally I have to watch it once a year (have fun with that little nugget armchair psychoanalysts).
- PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 2: You’d be forgiven if this choice makes you groan; the Paranormal franchise kept churning out movies long after it wore out its welcome. But PA2 was actually a pretty effective little fright fest. There were no CGI ghosts or flesh eating zombies commanding the screen, but the second chapter in the story of a pair of sisters being haunted by a malevolent demon (turns out their grandmother may have auctioned them off to the highest demonic bidder in return for successful business advice-and you complain about your family) has more than a handful of chilling moments. The scene where the family’s German shepherd-who knew something was up the whole damn time-was dragged crying into the dark, cave-like basement to have who knows what done to it by a pissed off demon truly made me uneasy. One golden lesson I’ve learned from horror movies: always pay attention to your pets.
- ZOMBIELAND: Focusing on a handful of unlikely survivors trekking across post-Zombie Apocalypse America (everyone’s favourite apocalypse), Zombieland is carried by Jesse Eisenberg’s tongue-in-cheek portrayal of Columbus, Columbus’ list of tried and true rules for survival (“Double Tap” and “Cardio” are my personal faves), Woody Harrelson’s bad-assery, Emma Stone’s smart sexiness and a brilliant cameo by Bill Murray. This comedy was also responsible for a spike in global Twinkie sales, courtesy of Harrelson’s quest to find the last perfect cream filled pastry among the ruins of the United States. Say what you want about Zombies, at least they keep their rotten hands of the Hostess goodies.
- THE CONJURING: The first Conjuring is based on real life supernatural investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren’s attempts to help a Rhode Island family combat a bloodthirsty (and royally pissed) demon hell bent on all kinds of unpleasant shenanigans. This movie is pure crafted creepy, from the spooky countryside to the grim and dismal house (with faded wallpaper, rusty faucets and screen door hinges that just won’t shut up). Special effects are kept to a minimum but used effectively when they make an appearance as director James Wan goes old school for his scares, using clever cut shots and well timed music. And wouldn’t you know it, the family dog seems to know the whole thing is going south way before anyone else and suffers because of it. When your dog is acting like Michael Vick is waiting inside, take the hint and hightail it the other way people.
- INSIDIOUS: While this inventive flick of a boy who can travel the astral plane while he sleeps (attracting all kinds of scary and unpleasant things in the process) threatens to go off the rails once or twice, it’s a solid movie that pays homage to the likes of Poltergeist and the Exorcist. The first sequel was pretty flat despite some decent writing and Chapter 3 was just plain forgettable but we have Insidious to thank for refreshing the horror genre with smarts and originality. Anyone else who thinks there should be a Constantine movie with James Wan in the director’s chair raise your hands. Anyone? Going once . . .
