Best in Show: Horrors of 2017

In the year that was, the news was filled with plenty of real, terrifying horrors. But, running alongside it and keeping pace were the horror films churned out by 2017. From small-budget indies to big-budget blockbusters, the future of horror was confirmed in this year's fantastic releases. Even among duds like Rings and The Bye Bye Man, fans had plenty of material to devour and to be devoured by. And, while some circuit films have yet to receive a wide release, the movies available to the masses certainly left a mark. This week's list loos at the best horror films of 2017.

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10. A Dark Song

By-and-large one of the most aptly titled horror films of the year, IFC Midnight's A Dark Song plays out like a seething ballad. With darkly comedic moments sprinkled amongst the ashes of this slow burn, A Dark Song features a pair of loners who come together to in the hopes of performing a ritual. The woman, who lost her son, hopes to reconnect with him and the man, whose motives are less sound, pair off perfectly. Their building tension and chemistry between the actors - Catherine Walker (The Clinic) and Steve Oram (Sightseers) - make for a truly compelling experience and the horrors, interwoven with messages of faith

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9. Prevenge
Perhaps one of the weirder horror films to be released in recent years, the British import, Prevenge, is a bit of an enigma. Quirky to its core and blissfully unapologetic, this prenatal flick follows a young, down-on-her-luck pregnant woman, Ruth, who begins hearing the voice of her unborn child from within telling her to murder the annoyances around her. The movie benefits from its incredible pacing. It's a quickly-unraveling, but constantly entertaining story that hosts a ton of odd turns, including a stellar supporting role played by Kate Dickie (The Witch). Prevenge most certainly won't appeal to everyone, but this dark and pointed comedy-horror on motherhood packs quite an uncomfortable punch.


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8. The Void

With a low budget and impressive visual effects, The Void is the rare indie sci-fi film that actually benefits from a lack of expensive CGI. Perfectly balancing the cult and alien subgenres, this movie brings plenty of twists and turns as characters trapped in a hospital quickly realize they're involved in something far greater with far more sinister intentions. The Void makes the most of its simplicity through fantastic characters, ambitious effects and particular style. It's one of the year's must see for fans of the 80s and beyond.

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7. Raw/Super Dark Times
While the supernatural seemed to dominate the horror industry this year, two thrilling, grounded films brought a certain unrestrained intensity to the genre. Both Raw and Super Dark Times tell an unhinged coming-of-age story much drearier than typical fare. Raw, which follows a young vegetarian vet student who develops a taste for human flesh, features a sisterly bond that feels deeply real and deeply personal. Then, in Super Dark Times, a group of social outcasts find themselves at the center of an incident that quickly spirals out of control. Each use realism to instill a sense of long-lasting dread in its viewers. Raw and Super Dark Times expanded the boundaries of where horror could go, focusing less on inherent evil and more on the terrors that come with small decisions and mistakes that can change lives forever.


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6. The Devil's Candy

The second IFC Midnight film to make this list is also one of their best ever. The Devil's Candy is a rock-n-roll, metal possession film oozing with stylistic flair. Featuring a stellar cast, including Shiri Appleby (UnREAL), The Devil's Candy is the rare horror film that features a family that's entirely likeable. Each of the three is youthful, interesting and completely watchable. This, alongside a fantastic score and camerawork make for a movie that is an absolute must see - especially now that it's on Netflix.

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5. The Blackcoat's Daughter

It's been a long year. So long in fact that it's hard to believe that The Blackcoat's Daughter didn't receive a wide release until 2017. One of the most ultimate slow-burns ever in horror, this film could be easily overlooked by fans of the mainstream gut-punching jump scare, but it shouldn't. Both sides of the horror coin matter and can be appreciated, and if any film could appeal to everyone, it's this one. Emma Roberts, who's scream queen resume only continues growing, is absolutely amazing in this film which is full of disturbing twist and turns.

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4. Happy Death Day

While the slasher subgenre seems to have taken a backseat in recent years, Blumhouse Pictures' Happy Death Day proves it still had legs. Bitingly funny, at varying points tense, and wholly entertaining, this Groundhog Day-esque movie is surprisingly stellar. Jessica Rothe shines as a college student who relives the same day of her murder over and over again until she can find out the killer. Audiences can expect to be completely captivated by the film's bonkers premise and execution as Happy Death Day gives new life to a disappearing subgenre.

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3. It Comes at Night

It Comes at Night is The Witch of 2017. Perfectly styled and disturbingly dark, this pandemic-based film came hot off of the festival circuit with rave reviews. Naturally, the wide release was met with similar applause as viewers fell in love with the atmospheric tension that runs deep throughout. The dream sequences are horrifyingly anticipatory and with some gut punches to be expected later in the film, audiences can expect to be thoroughly gloomy after it ends. It Comes at Night doesn't necessarily reinvent the wheel but it does a good job at keeping it greased.

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2. IT

Brimming with nostalgia and hosting a collection of perfect young stars, IT captured almost everything that made the Stephen King book so popular. It may not be the scariest film ever, but it’s certainly one of the highest quality horror films in recent years. There are plenty of genre-bending, moments of terror and even great laughs to make every moment feel justified. Overall, It is everything audiences will expect to see. By offering some great retro style, perfect cinematography and great scares, this film feels like a complete product. IT masterfully executed and a polished reminder that that a big-budget, R-rated horror film can have mass appeal and not lose the insidious scares. Here's hoping for more.

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1 Get Out

One of the most rightfully lauded films of the year also happens to be a horror film. Perfectly pairing political commentary and race with horror and inflections of comedy, Get Out is close to perfection. It's easily one of the best horror films in years and probably one of the best films in general. Props to Jordan Peele and the cast who committed themselves to every aspect of this game-changing creation. Some would probably call the success of Get Out a surprise, but horror fans know all too well how many films are deserving of accolades and so often ignored because of their genre. Hopefully though, Get Out signifies a change in critic culture that neglects to include horror just because it's horror.   

 
Honorable Mentions:

Annabelle: Creation

Recapturing what was lost in the first spin-off of The Conjuring, Annabelle Creation was conventional, but definitely terrifying.

Alien: Covenant
Despite "fan" backlash, this nasty flick features great acting, especially by Michael Fassbender, and plenty of scary action.

Split
M. Night Shyamalan's Split was a nice kick-off to what could have been a down-trodden year for horror thanks to early entries The Bye Bye Man and Rings.

Nails
While nowhere near perfect, Nails is a little indie film with a lot of potential.

 

Review: The Blackcoat's Daughter

(Wikipedia.org)

Art and horror often go hand-in-hand. For movies attempting to break barriers and excel in critical acclaim, film's often make jumps towards style over scares. Sometimes the payoff of which, isn't worth it. This is the space where we find movies like last year's The Neon Demon and the current wide release of The Blackcoat's Daughter. The release of The Neon Demon while amazing to stare at, received backlash for a lack of plot and substance. The Blackcoat's Daughter works much better. First premiering at the Toronto Film Festival in 2015, the movie does feel weighted by it's long overdue wide release, but the resulting film is still visually stunning and entertaining.

The Blackcoat's Daughter (originally titled February) tells the story of a pair of girls who end up stuck at their boarding school when their parents are no shows. Kiernan Shipka (When Marnie Was There) plays Kat, a fearful, yet equally creepy freshman who is left to the charge of Lucy Boynton's (Don't Knock Twice) character, a rebellious senior named Rose. Simultaneously, the film also features Emma Roberts (Scream Queens) as a young woman named Joan who hitches a ride with a couple toward the boarding school.

Each of the three leads are stunning. Shipka in particular plays her part well. As the fearful freshman with creepy tendencies, Shipka offers a subtle, yet powerful performance and her character Kate is by far the most engrossing part of The Blackcoat's Daughter. That being said, both Roberts and Boynton hold their own and excel. Roberts is great as a somewhat down trodden and unstable Joan; it's a role she is destined to continue playing until the end of time. Then Boynton, who was a brighter spot in last week's Don't Knock Twice, continues to add another strong case for her scream queen status.

As many reviews have noted, The Blackcoat's Daughter is visually appealing. Dreary and dark, The Blackcoat's Daughter uses very little to make a quiet and creeping atmosphere. It has a slow burn that would make you believe that the candle was never lit, and for fans of movies like The Witch. the horror of  The Blackcoat's Daughter will be worthwhile.

The one flaw of The Blackcoat's Daughter, is it's pretention. Less compelling than it pretends to be, The Blackcoat's Daughter offers outstandingly dreary cinematography but comes with a plotline that isn't only difficult to follow, but also not as twisted as they believe it to be. The Blackcoat's Daughter feels like a short film extended past it's intended length. Sure, some scenes are chilling and great, but twists and turns only work if they're viable and people can follow along. I may be in the minority and thinking too simplistically, but The Blackcoat's Daughter has too many inconsistencies to be entirely workable. Without giving away too much, I'll say this: the two actresses meant to resemble one another, look nothing alike. Aside from that, there are definitely additional timing and purpose issues throughout.

Overall, The Blackcoat's Daughter has enough going for it that it's heightened sense of self can be overlooked. It has moments of suspense and is certainly cool to look at. The Blackcoat's Daughter does suffer from some weaknesses, but it's attempts to tell a new and entertaining horror story are fun enough. I give it 8 plaid skirts out of 10.