Worst in Show: 2017 Horror (Pt. II of II)



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5. Wolves at the Door
Horror fans eat up pretty much all types of brutality in film as long as the result is warranted, fictional and generally in tasteful,  good fun. So when the marketed-as-a-horror-film true account of the grisly Manson Family Murders was unleashed in the form of Wolves at the Door, it should have come as no surprise that this unnecessary, distasteful and one-dimensional depiction left little to satisfy viewers. Told through a true perspective with little added depth, this movie would have done far better to stay clear of any real life cults, members or slain victims with living relatives. At least then the very blatant The Strangers rip-off would feel a little more spirited and tactful.

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4. Be Afraid

Indie horror can lead to some pretty great little gems. Unfortunately, Be Afraid is far from sparkling. Confusing, immature and generally dumb, Be Afraid should have stayed out of the public purview. It's a laughable and disjointed little film with little to enjoy and little to write on.

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3. The Bye Bye Man

The Bye Bye Man is a rough film to get through. Melding teen horror, far too many conventional scares and poor CGI, this almost jokey movie didn't raise any hopes for the 2017 year in horror. The Bye Bye Man is filled with unlikeable and generally unreasonable characters with little meat. Like so many made-for-the-masses horror films, like Ouija, this movie felt deeply insincere and unstylish; two things that could have been changed and brought the movie a long way past the mediocrity viewers were left with.

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2. Rings

Objectively, Rings is the worst horror film of the year. In a rare first-person perspective, I've not forgotten how terrible this film was and how more than half of the audience in my theater stood up and walked out midway through. The experience was painful, but unlike anything I'd ever witnessed. No movie I've seen in a theater - big or small - has caused such a unanimous uprising. Tepid, poorly acted and incredibly tension-free, the CGI-fueled Rings felt insulting to both the original Ringu and the American remake. It wholly deserves every criticism it gets, and probably more. In fact, had it not been for one film's release, it would most certainly take the top spot. 

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1. Jeepers Creepers 3

In a second rare first-person perspective, I'm going to declare here and now, that I never saw Jeepers Creepers 3. But almost as objectively as one could look at Rings and personally as a human being, I can say that this movie is surely garbage. Directed by convicted child molester Victor Salva, Jeepers Creepers 3 picks up after the first film and... Well honestly, it doesn't matter because this movie was an offensive cash grab. It's an insult to horror fans everywhere that spend much of their time arguing that the genre isn't filled with creeps and criminals. That's it.

Best in Show: Top Three of 2017 (So Far)

2016 was a pretty fantastic year for horror. Featuring a diverse collection of theatrical and indie released films; it was a year that gave us some terrific sequels and prequels, as well as originals. From the artistic The Witch to the terrifying The Conjuring 2, 2016 proved that some of the best, most original movies were coming from the horror genre. in a sea of remakes, even less well-received films felt newer than some of the more questionable choices in Hollywood. That's why, in 2017, hopes are high. Already this year, we've seen duds and stars, and this week's list looks at the three best, while mentioning some of the worst.

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3. It Comes at Night

While never completely fresh or revolutionary, It Comes at Night is amazingly well-done. It creates such a tense atmosphere that the weight of the world rests on the shoulders of the viewer. 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.

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2. The Void

With an amazing marketing campaign, iconic costuming and some terrific special effects, The Void is truly impressive. Balancing a variety of subgenres, this movie is sure to appeal to most movie watchers. Between believable acting, 80s stylizations and an abundance of scares,  the sci-fi cult film, The Void feels entirely new in a genre inundated by similarities. The Void is the rare horror movie that, despite some occasional shortcomings, features so many amazing things, that its hard not to root for. It's a film you want to recommend over and over again, because it is a must see. The Void is fun and scary and encapsulates so much of what horror used to be, it's a welcome throwback.

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1. Get Out

Get Out made quite the splash when it was released. Capturing race relations in the United States within the context of an easy-to-understand horror movie, this film is surely a modern classic. While not scary for the typical reasons, this movie is, through and through, eye-opening, pure entertainment. Its funny, dark and suspenseful. Even as audiences begin to figure out exactly what may be happening, Get Out demands constant attention. It's a thrilling journey and by far the best horror movie to be released this year.

 

Honorable Mentions: Alien: Covenant, Split, The Blackcoat's Daughter and The Devil's Candy

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Dishonorable Mentions: Rings, The Bye Bye Man and Be Afraid

Between terribly timed scares, stuffy atmospheres and mediocre acting, each of these three films fail in very similar ways. They're completely unaware of their shortcomings and fall apart on so many levels that their releases are pretty surprising. Rings, a follow-up/reboot of the original pairs of the American remakes, suffers greatly from awful CGI, unbelievable performances and a plotline that is more nightmarish than the weak scares and atmosphere. The Bye Bye Man is just as bad, featuring nothing redeemable outside of a fun catchphrase. But, like the overly plugged line, this is a movie you shouldn't think about, shouldn't say and most definitely shouldn't see. Then there's the indie release of Be Afraid which even taken lightly given its smaller budget, feels lazy and poorly made.