Best in Show: Autumnal Scares (Pt. II of II)

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5. A Nightmare on Elm Street

While the legendary 80s film, A Nightmare on Elm Street, may also be suited better for a Halloween-specific article, there's a certain chill to this movie that is reminiscent of fall. From dense fog and teens, this supernatural slasher is somewhat of an enigma when it comes to horror. While the killer is dead, he's not the typical ghostly being that haunts horror films like it. No, he's an actual killer and as he chases his victims through assorted dreamscapes, audiences can expect to be fully immersed in a world that's perpetually fall.



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4. The Conjuring

Old period home, chilly mornings and plenty of fallen leaves. Yes, I could be describing just about any of the movies on this list, but I'm talking about the one, the only: The Conjuring. Easily one of the scariest modern horror films, The Conjuring is meant for fall viewing. Its autumnal setting, often referenced in the film's cinematography and character's fashion feel exclusively autumnal. From witches to ghosts, this movie has everything and it’s all wrapped up in a nice orange and brown bow.



3. The House of the Devil

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The House of the Devil should always be your go to for 80s-inspired, satanic cult films. Highly stylistic and equally terrifying, this movie will prep audiences for the cooler evenings of fall; sweaters, dim-lights and an older home secluded by branchy trees make this movie delectably fall-oriented. The House of the Devil is sure to bring you and your friends into the fall mood thanks largely to the leads attire and surroundings.



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2. The Blair Witch Project/Blair Witch

Say what you will about the surprise sequel to The Blair Witch Project, but the pair complements one another nicely and perfectly capture fall in the Northeast. Like many rural areas there, the setting of these two films features deep woods, leaf-covered grounds and plenty of dewy foliage. Whether watching Heather & co or James & friends getting hopelessly lost in the woods near Burkittsville, ME, the sense of chilled nights and earlier sunsets permeates every scene. Pair this with the casts' hiking gear, visible breath and the iconic snot scene and The Blair Witch Project series will herald you into autumn with gusto.

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1. The Possession

If you're not a woman in your 60s you may not realize that Labor Day is a huge time for garage sales. So, in honor of the holiday itself, it's only fair to give the top spot on this list to a movie that's entire plot stems from a garage sale. That, in addition to the greyness, fallen leaves and general atmosphere of fall, all makes The Possession the type of movie that will have you fully prepared for autumn. The nights scenes are spooky, the day scenes are dull in color and the movie as a whole has an ambience reminiscent of childhood and jumping in leaves, or whatever the horror version of that would be.



Best in Show: Remaking the Classics (Part I of II)

In honor of the release of the It trailer; I decided to dedicate this week's list to the remakes that are actually worthwhile. Taken with a grain of salt and acknowledging the lack of creativity in simply recreating old movies, I truly believe that these are worthwhile films that deserve a little more credit. I'd never suggest that they're groundbreaking or overly fantastic but some and especially those that make the top 5, may have undeservedly received tough critiques. Remakes, especially in the horror genre, are going nowhere and it's time we take a look at them and appreciate that we're getting anything at all. Except when they're actually bad (Poltergeist), then they can be critiqued harsher.

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10. The Omen (2006)

The 2006 remake of The Omen isn't anything special, but for what it lacks in groundbreaking material it certainly makes up for in being a well-done, creepy adventure. There's moments - like the skewering of the priest, which is done terrifically, while the acting of the recreated characters is just as strong as the original. For the parents, replaced by Julia Stiles (Out of the Dark) and Liev Schreiber (Scream), their performance as somewhat out of touch socialites is noteworthy. The Omen isn't that out of this world, but it certainly isn't awful; like something you'd tune into Chiller for on a Saturday morning.

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9. House of Wax (2005)

The remake of the classic House of Wax features all of the updated conventions of mid-2000s horror. With the Ill-lit, over the top gore and subpar-acting this remake encapsulated everything this era represents. But, what should have damaged the film far more than it did, made it a campy sometimes scary adventure. It's a pillar of the time period it came out during; featuring Paris Hilton Jared Padalecki and Chad Michael Murray - all icons of my teenage years, whether or not you prescribed to what they were selling.

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8. Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)

This movie basically killed the 2000s remake subgenre. From its foundation it was lampooned for being the straw that broke the camel's back, and while horror remakes like Evil Dead and the awful Texas Chainsaw 3D followed, the willingness to toss money at a remake began to slow. For somewhat understandable reason, The Nightmare on Elm Street remake received a ton of backlash for it’s glossed over and copycat identity. But, looking past the fact that it is in fact a remake, which everyone who went and saw this movie knew, yet simultaneously complained about in the months following, the end result isn't all that bad. Rooney Mara (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) is a terrific actress, even if she later complained about the movie, and for the most part, it did stay true to the original while making slight updates.  I'd argue this film has plenty of scares, too. In fact, one character that falls asleep while swimming made me terrified of the empty lap pools I used to exercise in for years following.



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7. Dawn of the Dead (2004) & The Hills Have Eyes (2006)

These two remakes made quite the splash when they were released- Dawn of the Dead came out to critical acclaim as it nodded to the original and expanded, and The Hills Have Eyes experienced great commercial success as it grossed out viewers everywhere. For the two, their pros seemed almost redeemable given their remake foundation and each resonated with audiences of mid-2000s horror. Even faced with some horror experts' critiques, The Hills Have Eyes stood out as a terrifying venture into the mutant cannibal, and as noted Dawn of the Dead somehow managed to maintain an unmarred image as it brought zombies back into the limelight with, gasp, a zombie baby. Each deserve a spot on this list as both were scary and at the very least, memorable.



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6. When a Stranger Calls (2009)

This movie remake was everything to my friends in high school. We saw it so many times our eyes were basically falling out. But it was that first time we saw it, when we were all left terrified of our typical babysitting positions. When the man appears in the rafters, we all lunged from our seats. I included this movie on this list for the very fact that, regardless of acting or style, this film is pure nostalgia. Everything about this movie spoke to my group of friends, and while I didn't see the original for many years after, I can say that this rendition is most certainly a worthwhile endeavor.

Best in Show: Final Girls (Part I of II)

One of the longest lasting traditions of horror cinema is the "final girl." Just as the name suggests, the final girl is a common trope of the character who is the sole survivor of a horror movie. While the specific identity of the final girl has been held to some contention, typically the final girl is a strong, empowered character with the ability to outlast. For instance, in some horror movies, the final girl isn't the only survivor, but instead just the main character and focus point. The final girl is often a topic of discussion and the identity is still talked about in academic circles to this day, while maintaining a strong hold on many modern movies. Here is a list of the 10 best final girls.

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10. Max Cartwright (The Final Girls)

The Final Girls is a satirical, on-the-nose type of movie that still manages to provide a new dimension to the final girl trope that is so often talked about. Despite its lack of actual scares, The Final Girls is weirdly funny and entertaining and on top of that, Taissa Farmiga's Max is an awesome addition the final girl class. She's simple, but not perfect; cool, but not too cool; and ultimately willing to take on her role and defend herself and friends. The fact that Malin Ackerman's character, Amanda, is Max's mother and former actress and final girl is just one more bonus. Watching the pair figure out an alternative universe in the imaginary Camp Bloodbath is insanely fun.


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9. Erin (You're Next)

You're Next will continue to infiltrate my blog for weeks to come. There are so many great things about this movie and one of those is Erin. By far, Erin is the most on her game. Her character is equal parts satire as it is serious. Far more capable than she should be, Sharni Vinson's Erin grew up on a compound and knows how to use weapons. Whereas other final girls are indescribably effective at staving off death, Erin has a reason and explanation for her skills. She is powerful and determined and at the end of the day, doesn't care what she has to do to come out of the other end.

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8. Amanda Young (Saw)

Is Amanda Young a final girl? That's definitely debatable. But, what's not debatable is the fact that she is  one of the most compelling products of modern horror. From survivor to villain (if that was a spoiler remember that the original has been out for more than 10 years), Amanda's survival instincts are pretty unstoppable. She's a viciously twisted character with a surprising amount of depth given the lack of it in the franchise. Her escape from the reverse bear trap is one of the most disturbing things on earth, I mean, other than her later being thrown into a pit of needles (which she also survives). Amanda is a quintessential final girl and deserves a spot on any list regarding this.

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7. Dana Polk (Cabin In The Woods)

Like Max, Dana is kind of a joke on the whole final girl trope. She isn't some holier-than-though character and she certainly doesn't match all of the features of a final girl, but nonetheless she is meant to represent one (they'll take what they can get - fit in a Cabin In The Woods joke!). Dana is such a chilled out and normal character that it's impossible not to feature her on this list. She's a great character because of how normal and human she is. She's not a glorified survivor or even that pure and sweet, she's just a girl trying to make it through a set up world. Her character also scores points for making hard decisions and unsuccessfully betraying friends, something a typical final girl would never do.

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6. Laurie Strode (Halloween) & Nancy Thompson (Nightmare on Elm Street)

Part of the iconic class of horror's final girls are Laurie Strode from Halloween and Nancy Thompson from Nightmare on Elm Street. The pair works hand-in-hand as strong-willed final girls with particularly solid acting skills. Unlike some of the more over-the-top final girls of yore, both Jamie Lee Curtis' and Heather Langenkamp's characters are scream queens with purpose.

Jamie Lee Curtis, who later joined the actual show Scream Queens, is by far one of the most legendary horror actresses of all time. Laurie is strong in the face of fear. Her character is the epitome of the babysitter-turned-defender archetype and her (and Curtis') influence is noticeable today.

The second icon on this list, Nancy Thompson, is a complimentary pair with Laurie. Perhaps even more confident that Laurie, Nancy is a strategic and fearless focal point. Her plans to end Freddy's terrorizing are something all horror victims should aspire for. Nancy is impressive for a high school student and most other high school horror characters pale in comparison.