Best in Show: Creepy Cults (Part II of II)

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5. Rosemary's Baby

While a less showy film about cults, Rosemary's Baby is a sinister take on neighborly tenants. Spooky and drawn out, this film amasses tension for an end reveal that viewers will see coming, but will still be scared by. There's simply not much to say that hasn't been said about this film and the cult at the center of it. The Castevet's are perfectly disarming, Mia Farrows' Rosemary, perfectly acted and by the film's end, you'll appreciate the masterpiece before you.

  

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4. The Wicker Man

The Wicker Man is a surprisingly jovial horror movie. Bursting with Celtic tunes, dancing townspeople and colorful costumes, the insane ending may come as a shock to those unaware of the film prior. A certifiable cult classic that also happens to be about a cult, the cheeriness exuded by characters in The Wicker Man is odd but relatively innocent feeling. However, as the plot transgresses, the dark pit at its center grows and hardens. Despite a failed remake starring Nick Cage, this story deserves a proper reboot.

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3. Last Shift

Stuck watching a derelict police station on her first day, Officer Jessica Loren's quiet, but creepy night becomes quite the downward spiral. From creepy happens to ghoulish images, the ghostly cult members that haunt the station are nothing short of heart-stopping. Easily one of the scariest indie films ever, Last Shift is a must see. It's gritty, gory and everything that a haunted house movie should be. Whether a fan of jump scares or horrifying atmosphere, Last Shift has it in spades.

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3. Children of the Corn

A classic Stephen King adaption and perhaps one of the most iconic groups of scary kids, Children of the Corn is an endeavor on the gullible group mentality of children. As they follow "He Who Walks behind the Rows," the group led by Isaac Chroner, systemically remove the adults in the town as part of a human sacrifice. Ridiculous in its premise but terrifying in its execution, Children of the Corn showcased a certain strength and perseverance of children when threatened.  

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1. The Sacrament

The Sacrament does little to hide its ending. Opening with a photographer casually discussing his sister's involvement with a commune, a group of investigative friends go searching for answers only to find disaster. Timelier than ever, the media-hating, grounded story of this religious organization feels more realistic than some documentaries. Suspicious and filled with awkward exchanges, The Sacrament will make your skin crawl, only to rip it out in the end. It's the kind of movie that'll stick with you for some time. Though it all seems rosy, this film does little to appeal to organized religion and uncovers the deeply rooted issues within congregations, especially those buried in desolate regions.

Best in Show: Creepy Cults (Part I of II)

Humans are pack animals. Despite common notions of autonomy, the vast majority of people on earth are dependent on others. Whether for social exchange, physical dependency like food or to help make ends meet, friends, family and even strangers are necessary in our day to day lives. But, when people get a little too close, a little too exclusive, problems erupt. In cults, codependency takes on a new and sinister tone; something that is very often exasperated in horror films. This week's list looks at the scariest horror movies following cults.

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10. Faults

Part comedy, part deceptive thriller, this taut film follows a cultist deprogrammer and his latest case, a young woman who is buried deep in the mythology of a cult called Faults. Twisting, dark and at times, funny, Faults is a masterful blend of unsettling tension and compelling storytelling that'll leave viewers questioning their own perceived reality. Faults is a movie that feels realistic, despite later questionable flickers of the supernatural. Its end twist is also one of the greatest, if even just slightly predictable, in modern cinema.

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9. The Void

While not central to the creature-feature explosion that is The Void, the sheet-adorning cult in this film is absolutely terrifying. With no distinguishable feature separate from a triangle on their face, these poorly costumed ghost men imbued a creep factor complimented by a confrontational ferociousness. Retro, yet scarily timeless, these strange characters sought the end of the world and were willing to do anything to make it happen; they're inhuman nature and complete lack of motive only adding to the fear factor.

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8. The Conspiracy Conspiracy is a dangerous topic. Divisive and engulfing, the rabbit hole created by mostly unfounded suggestions and beliefs can lead to insanity and trouble for both the accused and accuser. Perhaps this is what makes 2012's The Conspiracy is so terrifying. A brooding and investigative Canadian found-footage film, The Conspiracy follows a pair of filmmakers seeking to uncover the truth about a mysterious organization named Taurus. Their investigation - as predicted - leads to quite the discovery that'll leave the duo changed forever. Ending on an open note and with little closure of what actually happened in their footage; The Conspiracy will leave audiences guessing.

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7. The House of the Devil In this 80s styled horror film following a caretaker who ends up in the middle of an occult ritual, the scares come bursting with fire. Demonic images, gory violence and funky music make up this indie darling. Directed by Ti West and featuring a fantastic performance by Jocelin Donahue, this movie doesn't feature the most interesting satanic cult, but it is one of the scariest. While oddly practical in their beliefs and brutish nature, each is only slightly off. That is, except for the horrifying creature-like leader with a cat face and a pension for old relics.


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6. The Invitation 

The Invitation is a  slow-burning and quite movie. Constantly bubbling like a volcano about to erupt, this movie has gained quite the following and critical acclaim. For good reason, too. The Invitation begins as an everyday, awkward dinner party but quickly unravels into something more unsettling. It's a thriller that unfolds in such a way that viewers will be engrossed in the haunting lights and faces of the dinner guests. Brimming with tension, this movie ends with quite sharp bangs and an even sharper reveal. It is deserving of every accolade it received; for its cast, crew and plot, simple but intricate.

Review: The Crucifixion



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Religion and horror go hand-in-hand. From exorcisms to home blessings, clergy play a role in a great many of films and while many of these movies have entered a repetitive territory, filmmakers are constantly looking for new ways to bring in religion. Movies like Deliver Us from Evil brought a more detective mystery vibe and The Exorcism of Emily Rose made the court proceedings take center stage. Following this direction and more closely related to the latter, is The Crucifixion.

Following a young journalist investigating the death of a nun in what appears to be an exorcism gone wrong; The Crucifixion valiantly attempts to join the reconstruction of the exorcism subgenre with flairs of blame placed on mental illness and poverty. The story, which eventually finds our lead, Nicole, played by Sophie Cookson (Moonfleet), face-to-face with something truly horrific, works best when grounded in tense, atmospheric horror but the inclusion of an array of supporting characters muddles the existing ones development. Nicole is unapologetically smarmy and career-driven, she's a welcome change from the reactive female characters in horror before her, but ultimately not that compelling.

The fact of the matter is, The Crucifixion isn't as complicated as it would seem, nor as successful in its execution. While it traverses new territory with a fresher concept, it never fully invests in its characters or spins a story interesting enough to warrant its existence. Among the drama that unfolds, there are some effective scares, but even these aren't enough to overcome a plot that rambles on.

The Crucifixion does its best to be its own story but definitely falters into familiar territory. For an indie, smaller release, it's definitely more impressive than other releases this year. But, when so many horror films are breaking new ground or maintaining conventions, but providing excessive scares, The Crucifixion is watchable, but easily overlooked and even more easily forgotten. 4 out 10.

Review: Little Evil

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After the success of Krampus, it seemed like comedian Adam Scott could transition to just about anything. From countless roles in indie comedies and romance films to his turn as Ben Wyatt in Parks and Recreation, his career is filled with plenty of iconic gems. His recent role in the Netflix original, Little Evil, continues Scott's trend in the world of indie projects.


Little Evil follows Scott's Gary as he interjects himself into the lives of Samantha and her son, Lucas, played by Evangeline Lilly (The Hobbit) and newcomer Owen Atlas (Astronaut Camp). Lucas proves to be a troubling young boy with possibly sinister roots. He, along with Samantha, continuously face difficulty and despite Gary's best efforts, things don't seem to be looking up. Little Evil is a parody of films like The Omen and plays out in similar fashion.


Scott, Lilly and Atlas try their best throughout the film but to no avail. Scott's role is too similar to better written ones before it. Lilly and Atlas aren't much better. Lilly isn't ever given a chance to shine as she spends the majority of the film as a loving mother and while Atlas has the chance to play a creepy kid, he doesn't seem to understand the art of the cold stare or unsettling quietness, something necessary to join a line of terrifically terrifying kids. The one piece of light in this film is Bridget Everett's (Patti Cake$) much needed role as comic relief character, AL.


Perhaps it’s the lackluster, far-too-predictable jokes or the pure lack of scares - two factors that made Krampus extremely effective - but, Little Evil seems out of touch and bland. Stale and blatantly advantageous of Scott's typical brand of humor, everything about Little Evil feels unnecessary. Like a cheap rip off of a better film, Little Evil is less an accomplished piece of work and more like a knockoff Dory the Searcher coloring book you'd find in a 99 cent store. Little Evil tries its best to convey low brow humor but without the commitment to make it comically tasteless. Some parts seem more bent on creating a loving family angle rather than tear into horror movie tropes using comedy.


Little Evil is a movie that's perfectly comfortable in its mediocrity. Never exceeding expectations or eliciting a laugh more than a few times, this film didn't need to be made and probably shouldn't have been. It's got very little working for it and a multitude of things working against. Sure, there are moments of heart, but they're quickly ditched by very boring placidity. Little Evil could be perfect as a stumble-upon watch on a rainy day, but there are far better options available in any occasion.

Best in Show: Unsuspecting Travelers Abroad (Pt. I of II)

Horror has a long history of inflicting itself upon the unexpected. Especially abroad, travelers often get way more than they bargained for. With summer fast approaching and the need to explore outside of our borders itching at the adventurous, this week's list looks at the best horror movies about travelers abroad. Ignoring the somewhat problematic nature of painting foreign lands as particularly dangerous, these free-for-all movies are often complete descents into chaos.




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10. Out of the Dark

While not the most cohesive film, Out of the Dark is a rare indie horror film that feels scary. Offering a share of jarring moments featuring dead, bandaged children and terrifying shadows, the film wasn't much of a critic or commercial success. Its problematic painting of the mysticism of the third world - although met with a certain tone of first world oppression - didn't do the ghost story any favors. But, Out of the Dark is plenty horrifying. It follows a mother positioned to take over her father's business in South America, whose family is haunted upon arrival. The movie gets twisty as discoveries are made and the mother's daughter goes missing. Out of the Dark is ta telling story of how American misdeals can come back to bite you.



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9. They're Watching

They're Watching is a pretty ridiculous movie with a fun, engaging plot and pretty much zero basis in reality. Following an American home makeover TV crew in Eastern Europe, They're Watching plays completely into the traditions and mystic nostalgia of the area while providing the occasional scare and intentional laugh. It's a terrifically odd movie destined to scare few, but entertain all. It's placement on this list is mostly thanks to the sketchy villagers surrounding the makeover home who make for deeply unsettling moments.



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8. Wolf Creek

This movie is bleak. Wolf Creek is a gritty portrayal of suffering at the hands of a maniac. Following a pair of British 20-somethings who travel into the Outback with an Australian, Wolf Creek is a stark cat-and-mouse chase of disturbing proportions. It's a film that features little relief or absurdity and instead focuses on unsettling the viewer through very real possibilities of kidnap and torture. For some viewers, Wolf Creek will most definitely be too much, but who could blame them? This film is so painfully executed that the awfulness these characters experience, you feel, too.



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7. The Ruins

The Ruins is pretty typical for a mid-2000s horror movie; dumb young adults doing dumb, adventurous things and paying for it. But none of these aspects stops this film from being terrifying. Featuring a mysterious Mayan ruin with viciously alive vines, The Ruins makes adventure feel all too worthless. From the Cabin Fever inflections of attempting to strip your body of the infection to the off-center mimicry of the plants, this movie will leave viewers afraid of going anywhere that's not a particular tourist trap. In The Ruins, unmarked means death.



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6. Borderland

For detractors of Wolf Creek, heed this warning: Borderland is not for you. Following a trio of college friends who get swept up into a satanic crime cult, Borderland takes everything displayed by Wolf Creek, adds dimensions of the occult and tosses it into a small Mexican city. It's gory and gratuitous violence; all exasperated by harsh lighting and intense camera work make for a romp that'll make stomachs turn. Borderland has some of the intrusive nature of Americans into other's lands and nails the ignorance of youth perfectly.