Best in Show: Horror Goes to College (Pt. II of II)

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5. Black Christmas Despite its flaws, the yuletide horror film, Black Christmas, is iconic. Even with its clunky remake, the slasher-in-a-sorority-house horror movie provided some much needed terror to a holiday so typically jolly. From terrifying phone calls to the sisters to some intense deaths scenes, Black Christmas may be a dated product, but it’s definitely worth the watch. Forewarning though, any college student that has hung around their off-campus housing during breaks probably should avoid this movie, lest they be afraid to turn the lights off at night.

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4. The Blair Witch Project/The Green Inferno What do The Blair Witch Project and Green inferno have in common? Practically nothing. One has become a legendary success, while the other remains a somewhat indie film on the fringe of popularity. But, both feature a collection of students out in the field doing the work they believe in. In The Blair Witch Project, a group of film students travel into the forest near Burkittsville, Maryland and become entrapped in a psychological prison of endless foliage and chaotic directions. Here, the students, who quickly lose the resolve to complete their project, come face to face with an impending sense of dread. In The Green Inferno, a group of social justice warriors heading to protect the rainforest and its native tribes get more than they bargained for after a plane crash. Both films capitalize on the very real blind courage propelled by youth and the dumb decisions young people make as a result. Was it a good idea to travel deep into woods in the middle of fall, with little reinforcement that'd help you be found? Probably not. Was it an equally bad idea to follow a group into unknown lands to do some dangerously grassroots protesting? Sure the intentions may have been better, but the decision is one I'm sure the characters of The Green Inferno wish they hadn't made.

3. Sorority Row 

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Sorority Row will never receive an A in class if you know what I mean. It's the type of movie that offers little depth, but makes up for it in sloshing deaths, iconic one-liners and great characters. Like Urban Legend, but far superior, Sorority Row  has such a strong ensemble it’s hard not to fall in love with this movie based on the script for the 80s flick, The House on Sorority Row. Featuring an indelible role courtesy of Carrie Fischer, who plays housemother Mrs. Crenshaw, Sorority Row piles the icing on its shallow cake.  It has amazing death sequences, a completely nutty killer and by the films end, those who knew what they were getting into will be entirely satisfied.

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3. Kristy

Like Girl House, Kristy is an easily forgotten film that really shouldn't be missed. By far one of the scarier indie films out there, the filmmakers make the most of their thinly conceptualized story following a girl hunted down on her empty campus. Like an expanded The Strangers, Kristy features incredibly tense and horrifying moments, masks that'll make you deepen into your seat and a lead character who'll win you over. This movie brings you along the entire campus that proves to be quite isolated during a Thanksgiving recess. Kristy should not go unseen. It's an action-packed thriller with plenty of scares and fierce moments to enthrall even the most desensitized viewer.

1. Scream 2 

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While the original Scream made high school students, well, scream, the follow up to the massively successful slasher, Scream 2 followed our survivors to a different locale; this time, a college campus. By far one of the best horror sequels around, Scream 2 builds the mythology of Ghostface as we meet a new killer and some new kills, all while witnessing the growth of a heroin in Sidney Prescott. Scream 2 makes full use of its expansive setting; perfectly capturing the ins-and-outs of the winding corridors, large lecture halls and basement facilities that make universities so unsettling. Scream 2 showcases just how lonely a populated campus can be- how even surrounded by peers and professors, a yell (or scream) for help, is more like a tree falling in the woods.

Best in Show: Horror Goes to College (Pt. I of II)

With the return to college right around the corner for many students and the release of this fall's Happy Death Day getting an increasing amount of buzz, the college-horror subgenre is one that can't be ignored. While many of these movies have felt thinly scripted and acted, often exasperated by one note girls in bikini's and jocks getting butchered, the fact is that these movies are pure, cheap entertainment. They're some of the most over-the-top films around, but are fun through and through. And, when one is released that is actually scary, the results are bone-chilling. This week's list looks at the best horror movies set on a college campus.

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10. Friend Request

The release of Friend Request has been tumultuous. And, for all of the distributors’ troubles, the payoff probably won't be great. Filled with problematic displays of mental illness, mediocre acting and some odd plot choices, Friend Request isn't the most impressive movie. But with a collection of really great tense moments and scares, Friend Request deserves a spot on this list. For those who haven't even heard of this film, but have more than likely seen "coming soon" trailers at different points over its near-yearlong struggle to find a wide release, Friend Request follows a college student who gets entangled with a disturbed student with some truly dark spirits within.

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9. The Roommate

During the late-2000s and the beginning of the 2010s, a slew of trashy, lowbrow horror movies came out. Capturing the attention of a young audience, films like 2011's The Roommate glistened with teen spirit and young adult flavor. Despite their flaws, these movies are insane romps. The Roommate was such an unsettling endeavor that, while ridiculous in every way, could be devoured easily. Whether shoving a cat in a dryer or getting matching tattoos Leighton Meesters ' Rebecca was the type of character viewers could love to hate.  

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8. Urban Legend

Despite its cheese and all of its late-1990s glory, Urban Legend has plenty of cheap jump scares and despicably amusing characters to make it worth watching. Not even its marred execution can overcome its relatively strong concept and while it'll continue to age terribly, fans of simple slasher will find plenty to love. Despite not being ancient, it definitely feels like nostalgia; from its dated furnishings and awkward haircuts, to iconic stars of the era like Tara Reid, Rebecca Gayheart and Jared Leto starring in the film, Urban Legends is a movie best viewed surrounded by friends who probably won't take it very seriously, but will appreciate it as a great throwback.

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7. Cry_Wolf 

It's fair to point out that Cry_Wolf doesn’t actually take place on a college campus or even feature college-age students. However, with a preparatory school setting that's far more akin to a university than say, a community college of commuters, it practically qualifies. At some point, Cry_Wolf became widely forgotten. Often left off of slasher lists and mid-2000s horror iconography, Cry_Wolf is a thrilling and dark film following a group of students who play a game similar to Mafia, except when one night, their game takes a sharp turn toward real life.



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6. Girl House

In terms of lesser known horror films, you'd be hard-pressed to not include 2014's Girl House. Seldom seen, but ultimately great, this horror-thriller follows a woman in desperate need of money for college. She joins a house that provides X-rated content for the internet in exchange for money, but when a crazed fan attempts to find her, things get out of hand. A sleek and surprisingly terrifying film, Girl House is obsession-stalker film that'll scare you away from the internet. It's a dark and twisted movie that slowly builds before completely destroying everything in its path. If you're in college wondering what you'd do for free tuition, Girl House may make you think twice about your options.

Best in Show: Slasher Films (Part I of II)

It's easy to judge horror movies for their plethora of flaws and problematic storylines, but when taken at face value, these easy-to-watch movies can provide a simple escape from life. The slasher film subgenre dates almost as far back as the horror genre itself. From classics like Psycho (which I have not included in this list because it is largely considered one of the very originals making it somewhat impossible to include in a personal ranking system without a ton of backlash) to 2016's Hush, slashers continue to permeate our culture. Below, I've listed the first five of 10 movies I'll be acknowledging as part of my "Best In Show: Slasher Films" list. You'll notice a lot of more modern movies, and will also acknowledge that this is my opinion, not yours (but, you can definitely include yours in the comment below with ones YOU believe are great! #positivity).  

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10. Sorority Row (2009)
Based on the original The House on Sorority Row, this 2009 slasher taking place in a sorority house may not offer much in the form of originality or tact, but the resulting film is ardently entertaining. Offering a few of the best kills in modern horror, a cast of characters you can love to hate (including the amazing Carrie Fisher as House Mother, Mrs. Crenshaw) and moments that are simultaneously quotable and hilarious, Sorority Row is that guilty pleasure you can't be without.

9. Kristy (2014)

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Despite its under-the-radar release (look out for an entire "Overlook" article on it), the 2015 Lifetime premiere of Kristy and later addition to Netflix should not go unnoticed. Like Sorority Row, the film doesn't necessarily offer much in terms of groundbreaking moments but it's plot and intensity certainly make up for any inefficiencies. Kristy follows a college student who stays behind in her dorm during Thanksgiving break and is then attacked by a cult of videotaping murderers. Haley Bennett is stunning as protagonist Justine and Ashley Green is effective as the off-center leader of the cult.

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8. Cry Wolf (2005)
Cry Wolf screams of the mid-2000s. Padded with harsh lighting and sometimes questionable directing, Cry Wolf tells a thrilling story. Featuring the all of the characteristics of a mid-2000s slasher, Cry Wolf showcases a group of friends playing a game similar to "mafia," when all of a sudden, things become a little too real. Coming upon the movie in high school when games like the one played in the film were popular, made Cry Wolf hit very close to home. The killer whose sole identifier is a ski mask, felt realistic and dark, and throughout the film's runtime, all of us viewing were engrossed by the possibility of this plausible occurrence. Cry Wolf has its fair share of flaws, but overall it's a worthwhile whodunit.

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7. Hush (2016)
One of Netflix’s first feature film distributions in the horror genre also happens to be one of the best horror films of 2016. Starring Kate Siegel (The Curse of The Black Dahlia) as Maddie, a deaf woman living alone in the woods, Hush throws viewers into a frightening game of cat-and-mouse with a masked killer chasing after Maddie.  Hush wins points for being an extremely effective and original tale with plenty of intense moments.

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6. You're Next (2011)
You're Next is about a woman who attends her boyfriend's family reunion at a secluded home. Soon after arrival strange things begin to happen and a couple animal masked killers go to town on the family. This clever and thrilling film is an absolute trip. Successfully juggling moments of satire with intensity, while difficult, is a task You're Next makes look easy.  It's a darkly comedic look at a family of unlovable and out-of-touch aristocrats battling against their dislike for one another and very real problems just out the window.