Best in Show: Thanksgiving Horror (Part II of II)

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5. The Awakening
In horror, the proper atmosphere can go a long way. This is why a film like The Awakening is so incredible. Dull and hazy, this movie is chilling. The Awakening is cold. It's the type of film that features a world where every single character is unwaveringly chilly. Even the ending does little to satisfy the onslaught of breezy dread that'll make audiences want to curl into a ball. Like so many movies on this list, there are no warm inviting evenings or cold, but comfy nights.



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4. Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County
When the original The McPherson Tape - later remade as the larger budget, Alien Abduction: Incident of Lake County - first came out, it was met with the type of fervor a real life unexplainable experience might have. People watching thought what was happening in the movie was true and although it's aged a bit, the horror remains just as terrifying. A mockumentary with plenty of steam in its engines, this movie follows a family settling in on a Thanksgiving dinner when an electric outage leads to the uncovering of a UFO. Filled with terror, the Thanksgiving dinner quickly becomes absolutely horrific chaos.





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3. The Visit

Despite the snow on the ground, there's something very Thanksgiving-esque about The Visit and its kitschy setting. Without direct mentions to any holiday seasons, viewers can easily settle in to a film that is most definitely set outside of Christmas or Chanukah. With mostly warm grandparents, foods baking in the oven and sweaters galore, The Visit has this familiar and cozy atmosphere - even if the eventual reveal is everything but. The Visit is sometimes comical, sometimes tense and in the beginning, very homey, making it the perfect movie to curl up around and watch.

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2. Kristy

Explicitly set during a college's Thanksgiving vacation, the indie slasher, Kristy, has never gotten the love it deserves. Spooky, dimly lit and incredibly ferocious, this film follows a student who decides to stay back on campus while most students go home. From empty corridors to entirely empty buildings, the film's isolation is something completely opposite of typical Thanksgivings. But, it's spot on this list is more because of the fact that it’s a great movie that is specifically set during Thanksgiving, even featuring its own very college dinner.

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1. The Witch

Want to feel like Thanksgiving is upon us?Watch The Witch. Easily one of the most iconic horror movies of the modern era, this period piece seems destined for November viewing. Inclement, grey weather, the constant threat of winter and the colonial characters are sure to immerse audiences in a world where a Thanksgiving feast is absolutely necessary but absent. The Witch is a stunning film; whether you're a fan of horror or otherwise, yet its best reserved for a time after Halloween when winter is upon us and stomachs crave turkey and corn.

Best in Show: Found Footage (II of II)

Here it is, the conclusion to my favorite found-footage horror movies! Below, you'll find a list of the horror movies I cannot get enough of. Shot with shaking hands and filled with scares, I would consider this subgenre to be underrated. Sure, there are one too many, but for the gems listed previously and for those below, the found-footage subgenre owes a lot of gratitude. These movies are fantastically spooky.

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5. The Last Exorcism (2010)

I really love a good exorcism movie. And, with so many out there, I have a ton of options. Unfortunately for that point, quantity doesn't equal quality, and for exorcism movies, there seems to be a slim picking of The Exorcist-level terror. Enter 2010's The Last Exorcism. Easily one of the scariest exorcism movies out there, The Last Exorcism is a gripping addition to the subgenre- even if its use of found-footage isn't that necessary or great. Ashley Bell is amazing (and flexible) as the titular star of the show. Her innocence-turned-evil personality is an incredible transformation worthy of attention.

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4. The Blair Witch Project (1999)

The Blair Witch Project holds the distinct position as being the first found-footage horror movie I ever watched. I cannot necessarily saw what I like so much about this movie. Maybe it's its originality or its atmosphere, but realistically, the first time I saw The Blair Witch Project, I did not enjoy it. However, time and again, every fall I rewatch this movie that I had thought I didn't enjoy. Every time I see it though, I notice something different. Whether it's new sounds or a subtle moment, I grip my seat a little tighter. I really have gone back and forth on my feelings about this movie, but in this post, I do hereby declare, that I've enjoyed 99 out of 100 times I have seen The Blair Witch Project.



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3. As Above, So Below (2014)

I never understood the hatred this movie got. Despite being a relatively original and filled to the brim with scares, the story of an adventurous archaeologist didn't receive much of a warm reception. I've seen this movie numerous times and still cannot figure out what people's problems were with it. Sure it was at peak found-footage hate, but As Above, So Below isn't only scary, it's also really interesting. Even without the scares, this movie would be an entertaining exploration film that delves deep underneath Paris. By knocking out all of the marks that most "bad" horror movies can't overcome, like bad acting and a lack of suspense, As Above, So Below impressed me more than most modern horror films do and continues to do so after every revisit.

2. The House October Built (2014)

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I'll be honest; The Houses October Built will more than likely be included on numerous lists throughout this blog until I'm sure every person ever has seen it. The Houses October Built is a stellar found-footage horror movie that actually makes sense. The whole documentary angle can seem tired and used up, but when there is a topic that would actually be documented with video cameras; like a group of friends searching for the ultimate haunted house, the resulting film can be a grounded and terrifying experience. I love The Houses October Built because it is such an effortless experience that never tries to go above and beyond but is entirely confident in its capabilities.

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1. The Visit (2015)

The Visit is by far one of the best modern horror movies out there. Intentionally funny, equally terrifying and shined with a plot twist that could make classic M. Night Shyamalan happy, this film marked the revival of a director who had become the butt of jokes. The Visit is insane. Each moment of this movie is horrifying. From the darkened hallways where the grandmother runs to the final climactic moments that could take your breath away, Add points for Kathryn Hahn's existence and placement in this movie and also for the scene underneath the house because it was shot in complete daylight proving once and for all that sometimes the scariest things in your life take place under the sun.

 

 

Best in Show: Found Footage (I of II)

When I decided to list out my favorite found-footage horror movies for this blog I had one thing in mind: Avoid the [REC] vs. Quarantine argument. For sure, there are strong arguments as to why [REC] is better- it's the original after all. But, I also feel like that shouldn't necessarily discredit its actually scary American remake. So, to avoid any argument from either side, I omitted these movies all together (you can toss them in wherever you want on this list). But, when I did eventually make out this article, I realized just how many options I had. Found-footage was a strong forced to be reckoned with and then it quickly petered out through oversaturation. However, between the muck and glum of various restarts for the subgenre, there are a lot of strong gems.



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10. The Bay (2012) & The Sacrament (2014) (A TIE! NO WAY!)

I'm not entirely sure what possessed me (get it?) to put these two next to each other. Maybe it was the fact that I couldn't justify removing one for the other or maybe it's the fact that both movies are about investigations, but either way they deserve slots on this list.

For those with a weak stomach, The Bay is probably a movie you'll want to miss. But for those that do, this movie about a polluted water system and one local reporter's mission to survive and uncover the secrets behind the contamination, is a terrifying eco-horror story that is especially relevant today. The Bay is the type of movie that will make your skin crawl, but with enough of a message that makes you think.

This past summer I went through a weird cult phase. I read The Girls, watched Holy Hell and Jesus Camp and tried to find anything I could that focused on this subgenre. I quickly found The Sacrament thanks to Netflix. The Sacrament follows a pair of journalists who visit a cult that has captivated their friend's sister. The cult is suspect at best and things quickly unravel. The Sacrament is an insane look at cult culture that will keep you on the edge of your seat.



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9. Paranormal Activity 2 (2010)

I'll ignore any argument that suggests that any other part of the Paranormal Activity franchise is as good as its sequel. Easily the scariest and most definitely the most entertaining, the second film in the found-footage revival franchise is as good as sequels get. This movie left me haunted. The stories of the shadowy figure that sat at the end of the girls' beds as they slept kept me awake at night. I love Paranormal Activity 2 more than any in their mostly overrated franchise.

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8. Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County (1998)

In 1989, UFO Abduction (sometimes called The McPherson Tapes) was quietly released with a low-budget, homemade look that made a huge impact. Like the radio hit, War of the Worlds, UFO Abduction was believed to be real. But, after the confusion died down and the production made its mark, it was the recreation and feature-length adaption in 1998, that truly deserves recognition. Made with actors and a higher budget, Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County struck a deep cord in me because of its grounded and realistic feel. Sure, I went in knowing the movie wasn't real, but the stuffy, homemade feel of the movie laid a tone that is hard to overlook. Alien abductions make for scary conspiracy theories, and this homemade look at one is a terrifyingly intimate addition.



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7. Lake Mungo (2010)

At varying points, Lake Mungo left me with more questions than answers. It's a somewhat confusing movie about a missing girl and the potential ghost that she became. It's filled with twists and turns and when Lake Mungo veers it continues to keep audiences attentive. The whole atmosphere of this movie and its gloomy setting are enough to draw viewers in and scare them with intermittent moments of terror.



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6. The Taking of Deborah Logan (2014)

I feel like The Taking of Deborah Logan is the type of movie that belonged in theaters. It certainly offers a fair share of scares and its plot is much more original than most movies that come out of the genre. Everything about this movie is great. The acting is strong, the scares aren't cheap and the twisted nature at which the story unfolds is terrifyingly great. The Taking of Deborah Logan is a must-see for more than fans of the subgenre; it is a must for any horror fan out there.