BEST HORROR FILMS OF THE DECADE
In the past ten years, we have seen many things happen in the horror genre. We were introduced to J-Horror phenomenon that took the world by storm after The Ring. We were introduced to the dreaded “torture porn” phrase that got a negative connotation after the Hostel and Saw franchises, and we became cultured in foreign horror films. This past decade has offered many hits and misses in the genre and although picking the best horror films in the past ten years sounds as hard as picking the best booty call since the year 2000, I was still able to list what I thought should be considered as the crème of the crème in horror this decade. Read on to find out more and make sure to comment below with your picks.
Best Canadian Feature: GINGER SNAPS
Back in 2001, Ginger Snaps made a surprising impact and revived Canada’s love of horror with its tongue in cheek werewolf tale that mixed in the perfect amount of humor and scares and introduced fans to up and coming actress, Katherine Isabelle. PMS has never been so scary. Runners up: My Little Eye, Pontypool
Best French Horror Feature: HIGH TENSION
Many of you may be ready to debate me on this decision to name Alexandre Aja’s now cult film as the top French Horror film, but no one can deny that Aja’s home invasion horror film opened the doors for future French filmmakers to terrify us with ripped out baby foetuses and killer children. Although, the film has an imperfect twist at the end, it still is worthy to be recognized in this category. Runners up: Inside, Ils, Martyrs
Best Remake: DAWN OF THE DEAD
After Michael Bay opened Pandora’s Box with his Platinum Dune financed remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre in 2003, the world has been subjected to abysmal and pointless horror remakes ever since. However in 2004, newcomer Zack Snyder brought to the horror universe a remake of a beloved George Romero classic that had won over most horror aficionados after the film’s first crazy and apocalyptic nine minutes. I don’t care what you say; fast zombies are far scarier than slow zombies. Runners Up: The Hills Have Eyes, Funny Games
Best Sequel: THE DEVIL’S REJECTS
Many people will argue that this film is a stand alone film and that shouldn’t be considered a sequel to Rob Zombie’s directorial debut, The House of 1000 Corpses, however I think that’s a load of crap. Personally, if I hadn’t watched House of 1000 Corpses, I would have been slightly lost after the police raid at the beginning. The Devil’s Rejects took the Firefly family out of its surreal environment and put them in the real world where they appeared to be toned down yet no less terrifying than they were in the previous instalment. Now if only Halloween 2 was this good. Runners Up: Rec 2, 28 Weeks Later
Best Film Adaptation: THE MIST and THE RUINS (tie)
Frank Darabont (a.k.a “the Anti-Mick Garris) adapted yet another stellar film from the creepy mind of Stephen King in 2007 with The Mist. Unlike the hopeful ending in the original novella, Darabont chose to shoot a far more shocking and grim ending that not even the most devout horror fan could have seen coming. It was a bold yet appreciated decision.
Although not as good as The Mist, the survival horror film The Ruins definitely deserves recognition not only simply because it didn’t get it in its opening weekend when the dreaded Prom Night remake took the number one spot at the box office, (How did we let that happen?) but because Scott Smith (author of the novel and screenplay) made a creative move and fooled fans of the book by switching the character’s deaths and personalities in the script. Runner Up: Jack Ketchum’s The Girl Next Door
Best J-Horror Feature: BATTLE ROYALE
Japanese horror films seemed to explode onto the scene in 2000 when the remake for 1999’s Ringu came out and wowed American audiences. However, the most explosive J-horror film has to be 2000’s Battle Royale which involved a huge class of young students fighting each other to death in brutal and horrific ways. Lord of the Flies seems tame compared to this beast. No wonder it’s Quentin Tarantino’s favourite film this decade. Runners Up: The Eye, Ichi the Killer
Best Creature Feature: THE DESCENT
Neil Marshall may have won over horror fans with his 2002 werewolf film, Dog Soldiers. However, it was not until 2005 when he unleashed his creature feature from beyond the caves with The Descent. I have to give props to a director for filming a horror film with an all female cast! I had never been so terrified in a theatre before and can honestly say it was the scariest film experience this decade…however, it still wasn’t my favorite. Stay tuned… Runners Up: Creep, Feast
Best PG-13 Horror Film: DRAG ME TO HELL
I know picking the best Pg-13 rated horror film of the decade seems almost as fun as picking your best STD you’ve contracted in the last ten years, but I have to admit some original PG-13 horror films this past decade have surprised me; most notably Sam Raimi’s recent horror film, Drag me to Hell. Despite his dearly missed departure from the horror genre in the past decade, Raimi made sure to please fans in this last year with his welcome return to horror and proved that large amounts saliva and nose blood can replace R-rated gore seamlessly. Runners Up: Disturbia, The Others, The Ring
Best Anthology: TRICK R TREAT
For a while there I was afraid we would not see this make it on the list as it seemed extremely doubtful that Michael Dougherty’s much buzzed about film was ever going to see the light of the day. Thankfully, the film came out just in time for this year’s Halloween season and has pleased fans and critics alike. Instead of taking the four separate stories and splicing them together with only a ghastly narrator’s introduction as the sole connection to the stories, Trick ‘R Treat took a unique turn with a broken-narrative tale following five different stories that all take place on Halloween night. The premise alone is why the film deserves the spot in this category. Runner Up: Grindhouse
Best Horror Film Directed by an Actor: FRAILTY
Years after he was turned into a pile of crap onscreen and years before he would be known for the most famous polygamist on HBO, Bill Paxton made and starred in one of the most influential horror films this decade. Frailty was a sleeper hit in 2002 and its killer twist does not disappoint. Catch this subtext-heavy thriller if you haven’t already done so. Runners Up: The Tripper , Roman
Best Hand Held Horror Film: REC
In 1999, the world was taken aback by horror’s most famous venture into cinema verite with The Blair Witch Project. Ironically enough, it took nearly ten years for filmmakers to capitalize on the trendy sub-genre and Rec is definitely the most beloved from the past ten years. The surprisingly decent remake Quarantine hardly made a splash into the hearts of most horror fans as they were still shell-shocked from their Rec experience to bother with it. Runners Up: Paranormal Activity, S&Man
Best Horror Comedy: BEHIND THE MASK: THE RISE OF LESLIE VERNON
It has been three years since Behind the Mask wowed me over in the film festival circuit, and I am still impressed by its fresh and beyond creative concept that deconstructs the slasher genre in the most intelligent manner I’ve ever seen. This low-budget mockumentary is something I will continue to show to friends for years to come. Runners Up: Shaun of the Dead, Severance, Hatchet
Best Vampire Film: LET THE RIGHT ONE IN
Thanks to Stephenie Meyer, vampires have made a huge comeback over the past couple of years for a PG-13 audience, however some vampire films have fortunately have had far more bite than the dreaded Twilight films. Last year, Let The Right One In won over critics with its beautifully shot tale of adolescent angst in the film festival circuit. Despite the fact fans were robbed with a poorly subtitled DVD release, it is still able to win top spot for best vampire film in my opinion. Runners up: Blade 2, 30 Days of Night
Favorite Horror Film of the Decade: IDENTITY
In 2003, I fell in love with James Mangold’s underrated psychological thriller and found it amazing how the clever twists at the end of the movie were made so obvious in the title, poster and spoiler-heavy trailer, yet were still surprising to see when revealed. I saw this film multiples times in theatres and on DVD and it still holds up to this very day.
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Does anyone know of any mind blowing horror films that I can find a torrent for right now? I am waiting on Paranormal Activity 2, but there are no good copies right now.
ESBA20002009 Reply:
December 20th, 2010 at 9:26 pm
what type of horror films are you into?
my top 10 goes
1-frontier(s).2-28 weeks later.3-the descent.4-REC.5-let the right one in. 6-martyrs.7-saw2.8-the midnight meat train.9-switchblade romance.10-inside
Anonymous Reply:
January 22nd, 2011 at 9:00 am
Try the Collector. long time since a movie actually scared me, thi one did it.
crismil Reply:
February 1st, 2011 at 11:16 pm
watch the exorsism of emily rose you can download the torrent from torrentdownloads.net
Billie Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 12:55 am
this is a crap movie…most of it is filmed in a court room…
ketty Reply:
March 27th, 2011 at 8:03 am
omg crappest film ever i switched it off about halfway through i was so bored!
Richard Tógálaí Bhoy Wallace Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 7:13 pm
Poor!!!!
I love your list. I’ve seen all of these except Trick R Treat, and I agree that these are some of the best horror flicks of the past decade.
faggots
horrorchic Reply:
January 3rd, 2011 at 10:06 pm
SMDH…
Richie bhoy Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 6:54 pm
what a fraggle to put such a non educated delinquent on this site
Ight, Ill check out the ones I havent seen. I think THE RING changed the “Entire” film industry. It popularized and opened the door for alot of different sub-genres of horror. Horror/suspence/thrillers have all been better ever since.
Anonymous Reply:
January 11th, 2011 at 12:17 am
Your dumb. That was the wort horro flick ever made
Anonymous Reply:
February 8th, 2011 at 1:53 am
“your dumb” YOUR dumb? like they own a dumb? nice flame fail fool.
crismil Reply:
February 10th, 2011 at 1:57 am
you asshole ..you should watch CANNIBEL HOLOCAUST…if you have balls…..
Jonny Tyson Reply:
March 22nd, 2011 at 3:05 am
If you have balls??..haha..its a piss poor movie you gaywod
Horrorchic Reply:
January 11th, 2011 at 8:45 am
Personally I think “The Ring” is one of the most overrated horror films of the decade. Many fans found it to be scary though, oh well to each his own.
I agree with Crazy Joe. “The Ring” is a really good horror film.
fuckwit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the original ring is by far better than the dumbed down american sack of shit ,you really have to be a fucking moron not to see that.
My top 10 films of the decade will include
Audition (was it in 1999 that it was released?)
Three Extremes
Thirst
I agree with many of the choices that the writer gives here! Cheers!
fucking foreigners suck long hard american dick.. i got big plan for you….aliens coming soon for your fucking dumb asses.
AMERICAN FOR LIFE
( nasty germans)
( filthy frenchmen)
(dirty fuckin spics)
Dobbo151 Reply:
January 31st, 2011 at 3:43 pm
Glad to see that you have a perspicacious view on the world of international cinema.
If you are making reference to our backsides, I think that you will find that the correct spelling is in fact ‘arses.’
Get back to your trailer, Jim-Bob.
DOBBO151 is awesome Reply:
February 2nd, 2011 at 9:23 am
HAHAHAAH touche dude
Rawr Reply:
February 11th, 2011 at 5:22 pm
I want to rate this comment up so bad. I think I’m in love you with.
Anonymous Reply:
February 7th, 2011 at 5:10 pm
obv fagg with no life is obv
Fighter Reply:
March 23rd, 2011 at 11:20 am
What an idiot!
How can the remake of the hills have eyes not be there or even hostel.
All recent Bryan Singer movies have been horrific?
watch CANNIBEL HOLOCAUST
Jon Reply:
February 10th, 2011 at 9:36 am
The best of the Italian Cannibal genre. Second is Man from Deep River.
crismil Reply:
February 17th, 2011 at 1:43 am
man from the deep river…..i am searching a torrent for this movie..should be a good flick
shide Reply:
February 18th, 2011 at 10:47 pm
What about 120 days of sodom…..
crismil Reply:
February 26th, 2011 at 2:50 am
do you really think that the decent is so good…i dont think so….its just an avg movie with no surpricing screenplay….
THE 12 DAY SMILE
is a good horror movie
‘Martyrs’ was disturbing. Makes ‘The Ring’ look like a Disney movie. The scary part is that the experiment has likely been tried sometime, somewhere, by some ‘entity’ or another.
r
umm, The Eye isn’t a Japanese film…
Anonymous Reply:
March 23rd, 2011 at 4:22 pm
the original is….
Fred Jones Reply:
April 6th, 2011 at 3:07 pm
…no. It really wasn’t.
All three films in the Gin Gwai series are Cantonese.
the last house ion the left and the hills have eyes remake should have been in there, properly deviant stuff and scarey as phook, as for the moron’s who can’t stop arguiing…. give it a break
crismil Reply:
February 26th, 2011 at 2:56 am
watch event horizon
Anonymous Reply:
March 18th, 2011 at 11:16 pm
agreed, that was one of two films that actually gave me nightmares, and the first one was one I watched when I was 10
nun of these films are tat good yeah never get scary films tat make you scream or jump good watching ones are all the freddy krugers, i spit on your grave, chuckys, jason vs fredy, all the saws, the wrong turn, halloween,Train, jeepers creepers, and theres a few more but none off them are too scary any one got one to shut me up ???
This was a great, well thought out and indepth list. I have seen almost all of the movies on here and agree whole-heartedly with you on your choices. The ones I haven’t seen I’ll definitely check out.
The Descent, [REC] and The Ruins were all super scary. As in probably in the top 10 for scariest movies I’ve seen this decade. And I watch a lot of movies.
Identity is one of my face ever films but not sure I’d class it as horror. There’s been no really great horrors lately. We need a good producer to dust off some old Steven King, Clive Barker and James Herbert books. Then we’d see a good horror!
I haven’t seen a lot of these, but i’m surprised 1408 wasn’t mentioned. Not exactly horror, but it was just one of those movies where the first twist makes you think ‘well that ruined the movie’, then the next twist just blows your mind. Plus the ending gave me chills, most horror movies now aren’t subtle enough to do that.
Richie bhoy Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 7:03 pm
I think you answered your own question there dude!
not exactly horrors but undoubtedly one of the most brutal films ive seen “The Girl Next Door”. Worth a watch once it gets into it, also “The Human Centipede” pretty awesome film hard whether to say its horror or not.
Anonymous Reply:
March 23rd, 2011 at 11:16 am
Human centipede is a terrible movie, absolutely awful. Acting is laughable, predictable and s**t throughout. Ending is worse!
It relies on people that just want to see a human centipede, I just hope they dont make human millipede.
1408
Eden Lake
The Uninvited
Baby Blues
The Loved Ones
I like them!
Fred Jones Reply:
April 6th, 2011 at 3:10 pm
The Uninvited was pathetic.
Watch the original Korean flick it butchered, A Tale Of Two Sisters.
I’m surprised the human centipede didn’t make the charts. pity.
if some one is interested in intense movie then must watch Coming Soon (thai), Bunshinsaba (Jap), Audtion (Jap) and Silent hill.
I hope you would enjoy them. Good movies.
Top 5
A nightmare on elm street. (epic)
Exorcist.
Poltergeist
Exorcist 2
Friday the 13th
i watched these when i was young and i have to say i watched them recently and wish i hadn’t but to be totally frank they scared me shitless when i was younger!
hey there sould be case 39 .. its really good one
mine list is
1 case 39
2 a nightmare on elm street
3 exorcits the big.
4 aamitable horror
5 the haunting
6 the house on the honted hill
mine is final destination, final destination 2, final destination 3 and The final destination,, how is it?