Chris Savage’s Best Horror Films of 2013

As the year draws to a close we look back at the year in hand and what a year 2013 has been. There has pretty much never been a dull moment when it comes to the horror genre. We have had a slew of remakes, some stunning indie flicks and some iconic characters returning to the screen once more. Damn, it sure has been one hell of a ride.

But with so many films it’s impossible to view them all, but none-the-less, I have seen some pretty stellar films this year and below you can see a handful of my choices and I love each and every last one of them. So, in no particular order, here is my best horror picks for the last year.

American Mary

Wow! Where do I start with this sucker? Even before the film began rolling there was a ton of buzz behind the project. Jen & Sylvia Soska previously took us all in with Dead Hooker in a Trunk, so obviously, those who liked it where in anticipation to see their latest, and damn, it was a blast. The film follows the world of body modification and takes us deep into its dark underbelly, and with Katharine Isabelle pulling off a wonderful performance as Mary, the film just fell into place. it was in parts surreal, extraordinary and pretty damn awesome.

Maniac

I was not expecting this. When I first heard of a remake of maniac, I practically wrote it off, I mean how could you top the original? How about the shotgun scene? I just didn’t think they had a hope in hell, but damn, was I wrong. They took the film and gave us some of the most unnerving viewing i have seen in quite some time. The use of the first person perspective gave us such a harrowing experience and it just worked. It didn’t totally change things, it just gave us a new and refreshing take on the original story and gave us what we wanted, a horror movie and it’s a freakin’ remake!

Grabbers

All hail the creature feature! Grabbers is a fantastic little gem and mixes horror and comedy so well. It’s done well. Usually there is that fine line between comedy and horror, but I think they just about got it without going too much in either direction. But saying that, it was ridiculous, but ridiculously fun, it’s a charming little creature feature with a lot of heart, and the idea behind it is just genius. What a great excuse to get totally wasted! Bring on the beer and bring on the Grabbers!

Evil Dead

I can’t believe this, but I have two remakes in my best films of the year. It’s not right is it? But when a remake is as good as this, it just belongs and quite frankly, it should be on ever horror fans’ best of list. Fede Alvarez had one hell of a challenge with this one, do you go too far and totally change things, or play it too safe and give us a scene for scene remake? Well, he did his own thing, but keeping it within the Evil Dead world and it was just freakin’ brutal! The massacre which unfolded within those cabin walls was just unheard of, this was off the chain!

If you’re after horror, this is it right here, and yes, it’s a remake but a remake with balls and I loved it!

Resolution

This one here pretty much crept up on me from out of no where and I’m so glad it found me, or was it I that found it? Either way  Justin Benson and Aaron Scott Moorhead’s Resolution is totally unique. This sucker has a sharply written script which is portrayed perfectly on the film, as we follow the character Michael Danube attempt to help his junkie friend, but of course all is most definitely not what it seems.

It’s a witty, twisted, and very clever little indie flick that I will be checking out many times to try to understand it better. It is a slow-burn flick, but if you stay for the ride I guarantee you it will be worth it.

So that’s that. If you’re yet to see some of the above mentioned films, I’m pretty sure they’re all available on Netflix to view. So, another year down and 2014 is already looking absolutely stellar from a slew of indie features that I have my eye on like Truth or Dare, Circus of the Dead, A Grim Becoming, The Battery and Children of Sorrow to name but a few. And then there are such films as Big Bad Wolves, Proxy, The Returned, The Sacrament, Godzilla and many, many more.

What are your favorite films this past year, and what are you looking forward to in 2014?