It can't be overstated that 2017 was a huge year for horror movies. We had the biggest movie of the year in IT & artistic credibility & social relevance with Get Out. Of course, this has meant zillions of silly think pieces from news outlets about how horror has suddenly become this valuable reflection of society's fears again, as if this hasn't been the case with good horror all along. But on the positive side, it means more backing, for horror blockbusters & indies alike. Which means 2018 will probably be an even better year for horror than 2017 was. So we got that going for us, which is nice. Anyway, here's my list...
10 | The Void
Weird Lovecraftian death cults, man. I love em. The Void had by far the best special effects this year, & was the most viscerally thrilling film I saw. It shared a lot in common with one of my picks from previous years, Baskin, but was lacking some of what made Baskin special. Namely, the the non-linear timeline.
You can listen to our episode on it here.
9 | The Killing of a Sacred Deer
It's about time Yorgos Lanthimos made a horror film. His movies are always uncomfortable, regardless of the genre. Might as well lean into it. This thriller in the vein of Michael Haneke's Cache uses that trademark Lanthimos skeevy awkwardness to full effect. Plus, the performances are great. Especially Barry Keoghan. Man, what a creepy role.
8 | Killing Ground
There hasn't been a really interesting "killers in the woods" movie since 2012's Black Rock, so I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this one. Not so surprisingly, it's another Australian film. Killing Ground's fractured timeline set it apart, as does the unexpected but refreshing final act.
You can listen to our episode on it here.
7 | The Girl with All the Gifts
The bar is set awfully high for zombie movies nowadays. I know plenty of people who refuse to watch another zombie movie regardless of how far afield that take on the mythology promises to be. I'll admit that's why it took me so long to watch this one. But, as usual, I was a fool. This is just as unique & fascinating as you've been told, & its star gives one of the very best performances of the year. Stop putting it off & watch this one already.
6 | We Go On
This movie's got the least name recognition on the list, & the premise isn't groundbreaking - a guy who's paralyzed by his fear of death offers a cash reward for proof of the afterlife. Sometimes a movie doesn't need to be groundbreaking to be good. We Go On is just a really solid ghost story, with all the warmth & humanity that's necessary for a movie about death (which is what ghost stories are, really) to be effective.
Listen to our episode on it here.
5 | Thelma
This was definitely the prettiest horror movie of 2017. Thelma rivals last year's The Eyes of My Mother in gorgeous shots illustrating the turmoil roiling under their heroine's meek exterior.
Listen to our episode on it here.
4 | mother!
I have no idea how this movie got a wide release. Seriously, do you know how many people have to sign off a wide release movie? Neither do I, but I'm sure it's a lot of people, & a lot of money. I love a scrappy indie success as much as the next guy, but the coolest story of 2017 is that Darren Aronofsky & Jennifer Lawrence were able to use their fame to trick mass audiences into watching an art film in the theater.
Listen to our episode on it here.
3 | Get Out
This was by far my most anticipated movie of 2017. I'd been excited since the first articles started hinting Jordan Peele was interested in making a horror movie. Watching his sketches you just knew he had a great understanding of horror & that he would have a cool approach. I also had a feeling it would be the smartest movie of the year. And look, I was right. Never doubt me!
Listen to our episode on it here.
2 | Raw
Yeah yeah, it's real gross. But look, going from a teenager to an adult can be a really gross process. And all the biting & the gnawing & the face chewing aside, this is one of the very best coming-of-age movies I've seen. All the gore is just a bonus.
Listen to our episode on it here.
1 | The Blackcoat's Daughter
Here's what it comes down to - I really like Oz Perkins's style. I like the subject matter, I like his approach, the way he paces his movies, who he casts, the music he uses, the books that inspire him, all of it. If I ever made a horror movie, I'd want it to be a lot like The Blackcoat's Daughter. Hopefully he keeps on making them for me. In case he's taking suggestions, hey Oz! If you could make the next one even more Satan-y, that would be cool. Keep up the good work!
You can listen to our episode on The Blackcoat's Daughter here.
Honorable Mentions
As discussed on the program, the Twin Peaks return was my favorite thing of 2017. As it was technically not a movie, it was not included. Also, it would be unfair to the other contestants to compare them to my main man Mr. Lynch. Beware the Slenderman was really great, but I wasn't sure how to fit in a documentary on the list. Lastly, two of my favorite movies of 2017, A Ghost Story & Colossal, were sort of kind of almost but not quite horror movies, so I didn't include them, either. But all these things are real good & Auntie Amy says to check em out! The end.
