Happy 2018, ya little creeps! Welcome to my list. I did miss out on seeing a few horror offerings from 2017 that probably would have made the cut. But from the grip of movies I did see, here’s my favorites.

Honorable Mention | The Shape of Water dir. Guillermo del Toro

This movie is not a horror movie. So I won’t try to shove it on to my top 10. BUT it is a creature movie. And it is Guillermo, who I consider to be modern day horror royalty, while also a potential future husband of mine.

10 | Mother! dir. Darren Aronofsky

I love me a good old fashion polarizing piece of art. I’m a big fan of Aronofsky and his genre defying works. This movie is at times horrific, lordy yes. Whether you loved it or hated it, this movie gets people talking and thinking. That’s the type of discussion Aunt Sandy lives for.

9 | Annabelle: Creation dir. David F. Sandberg

As a big fan of the creepy doll trope, this movie did not disappoint. Unlike that first Annabelle stand alone, which really disappointed. How about the cast of great young actresses here? Wow. I enjoy a period horror piece that manages to feel authentic. AC nicely has a tie in to the upcoming Nun/Valak feature in a way that makes me excited to explore more of this Conjuring universe.

8 | Happy Death Day dir. Christopher Landon

I am a sucker for a “teen scream” vibe horror movie. Good or terrible, I usually enjoy them. Happy Death Day stood out for me because it was smart, funny, ultimately self-referential, but still gives the audience some scares and violence for their time. The casting choices here were spot on, especially with Jessica Rothe managing to carry this movie on her shoulders. A lesser actress wouldn’t have the charisma and chops to pull it off like she did.

7 | 1922 dir. Zak Hilditch

Based on a phenomenal short story by the master, Stephen King, comes another historical horror offering. Director and writer Hilditch managed to craft something true to the novella, but still strong enough to stand on its own. Thomas Jane embodies the role of Wilfred James to a disturbing level. Can someone give this man an acting trophy, please?

6 | Creep 2 dir. Patrick Brice

A damn fine horror sequel. Yes, you most definitely can see Creep 2 without having seen Creep, but do yourself a favor and watch both of these fantastic films. Mark Duplass is a serial killer in a rut. Will filmmaker Sara help him get his grove back? I was happy with Desiree Akhavan as the badass lady documentarian who manages to stand toe-to-toe with one of the creepiest of creeps around. Thanks for the memories, Aaron…er…or is it Josef? Who the hell knows.

5 | Gerald’s Game dir. Mike Flanagan

Mr. Flanagan has become one of my most favorite horror directors. Mike and Jeff Howard managed to make a fantastic adaptation of a Stephen King story. Like many female horror fans, I devoured this feminist psychological thriller. I felt an emotional connection to Jesse, a true survivor, beautifully played by Carla Gugino. Let’s hope 2018 gives us more kickass women.

4 | IT dir. Andy Muschietti

One of my favorite King novels got one hell of a face lift in 2017. The changes made were completely justified and did nothing but add dimension and originality to the story. The heart, humor, and nostalgia rang true to the book. This young ensemble cast can outperform actors twice their age. Perhaps most importantly? The movie is creepy af.

3 | Raw dir. Julia Ducournau

This movie was love at first viewing. Raw was a breath of cool air for me. Here is one of those stories that makes me excited for all the places horror can go in the future. Mix together a girl’s coming of age tale, body horror, cannibal feasting, and gore. Serve fresh.

2 | The Blackcoat’s Daughter dir. Oz Perkins

Hi Oz Perkins. Keep making horror films and I will gobble each one up. Another female led cast on my list, and deservedly so. Cold, bleak, beautiful, fatalistic, and unsettling. This was one of those scary tales that grabbed me and hasn’t relinquished its hold after several months and viewings.

1 | Get Out dir. Jordan Peele

Sometimes, the hype is real. Those of us in the horror community know that our beloved genre has depth. Our movies (and books) often get looked over by the snobs out there despite the social messages and cultural reflections they offer. Once in a while, a horror film can break through that elitist crust and remind the world we are here, we are smart, and we have good stuff to offer. Get Out added something important and relevant to a national conversation about ethnicity in our country. It also managed to do it while being creepy, inventive, and entertaining as hell.

Arguably, there is no bigger transformation in this life than becoming a mother. I’ve heard friends describe it as having your heart running around outside of your body. That sounds terrifying, and there are tons of horror movies out there with themes of all aspects of motherhood. If you ask me, the real horror story is what happens to your body when you get pregnant (I know it’s a beautiful miracle, but it’s also pretty intense). With Mother’s Day coming up, I thought it would be fun to take a look at 5 horror movies with themes about motherhood, pregnancy, or the lack thereof:

1. Proxy (2013) Not Rated

Directed by Zak Parker, Written by Zak Parker and Kevin Donner

Proxy is the story of 3 people who have suffered the loss of a child. Whoof, heavy stuff. I’m going to be honest, it doesn’t get any lighter from here on out. I caught sight of Proxy when it was on Netflix, and I’m glad I gave it the two tries it required to enjoy this little treat. Premiering at the Toronto Film Festival in 2013, it received generally favourable reviews but it’s got one of those tricky endings that tends to polarize people.
At the film’s open we are introduced to Esther, quite visibly pregnant, being viciously attacked by an unknown assailant. Her unborn baby is killed in the attack and through her grief over the loss, Esther comes to join a support group. There she is received by like-minded people who may not be what they seem. I enjoyed the drama and suspense of Proxy, and relished in some scandalous ideas about the lengths people will go - and actions they can forgive - for the people they love. I recommend it, with an open mind.

2. Rosemary's Baby (1968) Rated R

Written (screenplay) and Directed by Roman Polanski

Of course, the first title that comes to my mind when I think of motherhood is Rosemary’s Baby. A well-known classic, and one of my favourite films of all time. Rosemary’s Baby tells the tale of a young couple moving into a new apartment building. Shortly after their occupancy, Rosemary becomes pregnant, and things start to spiral from there. Mia Farrow’s portrayal of a whisper-thin mother-to-be descending into paranoia at the hands of her neighbours is perfect. Her innocence and determination adds a plausibility to the idea of what could go on inside the mind of a young mother who listens to her sixth sense. Or her 666th sense. Get it? Heh heh. I definitely recommend this one, it’s a must.

3. Antichrist (2009) Not Rated

Written and Directed by Lars Von Trier

If you’ve never watched a Lars Von Trier movie, this one probably shouldn’t be your first. That being said, Antichrist has some of the strongest themes about motherhood I can think of. It wrestles with the darkest ideas of what it means to be a mom, and thoughts nobody wants to talk about. Of course, that’s only if your brain can get past the bizarre animal symbolism and graphic genital “situation”. Antichrist begins with another unfortunate child death (which takes place while the kid is unsupervised due to some passionate marital bliss). While recovering from this trauma, the couple heads to the woods where things get crazy. Mainly, she gets crazy. If we know anything by now, it’s that bad things happen in the woods. Charlotte Gainsbourg, as always, approaches her role with a fearlessness I can only admire. This is just a movie I can’t stop talking about. Watch it so I have somebody to talk to.

4. Grace (2009) Rated R

Written and Directed by Paul Solet

I have to admit, the cover of Grace used to give me the heebie jeebies at the video store (remember when we had video stores?) so I avoided it for a long time. Babies already kind of creep me out, so the idea of one that gets sustenance from a bottle full of blood is less than appealing. However, one viewing was enough to show me the other side of the “devoted parent.” Grace, of course, is the name of the unborn (and deceased) child inside of Madeline who insists on carrying to term. After the delivery, her baby comes back to life with an unusual appetite. For blood. Clearly Madeline is the type of doting mother who will go to the next level to care for her child, and the level after that. It’s gross guys, and it’s not that good. I don’t recommend it. But it’s a good creepy example of a deranged mother’s devotion to her child.

5. Inside (2007) Rated R

Written and Directed by Alexandre Bustillo, Julien Maury

Who doesn’t love a little bit of French extremism? Everything’s better in France. The food, the wine, the shocking and unrelenting gore. Inside is a story about a young pregnant woman who survives a devastating crash and is then harassed by a woman who wants her unborn child. Things are not going well for her. I’ve had this movie recommended to me several times, so I finally had the chance to check it out. I think we can say right off the bat there’s some questionable baby CGI happening reminiscent of an early 00s music video. Somehow this doesn’t completely detract from the film. I seem to remember watching a similar movie around Y2K with Daryl Hannah called Hide and Seek that was like an episode of some kid’s show, comparatively. The gore in this film is shocking, violent and intense. On the other hand, Inside is extremely suspenseful and I found myself suffering through the depravity for that reason alone. Do I recommend it? Sure, why not. At a brisk hour 22 minutes, it’s worth a shot.

I left out some obvious contenders that deserve a mention: Mommy Dearest, Psycho, The Brood, Lyle (internal link), and The Babadook (internal link) to name just a few. Not all of them carry themes as dark as the ones in the list above. Our relationships with our parents is often complicated, so I think we can all relate to the underlying ideas presented in these films whether we’re parents or not. After all, isn’t mankind’s basic instinct to reproduce? Well, not mine as long as I can still get poutine in the middle of the night without having to worry about leaving my child unattended.

Becky is one of The Bloodlust's newest contributors, hailing from the West Coast of Canada, where she resides with her pet rabbit. When she's not devouring horror movies, she spends her time playing video games, cooking, and going to local comedy shows. She enjoys body horror, psychological horror, and anything that makes her feel weird for a few days after.

~ Becky (@bexbz)

Best Horror of 2017 | Sandra's Picks