2019 is promised to be a juicy year with some of the most demented remakes, compelling originals, and suspenseful sequels. Below is TBHM's horror movie poll for 2019. We want you to pick your favorite horror movie out this year and you never know maybe your pick will make the top 9 list as we will watch every single one of them to ensure they are worthy!
The most demented
Velvet Buzzsaw (31 January 2019)
Director: Dan Gilroy
Writer:Dan Gilroy
Starring:Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Toni Collette
Synopsis:Velvet Buzzsaw is a collage of the greatest actors and actresses in the movie industry who portray some of the most ambiguous characters afflicted with greed, ambition, and lovelessness. This premise is an expose on the human condition. It follows Josephina who works for Rhodora Haze at her art gallery. Josephina stumbles upon an art cache of hundreds of art pieces from a peculiar dead old man's apartment. Rhodora offers to exhibit the paintings at her gallery which instantly incited buzz from everyone; even from Morf played by Jake who is one of the most prestigious and influencing art critic in Los Angeles. All parties involved could have accumulated wealth beyond Jeff Bezos with the sales. However, this kind of art has its own voice, it is thirsting to be heard and it wants to consume you.
"Art Darko is so in!"
"The Hoboman can't save you!"
"Thou art what thou crave"
"They see right through your souls"
"Velvet Buzzsaw will saw right through you"
The most frightening movie
The Prodigy (8 February 2019)
Director: Nicholas McCarthy
Writer:Jeff Buhler
Starring: Taylor Schilling, Colm Feore, Jackson Robert Scott, Peter Mooney
Synopsis:I was reluctant to go watch The Prodigy with Steve Pearson (Sounds like a super hero, I can tell you he is my joker) because it gave me a feel of Case 39 and I did not want to step on my soulmate's affinity for unhappy endings (All are welcome in my book). Alas, I was in the mood for a big bad scare and let me tell you, The Prodigy did just that. They pushed the envelop with this child actor as Miles portrayed a perverse little creep so well. Miles was born on the same night, a serial women killer was shot dead. Miles grows up to be talented beyond his years with a side of sinister. I went with my bf to watch the movie when it first came out, he liked it, I was iffy and bewildered by this trope. Overall, the characters were well developed and Jackson is simply exquisite in every scene. The premise explores a different angle in outer, and inner body experiences. Don't expect any happy endings.
"Miles!"
"He doesn't feel much like himself!"
"He is simply not himself"
"The Prodigy is skin deep creepy"
The best horror movie
Us (22 March 2019)
Director: Jordan Peele
Writer:Jordan Peele
Starring:Lupita Nyong'o, Winston Duke, Anna Diop, Elizabeth Moss
Synopsis:A family of four decides to take a vacation in Santa Cruz to get away from their hectic lifestyle. With relaxation in mind, they set out to have a dope time starting with a "dope" song. The Wilsons could have never predicted what nightmare was going to befall them. It's one of those movies that keeps you on edge through its entirety. It is the scariest movie of 2019 thus far, with a message so profound if you blank you might miss it as there are subtle hints throughout. This Jordan Peele cinematic experience was influenced by 7 spectacular movies and you will get the feels while watching "Us". A must see!
"A rap song could never be so eerie; then again it's a Jordan Peele film!"
The most misunderstood
The Curse of La Llorona (19 April 2019)
Director: Michael Chaves
Writer: Mikki Daughtry, Tobias Laconis
Starring:Linda Cardellini, Raymond Cruz, Patricia Velasquez
Synopsis:La Llorona aka the weeping woman is a ghost with long wet black hair, wearing white and always wailing for drowning her sons in a fit of rage in a river. Legend has it, that she lures unloved kids or orphans by crying and covering her hideous face that was once angelic with her hair or her vail. There are various versions to her story in Mexican folklore that are mentioned and depicted in several shows like Grimm (Season 2 Episode 9) and films like La Llorona (1960). However, this Michael Chaves adaptation is by far, the most terrifying one yet. Yes there are a lot of naysayers out there, recommending people to skip this movie due to their discontentment of the characterization, themes, and location. I myself truly think there were things they could have done differently which by no means reduce the film in its capacity to deliver creepy, nightmare-inducing scenes and another cinematic platform to a folk tale with so many versions that can be explored. Sometimes that is all we crave from a scary movie not a legend authenticity stamp.
Synopsis: Ma tells the story of a lonely, obsessive and disturbed middle aged woman who experiences her mid-life crisis very differently than most. She allows teenagers to party like rockstars in her basement as long as they follow the house rules. Simple as that! But we all know two things are bound to give...Ma's unhinged personality and millennials' blatant aversion for rules. It is a purely demented premise and I recommend a watch!
"Ma is not your average psycho!"
TBHM Tip #13: Death is the shadow of creation, one cannot exist without the other!