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         Most visceral of 2018
Most Visceral of 2018

TBHMManiacs standup!

 

Let us know which horror movie strike your fancy in 2018. Cast your votes and the highest rated ones will be picked as your top 8 at the end of the year. 

Get your horror on!


Date Latest Polls Votes
04-Apr-18 Most Visceral of 2018 10 votes

Thank you all for your votes. 2018 was an epic year as far as horror movies go. We have seen romantic/action horror that defy all logic like "Mandy", horror films that are as gory as they are bloody like "Apostle" and ghost stories that are down right not for the faint of hearts like "The Little Stranger". Without further ado, please find below our top 8 horror movies of 2018.  

I

Bird Box (21 December 2018)

Director: Susanne Bier

Writer: Josh Malerman, Eric Heisserer 

Starring: Sandra Bullock, John Malkovich, Trevante Rhodes, Danielle McDonald, Lil Rel Howery, Jacki Weaver, Machine Gun Kelly, Sarah Paulson, Julian Edwards, Vivien Lyra Blair

Synopsis: Bird Box delivers with an impeccable cast, a suspenseful non-linear storyline, seen and unseen boogeymen. I was hooked from the very first scene. Bird Box takes you on a journey, yes literally and figuratively. It is an unwanted pregnancy, birthing, apocalyptic, post-apocalyptic and survivalistic trope all wrapped into one; similarly to World War Z, it shows you the before, the during and the after. It also reminded me of The Mist, The Crazies, A Quiet Place and Lost. It felt original yet there were moments in it that resonated with a previous memory and caused me to thirst even more. The characters are not unique but uber compelling; they are smart, heartless, heroic, vindictive, idiotic, wimpy, funny and serious when they need to be. Bird Box is a complex story with various themes, but at the end of the day, it is the story of a disciplined and reluctant mother who finds herself pinned down with the fall of civilization and the emergence of evil spirits that force sane people to commit suicide once they "see" them. You will have to be completely impenetrable not to be immersed in the Bird Box. 

Level of Horror: Supernatural, Biblical End of Days, Demonic Apocalypse, Survivalistic

 

 

"Bird Box is a how to for the end of days"

 

II 

 A Quiet Place (6 April 2018)

Director: John Krasinski

Writers: John Krasinski, Scott Beck, Bryan Woods

Starring: John Krasinski, Emily Blunt

Synopsis: This real life couple pairs up to greet the silver screen with some of the best performances as of yet. They are stunningly gripping. The children played by Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe and Cade Woodward are exquisite as well in their roles. Each camera angle, each little movement, each sound just sends waves of involuntary emotions throughout. We do not know what to fear yet in the first scene but we can sense something otherworldly indeed will cause many shrieks. This is a superb movie that sends a powerful message - Even if it's the end of the world as we know it, parents have the obligation to care for their children and to fight for their survival. 

Level of Horror: Supernatural, Post-Apocalyptic, Extraterrestrial Horror, Survivalistic

"Pure Mindf*ck"

 

III

 Hereditary (8 June 2018)

Director: Ari Aster

Writers: Ari Aster

Starring: Toni Collette, Alex Wolff, Gabriel Byrne, Milly Shapiro

Synopsis: I love Toni Collette but I never pictured her in such a terrifying premise. All I can tell you is to get ready to scream like a little school girl on her first Halloween night. All in all there are more WTF moments in that film than all four seasons of "1000 ways to die". It is a great watch that deals with family secrets, witchcraft, the devil Paimon, and how a mother's death and secrets can change a family for the worse.  

Level of Horror: Supernatural, Satanic Cult, Dark Family Secrets

"Dial H for horrifying as hell"

 

IV

Mandy (30 October 2018)

Director: Panos Cosmatos

Writers: Panos Cosmatos, Aaron Stewart-Ahn

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Andrea Riseborough, Linus Roache

Synopsis: Mandy is only the name of the most action packed horror movie of 2018. At times, you will wonder if you are on an acid trip with the characters. Mandy tells the story of two happy lovebirds named Red and Mandy with some history of violence. They live in seclusion away from the rest of civilization. Alas, their peace and quiet is abruptly disrupted when crazed cult members kidnap Mandy because the cult leader wanted her to love him on command but when unable to accept the fact that love just does not work like that, he kills Mandy in front of Red. Needless to say, what ensued next is not for the faint of hearts. Red played by Nicolas Cage defies all laws to avenge Mandy. 

Level of Horror: Slasher, psychedelic, Phantasmagoric Cult

"The things we will do for love"

 

V

Suspiria (26 October 2018)

Director: Luca Guadagnino

Writers: Dario Argento, Daria Nicolodi

Starring: Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinson, Chloë Grace Moretz

Synopsis: A hauntingly well reimagined version of the classic 1977 film. All of the women in that premise transcend in their roles. Be warned it is a two hour and a half watch of intense epically grueling conceptualization of the witchcraft-horror subgenre. Guaranteed to make you feel on edge and violated through and through!

Level of Horror: Supernatural, Witchcraft, Coven for dancers

"Dark as hell"

 

VI

 Cam (16 November 2018)

Director: Daniel Goldhaber

Writer: Isa Mazzei

Starring: Madeline Brewer, Imani Hakim, Melora Walters

Synopsis: Cam was so raw, while watching it I kept repeating "I cannot believe they are showing us all of this". They went into so much detail with every scene. Madeline undoubtedly played the roles of Alice and Lola with palpable emotion and candor, she was convincingly fresh. The premise is about a cam girl named Alice who uses the pseudonym Lola to work as a sex cam girl. Alice is very ambitious, strategic, and unequivocally systematic. She has strict rules to keep her online life separate from her personal one. But it all comes to a screeching halt when she becomes a victim of cyber identity theft. When she tried to report it, one of the cops expressly hit on her because of her profession while the other told her to stay off the net if she does not want to be taken advantage of, and that they had real crimes to solve. What a couple of douchebags one would say, but that is the Lolas' reality. Ironically, that line of work, even though it's not the same as sex work in real life, still considered as such and frown upon by the same society that consumes it. Through her tenacity, she devises a plan that will not leave her unscathed to reclaim her virtual life. I recommend this movie to adults whole-heartedly!

Level of Horror: Cyber Horror, exploitation, Cyber Slashing

 

"Cyber-hell but so addicting"

 

VII 

 Apostle (12 October 2018)

Director: Gareth Evans

Writers: Gareth Evans

Starring: Dan Stevens, Lucy Boynton, Mark Lewis Jones 

Synopsis: Apostle tells the story of Thomas Richardson, a drifter and brother who travels to a remote island occupied by a religious cult to rescue his kidnapped sister in 1905. The men on the island hide behind the church to conduct their dirty deeds. The island is built on blood pacts literally. To save his sister, he will be subjected to the seven circles of hell and back. It had a lot of similarities with "The Wicker Man" but a whole lot darker.

Level of Horror: Supernatural, Religious Cult, Abduction

 

"A cultish tale"

 

VIII

Summer of 84 (10 August 2018)

Director: Gareth Anouk Whissell, Yoann-Karl Whissell, Francois Simard 

Writers: Steven J. Smith, Matt Leslie

Starring: Graham Verchere, Judah Lewis, Tiera Skovbye, Rich Sommer, Caleb Emery

Synopsis: The movie started out with Davey narrating the story of the Cape May Slayer and emphasizing on the notion that a serial killer always lives next door to someone. Davey has three friends that he coerces into helping him to gather "evidence" on his neighbor Mackey, the cherished police officer of his hometown. We learn that the Cape May Slayer is responsible for 13 deaths and Davey, the son of the journalist that covered the story, is certain that Mackey is the slayer disguising himself as the reliable and friendly neighbor in their suburban community. The cinematography was well captured as you would feel that you have traveled back in time, 1984 to be exact. Summer of 84 was fluid and contained all of the hallmark of a 80's movie: 80's music? check; hottie spending unnervingly a lot of time with a nerd? check; band of nerds? check; PG rated voyeurism? check; band of nerds riding bicycles? double check; 80's game? check; super hot neighbor? check, check; psycho killer? double check. This movie had a variety of WTF moments for instance, the basement full of "souvenirs", the "bathtub", the "family" pictures all over the house but the ending was the best. Beware kids get snatched outside!

Level of Horror: Slasher, Serial Killer on the loose, 80's movie

Oh no...kids played outside (manhunt) in the 80's...

 

 

Worthy Mentions

The Endless (23 March 2018)

Director: Justin Benson, Aaron Moorhead

Writers: Justin Benson

Starring: Justin Benson, AAron Moorhead

Synopsis: Two brothers, Justin and Aaron, in an attempt to find solace after escaping an UFO cult over ten years ago, go right back to the denomination to obtain closure after viewing a convincingly potent video message about the sect. It is more than just a cult movie, it is about brotherhood and sacrifice when all things seem murky. This independent movie is a complete mind-melt! Prepare yourselves for an epic twist!

"This movie will keep you on edge through its entirety"

 The Nun (7 September 2018)

Director: Corin Hardy

Writers: James Wan, Gary Dauberman

Starring: Taissa Farmiga, Demian Bichir, Bonnie Aarons

Synopsis: When a young nun is found dead in a noose, outside a rustic castle turned into an Abbey due to its dark secret; the Vatican gets involved and an investigation manned by a presumed seasoned priest and a psychic novitiate ensues only to add more possessions to the possessed count. The Nun had a whole lot of well-timed jump scares and a rather authentic storyline. However, I could not help to feel that both the priest and the novitiate were too easily frightened throughout the film, simply they should have been more equipped and capable as they were selected by the Vatican after all. 

"Nuns are always scary at night"

 

The Little Stranger (31 August 2018)

Director: Lenny Abrahamson

Writers: Lucinda Coxon, Sarah Waters

Starring: Domhnall Gleeson, Will Poulter, Charlotte Rampling, Ruth Wilson 

Synopsis: Based on the 2009 novel of the same name, this ghost story is nothing short of depth and suspense. A country doctor newly assigned to a mysterious family in a dilapidated mansion will find that there is always more that meets the eye when it comes to mental illness and a big old house. Dr. Faraday's past and future are forever intertwined with the Ayres but does he know?  

"A gothic tale"

 

 Hell Fest (28 September 2018)

Director: Gregory Plotkin

Writers: Chris Sey, Seth M. Sherwood

Starring: Bex Taylor-Klaus, Amy Forsyth

Synopsis: On a Halloween night, all scares are welcomed in a theme park outfitted to serve up fake bloody kills. But an unhinged killer is on the loose at the park. How long will it take everyone to suspect something is wrong? I could not help to think this premise is a brainchild of Westworld meets Scream.  

"Scary as hell"

 


 

13 Creepy Shorts to Evil For

 

Happy New Year TBHMManiacs!!!

 

"The best horror movies inspire good or evil in the living, depending on their essence"

 

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