*Horraween 2017* Movies that DON'T Suck

Happy Halloween! I am a huge fan of movies that scare the crap out of me. As a child I spent many sleepless nights in my bed, convinced I was going to be murdered by the creature or killer (Michael Meyers) I watched in a film that day. Of course This never stopped me from watching. As an adult this is still my favorite genre. I write about shit films so this genre provides me with quality material. I am still delighted when I come across something scary that's actually a finely crafted film. There is a lot of wading through crap to get to them though, but that is what I have done here. With horror, it's all about finding and walking a fine line between making a compelling story that engages and not falling into cliches and jump scares.  These are my top picks for Horror films that I am recommending for a creepy night in. All of these you can currently find on  good ole Netflix.

-Train To Busan-
(2016)

If you take anything from this list, please, I'm begging you...watch Train To Busan.  There has been so much buzz about this Zombie flick and I'm here to tell you, believe the hype. If you're a horror fan in any capacity you need to watch this movie. It spends a little time developing the main story line in the beginning which is much appreciated and by no means a drag. When it starts, its a non-stop, brilliantly paced ride that goes off the rails (yes train pun) with fun and true terror.  These are some of the scariest zombies you've ever seen. Train is anything but cliche' and even adds some interesting twists on these modern flesh eaters. 
Impressively this movie does what so little Horror movies do, it touches you. This film has so much heart. These characters are as real as it gets, they become people you actually give a shit about. Train also poses interesting questions about morality. Survival of the fittest literally has man wondering who the real enemy is, the un-dead or us? You can also expect some laughs from this amazing foreign film. I implore you. Pop some popcorn, turn the lights down low and Enjoy.

-Would You Rather-
(2012)

Inspired by the hypothetical and usually harmless game Would You Rather is a contest in which the winner will be set for life and the loser will wish they never played to begin with, if they survive that is. This one is not for the faint of heart. Inspired by torture porn-like films like Hostel it gets quite disturbing although I wouldn't say it's a gross as the aforementioned. These actors deliver sheer horror to the viewer. Lets just say I wouldn't want to be in there shoes . Would You Rather captivates, disgusts and has surprises at every turn. It's a cunning and cruel in the best way.

Man Vs.

(2015)

A great little gem I'm glad I watched is Man Vs. A man filming a survivalist show is left for 5 days in the woods, the result awesome footage as he demonstates how to live in the wild with few amenities. He isn't afraid of nature and loves what he does, our guy is in fact, the real deal. His crew leaves him out there with a few provisions and a satellite phone for emergencies. This trip starts off normal enough until the first night at camp something bursts onto the scene and it's nothing he's ever dealt with before. Most importantly I give Man credit for not going the dreaded "found footage" route it so easily could have. Armed with 2 Go-pros and stationary cameras, instead of it being a cliched nightmare, the camera angles are used in the best possible way. It's an enjoyable, tense thriller with a cool ending. 

-Berlin Syndrome-
(2017)

No, young women haven't stopped traveling to foreign countries alone. They also haven't stopped trusting strange men they meet in the streets. This film is startling as shit. Hunks can be Psychos too. 

                            -Honeymoon-
                                  (2014)

 Most of the film is a mystery unraveling around newlyweds in a remote cabin. I enjoyed Honeymoon but the ending might be polarizing to some. Still worth a viewing if in the mood for a creepy mystery.

-The Bar-
(2017)

An old bar in Madrid.  Eight strangers. Swift execution to whomever steps foot outside the bar. After a man is murdered outside, the streets empty and the incident isn't even reported on the news. What is going on? As the mystery unravels; paranoia, conspiracy theories and fear make matters worse. This foreign film is awesome. Very tense and brilliantly acted. What I really like about this film is how we really can't be sure who to root for. Characters motives and intentions are revealed as the body count rises. "Fear changes people. No, it exposes who we really are."

-Contracted- 
(2013)

Yea, so this one is really, really gross. If the above image makes your stomach turn, I'd skip it. If you don't mind watching the frightening symptoms that occur after this young woman is sexually assaulted, have at it. The protagonist is also really annoying and in denial most of the time. I still found this movie gruesomely interesting. Viewer Beware. 

Little Evil

(2017)

 Gary is a bit of an average Joe. The Real Estate Agent just married a beautiful woman and now has a step-son. Think raising a snot nosed, ungrateful little shit is hard? How about playing daddy to the anti-Christ? Gary immediately notices after marrying Lucas's mom, that Lucas is a bit...odd. Horrible things happen when he is around, usually after the boy tells someone to "go to hell". Little Evil is a fresh take on the whole 'child of Satan' thing that's been done so many times before. Coming from a comedic perspective is a fun take on the trope and this film is funny as hell. Gary's supporting friends, all step dads to asshole kids, can almost relate to what Gary is going through and do their best to help. Will Gary appease his new son or will he make Lucas's mom a widow? 

Gerald's Game
-2017-

Gerald and Jessica are in relationship hell. They have decided to go to their lake house for a long weekend to help save their marriage. By the looks of things they need it, bad. Gerald and his wife are on different pages, in totally separate novels (like the Stephen King one this movie is adapted from.) Together the couple are tense with each other and too polite. Jessica chooses to smile at Gerald rather than say anything that could potentially start a fight and maybe even end their marriage. Gerald has a plan to spice things up. Armed with "real deal" handcuffs, he restrains Jessica to the bed and pretends to get very "rough" with her. This game frightens Jessica and she demands to be untied. As another argument ensues Gerald has a massive heart attack and dies. Jessica is left handcuffed to their enforced bed with no neighbors, no way to call for help and no idea what to do. As the hours slip by Jessica starts to hallucinate, her dead husband wakes up and she is forced to come to terms with not only their failed marriage , but old wounds Jess has buried. As if her delirium isn't bad enough, in the darkness, she begins to see a frightening figure that won't go away. Jessica's fight for freedom is laced with trippy imagery and disturbing memories. The ending has a bit of a twist. Gerald's Game isn't one I'd play, but it was a captivating watch.