Best Horror Films of the Decade

Discussion in 'Science Fiction & Fantasy' started by Starbreaker, Oct 28, 2009.

  1. Starbreaker

    Starbreaker Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    I'm always on the lookout for a genuinely scary film. Here are some of my favorites. Tell me what your favorites are.

    The Descent (2006) - in my top 10 films overall, probably the scariest movie I've ever seen
    28 Days Later (2002) - I love this movie and watch it a lot.
    May (2003) - creepy and original
    Cabin Fever (2003)
    Paranormal Activity (2007) - a lot better than I would have thought. I HATED Blair Witch
    From Hell (2001) - I have a fascination with Jack the Ripper, sue me
    The Last House on the Left (2009) - no critical acclaim, but I thought it was really good
    The Devil's Rejects (2005)
    Dawn of the Dead (2004)
    The Ruins (2008) - underrated

    Honorable Mentions:

    28 Weeks Later
    Trick 'r Treat (2008)
    Hostel (2006)
    Wrong Turn (2003)
    Drag Me To Hell (2009)
    Saw (2004) - the acting really grates on my nerves on repeat viewings
     
  2. Shurik

    Shurik Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    The Mist
    28 Days Later
    Dawn of the Dead
    30 Days Of Night
     
  3. Daneel

    Daneel Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    For me, The Descent is numero uno. I'll also give props to 28 Days/Weeks Later and Trick 'r Treat, which I actually got to see at a theatrical screening a couple months ago at a horror film festival.

    Oh, and at that same festival, I saw a British film called The Children, which I felt was effectively freaky and scary -- not sure if I'd call it one of the best of the decade, but I thought it was pretty good.

    Oh, and didn't Paranormal Activity come out this year, not 2007? Unless maybe it's release has been delayed for a while, like with Trick 'r Treat. I may go see Paranormal Activity, I'm not sure... I've kind of been fearing that it'll turn out to be like another Blair Witch Project, which I didn't find scary at all.
     
  4. Tulin

    Tulin Vice Admiral Admiral

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    "The Descent" is a truly GREAT horror film. I'd have to add "Dog Soldiers", although it's part action/horror, just like the one film that inspired it - "Aliens".

    As for the Saw and Hostel drivel - I am just not into torture porn, so, no.
     
  5. The Mirrorball Man

    The Mirrorball Man Vice Admiral Admiral

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    As far as I'm concerned, the best horror film of the decade is "Rec".
     
  6. Mr Light

    Mr Light Admiral Admiral

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    Blair Witch, Grudge, Others, Ring, High Tension, Descent, 28 Days Later, Dawn of the Dead... I don't consider the "SAW" franchise to be traditional horror but I love those movies. It's like a tightly written tv mini-series with clues and foreshadowings and cameo characters becoming important in the next movie, it's great stuff. It's not torture porn at all it actually has a story.
     
  7. The Evil Dead

    The Evil Dead Vice Admiral Admiral

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    A lot of mine are European, I think they are making the best horror films over the past several years.

    [rec]
    [rec] 2
    The Children
    Eden Lake
    Timecrimes
    Inside
    Trick R' Treat
     
  8. Starbreaker

    Starbreaker Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    I forgot to mention The Orphanage... what a great movie.
     
  9. rrrsports

    rrrsports Ensign Red Shirt

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    Wes Craven's 1989 horror film Shocker. I could never understand why their was never a sequel for this great horror movie when Stepfather, Troll, Leprechaun and the likes get an undeserved second and it most movies a third chance for failure. This movie is a cult classic.
     
  10. rrrsports

    rrrsports Ensign Red Shirt

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    Another Wes Craven horror movie, People Under the Stairs. Ving Rhames breakout role for me. Sorry I just noticed this decade 2000, my mistake.
     
    Last edited: Nov 14, 2009
  11. Kegg

    Kegg Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Thank you. I came into this thread just to mention that and leave. Not that my opinion matters much as I don't watch a lot of horror films.

    And while it may not count as a horror film per se, the Pale Man segment of Pan's Labyrinth was sheer genius and IMHO quite unsettling.

    I think I'll also throw in Antichrist. I just found that a deeply uncomfortable viewing experience, though I'm sure one's mileage varies here.
     
  12. Ward Fowler

    Ward Fowler Commodore Commodore

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    I'll second that. It found it disturbing. I was glad I watched it but I don't know if I would recommend it to just anyone. That highly stylized opening sequence was beautiful though.
     
  13. DarKush

    DarKush Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    No particular order:

    Orphan
    Saw 1-3
    Hostel 1 & 2
    Dawn of the Dead
    From Hell
    28 Days Later
    30 Days of Night
    The Ring
    Halloween
    The Devil's Rejects
    Wolf Creek
    The Hills Have Eyes
    High Tension
    Wrong Turn
    The Mist
    Cloverfield
    Pandorum

    I tried watching The Descent, but I just couldn't get into it. It's always gets high praise so I'm going to give it another shot one day. I'm also curious about Drag Me to Hell. It seemed to do pretty well this past summer but I didn't go see it. Also curious about Paranormal Activity.
     
  14. stonester1

    stonester1 Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Two more...

    Skeleton Key

    1308
     
  15. Kirkman1987

    Kirkman1987 Commodore Commodore

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    The Mist
    Dawn of the Dead
    28 days later

    On the lighter side of things, Bubba Ho-Tep is all kinds of greatness.
     
  16. Spiderpope

    Spiderpope Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

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    28 Days Later
    [Rec]
    and possibly The Host. And if Horror/comedy is allowed then shove Bubba-ho-tep and My Name is Bruce onto the list too.
     
  17. Ethros

    Ethros Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Not seen 1308, but I did see 1408
     
  18. Ward Fowler

    Ward Fowler Commodore Commodore

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    Bubba Ho-Tep: The premise of Elvis and Black JFK vs. the Mummy may sound nutty but it's a pretty special little movie. It deals with the issues of aging and there's more there than meets the eye. It actually made my wife cry.

    Shaun of the Dead: Really fun movie. I think its the best zombie movie since the original Dawn of the Dead.

    High Tension: I figured out the twist long before I was supposed to but it was still really entertaining and original.

    The Descent: What made it special for me was the original ending, which of course was changed and dumbed down for the U.S. release.

    Them (aka Ils): A French horror film that IMO is the best of the home invasion genre. I really enjoyed this one.

    Joshua: It's a slow-burner and probably wouldn't be to everyone's taste. For some reason I found the atmosphere reminiscent of Rosemary's Baby although the stories aren't at all similar.

    The Mist: Frank Darabont is one of my favorite filmmakers and this movie was a real departure for him. The movie is fantastic and it has a very powerful ending. One of the few Stephen King projects where the movie surpasses the the book, or in this case, the novella.

    American Psycho: I don't know if everyone considers this a horror film, but I do. A great story about the coldness of elitism.
     
  19. Trek4Ever

    Trek4Ever Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    From what I've seen this decade here are my favorites:

    1. The Ring
    2. 28 Days Later
    3. Paranormal Activity
    4. Cloverfield
    5. Dawn of the Dead
    6. The Ruins
    7. Ju-On: The Grudge
    8. Pulse
    9. The Mist
    10. Quarantine (haven't seen the original film REC but I hear it's superior)

    Honorable Mentions:
    28 Weeks Later
    Slither
    Dark Water (original Japanese version)
    Dead and Breakfast
    Prey
    Land of the Dead
    The Descent
    The Others
    Black Sheep
     
  20. DarKush

    DarKush Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Forgot about the Others. That was a good flick.