The Triangle (2016)

Running Time: 1hr 34min

Release Date: June 28, 2016

Written/Directed by: David Blair, Nathaniel Peterson, Adam Pitman, Andrew Rizzo, Adam Stilwell

Review by: Stacey

A found footage movie about a "cult"?  Sign me up!  I had actually heard about The Triangle (not to be confused with '09s time-bending Triangle) a while back, but what drew me to it (ff and cults) was also what turned me off to rushing to see it.  As I've mentioned several times before, the sub-genre is a guilty pleasure of mine, but also one that is FULL of more misses than hits, so I usually go into these with some trepidation; not to mention most horror flicks about cults seem to follow the same formula.  I was sure The Triangle was going to follow in the same footsteps as movies like The Sacrament, but lemme tell ya, I was pretty surprised by this one.

Morgan (2016)

Running Time: 1hr 32min

Release Date: September 6, 2016

Written by: Seth Owen

Directed by: Luke Scott

Review by: Stacey

I was initially looking forward to this movie because it had an interesting concept and boasted a pretty great cast (Kate Mara, Anya Taylor-Joy, Toby Jones, Brian Cox, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Paul Giamatti), but I probably should have become concerned when I didn't hear much of a peep about it upon its release back in Sept.  I have, however, heard that you're better off watching Ex Machina (which I have yet to see), but I have a feeling they're probably right.

Top 10 FAVORITES of 2016!

NOTE: See how I typed "favorites" in all caps up there?  That's because this list is only meant to be MY favorite horror films of 2016- not any kind of definitive list, so no one fight me on these, puh-lease!

Ok, with that out of the way, now we can get to the good stuff!

(in no particular order - except for the #1 spot)

10. Don't Breathe- This one I actually went into completely blind (no pun intended), aside from the general plot.  I avoided the trailers like the plague because several people had been telling me that they were pretty spoilerific and ruined some great "twists and reveals".  I'm glad I did because I had zero idea what to expect and that's exactly how I feel like this movie should be approached.  Fede Alvarez (Evil Dead remake) nailed the tension and fear that the characters experienced throughout.  The shining star of the movie, though, was Stephen Lang playing a blind man whose home is going to be broken into.  This isn't your typical home invasion film.  You'll also never look at a turkey baster the same again...ugh.

9. Pet- This one was one of the late releases this year (Dec 2), and probably won't be on a lot of top 10 lists, but I don't even care because I really enjoyed it!  If you're unfamiliar with the film, a man (Dominic Monaghan) kidnaps waitress, Holly (Ksenia Solo), and locks her in a steel cage he's constructed in an unused wing of the animal shelter he works in.  That's all I'll give you, but if you watch the trailers you'll see there's a lot more to the story than that.  I won't lie and say this one reinvents the horror wheel, because it doesn't, but it's fun and creepy and has some legitimate twists and turns.

8. The Invitation- I wouldn't blame anyone for hating me if I didn't include this in my list.  Surprisingly, this was a pretty polarizing flick within the horror community; one side of the fence said it was a snoozefest and the other side heralded it for being a masterpiece of dread and tension.  I stand on that latter side, clearly.  Instead of re-hashing my thoughts on the film here, check out my review on it from April- THE INVITATION review.

7. Southbound- I think this one is actually the earliest release on my list having come out in February.  I'm such a sucker for an anthology film, and this one had a great cast of directors behind each segment.  I loved how seamlessly each story flowed together and created this never-ending sense of eeriness.  It was like a modern day Twilight Zone!  This is another one where you can check out my review on- SOUTHBOUND review.

6. Beyond the Gates- Another late-in-the-year release (Dec 9), this was Jackson Stewart's feature film debut and it hit a number of 80's nostalgia nails on the head.  Taking on the almost forgotten idea of VHS board games and turning it into a fun horror film was pretty genius to me.  Check out my full review on the movie here- BEYOND THE GATES review

5.  The Wailing- Wow, I don't even know if I have the right words to convey how great this movie is.  Coming out of South Korea, director/writer Na Hong-jin tells us the story of a policeman who must find out the cause behind a mysterious illness that is striking the villagers and causing them to commit brutal murders.  Coming in at just under 160 minutes, this watch is laborious and requires your full attention (especially with subtitles) but is full of such fantastic storytelling that you won't even be worried about the length.  The Wailing is so much more than a ghost story, a possession movie, a murder mystery... it's all of those, yes, but also completely heartbreaking.

4. The Eyes of My Mother- After her mother is brutally murdered, Francisca tries to cure her loneliness in dark and disturbing ways.  Before I watched this, I didn't even have any idea I'd be adding it to my Top 10 list.  Admittedly it was because I was turned off by the black & white aspect of the movie and thought it was going to end up being some pretentious, artsy-fartsy movie but boy, was I wrong.  This movie was bleak and violent from beginning to very end, but there was so many things to enjoy about it.  The b&w helps tone down the gore in the film, but I still felt uneasy eating while watching and you probably would, too.

3. The Autopsy of Jane Doe- I swear, the majority of my picks were released this month!  This one is probably the latest one (Dec 23) and the last movie that I needed for my list.  This one spooked the fuck out of me and it was so much fun.  There was a buttload of dread and a great mystery that you're solving right alongside the lead characters.  Check out my review on it from last week- THE AUTOPSY OF JANE DOE review

2. Baskin- This movie is fucking B-A-N-A-N-A-S (don't act like you didn't sing that part...).  Like, the first 20-30 min are probably the tamest and even those are weird as hell.  After that, all bets are off.  This Turkish flick is rooted firmly in surreal horror territory where a group of police officers stumble into Hell, basically, when they go into an abandoned building where a Black Mass is taking place.  The acting was great, the colors were wild and vibrant, and the movie never lets up once it gets going.  This one definitely aint for the squeamish.

1. Green Room- When I saw this one in April, I knew it had a secure spot on my list, but after giving it a re-watch yesterday, I knew it had my #1 spot.  From director Jeremy Saulnier, we follow a punk band who are forced to fight for their lives after witnessing a murder in a club run by Neo-Nazis.  What a simple fucking storyline, right?  Saulnier takes that simplicity and gives us a horribly violent and tension-filled movie that sticks with you for a long time after watching.  I felt like everything was done just perfectly with this movie and that's incredibly hard to find in horror (yes, this is a goddamn horror movie, don't even suggest otherwise!)  Plus, it was the last film to be released, while he was alive, that featured Anton Yelchin (RIP).
Check out Adam's kickass review on it- GREEN ROOM review


HONORABLE MENTIONS: Neon Demon, The Conjuring 2, Under the Shadow, I Am Not A Serial Killer, Always Shine


Leave me your picks in the comments below!

The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)

Running Time: 1hr 39min

Release Date: December 21, 2016

Written by: Ian B. Goldberg, Richard Naing

Directed by: André Øvredal

Review by: Stacey

This was the last horror movie of '16 that I was anticipating the release of, and boy, did it deliver.  Not to mention the fact that the director of Trollhunter helmed this one, so naturally I was all in.  Throw Emile Hirsch and Brian Cox in the lead roles and you have yourself a solid flick for me.

Beyond the Gates (2016)

Running Time: 1hr 24min

Release Date: December 9, 2016

Written by: Stephen Scarlata, Jackson Stewart

Directed by: Jackson Stewart

Review by: Stacey

Horror has been a haven for the retro throwback style the last few years with movies like House of the Devil, Almost Human, The Guest (ok, not really horror, but y'know) and most recently The Mind's Eye.  It seems like a lot of filmmakers are choosing to set their movies from decades past or even in fairly ambiguous time frames (It Follows), and for most it works!  I've talked to a few folks, however, who have said they're growing tired of the throwback style, but I can tell you that I'm not one of them, especially not after seeing Jackson Stewart's feature debut, Beyond the Gates.

Mercy (2016)

Running Time: 1hr 30min

Release Date: June 4, 2016 (Los Angeles Film Festival)

Written/Directed by: Chris Sparling

Review by: Stacey

Not to be confused with the 2014 movie of the same name starring Carl from The Walking Dead, 2016's Mercy was acquired by Netflix sometime this year after having its premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival.  Now, Netflix has a pretty good track record with their original series, but when it comes to their original movies I'm actually pretty in the dark about those.  And as we all know, Netflix isn't the best when it comes to having a variety of quality horror.

I decided to give Mercy a chance taking into consideration the streaming site's top tier series selection, hoping that maybe their horror films would follow suit.

Fender Bender (2016)

Running Time: 1hr 31min

Release Date: May 23, 2016

Directed/Written by: Mark Pavia

Review by: Stacey

The slasher movies of the 80's seem to hold a special place in the hearts of the majority of us in the horror community, but at the same time we tend to side-eye anything that comes out nowadays that even resembles a slasher.  Mostly because anything done now that follows the slasher formula ends up feeling tired and also because it's hard to create an iconic villain with the likes of Freddy or Michael (that's not to say there aren't a couple out there that are up to par, but it's usually few and far between).

The Neighbor (2016)

Running Time: 1hr 27min

Release Date: September 6, 2016

Directed by: Marcus Dunstan

Written by: Marcus Dunstan, Patrick Melton

If you haven't heard of this one, it's probably because it's a straight to VOD/DVD flick, and I don't think there was much press on it at all in the horror community.  As I've mentioned before, I'm a fan of mostly anything involving Josh Stewart, so naturally I had to check this one out.  Unfortunately, The Neighbor came off like something I had seen before...several times.

Blair Witch (2016)

Running Time: 1hr 29min

Release Date: September 16, 2016

Directed by: Adam Wingard

Written by: Simon Barrett

Review by: Ash

Blair Witch is the sequel we didn’t know we wanted but for better or worse it’s the sequel we got.

They're Watching (2016)

Running Time: 1hr 35min

Release Date: March 25, 2016

Directed/Written by: Jay Lender & Micah Wright

Review by: Stacey

Adam and I decided to stay in bed about an hour or two longer than usual on Sunday because, duh, lazy.  In between re-runs of Bar Rescue we started watching one of the many home improvement shows on HGTV because we'll never have the money to make unneccessary renovations to our house and because they're just plain addicting to watch.  Have you ever wondered what would happen if the crew from one of those shows had to film in rural Europe but ended up stumbling across some superstitious locals who have a heavy disdain for witches?  No?  Well, too bad, because 2016's They're Watching answers that for you.

Horror Huddle with Stacey-Beth & Ash: 'Stranger Things' Chapters 5-8

Welcome back to another episode of 'Horror Huddle'!

SB, Ash, and our guest, Adam, are back to round up our 'Stranger Things' overview as we talk episodes 5-8 of the Netflix original.

Enjoy and leave some feedback!

Find us on Instagram: staceybethh || e.txcountryboy

Horror Huddle with Stacey-Beth & Ash: Stranger Things Chapters 1-4

We're baaaack!

Ash and Stacey-Beth have resurrected 'Horror Huddle' from it's grave to talk about the tv series that has lit the internet on fire: STRANGER THINGS.  On this episode we have on guest (and SB's husband) Adam as we all give an overview and our thoughts on the first 4 episodes (or chapters) of the Netflix original show.

Enjoy and leave some feedback!

Find us on Instagram: staceybethh || e.txcountryboy

Satanic (2016)

Running Time: 1hr 25min
Release Date: July 1, 2016
Directed by: Jeffrey Hunt
Written by: Anthony Jaswinski

Review by: Stacey

Goddamit, you guys.  That poster is pure shit.  PURE. SHIT.  Who approved this?  Who allowed this to be released to the public and represent the film?  Unfortunately, the poster is the least of the worst when it comes to 2016's latest addition to the ever-growing pile of supernatural horror- Satanic.  The name alone suggests a lack of effort from anyone involved.  Even though it's already out on VOD, I have yet to hear anyone else talk about it (hell, even IMDB only has 2 user/5 critic reviews); am I one of the only other suckers that watched it?

The Conjuring 2 (2016)

Running Time: 2hr 14min

Release Date: June 10, 2016

Review by: Stacey

 I'm writing this review about a week after I saw the movie because procrastination, so bear with me.  Holy shit, I won't even beat around the bush, I loved The Conjuring 2.  I know that's not an uncommon thing to hear but this and the Insidious franchise are so polarizing within the horror community so it doesn't hurt to be clear about what side of the Wan fence you are on.  There aren't many films that he has done that I hate, to be honest (I just realized he directed the Kevin Bacon version of Death Wish- Death Sentence- and that movie ruled), but I feel like the first The Conjuring might be Wan's best work yet (I also love Insidious so my opinion might change next week).  That said, The Conjuring 2 is definitely a worthy addition to the cinematic universe that Wan seems to be creating with these films.

Crush The Skull (2015)

Running Time: 1hr 20min

Release Date: June 11, 2015

Review by: Stacey

This was one of those movies that dragged me in by the poster alone because the plot sounded pretty uninspired.  I came out of it pleasantly surprised by how not shitty it turned out to be.  Apparently funded entirely through Kickstarter (for $75,000), Crush the Skull blended a good mix of comedy and horror that ended up working out pretty well for itself.

Sci-f thriller "Morgan" first teaser trailer released!

#WhatIsMorgan

We get our first look at the teaser trailer for Luke Scott's directorial debut Morgan.  The film stars Kate Mara, Rose Leslie, Paul Giamatti, Anya Taylor-Joy, Toby Jones, and Jennifer Jason Leigh.

SYNOPSIS:

A corporate troubleshooter (Kate Mara) is sent to a remote, top-secret location, where she is to investigate and evaluate a terrifying accident. She learns the event was triggered by a seemingly innocent “human,” who presents a mystery of both infinite promise and incalculable danger.

MORGAN Official Channels
OFFICIAL WEBSITE: WhatIsMorgan.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MorgantheMovie/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/MorganMovie
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/morganmovie/
HASHTAG: #WhatIsMorgan

Green Room (2016)

Running Time: 1hr 35min

Release Date: April 15, 2016

Review by: Adam

 

Green Room.  if you haven’t seen it yet, “fuckkk……”  finish reading this and then go find it at a theater or on VOD.  if you have seen it, “FUCKKK……”  HOW BAT-SHIT CRAZY IS THIS MOVIE?!?

13 Cameras (2016)

Running Time: 1hr 27min

Release Date: April 15, 2016

Review by: Stacey

I swear, I watch so many damn creepy movies that they have given me more phobias than I already had before.  One of them being the idea that someone could place hidden cameras in my home and spy on me (and ultimately murder me, because that's what always happens in these damn movies).  As you might remember, Hangman revolved around an intruder who set up hidden cameras in a family's home and watched their every move.  While terrible, the hidden camera theme fucked me up.  Well, I must be a glutton for punishment because 13 Cameras (original title Slumlord) is the same goddamn thing but with an antagonist who is twenty shades creepier.

The Invitation (2016)

Running Time: 1hr 40min

Release Date: April 8, 2016

Review by: Stacey

I'm going to get this out of the way right now, this is a movie everyone needs to go and see ASAP.  I mean, if you want to.  I'm not going to tell you that you'd be missing out on a movie that's sure to be on a lot of folks' "favorites of 2016" list, but y'know...
I had been looking forward to Karyn Kusama's (Girlfight, Jennifer's Body) thriller The Invitation for several months now, and while on the outside it looks like your typical "dinner party from Hell" movie- what you end up getting is so much more than that.

Hush (2016)

Running Time: 1hr 21min

Release Date: April 8, 2016

Review by: Stacey

After director Mike Flanagan proved with his 2011 film, Absentia, that he could make an effective horror film with a small budget and a simple concept, I didn't have any reservations about his latest effort, the home-invasion thriller Hush.  Where his other films rest more on the supernatural angle, Hush gives us a moderate-paced flick that is actually pretty damn frightening.