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Top 10 Horror Movies of 2009
Many have doubted the 2000s as a good decade for horror, but despite the usual horrendous films that come with every horror decade the horror realm closed out the 2000s with some great quality horror films, several of which will stand the test of time. I now give you the top 10 horror movies of 2009, along with 5 honorable mentions.
10. Thirst
– After giving us the infamous “Vengeance” trilogy, South Korean writer/director Park Chan-wook(Chan-wook Park to us American arseholes) finally entered the horror genre with this film, and turned the vampire sub-genre on its head. While Thirst comes off as a horror watch, and is marketed as such, it is so much more than that, which almost makes it hardly horror at all aside from the vampire element. So why does this make the list? Well, because it gave us a look into the vampire realm that we have never seen before, and comes with so many different elements going on that it provides us with a unique watch despite tending to drag at times as a result of Park’s genuis. Read my full review for this film here: Thirst
9. The Human Centipede (First Sequence)
– This had to be one of the year’s most hyped horror films, and for obvious plot-related reasons. We have never before been given a plot so horribly brutal, yet so genius as well. Horror and the medical field are seldom brought together these days, so this was a fresh breath to the horror genre that proved an awesome watch as well. Much like the next film on this list, this film will leave you with an experience you will never forget. Read my full review for this film here: The Human Centipede (First Sequence)
8. Antichrist
– Asshole director Lars Von Trier broke away from his entirely dramatic-leaning films and mixed in a heavily element of horror and drama for this one. Deemed pretty much the most controversial horror film of last year(yes, more than The Human Centipede), Antichrist went where no horror film had gone before…back to the origins of our world…back to the “Garden of Eden”. Symbolism reigns high in this film, with many pagan references to Christianity, numerous references to the evils of women(which some deemed heavily misogynistic), and visuals that were beautifully shot and crafted. Those who view this film leave with an experience unlike any other film experience, and I am sure that was Von Trier’s intent. Read my full review for this film here: Antichrist
7. Triangle
– Director Christopher Smith really made a name for himself this past decade with films like Creep, Severance, and now his personal best…Triangle. While we horror fans truly enjoy no-brainer horror films that we can just sit back and enjoy with some food and drink, we all enjoy the horror films that make us think. Triangle is one of those films with a plot not overly convoluted, but one to make you think and engage you with constant developments that force you to give your all into the film. Usually these films are psychological horror, and while Triangle settles on psychological horror it focuses heavily on the element of déjà vu, and may leave you questioning your own sanity with this film’s climax. Read my full review for this film here: Triangle
6. Paranormal Activity
– After sitting on the shelves for two years this very low-budget($15,000) spookfest from first-time filmmaker Oren Peli gave the ultimate middle-finger to Hollywood executives with it not only being a huge success in margin of profits, but was actually a pretty damn scary movie as well. In fact, this film is scarier than 99% of the horror films that come from Hollywood, and you’d think that would give them to hint to give smaller filmmakers a chance huh? Anywho, Paranormal Activity does what The Blair Witch Project failed to do in that it gave us a credible story with some darn good scares as well, scares that show little but the reward is big. Read my full review for this film here: Paranormal Activity
5. District 9
– It seems 2009 is the year of “F*ck You Hollywood!”, and it continued with District 9. We rarely get alien-oriented films this day that are not related to the Alien franchise, and this flick proved that you can take a very low-budget, mix in some creativity and ingenuity, and turn out a blockbuster of an alien film. The story is a sweet one and is reminiscent of human politics that still exist to this day, and the direction and special effects are superb and make big-budget Hollywood films look like a Uwe Bole film. Read my full review for this film here: District 9
4. Moon
– Moon may be a questionable addition to some, because this is not an outright horror film, but the horror it contains warrants inclusion in MY list. The plot is subtle at first, but the horrors Sam experiences while up alone in space are truly horrific in nature, especially when you put yourself in his shoes. This is hard to explain without giving away too much in spoilers, but when you are alone in space, and your only allowed contact is from your employer, you have no power whatsoever, and that can never end well. Read my full review for this film here: Moon
3. Trick ‘r Treat
– Horror anthologies are infamous in the genre, and although they are few and far between the majority of recent anthologies have been downright horrible(such as Tales From The Darkside, and Tales From The Dead), Trick ‘r Treat has immediately planted itself as one of the greatest horror anthologies of all time, and possibly the best holiday horror film to date. Many horror films have taken place on Halloween, but those films only take place on Halloween, focusing on a masked killer or creature. Trick ‘r Treat differs from those in that it focuses on the actual holiday itself and the lore involved. Each of the tales told in this film are beautifully crafted and fit together perfectly for a very satisfying climax in this awesome and completely Hollywood-underappreciated horror film. Read my full review for this film here: Trick ‘r Treat
2. REC 2
– REC 2 took off right where REC(the best horror film of last decade) left off and provided horror fans with 80 minutes on non-stop action and terror. The awesome demon element employed by the first film is upped in this one as we get tons more demon action supplemented with some nice developmental twists and turns. The scares are good and the chaos never relents until this flick’s shocking climax(that I saw coming miles away). Read my full review for this film here: REC 2
1. Drag Me To Hell
– Of course, it is only fitting that Sam Raimi’s epic return to the horror genre would grant him the best horror film of 2009, and it was not fate alone, but extreme talent and a nose for all things true horror that earned Drag Me To Hell this title. The King of Demons brought back the fun and truly scary slapstick horror with his excellent camerawork that made his name, as well as his knack for writing some of the spookiest demon sequences ever. Few films have the guts to tackle the demon sub-genre these days, and those that do never execute them as well as Raimi does. We all know that demons love to toy with their victims first, but it seems as of late that Raimi is the only one to fully endorse this awesome element of horror. Read my full review for this film here: Drag Me To Hell
Honorable Mentions
(Close But Not Close Enough)
The House of the Devil
– If you are a devout horror fan, then there is a heavy chance that you have a strong appreciation for the moody and atmospheric horror films the 80s provided for us, and The House of the Devil is a true shout-out to such fans. Shot and executed as if it were filmed in the 1980s itself, Ty West’s slow-building atmospheric film provides just the right tension at just the right places, and comes with a horrifying climax you should have expected, but never saw coming. Read my full review for this film here: The House of the Devil
Zombieland
– After the success of zombie/comedy Shaun of the Dead, it was only a matter time before we Americans took a big-budget shot at a zombie/comedy, and this one came with surprisingly positive results. The “fun” level is high, and while this flick never truly takes itself seriously it does come with some nice zombie action and a slew of colorful characters as well. Oh, and this also comes with possibly the greatest celebrity cameo of all time. Read my full review for this film here: Zombieland
Saw VI
– The monster that is the Saw series continued its year-by-year reign of moral commentary in 2009, and thankfully Saw VI was a big upgrade from the horrendous Saw V, and gave us Saw fans what we wanted to see. Before the health care/financial reform crisis made its impact on the country Saw VI had already tackled the horrors of the health insurance industry, and gave us normal folk a nice taste of vengeance at the cost of those who heartlessly cheat their clients out of their hard-earned money. Read my full review for this film here: Saw VI
Pandorum
– I have always been a fan of horror/sci-fi films, and I think most of the genre fans feel the same way. Sadly, horror/sci-fi films come rarely these days unless they have to do with Aliens fighting Predator, but Pandorum gave me what I wanted to see without ripping off other franchises. The opening act has to be one of the most tension filled of all the films listed in this list, and while things tend to get a little silly as the film goes on it still manages to be a fun watch for those looking for some nice horror/sci-fi action. Consider this the Event Horizon of the 2000s. Read my full review for this film here: Pandorum
Daybreakers
– Much like Thirst, Daybreakers gave us an interesting look into the vampire sub-genre, this time not relying on the usual vampire antics but giving us a sociological look into a vampire world very reminiscent of our world today(in some ways). Thankfully, this does not come off as a slow social-commentary film but one that blends the horror with several other unique elements very nicely, plus Sam Neil is evil, and that is always cool. Read my full review for this film here: Daybreakers
My other Top 10 Horror Movie Lists
– Top 10 Horror Movies of 1980
– Top 10 Horror Movies of 1981
– Top 10 Horror Movies of 2005
– Top 10 Horror Movies of 2006
– Top 10 Horror Movies of 2007
John of the Dead's Horror Flick Reviews 