The Top 10 Horror Films Since 2000
February 25, 2007
My recent post about the Top 10 Evil Characters from Horror Films got quite a bit of attention - and criticism. Most of the criticism came from hardcore horror fans (like myself, so I can hardly blame them) who seemed to misunderstand that the list was aimed at general film-goers, not us hardcore crew maniacs.
Still, it generated some interesting discussion, and one topic that came to the surface was how lame some of the modern horror flicks have become in comparison to the classics, such as Henry. However, during these online discussions, one person made me concede the point that despite the common trend, yes; there have actually been some very good horror flicks over recent years.
One person asked me what my top 10 horror films since 2000 have been. I got thinking about it, and it was a challenging list to come up with. There have been some good ones, but none of them really touch the classic franchises or any of the underground cult flicks like Cannibal Holocaust.
At any rate, I decided to make a new list based on this - and I can tell you now, many will be just as (if not more so) critical about this list than the last horror one.
But then again, that's what you get when you tackle the horror genre. Horror fans are as hardcore as metal heads. They will criticize you for considering certain films part of the genre, but not all horror films should be measured by their liters of gore and splatter or their body count measurements.
Anyway, here are my top 10 horror films that have been released since the year 2000:
10. Constantine (2005)
Directed by Francis Lawrence
Oh boy, I can already hear the criticism over this inclusion. Fact is, I am a comic book geek, and I cannot help but include this one here. There's very little gore and very little splatter, but the content of the flick (very loosely based on the Hellblazer series) is solid, and the characterization is sound. The story centers on damned soul John Constantine, who is trying to win his way to heaven by conducting exorcisms. His mission in the film is to stop Mammon from breaking from the realm of Hell into the realm of Earth. The scenes in Hell are well done, and the semi-headless demon freaks are just too cool. However, the highlight of the film is actually Constantine's final face-to-face confrontation with Satan himself - a scene which made the film an immediate classic simply because of Peter Stormare's performance as Lucifer. There is a sequel in the works, and hopefully it lives up to this first film. Check it out on DVD.
Its creepiness is cheesy, but James Gunn's Slither reminded many of us about the classic creepy movies of years gone by. It doesn't have the torturous moments of Saw or Hostel, but its sheer ridiculousness harkens back to classics like Toxic Avenger and Maniac Cop. It is, after all, billed as a "horror-comedy" film and reminded me a lot of The Blob. The plot focuses on a small town being plagued by some weird alien parasite that is turning the citizens into mindless murderous zombies. Although it was a box-office bomb, the film's literal tribute to the classics and the hilarious enjoyed much attention and praise from horror fans - as well as some horror critics (it picked up the 2006 Fangoria award for highest body count) - but don't be too deluded: there are many hardcore fans that have dismissed the movie as pure crap. Despite this, I feel that it is worth a watch.
Ridley Scott brought this thriller series into the 21st century with Thomas Harris' sequel to Silence of the Lambs. Many may disagree with any Hannibal films being considered horror, but there are many more horror films that have embraced this particular series simply because of Anthony Hopkins amazing portrayal of the character. The dinner sequence at the end was mind-blowing - nothing like a bit of brain eating to add a little class to a film. The plot of the film largely centers on reconnecting Hannibal Lecter with Clarice Starling, and very successfully portrays Lecter as more of an anti-hero, rather than a serial killer. Hannibal, however, shared its criticism. The biggest controversy was the conclusion of the film being very different to the novel - but it should be considered that such a change does open up for further developments of the Hannibal saga.
A lot of people I know hated this flick, but I really felt that The Descent gave many horror fans hope, given that the trend was that the genre was dying from crap films. The story is about a group of women on a caving expedition, in which they are trapped and need to find an exit. They are attacked by creatures known as crawlers, but the most powerful aspect of the film is whether these attacks are actually "real" or just a twisted representation of the motivations of one of the main characters. Great concept, interesting cinematography, and the effects aren't that bad either. Believe it or not, a sequel is actually in the works.
Many people hate Jigsaw, and some think the Saw series is lame. I'm not one of those people. I love Saw, and it's biggest saving grace has been the strong plot developments on the films, especially the first film. The best scene in the film was Amanda's mask trap, which has a massive impact on the sequels. To talk too much about the plot is to give away too much, but let's just say it begins with two strangers waking in a room, bound, and slowly delving into insanity as the plot twists further and further. I'm looking forward to the fourth film (there is also a fifth one planned for 2008) - though I am admittedly somewhat perplexed as to how they're going to get away with actually making the damn thing! Saw was a massive success - it cost a little over $1 million and took 18 days to film, and reaped a worldwide box office taking of over $100 million. It was also created by a couple of good ol' Aussies, so you're just going to have to pardon my bias on this one!
5. The Others (2001)
Directed by Alejandro Amenabar
Discounted by many horror fans, The Others is probably one of the most underrated horror flicks since 2000. Basically speaking, it is a thematic haunting story, and focuses on a family living in a remote home, that seems to be dominated by hidden intruders. While it doesn't contain the classic gore and splatter many expect, it is the acting that helps make this film. The film stars Nicole Kidman, and won 8 Goya awards.
4. Land of the Dead (2005)
Directed by George A. Romero
"Zombies, man... they creep me out..." It was like a breath of fresh air with Romero released Land of the Dead. It was almost like he was trying to show the big boys how to make a damn horror film. Land of the Dead fairly follows the continuity of Romero's earlier works, and focuses on a zombie that evolves into having some form of intelligence or intuition, and the dangers that this could possibly have for the surviving humans. Granted, this installment is not as groundbreaking as Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead, but it stomped all over the remake and the Resident Evil series - with plenty of the necessary gore needed for a horror classic. Romero will continue setting the standard, with his next release, Diary of the Dead - coming out in 2007. As far as Land of the Dead is concerned though, watch carefully for the cameo by the guys from Shaun of the Dead!
In my personal opinion, 28 Days Later was the precursor to bringing back some quality work in the horror genre. The story centers on one main character who awakens in a hospital 28 days after a virus (a genetically created disease called "rage") breaks out that turns ordinary humans into hyperactive bloodthirsty zombie-like creatures that become known as "The Infected". It isn't Dawn of the Dead, but with its great visuals (the most memorable being the haunting visual of a deserted London), and a fantastic storyline, this film is definitely worth adding to a horror fan's DVD collection. There is also a sequel due out on May 11, 2007, called 28 Weeks Later.
My personal favorite of the Hannibal series was Ridley Scott's Hannibal... but the reason Red Dragon is higher on my list is because of the fantastic team up of Edward Norton and Anthony Hopkins on this particular film. The inclusion of Harvey Keitel and Ralph Fiennes in the casting also added class and feeling to the film. The story begins with Hannibal Lector finally being captured by Will Graham - but mainly focuses on the reunion of the two characters, as Graham works on the Tooth Fairy case. Many fans consider the earlier version of the story, Manhunter, to be better than this adaptation, but you just can't pass up on Anthony Hopkins. It may not have the gore and frights, but the chilling nature of the characters and the inference that Norton's character is the other side of the coin to Hopkins' Lecter give this movie justification for its inclusion here.
Hated by some, but admired by others, The Ring was evidence that there were actually some people in film who actually cared about making new unique horror stories. While it lacks the classic nature of gore and splatter, its visual nature and strong plot have made it quite a critically-acclaimed movie - an excellent feat for a horror film, considering most critics shun the genre as much as possible. The Ring is actually a remake of a Japanese horror flick from 1998 called Ringu. The basic premise centers on a particular video, and the claim that if anyone watches it, they eventually die. In other words: follow those who watch the video, because hilarity will ensue. Considering this film was the one that started the trend of remaking Japanese horror flicks (such as The Grudge), I would consider this one definitely worth watching. If sequels are your thing, a second film, The Ring Two, came out in 2005 and was directed by Hideo Nakata, the original director of Ringu. Furthermore, a third installment of the series is due out 2007, currently titled Ring 3, and is a prequel to the first film.
My recent post about the 
At any rate, I decided to make a new list based on this - and I can tell you now, many will be just as (if not more so) critical about this list than 
Oh boy, I can already hear the criticism over this inclusion. Fact is, I am a 
Its creepiness is cheesy, but James Gunn's Slither reminded many of us about the classic creepy movies of years gone by. It doesn't have the torturous moments of 
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Hated by some, but admired by others, The Ring was evidence that there were actually some people in film who actually cared about making new unique horror stories. While it lacks the classic nature of gore and splatter, its visual nature and strong plot have made it quite a critically-acclaimed movie - an excellent feat for a horror film, considering most critics shun the genre as much as possible. The Ring is actually a remake of a Japanese horror flick from 1998 called 
