Greetings, monster kids of all ages,
After two consecutive years of watching over 600 films, 2013 settled back down to a much more reasonable pace, clocking in with a final total of 306 features. (However, purists, it bears noting that 11 of these were double views of the same title, usually for review purposes, i.e. listening to a commentary track.) What accounted for the change in consumption? Well, the biggest factor would be a certain literary venture, the icon (and link to Amazon) for which sits proudly in the upper right hand corner of your screen. Wrestling 101 films from 101 different authors into shape was no small feat, and that’s not even factoring in the email correspondence, illustrations, and promotion that went along with it. But HIDDEN HORROR is finally tamed and out there in the world – hope you enjoy.
However, 2013 also found me reviewing higher profile releases, both at home and on the festival circuit. As a result, I felt obliged to expand my normal Fool’s Views capsule review format to something a little more “legit.” If someone is going to lay a DVD or Blu-ray on me, then I felt I should explore that baby to the fullest – ditto if someone is providing a digital screener link for a yet-to-be-released movie, then I’m one of the first on the ground giving an opinion for others to take as a guideline. And, as my scribbling grew in size, I started adding more photos and frame grabs to balance out the text, as well as linking to older reviews. I also started posting interviews with filmmakers and providing the occasional convention report. Long story short, I spent much more time writing this year than kicking back in front of the tube, with even my usual October Movie Challenge gorgefest a fraction of its former self. (The irony that I’m apologizing for watching only 300 movies is not lost on me, by the way.)
After much deliberation, I’ve assessed my horror year that was. To accommodate and acknowledge as many films as possible, I've broken them down into various categories in alphabetical order, with my top pick denoted with an asterisk. (*)
If you are curious about or want to celebrate/debate why a certain title landed in a certain category, please leave a comment and we’ll go at it. Also, if you’re interested in reading the original review – and really, who wouldn’t be? – just click on that film’s title to be taken to the corresponding blog entry. (In some cases, you'll need to scroll down to the film's entry in that week's Fool's Views installment.)
Also, here are links to several 2013 highlights that might be worth your time:
SXSW 2013
BIFFF 2013
G-FEST XX
Thanks so much for the past year of rapping and chatting - looking forward to more of the same in 2014!
TOP 20 HORROR FLICKS 2013
100 Bloody Acres
Adam Chaplin: Violent Avenger
American Mary
Bad Milo
The Battery*
The Bunny Game
The Conjuring
Crystal Lake Memories
Evil Dead
Grabbers*
Harold's Going Stiff
Here Comes the Devil
John Dies at the End
Kiss of the Damned
Men in Suits
Mon Ami
Resolution
Sightseers
We Are What We Are (2013)
You're Next*
Antiviral
The Bay
Frankenstein's Army
Hellbenders
Horror Stories
Mama
Maniac
President's Day
The Purge
Thale
Vamp U
V/H/S/2
World War Z
FESTIVAL FAVES (AWAITING WIDE RELEASE)
Big Ass Spider
Big Bad Wolves
Cheap Thrills
The End
Fresh Meat
Ghost Graduation
Goldberg and Eisenberg
May I Kill U?
The Second Death*
MIXED BAGS
The ABCs of Death
Carrie
Cockneys vs. Zombies
Detention of the Dead
The Lords of Salem
Pacific Rim
Plus One
R.I.P.D.
Texas Chainsaw 3D
This is the End
We Are What We Are (2010)
The World's End
NOTABLY INEPT/BORING/DISAPPOINTING
Beast Beneath
Beneath
Hellgate
House at the End of the Street
I Spit on Your Grave 2
Nothing Left to Fear
The Possession
FAVORITE HORROR DISCOVERIES
Death Weekend (1976)*
The Earth Dies Screaming (1964)
Maniac Cop 2 (1990)
Spiders (2000)
HORROR DISCOVERIES – HONORABLE MENTION
Aaah! Zombies!! (2007)
Baker County, U.S.A. (1982)
Body Bags (1993)
Flick (2008)
Gorilla at Large (1954)
Mirror Mirror (1990)
Naked Massacre (1976)
The Other Side (2006)
Santo vs. the Vampire Women (1962)
The Uncanny (1977)
Venom (1981)
FAVORITE WHAT THE *%#^$%#% DID I JUST WATCH?
(in the best possible “pick your jaw up off the floor” way)
Atomic Brain, The (1963)
Dracula 3D (2013)
Gamera: Super Monster (1980)*
Loch Ness Horror, The (1984)
Lorna…the Exorcist (1974)
Possessed, The (1977)
Pulgasari (1985)
(I will get to this one, I promise)
Sexcula (1974)
Scanners III: The Takeover (1991)
LEAST FAVORITE HORROR VIEW OF 2013
Profane Exhibit, The
(sneak preview at HorrorHound Weekend)
Up next: AC’s top Civilian picks, year-end stats, and much, much more...!
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