HORRORPHILE'S BLOODY BEST OF 2010
December 16th 2010 23:54
But let’s get back to the darkened business at severed hand shall we?! Horrorphile’s Bloody Best of 2010. It’s always a difficult job sorting out where to draw the line in terms of inclusion and exclusion. I say it every year, it’s a bitch. There are always numerous movies (often foreign and limited release indie flicks) that escape my prying eyes, there are even the biggies that for some reason I didn’t make the preview or private media screening, and even missed during its theatrical run. Then there are those annoying discrepancies where a movie gets released overseas, but doesn’t end up seeing any light of release down under until the following year (if we’re lucky!) Some don’t appear until a video release two or three years down the track! Some don’t even get a look in on the Australasian domestic release schedule at all! That sucks.
So, to keep the parameters reasonable I’ve opted to include only the movies that were released theatrically or for the domestic market in Australia in 2010 for the first time. This includes any premiere screenings at film festivals that may not have followed with a proper theatrical or domestic release. Obviously this means there are some movies I’ve seen that have already been released overseas but don’t get released in Australia ‘til next year, such as Danny Boyle’s excellent 127 Hours. That also includes Darren Oronofsky’s Black Swan, the advance media screenings of which I missed, but is a movie I just know I will love (apparently it’s a dark masterpiece).
There are a clutch of other releases that I’m very intrigued by, such as Valhalla Rising and I Spit on Your Grave (2010), but I can’t guarantee I’ll rate them highly. They’ll get straight-to-video domestic releases early next year, I’m sure, so will be considered (or spat upon) in 2011. But enough about the what ifs, let’s get down to torture tacks! Just what makes up my ten bloody best for this year? And what are the others that didn’t quite make the cut? And what are those other two or three that need mentioning because they rubbed me up the wrong way?
Here then are HORRORPHILE’S BLOODY BEST OF 2010:
As soon as I saw this it was a pretty much a shoe-in for the top spot. One of the most emotionally satisfying, visually stunning and conceptually impressive low-budget movies I’ve seen in a long time, and one of the most emotive scores for a “monster” movie too. My hat goes off to Mr. Gareth Edwards.
One of the finest Australian dramas of the past twenty years; a gripping study of a family embroiled in crime, Melbourne styles, and the naïve teenager who is inexorably drawn into their world of manipulation, danger, and death.
What unfolds on screen like the close-quarter dynamics of a stageplay, yet is infused with a fantastic cinematic sensibility, and featuring three top-notch performances and cracking dialogue. An English abduction nightmare that twists and coils like a cut snake.
Made and released in the UK two years ago, but had its Australian premiere cinema screening at Sydney’s A Night of Horror International Film Festival, and several months later went straight to the domestic market. Channeling beautifully the atmosphere and terror of 70s cinema.
Not only the most surprising movie of the year; a sequel almost thirty years apart from the original, but more importantly a stunning display of Dystopian/Utopian design and mood. This is pure audio-visual experience, and in 3D to (re)boot.
Still to receive a proper release Stateside (it’s only played festivals), this low-budget, but very well-made, visceral and darkly hilarious take on the buddy movie/undead also screened as part of this year’s A Night of Horror Festival and was awarded Best Film and Best Director (D. Kerry Prior).
A maniacal assault on the senses, packed full of paranoia, and slapped with a toxic does of black humour. Like Monsters, a UK director making a movie on American soil. This featured a tour-de-force central performance jigging a blistering descent into moonshine madness.
Densely layered, both figuratively and literally, Chris Nolan’s science fiction piece de resistance blew most minds and confused many more which puzzled over the movie’s impenetrable ambiguity; truly a masterful amalgam of real world special effects and all-too-clever narrative structure.
French remake king, Monsieur Aja, tackles the Corman cash-in from 78, and delivers one of the most exhilarating modern exploitation movies ever made; deliriously over-the-top in all departments, but especially with its spectacular gore. The lewd shenanigans and 3D didn’t hurt.
Dutch agent provocateur Tom Six takes gross-out horror by the feelers and throws critical caution to the wind; The Human Centipede relied on an effective viral campaign, but the hard reality was actually a tidy, resonant, and genuinely appalling nightmare.
Ten Other Contenders: Megamind, La Horde, The Loved Ones, Shutter Island, Centurion, Predators, The Hurt Locker, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Horseman, Triangle.
And what about the “worst” of the year? Well, let me break it down for you …
Most Disappointing: The Wolfman
I had such high expectations for this (didn’t we all?); Rick Baker on lycanthrope design, Benicio Del Toro as our afflicted anti-hero, Anthony Hopkins as knowing father, Hugo Weaving as the suspicious law, and Emily Blunt as the love interest. The trailers looked fantastic … and therein lies the Rub. Why couldn't Mark Romanek have stayed in the director's chair??
Most Annoying: The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call - New Orleans & Trash Humpers
I like many of Werner Herzog’s movies, for example his haunting remake of Nosferatu (1979), but his loose appropriation of Abel Ferrara’s Bad Lieutenant (1992) was one of the most irritating and simultaneously tedious attempts at satire ever. But taking the proverbial bullshit cake, Harmony Korine’s stultifying jerk-off anti-movie worked so well, I was compelled to fart in his general direction. Trash Humpers has forever soiled my mind in all its abject self-indulgence and visual noise.
Simply Unnecessary: Let Me In
Why?! Why was a remake of the brilliant Swedish vampire tale Let the Right One In (2008) even considered? Because Hollywood had to have a piece of the pie – and quickly - and make it accessible to the masses, that’s why. This inherent laziness (including sequelville) has been happening for years, but Matt Reeves handsomely-mounted, and oh-so-similar American reflection was all the more guilty for removing even more of the novel’s darkness and emasculating the original movie’s powerful last act. It’s not a terrible movie; it’s just a pointless and sycophantic insult to the original.
So there we have it; my two or three cents.
But wait! Now it’s your turn. Click on the link below to make your single vote from my selection (or other) for the bloody best movie of 2010. The poll closes December 31st at 11:59pm (Eastern-North American time).
Vote for the Bloody Best Movie of 2010!
Have a bloody Merry Xmas and a dangerously good New Year! I'll see you in the Darkness on the other side!
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Comment by Matt Shea
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
The Revenant is very cool. I partied with the director whilst he was here in Sydney supporting his movie at A Night of Horror. Great guy. When we chat he always jokes with me, "Ahhh it's Bryn Shots At The Bar!"
Comment by Someone
Evil Pleasures
Random Musings on Life, Love and Everything
Let's Get Down To Business
Best Action: Kick Ass
Best Visual Effects: Tron: Legacy
Best Animation: How to Train Your Dragon
Best Thriller: Shutter Island
Best Comedy: The Other Guys
Oh... and I'm torn over your 'Most Pointless' contender... The remake of 'Death at a Funeral' deserves at least a mention...
Comment by Someone
Evil Pleasures
Random Musings on Life, Love and Everything
Let's Get Down To Business
wait wait wait I MISSED IT!? HOW DID THAT HAPPEN!?
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Matt Shea
Comment by nbageek
NBA Geek
sportsworld
Comment by David O'Connell
20/20 Filmsight
Screen Fanatic
Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas too mate, look forward to another year of following you into the darkness.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Dave, I was waiting for you to harangue me for Human Centipede, I know it was a pet loathe of yours.
Comment by Michelle Sweeney
Competition Queen
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Somnus
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Just in the process of compiling my own list for later in the week. Inevitably there will be overlaps I think
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile