And just like that we see another year of horror come to an end as 2014 rolls in on even more films for us to anticipate. I gotta say, I was pretty happy with the genre this year as it offered plenty of variety. We saw some surprisingly good remakes, a big-budget success and a few indie gems stand out from the rest this year. I didn’t see nearly as many films as I probably should have, but I made it a point to hit some of the bigger releases as well as the more anticipated flicks that I’ve talked about over the course of the year.
The problem with where I live though, is that they rarely carry any of the bigger horror flicks, so I unfortunately missed out on some of the higher profile films like You’re Next, Oldboy and a few others. Okay, now that that’s out of the way, below is my list of the top 11 horror movies of 2013. Will you agree with me? Read on to find out!
# 11 – Byzantium
The vampire genre has been around since the very beginning of cinema, so it’s no wonder that horror fans hold the iconic monsters so close. It had been nearly 20 years since Neil Jordan (Interview with the Vampire) had taken a stab at the genre, but what a return it was. Byzantium tells the classic tale of what it’s like to be truly under the curse of being immortal as two vampires struggle to hide from their past. It’s a very slow and deliberate film that doesn’t offer a whole lot of the red stuff, but what it does do is tell a phenomenal story that breathes new life into an old tale. It’s really a fantastic film and both Gemma Arterton and Saoirse Ronan were phenomenal.
# 10 – 100 Bloody Acres
You could throw a severed limb and hit a horror-comedy that released this year, but to hit a good one would be a rare thing. Balancing horror and comedy is no easy task because both genres are probably the most difficult to be successful in. Brothers Cameron and Colin Cairnes delivered one hell of an entertaining film that pours on just as much of the red stuff as it does the laughs. A ridiculous set up and a bunch of awesome characters are what made this one stand out from the rest, and it was without a doubt one of the very best of 2013.
# 9 – Sightseers
At this point I don’t think there’s anything that Ben Wheatley could do that I wouldn’t like. He’s been tearing through the horror genre for the last couple of years and doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. What’s fantastic about Wheatley is his ability to create something new and different with each and every film. He may be labeled as a horror director, but he has absolutely no limits to his ability to tell a crazy story. He followed up his chilling Kill List with Sightseers and while they hold the same brutality, they couldn’t be more different. This is the darkest of comedies and one that no other film of its kind even came close to touching this year. A true gem with some of the most ridiculous characters the genre has seen in quite some time.
# 8 – The World’s End
There was a lot of anticipation leading into Edgar Wright’s The World’s End as it would mark the conclusion of the Cornetto Trilogy, and what a finish it turned out to be. An absolute thrilling ride with just as much laughs as there was blue stuff flying limb from limb. Edgar Wright has yet to make a bad movie and seems to be only getting better with each and every turn behind the camera. His visual style is unmatched and he brings an amazing sense of quirkiness to The World’s End that he couples with edge of your seat thrills that make for a truly unforgettable film. Simon Pegg also turns in quite possibly his best performance to date, creating a character that I think any of us would gladly follow into The World’s End.
No review
# 7 – Open Grave
Gonzalo López-Gallego’s Open Grave is probably the biggest surprise of the year because of the way it makes us look at such a tired genre. I really enjoyed this one quite a bit because it’s tale of mystery that slowly unravels into something so much darker and horrifying than what you would expect. The storytelling on display here is top notch, and with its chilling visuals and solid performance by Sharlto Copley, Open Grave easily found a place on my best of list.
# 6 – Maniac
Maniac is a shining example as to why it’s okay to remake a movie. Not only is this one better than the original, but it’s the most unique horror film on this list. Shot entirely in the point-of-view of Elijah Wood’s serial killer Frank, the film takes you on a terrifying journey through the eyes of a maniac, and the result is one chilling horror film. Wood has become one of the go-to guys in horror lately and it doesn’t look like he’ll be leaving the genre anytime soon. It’s an amazing horror flick with one of the best soundtracks of the year, and it’s gruesome as hell!
# 5 – Prisoners
Man, what a punch to the gut Prisoners turned out to be. At first glance the film’s length may be off putting to some, but for me it was the fastest two and a half hours I spent at the theater this year. It’s a chilling story that roots itself in real life terror that had me on edge from the very beginning. Seeing Hugh Jackman’s character go from loving father to hellbent on revenge was quite the trip, and even though he pissed me off quite a bit throughout the film, the performance was completely jarring at times. Detective Loki, as played by Jake Gyllenhaal, was the shining light in a film that was surrounded by darkness, and a character that was just cool as hell.
No review
# 4 – We Are What We Are
Like Maniac, this is another remake that many said was unnecessary. Jim Mickle proved that just because it’s a remake doesn’t mean that it can’t be just as good as the original if not better. If you’re a fan of the slow-burn variety then this is one you will not want to miss. The atmosphere that Mickle creates is cold and raw and it features one of the very best performances the horror genre saw this year in Bill Sage. The film takes its sweet time building to one hell of a finish that will stay with you long after the credits roll.
# 3 – Evil Dead
Fede Alvarez had some big shoes to fill when he was offered the job to return Evil Dead to cinemas. It was pegged as a remake for the longest time, but once it finally released it became very evident that this wasn’t a remake at all. Instead it was a story that exists in the realm of Raimi’s classic and that’s exactly what made this film as good as it was. It was also without a doubt the goriest film of the year and Alvarez brought to light some of the most jaw dropping practical effects the genre has seen in years. I still have a hard time believing that there’s a horror fan out there who didn’t enjoy this one. What more do you people want?!
# 2 – The Conjuring
What a hell of a flick The Conjuring turned out to be. This genre is polluted with haunted house films so to get one as good as this is an absolute breath of fresh air. James Wan has grown immensely as a filmmaker and in The Conjuring he puts everything he has learned over the years to use in what was the year’s scariest film. It’s such a well paced film that sacrifices jump-scares for slow building tension that unravels in a terrifying final act. We’ve seen exorcisms in horror films hundreds of times, but Wan managed to create one of the scariest exorcism scenes the genre has seen in a very long time. This is a haunted house tale that stands above many and will certainly go down as one of the very best.
# 1 – Stoker
Park Chan-wook made his English-language directorial debut with Stoker, which was a beautifully twisted tale of murder that keeps you guessing until the very end. This is my kind of horror flick, which is exactly why it made my number 1 horror movie of the year. It’s a beautifully told story that takes its time building tension and leaving you to ask questions until the very end. It’s a remarkable film that never throws violence or blood at you unless it’s absolutely necessary as most of the violence happens off screen. It’s a classic horror story told by a master filmmaker who weaves a slow burning tale deep into the skin of its audience, and it’s one film that I’m happy to say is my number 1 of the year.
I may not have watched any of the other 10, although I did just queue Maniac but hey, I watched you #1 and its possibly my fave movie of 2013 so far so I totally agree
Awesome list!
haha, glad to hear it! That’s awesome that your favorite was Stoker as well. There’s plenty of good ones on here so definitely check them out when you get the chance.
Nice list, Ry! I’ve been meaning to put up mine as well, which I hope you’ll give a quick look once published, though what’s most of it are re-issued releases of films from 2012 (e.g.: “Berberian Sound,” and “Simon Killer” and “American Mary” among others). I’d also add “Escape from Tomorrow,” just for its novelty, for the same reason last year’s “The ABC’s of Death” might just find a spot. Again, this is all tentative until I publish.
Anyway, I love that I’m seeing “Sightseers,” “We Are What We Are,” and “Evil Dead” in the list. “Evil Dead,” particularly, a nostalgic experience much thanks to the great technician Fede Alvarez is. I agree, too, that “Stoker” is one of the best films of the year, and rightly deserves the top spot. To close, I’d like to know if you have ever watched “Jug Face,” it’s a small film that marked quite well in me; and also, I’ve recently seen “Open Grave” but wasn’t as smitten as you were.
Perhaps I’m merely enthusiastic with the advancement of the genre in terms of breaking new grounds on a thematic level. Again, wonderful list! Perhaps, make a “worst” list soon?
Thanks, man! I did see Jug Face, I really dug it. It was an interesting little backwoods flick with some good performances. I would love to do a worst of list but I’m pretty good at avoiding bad movies so I honestly didn’t see any “worst of” worthy horror flicks. I could probably come up with a “most disappointing” list though haha.
I think that if I ever did the best and the worst lists, “Escape from Tomorrow” would be a contender at both.
Lol, that’s funny. I didn’t understand the hype around it, honestly. I skipped it because it just looked a bit off to me. Wasn’t really getting good vibes at all. I could actually same the same thing about Wheatley’s A Field in England. Such an odd film. I either hated it or loved it… still not sure.
I’ve yet to see 100 Bloody Acres, but you are persuading me. Terrific list, seen pretty much every entry. So happy you’re giving Stoker so much love, very underrated film this year. Awesome job!
Dude, watch 100 Bloody Acres when you can. Funny as hell and really entertaining. I loved everything about Stoker and I knew after I saw it that it was probably going to end up as my #1. Thanks for reading!
Man, now I’m going to watch 100 Bloody Acres tonight!
Yes! Hope you enjoy it!
Great list! I have a couple of them to catch up on especially Sightseers and 100 Bloody Acres. I’m glad you liked Open Grave. I just started it and hope to finish it today sometime for review. Happy to see Byzantium, WAWWA and Evil Dead up there. They are killer films. I loved The Conjuring. Such a good looking movie with plenty of depth and mood. Thanks for sharing your list! Good job.
Those are two really fun films so I think you’ll get a kick out of them! Thanks for reading, Victor. Glad you liked the list.
I regret to say that I’ve only seen half of these (and I call myself a horror fan), but you’ve given me some ideas to seek out. Great list!
No worries, man. Plenty of time to get caught up! I’m sure you’ll find a couple in their you’ll like!
Great list, Ryan. I haven’t seen a lot of them (I’m behind on regular movies, let alone horror) but I’m glad to see Stoker on the list. Evil Dead’s a little high for me (I thought it was rather disappointing).
Thanks, Nick! Glad you liked it.
Great list here Ryan, with a lot of good films on it, too! I enjoyed a lot, and I must say The Conjuring, Evil Dead, Maniac and We Are What We Are blew me away. I am trying to get hold of Open Grave, keep hearing really good things about it!
Thanks, glad you like the list Zoe. Can’t wait to see what you thought of Open Grave. I seem to have liked it a little bit more than most, but it’s definitely a solid little film!
I am going to see if I can check it out this week!
I saw “Stoker” but didn’t even think it was considered horror at all; it’s more of a drama/mystery/thriller. I see IMDB doesn’t list it under the horror genre, either. But with that in mind, if you liked “Stoker” as your favorite of 2013, I really think you’re going to love “The Hidden Face” which has a similar vibe. Come on man, don’t enter 2014 without watching it. I’ve been anxious to hear your thoughts. If you don’t love it, I won’t push another movie on you.
I plan to watch “Open Grave” probably tomorrow. “Crave” is also at the top of my list. I may add “Sightseers” to the list, as well. I agree with you about “Prisoners”.
I think a lot of the movies on this list are really good. Just got around to watching, “We are what we are” today, and loved it. World’s End, Evil Dead and Conjuring are quite impressive as well. My only disagreement is Stoker! I personally disliked it, and called everything out from the beginning. Acting was good, film was beautifully shot, but found the plot predictable and boring for my taste. Awesome post overall!
Thanks for stopping by, glad you agreed with a few of them on here!
Great list! I still need to check out a few of these, thanks for the recommendations! I was so sad that I missed WE ARE WHAT WE ARE at Fantastic Fest. I heard it’s amazing.
Thanks! We Are What We Are is solid as hell. A very atmospheric slow-burn with crazy good performances and an awesome finish. I think you’ll dig it!