The 30 Best Horror Films of the 2010's

The 2010s have ended, and it's time to look back at the very best in horror that that decade had to offer. There weren't that many clear trends, as we had remakes, ghosts flicks (with way too many shitty jump-scares), home invasions, horror comedies, gorefests, and more. Whatever the case maybe, it was hard narrowing it down to just 30, but I feel very pleased with what I picked. Let's not waste anymore time and get right into it!

• Honorable Mentions:

Unsane

All Cheerleaders Die
Maniac
Return to Nuke 'Em High Vol. 1 & 2
Would You Rather
Happy Death Day 2U
The Love Witch

30. You're Next (2011)- Adam Wingard's rollicking horror comedy has one of the best final girls in the gorgeous Sharni Vinson's Erin and ends up being one of the finest home invasion flicks in recent times.

29. The Woman (2011)- Arguably Lucky McKee's best film, The Woman is one fuck of a brutal and uncompromising viewing experience. It also stands has a powerful feminist view years before the current cinematic state. Throw in some excellent acting and you have one of the best hardcore splatter flicks of the last decade.

28. The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2017)- This chilling and intense supernatural horror flick is ghost (and witch!) horror done right. It builds tension and is genuinely creepy. The more the movie moves along the tighter you'll grasp your chair. Throw in some superlative acting from the small cast, and you have a real winner.

27. The Shallows (2016)- The Shallows is one of those films that has gotten better with time and viewings. It is a nail-biting horror-thriller that also happens to be beautiful looking, and just cause of its gorgeous star Blake Lively. Lively makes for a great heroine and proves that she is more than just a perfect body. Truth is this film is one of the best shark horror movies ever!

26. Incident in a Ghostland (2018)- From Pascal Laugier, the director of the vicious Martyrs comes this brutal and under-seen masterpiece. Hopefully, with Shudder starting to stream it last year, more have. My full review.

25. The Devil's Candy (2015)- A truly chilling and unnerving heavy metal/ horror movie from The Loved Ones (2009) writer/ director Sean Byrne. My full review.

24. Green Room (2015)- Another movie that gets better with repeated viewings, punk rock/ horror/ thriller Green Room is intense as fucking hell. It also features an amazing performance by Patrick Stewart as the lead neo-Nazi scumbag as one of the best bad guys (and easy to root against) in a genre film in the past decade.

23. The Cabin in the Woods (2011)- Wild horror/ comedy that works best with the less you know of it. My full and non-spoiler review.

22. Crimson Peak (2015)- A beautiful (in fact it is one of the most gorgeous horror movies of the last decade) and wonderfully acted horror/ Gothic romance from Guillermo Del Toro that is one of the very best ghost movies around. It is horribly underrated and should have been seen by more. Hopefully by now, you all have.

21. Train to Busan (2016)- Just when we were all ready to keep the zombie movie in the fucking toilet, comes this thundering ass kicker from Korea. A full throttle mix of action, gore, drama, and intensity that deserves all the praise it gets.

20. Get Out (2017)- A smart and timely horror movie from Jordan Peele got the rare kind of love (IE Oscar attention) for a genre movie. But, with its smart, deep, and. at times, funny script, excellent acting. and superlative directing it is more than worth it. Plus, it is highly entertaining, something completely missing, from most, if not all, of those other, so-called "elevated" (holy fuck, do I ever abhor that term!) horror movies.

19. It: Chapter One (2017)- This ridiculously successful horror flick, is one of the finest Stephen King adaptations ever made. It also has one of the best child casts ever, in any movie of any genre. The second chapter is alright, but a letdown, so let's just concentrate on our love for this one, OK?

18. Black Swan (2010)- Featuring an amazing performance by Natalie Portman, this is a nightmarish, searing, and, sometimes, sexy flick. Darren Aronofsky's modern masterpiece is really one of the best psychological horror movies ever made.

17. Raw (2016)- Alternately sexy, shocking, smart, and repulsive French horror movie is one of the best Euro-horror flicks of the last couple of years. Wonderfully acted and made, Raw shows us that the French are still kicking ass in our beloved genre.

16. The Conjuring (2013)- James Wan's scary modern classic (and his best movie to date) created its own world, the highly successful The Conjuring Universe, and is one of the best ghost movies ever fucking made. My mini review.

15. The Final Girls (2015)- A smart, loving horror comedy with a ton of heart. My full review.

14. Anna and the Apocalypse (2018)- Truly one of the greatest Christmas horror movies, this flick is one hell of mix of comedy, zombie, musical, and the holiday. And, unlike a lot of musicals, I actually love the tunes in it! Gory, funny, exciting, moving, and fun, with a wonderful turn by the lovely Ella Hunt as the title character, this is one I truly love.

13. Deathgasm (2015)- A gore drenched splatterfest, this headbanging and utterly hilarious fucker might just be the king of heavy metal horror movies. It has everything you could ever ask for: demons, metal love and music, hot babes, nudity, sex toys as weapons, and ton of fucking gore.

12. Piranha 3D (2010)- Blood drenched, sexy, and frequently funny remake might just be better than even Joe Dante's own cult classic. Filled to the brim with graphic gore, babes (including Elisabeth Shue, Riley Steele, Gianna Michaels, Kelly Brook, and more!), nudity, lesbianism, and an awesome cast, it is without a shadow of a doubt the best aquatic horror flick of the last decade.

11. Better Watch Out (2016)- This one ranks right next to Gremlins and the original Black Christmas as one of the greatest Christmas horror movies ever made. It also falls under the less you know about it, the better category. A nasty, fun, and twisted flick with great acting from its young leads, that is completely my cup of blood and excellent in repeated, and yearly, viewings.

10. Gerald's Game (2017)- Mike Flanagan's incredible adaptation of one of my favorite Stephen King books. My full review.

9. Evil Dead (2013)- Fede Alvarez' gorefest is one of the most fun moving going experiences of the last decade. It also might be the bloodiest big-studio film ever made. Combine it with Mia, who as played by the beautiful Jane Levy, is one of the absolute best horror heroines ever! Now, can we please get the fucking sequel, like right fucking now!!

8. Starry Eyes (2014)- A bloody, smart, and nightmarish horror flick with a killer performance by the beautiful Alex Essoe. My full review.

7. Happy Death Day (2017)- Talk about a movie for whom my love has grown and grown. Of all the movies, that are listed here, it is probably the one I have seen the most times, at least in terms of shortest period of time. Funny and wild this slasher/ comedy take on Groundhog Day holds a very special place in my heart. The awesome Baby-Face Killer has one of my favorite masks ever. And, its final girl Tree, as portrayed by the breathtaking Jessica Rothe, is honest to God one of the best the genre has ever seen.

6. Revenge (2017)- This superlative French, feminist badass of a movie is one of the greatest rape-revenge movies ever made. My full review.

5. Excision (2012)- An alternately twisted, funny, moving, sexy (in messed up sort of way), and gory coming of age film that with an amazing performance by the breathtaking goddess AnnaLynne McCord. Her character is one of my favorite, complex females in horror of the last decade. Playing her mom is Traci Lords in the greatest role she has ever had. The fact that this superlative masterpiece only gets better with multiple viewings is that much more impressive a feat.

4. American Mary (2012)- The Soska sisters introduced us horror fans to Mary Mason in this modern classic. My full review.

3. Mandy (2018)- A true masterpiece Mandy mixes Mad Max style revenge, with David Lynch and Dario Argento influences, gore, and a metal heart and style to deliver the most original horror movie of the 2010's. Gory, insane, is has an evil, hippie cult, demonic bikers, chainsaw mayhem, and an unhinged and awesome Nicolas Cage. There is no fucking movie quite like it. Plus, the Cheddar Goblin fucking rules!

2. Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead (2014)- Speaking of Mad Max, this fucker combines that with the zombie flick,and the result is the absolute best zombie movie since Shaun of the Dead. My full review.

1. Doctor Sleep (2019)- Mike Flangan's adaption of the Stephen King book of the same serves as a sequel to both The Shining book and movie. And, dear friends, ain't easy to pull off. Yet, he does it so amazingly in this the best horror movie of all of the 2010's. If you were one of those who fucked up and missed it in the movies, be sure you correct that shit when it comes out digital download and Blu-ray (February 4, in a director's cut!).





I would love to know what your favorite horror movies of the  2010's were. Tell me in the comments section below.

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REVENGE (2017) (Review)

Title: Revenge
Writer/ Director: Coralie Fargeat
Cast: Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz (as Matilda Lutz), Kevin Janssens, Vincent Colombe
Min: 108
Year: 2017 (released in the US 2018)

Beautiful, American born Jen (Matilda Lutz) is in a secret relationship with married and wealthy French man Richard (Kevin Janssens). Together, they are on a secret getaway at a house that he owns in the middle of the desert. There, he will later meet up with two of his hunting buddies, Stan (Vincent Colombe) and Dimitri (Guillaume Bouchède). But, they end up arriving a day early, surprising the couple.

That night they have a fun night of drinks. Jen dances provocatively, as the men have their eyes on her body. The next day, while Richard is away, Stan tries to get Jen to have sex with him, claiming that by the way she was dancing, she was coming on to him. When she shoots him, he gets pissed off and rapes her. Dimitri sees what is happening and does nothing, ignoring what is happening. When Richard comes back, Stan tells him what has happened. Richard tries to pay off Jen, so that she won't tell anyone. To which she responds that she will tell Richard's wife everything. They chase after her. But, as they reach a cliff, Richard pushes her off of it. She falls and lands on a tree becoming impaled. She doesn't die, though, and soon she begins her revenge on the three scumbags.

Revenge is a French (that has both English and French dialogue) rape-revenge movie that has been receiving much deserved massive critical adoration. It is without question the best movie of the sub-genre since Abel Ferrara's masterful Ms. 45 and one of the very best movies of the year. In fact, the flick is a modern genre masterpiece that will be studied and talked about in the years to come.

Writer/ director Coralie Fargeat has made one of the most exciting and breathtaking directorial debuts in the genre in many a moon. It is has a strong and true feminist view which sets apart from many of the most renowned movies this kind, all of which are made by men. Her message is clear and very much in key with the current world of the "me too" movement. It clearly states that no matter how a woman is dressed or however one might perceive her behavior to be, no is fucking no, and that is the end of it. So, don't be a fucking scumbag.

At the beginning of the movie, the camera ogles and worships the beauty of Jen. The way her body is framed and centered on acts as the male eye. But, she is more than a sex object. And, as she begins her bloody vengeance she becomes  a strong and powerful character, that we cheer on as she takes on the pieces of shit who wronged her in such horrible manners.

Fargeat is also great at breeding tension. The camera follows the hunted and the hunters, raising the blood and getting your pulse going. You hope and cheer as she offs the next asshole, and one worries that she doesn't get herself hurt or worse. The camera also always makes the environment clear and easy for the audience to understand, adding to the suspense. The pitch perfect editing and cutting, many times back and forth, further adds to pulse pounding, edge of your seat feel.

Beyond that, the movie is beautiful to look at. I am only referring to Lutz' inherit beauty. The movie's colors pop and blister, especially in the desert heat. Fargeat also makes the violence extremely graphic, including some of the most blood spraying squibs you are likely to see and sets drenched in splattered blood.

All four of the actors are excellent. Our three villains are detestable male chauvinist pigs, bought to reality by the actors portraying them. They never enter the realm of camp or of over-the-top indulgence. Janssens, in particular, makes for villain that you cannot wait till he gets his comeuppance. 

Lutz, though, is the movie's true star. And, this film never let's you forgot that. She is the centerpiece and the heart of the story. As such, the actress does an amazing job of bringing Jen to life. This is a tour-de-force role and the single breakthrough performance of the year, so far.

Revenge is an unbridled masterpiece. It takes the rape-revenge movie into feminist territory that it has long flirted but never fully committed to. The movie is expertly directed and edited. Intense and brutally violent, it grabs your attention and never lets it go. Beautiful to look and with a never more appropriate than now theme, the flick is a timely masterwork. With excellent acting and a career defining performance by Lutz, it achieves cinematic success after cinematic success. Available on DVD and Blu-Ray and exclusively streaming on Shudder, there is no excuse for fans of revenge and quality, but bloody, genre film-making to miss this one. 

4 out of 4

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