Hi all!
Today we are covering the best horror movies from 2010 – 2020. My all time favourite is on this list. I’m sure you will be shocked…NOT! In fact, I noticed as I was writing this post, I seem to have a thing for horrors released in 2017. If you want to see the best of the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and early 2000’s, please click on the corresponding year. I plan on covering the 20’s – 50’s down the track but it will take a bit of research/viewing first. Without further ado, let’s get into these iconic spooky films!
1.) Gerald’s Game
Gerald’s Game is so underrated! More people need to watch it. Based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, this 2017 horror follows Gerald and Jessie Burlingame, who go to their summer home for a romantic interlude. After being handcuffed to her bedposts, Jessie tires of her husband’s games, but when Gerald refuses to stop, she lashes out at him with deadly consequences. Still handcuffed, she is left trapped and alone, with her husband’s corpse on the floor. Painful memories from her childhood begin to consume her, as dehydration and hysteria takes over. Her only company is a hungry stray dog and the sundry voices that populate her mind. As night comes, she is unsure whether it is her imagination or if someone is watching her from the corner of her dark bedroom. I love Carla Gugino’s acting in this film. It takes place entirely in one setting and it’s brilliant. I also enjoyed the twist ending and the reveals we got about her past along the way. It just isn’t talked about enough.
2.) The Babadook
This 2014 psychological Australian horror is ridiculously good. It follows a children’s book writer and single mother, struggling with her troubled son, who seemingly and innocently believes that monsters lurk in their home. One night, he insists that she read him a book titled: “The Babadook”, which depicts a sinister presence invading a bedroom. Soon, she begins seeing strange things, including the very creature from the pages. There are so many things I love about this film. It kept me guessing until the very end. I wasn’t sure whether the Babadook was real or not. Watch to find out! I also want to mention that this movie was directed by Jennifer Kent. Female horror directors aren’t common but we definitely need more of them. The visuals are stunning. There is an old cinema style quality to the scenes that I adore. Please check it out.
3.) IT
I actually wrote an entire blog post about why I believe 2017’s IT is the greatest horror film of all time. You can check that out here. I love the original with Tim Curry but I feel the modern adaptation gives us a lot more. Set in the fictional town of Derry, Maine a group of boys and one girl come together to face their fears and confront the darkness in their own personal lives. Pennywise (the villain) is not actually a clown but rather an entity (an IT) that manifests itself in the form of whatever scares a person most. It reappears in Derry every 27 years to feed off evil. As most of you may know, the film is set in two parts. You see The Losers Club as children in Part 1 and them as adults in Part 2. This coming-of-age story sees boys become men and a girl become a woman through shared experiences and traumatic events. It’s my favourite horror movie and book. I cannot fault it. UGH!
4.) Hush
Hush is not your typical home invasion story. This 2016 horror revolves around Maddie (Kate Siegel), a deaf and mute writer who lives in a cabin in the woods, away from society. One evening, a masked intruder with a crossbow, targets her as his next victim and the fight for survival begins. As you can imagine, a woman who literally cannot speak or hear, makes for a very gripping movie. She must rely on her other senses to outwit the killer and stay alive. It is directed by Mike Flanagan, who brought us Midnight Mass, The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor. All excellent spooky television shows. He is also Kate Siegel’s husband. Her acting was incredible. I was captivated from the opening scene. I want everybody to watch it.
5.) Get Out
Last, but certainly not least, I have to share my undying love for Jordan Peele’s: Get Out from 2017. I’ve seen it a few times now and cannot get enough. When protagonist, Chris, is invited to meet his girlfriend’s parents for the weekend, he sees it as an opportunity to take the next step in their relationship. However, when they arrive, Chris notices the family are overly-accommodating, to the point of disturbing. As the weekend progresses, he makes some horrifying discoveries that lead him to a truth he couldn’t have possibly imagined. There is a lot of important commentary on race, as it is directed by a person of colour. It’s truly unique and mesmerising from start to finish. Please support it!
I hope you enjoyed this post. What are your favourite horror films from this decade? Do you agree with my list?
Thanks for reading! Peace & Love xoxo