Hi all!
What an interesting year it has been! Thank you to everybody that has continued to support me and shown my posts some love. I appreciate each and every one of you! Today I will be sharing my five favourite horror movies of the year. 2023 delivered some unexpected spooky films. The ones I anticipated loving, disappointed me. The ones I thought would suck, made this list. Today I’m sharing the best of the best – in my opinion. Without further ado, let’s get into it!
1.) Talk To Me
Talk To Me is 100% my favourite horror movie of the year. I was so impressed that a.) it came from Australian cinema and b.) that it was the directorial debut from the Philippou brothers, who run a successful YouTube channel named RackaRacka. Furthermore, there was excellent and refreshing representation with an African Australian lead (played by Sophie Wilde), a transgender actor and a cast member from the Pacific Islands. From the soundtrack to the scares to the shocking scenes, this film was captivating from start to finish. It was well-paced and made sense, which is a plus when you’re watching an A24 feature. With a completely original storyline and a heart wrenching, underlying message of grief, this new release had no choice but to hit my number one spot.
2.) M3GAN
M3GAN was made for me. James Wan and a creepy doll? That’s a winning combination in my eyes! This film took its time building up a narrative that allowed viewers to connect with the characters and become invested in their progression. Despite being a villain, I really liked the pretty android. In a strange way, I understood her intentions. I even found myself tearing up at the bond between her and Cady. The overall message of the movie was abundantly clear but not spoon-fed to the audience – technology can never act as a replacement for human connection. I felt a myriad of emotions but the one that stood out the most was pure joy. It may have come out at the beginning of the year, but it clearly stayed with me.
3.) Evil Dead Rise
Evil Dead Rise was the perfect blend of nostalgia and fresh-faced fun! It had many homages to the original films, as well as the remake. This movie had me from the opening scene. It really set the tone for the rest of the journey. After that, it was a non-stop ride of gore, scares and demonic activity from start to finish. It’s disgusting, beyond bloody and disturbing. I truly loved it. A great addition to the new releases of 2023.
4.) The Nun II
If you read my ranking of The Conjuring franchise, you would know The Nun was my least favourite in the series. Imagine my delight when I realised the sequel corrected all my previous issues! The Nun II provided viewers with plenty of action-packed sequences, jump-scares and most importantly, Valak. Taissa Farmiga put on another incredible performance as Sister Irene, and it was really nice to see Storm Reid join the cast. We even got an Indiana Jones style artifact hunt. Moreover, there was a nod to the Conjuring 2 and a mid-credit scene, which hinted at what’s to come. I cannot believe this film made my list, but I’m not mad about it!
5.) Insidious 5: The Red Door
Insidious 5: The Red Door truly had some iconic and unique scares that set it apart from the rest of the franchise. I loved the MRI scene, the figure behind the photographs and Dalton’s super chilling paintings. Speaking of, our lead completely stole the show! It was nice that they kept the original Lambert family actors. Throw in astral projection, a red-faced demon and literal ghosts from the past, I was sold a thousand times over. I’m not surprised this movie made my list. It’s Insidious for heaven’s sake!
Thank you so much for reading! What were your favourite horror movies of the year? I hope you all have a safe and happy new year! See you in 2024!
Peace & Love xoxo