My Year of Horror: January 2017

I recently was asked by a friend, who was really into film but was also somewhat uninitiated with horror. about female directors in general. Since Horror is kinda my thing, I made her a list of some good horror flicks that were helmed by Women. I mentioned on Facebook that I had made such a list and, upon reflecting, realized that it was a really excellent list of horror flicks. So, given that interest, I decided to go ahead and make a post on the subject. I have fifteen that I recommend (the bottom two or three I have reservations about, but they're interesting), and decided to include what I call the "bonus round," which are films directed by Women that I either a)haven't seen or b)didn't care for, but generally suggest if you want to achieve the goal my friend did: watch movies directed by Women that are, regardless of gender, well made. So, let's do this.

In NO PARTICULAR ORDER, because ranking is hard:

Near Dark (Dir. Kathryn Bigelow)

It's odd that Bigelow is sometimes referred to as James Cameron's Wife, because she's SO much better than he is at filmmaking. Near Dark is one of the finest Vampire movies ever made (despite the kinda bullshit "cure" that the film presents) and a very strong film. Bigelow fills it with this Western movie feel, invoking a sort of manifest destiny/americana style...with strong performances to boot.

Amer/The Strange Color of Your Body's Tears (Dir. Helene Cattet and Bruno Forzani)

While technically only CO-directed by a Woman, the modern day giallos that are Amer and Strange Color are extraordinary films. I remember originally watching them on a whim (at the time, Amer was discussed a little on the internet, and then later Strange Color just showed up on Netflix) and being thoroughly engrossed. They are entirely style over substance in many ways-both have very little in the way of plot-but they were GORGEOUS films. Definitely worth checking out for those more into sensory exposure.

American Mary (Dir. The Soska Sisters)

One of my favorites of the 21st century, American Mary is likely the best body horror movie made since Cronenberg. The Soska Sisters, now better known as the hosts of TV reality/game show Hellevator are rather hit or miss as filmmakers, but Mary is an extraordinary film nonetheless. Katherine Isabelle gives an amazing performance. One could also check out their slasher film See No Evil 2 which, for a run-of-the-mill slasher starring WWE superstar Kane (also horror legends Katherine Isabelle and Danielle Harris), is surprisingly watchable.

The Babadook (Dir. Jennifer Kent)

I've talked about this film in other blog posts, and I maintain it's one of the best films in recent years, regardless of genre. A lot of people complain about "the annoying kid" but seem to miss the fact that his annoyance is kind of part of the point. One of the more interesting meditations on grief and the personification of mental and emotional problems ever made. Highly recommended.

Pet Sematary (Dir. Mary Lambert)

FUUUUUCK

To this day, I have a hard time getting through this film because when I was, like, seven, my Mom was watching it on a Sunday afternoon and I saw that beautiful lady pictured above and damn near pissed myself. So, I still occasionally have to look away or something whenever Zelda is on screen. Beyond that, this movie (and the book by Stephen King on which it's based) is utterly soul rending ("No Fair, No Fair!") and the best adaptation I've seen.

American Psycho (Dir.Mary Harron)

Do you like Huey Lewis and the News?

While technically a horror/comedy hybrid, American Psycho remains a favorite of mine. While it avoids most of the horrific excesses of Brett Easton Ellis' novel, it's still a pretty hardcore serial killer film. Also, Patrick Bateman absolutely killed everyone in this movie. It's not in his head. Read the damned book.

Ravenous (Dir.Antonia Bird)

Another odd horror/comedy hybrid. It will always be one of the oddest films I've ever seen. Strange musical cues, bizarre characters...while it never quite manages to actually understand a lot of things about American history, it still remains utterly charming. And weird. Can't stress that enough.

In My Skin (Dir. Marina de Van)

Did I say American Mary was the best body horror movie of the 21st Century? If I did, I meant In My Skin. A thoroughly creepy and unsettling body horror flick about a young woman who, after an accident at a party gives her a nasty cut, becomes obsessed with her own body and...well, that'd be telling. While it primarily sticks to body horror concepts, it also manages to delve deeply into self actualization and other personal ideas. De Van, who also stars, does an exceptional job in presenting a character dealing with some issues that are both horrific and strangely uplifting.

The Invitation (Dir. Karyn Kusama)

My pick for best horror film of 2016, Kusama's excellent paranoia film is a wonder to behold, rewarding subsequent viewings. Great performances, a troubling premise, and some excellent twists highlight a deeply creepy and effective film. Those who aren't super discerning about their thrills could also check out Jennifer's Body (written by Diablo Cody who, with all due respect, is not the strongest writer ever).

Bonus Round:

“Carrie”(2013)-Kimberly Pierce