The Gore Spotlight
HMS presents:
The best horror films for 2016
Welcome to the first official Horror Metal Sounds Best Horror Films of 2016!
Now, I know there are a ton of “best of” lists out there, especially come this time of year, but who can say that they don’t read them? Because I know I sure do! All art, including the art of film, is subjective, and all year long The Horror Show team brought you their reviews of what’s hot or not in horror, and now, we want to bring you our list of what we think is the cream of the crop!
So keep reading to learn what Maria, PJ, Robin, and I thought were the best films we’ve reviewed all year! And from all of us at HMS to you, have a safe, prosperous, and Happy New Year!
Stevie Kopas, Managing Editor, HMS
When Black Birds Fly (Release Date: 15 January 2016)
The use of sound and image in unison is masterful and pays off in a big way. It's trippy, it's weird, and it’s wonderfully unapologetic; I wouldn't want the film to be anything else. What follows is a trip to hell and back, literally and figuratively, as the chaotic world that Jimmy ScreamerClauz has created bombards the audience with color, violence, and unbridled madness. I loved every minute of it.
The Witch (Release Date: 19 February 2016)
Very few films truly make me feel like I am watching events taking place back in time, but The Witch excels at this and perfectly encapsulates the feeling of the era in which it takes place. It all culminates in a way that compliments the film's tone and themes and left me at just the right moment. Whether a character is investigating something in the woods or simply talking to a family member, evil and danger are constantly in the air and the film does a phenomenal job of delivering that fear.
P.J. Griffin, HMS
Hush (Release Date: 8 April 2016)
So simple and yet so finely shaped, Mike Flanagan's Hush definitely deserves to be on the list. It's a well-balanced suspense thriller, which proves that tension can be achieved with almost no lines at all. Every minute of it serves its purpose: to deliver a lean, gripping, and finely shaped horror movie grounded in reality.
The Conjuring 2 (Release Date: 10 June 2016)
The Conjuring 2 is proof that even a stereotypical haunting case can be spine-chilling. There’s no denying that it’s a powerful piece of filmmaking on a technical level as well, and that alone is a big asset. It’s not easy, but when James Wan is involved in the making, the outcome can only amaze.
Don’t Breathe (Release Date: 15 April 2016)
ust when we thought there’s not much more room for innovation, Fede Alvarez revitalizes the horror genre with Don’t Breathe; a refreshing home invasion movie, so stylish and so tense that one can’t simply forget. It takes great skill to fill the silences in an engaging manner and Don’t Breathe contains enough smart touches to remain powerful.
Maria Kriva, HMS
Holidays (Release Date: 15 April 2016)
I am a sucker for a good anthology. I love short tidbits of terror that are engaging and fun and this movie gives you eight gifts all wrapped up with a pretty ribbon that has been soaked in blood. Perfect for anytime of the year!
Antibirth (Release Date: 2 September 2016)
This movie is gross, sticky, and slimy. It's full of a lot of body horror and it is 100% awesome. This is one of those movies that you can't stop telling people to watch and then apologizing in advance. It is probably my favorite of the year.
Robin Thompson, HMS
Green Room (Release Date: 13 May 2016)
From the very beginning all the way up to the very last line, Green Room is a vicious thrill ride that’s about as Horror Metal Sounds as it gets. If the violence, gore, and soundtrack doesn’t pull you in, well, I think we can all agree that Patrick Stewart as a Neo-Nazi gang leader is something that you need to see. There’s no way I could have left this film off my Best of 2016 list!
The Purge: Election Year (Release Date: 1 July 2016)
With 2016 being an actual election year, I really found the film to be on point. It was humorous, absurd, enraging, and entertaining, much like our own real-life election year has been. With this appearing to be the final installment in The Purge series, it’s a great one that definitely makes the cut for 2016.
Train to Busan (Release Date: 20 July 2016)
I for one, thoroughly enjoyed Train to Busan and it has definitely been added to my list of “Modern Day Zombie Winners.” Busan is a high-intensity, bloody thriller that pulls on the heart strings just enough to give you a beautiful story throughout. This is one foreign horror film that stood miles above the rest this year.
Stevie Kopas, HMS
Honorable Mentions:
10 Cloverfield Lane, Friend Request, Scare Campaign, Lung II
David Bronstein’s Picks
TRAIN TO BUSAN
THE WITCH
SOUTHBOUND
NEON DEMON
DON't BREATHE
OUIJA ORIGIN OF EVIL
ALCHEMIST COOKBOOK
CONJURING 2
VOLUME OF BLOOD HORROR STORIES
Stevie Kopas, HMS
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