My first foray into the horror genre was watching a VHS of Stephen King’s It during an elementary school sleepover at a friend’s house. I’m old enough to remember the excitement of picking out a tape from a video rental store, but I’m certain he found It in the vicinity of his stepfather’s adult magazines. It was without a doubt the scariest thing I had ever seen and yet I couldn’t stop watching. Roughly the same age as the kids terrorized by the evil clown, I was convinced it could have been me and my friends. I stopped taking long showers and avoided making direct eye contact with storm drains for fear Pennywise was lurking below.

Suh Dude.

Two decades later, I now consider myself somewhat of a horror connoisseur. I have a particular interest in understanding horror’s history on the silver screen. I’ve read a few books on the subject, titles such as Shock Value, Reel Terror, and The Horror of it All. I’ve subscriptions to Rue Morgue, Scream Magazine, Shudder, and even a horror themed loot crate. Hanging in my home are posters of Rosemary’s Baby, The Evil Dead, They Live, and a slick painting of Nosferatu. Most of my living room is consumed by an expanding collection of blu-ray and DVDs, roughly 600 titles at last count.

My small VHS collection.

Before we go further, I must humbly admit I am not some omnipresent horror god. I haven’t seen every film and I don’t know everything there is. I’m just a dude who has a great appreciation for the genre. While I think my opinions have some merit, everyone has different taste. With that being said, 2016 was an incredible year for horror. I’d even go as far as to say it was one of the best in recent memory. Having seen most of the major films I have compiled a list of my top 10 favorites of this past year.

MY 2016 HORROR TOP 10:

10. Don’t Breathe

Having Don’t Breathe live at number ten should give some insight into how many other great horror flicks there were. There seems to be a trend of showing a key scene from the end of a film at the very beginning. I understand this is done to draw the audience in, but it gives away too much information. Unfortunately for Don’t Breathe, there was another film released last year about a group of young adults trying to exit a building without dying, which I’ve placed higher on my list.

9. The Love Witch

A love letter to 60’s pulp horror like the Hammer films. The aesthetic and production design are a breath of fresh air, but I wouldn’t want to see it become a trend. The Love Witch is silly and feels a bit like a guilty pleasure, but Samantha Robinson carries the title role.

8. 10 Cloverfield Lane

Someone once asked me if I had to choose to watch the films of only one actor for the rest of my life, who would it be? My answer was John Goodman. The guy has been in so many good movies. I also recommend the original Cloverfield, though you don’t need to have seen it to enjoy this film.

7. The Autopsy of Jane Doe

One of several films on this list primarily shot in a single location, including the two I’ve listed prior. The Autopsy of Jane Doe reminded me a bit of a less aloof, more suspenseful Re-Animator. I don’t want to give anything away, but once I found out what was really going on, I was a fan.

6. Train to Busan

All of the melodrama of The Walking Dead, but you don’t have to wait a year to see which of your favorite characters is going to get clubbed. Train to Busan is a horror film with heart, memorable characters, and really fast zombies.

5. Under The Shadow

Under the Shadow is special for a lot of reasons. It takes place during the 80’s in Iran amidst the Iran-Iraq War. Centering around a young mother confronted by cultural hardships, a Djinn, and a sweet workout tape. On a side note, I enjoyed the last horror movie that I saw set in Iran, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night.

4. The Wailing

The second great South Korean horror movie I saw in 2016. The Wailing is an epic horror genre mashup that contains several intriguing sequences including a shamanistic ritual. The Wailing is loaded with production value and a full re-watch is in order to fully comprehend this film’s mysteries.

3. Green Room

A shame about Anton Yelchin. He was most known for Star Trek, but I saw him in a few other horror movies: the remake of Fright Night and Only Lovers Left Alive. Anton really brought something to the table as an actor and he will be missed.

In addition to Green Room, I have seen Jeremy Saulnier’s two other films: Blue Ruin and Murder Party. His movies have a similar vibe, lots of blood and suspense. It’s a privilege to be able watch his progression as he builds more tension in each film. This flick will have you on the edge of your set from start to finish. A talented cast and some sick practical effects.

2. The Invitation

I first heard about Logan Marshall-Green after working with his brother on a reality television show. After seeing both Cinemax original series Quarry and The Invitation this year, it’s clear this dude has chops (pun intended.) While unrelated to horror, I can’t recommend Quarry enough.

The thing I love about The Invitation is that the protagonist Will (Marshall-Green) seems to think and react how the audience would. The writing is smart. Another example of horror in a single location done right. Director Karyn Kusama creates an environment where the characters can snap at any moment.

1. The VVitch

Of all the chatter I’ve heard regarding horror this year, reception of The VVitch seemed to have the biggest divide. I’ve read comments that the film moved slowly, it was difficult to understand the dialogue, and that it flat out wasn’t scary. I would argue that all of these criticisms hold some level of truth. I find myself describing The VVitch as exactly what it claims to be: a New England Folktale. Instead of jump scares, this slow burner builds an atmosphere of impending doom that leads to an extraordinary culmination.

First time director Robert Eggers did extensive research to nail the details of the period. The set was built with the same materials the early settlers used, the score composed by instruments of the time, and I felt the accents added more authenticity to the story. Black Phillip has already become somewhat of a horror icon. Newcomer Anya Taylor Joy is starring in other horror movies and Eggers is set to direct a re-imagining of the horror classic Nosferatu. The VVitch is not only my favorite horror movie of 2016, it sits among my all time favorites. This film will (if not already) be regarded as a horror masterpiece.

What’s some of your favorite horror films from 2016? Feel free to add them in the comments below. If you enjoyed my review hit the ♡ button, and share it :)