Take Shelter

Best Horror Movies of 2011: Carly's Take

Leading up the unveiling of the official BGH Top Ten of 2011, we're rolling out every BGH contributor's picks for best of the year. Next up is Carly!

The Best

10. Scream 4 - I think the only reason I liked this one so much is because I expected to absolutely hate it. The best of the series other than the original, "Scream 4" is supremely self-aware and character driven, while never taking itself too seriously.

9. Troll Hunter - Found footage mockumentary at it's finest! A perfect mix of horror, comedy, folklore and beautiful special effects.

8. Stake Land - A fun post-apocalyptic low-budget gem with vampires, zombies and the lovely Danielle Harris. Sold.

7. Melancholia - Powerful, tragic and heartachingly beautiful. This film makes you think about our behaviors towards each other while allowing each viewer the ability to take something different away, which I love.

6. Super 8 - A fun film told through the eyes of children. The child actors were likable, the plot had a lot of heart, and the nostalgia was so thick I wanted to cut it with a knife and use it to fuel my time machine to go back to the days when playing outside with friends was the best thing in the world.

5. Paranormal Activity 3 - This was my favorite of the series by far. Thanks to the new rotating camera shots, we get a ton of jump scares and a few genuinely high-tension scary moments, while not feeling like we've seen it all before.

4. Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil - The funniest movie I've seen in a long time. A talented, likable cast and the perfect mix of comedy and horror with jokes that work throughout the entire film. Much like "Shaun of the Dead," I can easily see this movie showing up on Comedy Central as a weekend movie and watching it every single time it's on.

3. Take Shelter - This UK gem about a man who suffers anxieties from the apocalyptic visions he has is a complex portrayal of the battles between mental illness and the power of fear. The nightmare sequences featuring supernatural storms and haunting imagery are haunting and disturbing. All in all, this one is a thought provoking, beautifully shot, intelligent film. Here's hoping it gets the recognition it deserves.

2. Attack the Block - A perfect mix of sci-fi horror and witty dialogue, this film about a gang of teens who defend their housing project from aliens does just about everything right. The actors were realistic, the monsters were dark in a fun, cult-movie way, and the script was darkly comedic.

1. Insidious - I love any movie that relies on tension, building suspense and cinematography to deliver its scares. "Insidious" is no exception and I can honestly say that it's one of the scariest movies I have ever seen. An interesting take on the traditional ghost story, "Insidious" is packed with some really creepy, goosebump-inducing moments.

The Worst

Movie that I didn't see category: The Human Centipede II (Full Sequence) - No thank you.
Worst movie that I did see: Shark Night 3D - Sleep-tastic.

Carly

Contributor

I like horror movies. That is all.