See ya later 2015! It's been fun.

2015 was a pretty decent year for horror, truth be told. A lot of really good films, a few that could even be considered great.  Some crap, as usual, made its way to our screens - but for what I saw, I was pleasantly surprised with what was offered. 

This is not your average "best-of 2015" list.  Because everyone does that, I tend to do something a little different.  This post mirrors my end-of-the-year posts of the past.... so here goes.

BEST HORROR EXPERIENCE OF 2015: 
 JAWS on the big screen. Last year's wrap up included a statement that the only film that could top my viewings of THE SHINING (2013) and PSYCHO (2014) on the big screen would be seeing JAWS.  Well....in honor of the 40th anniversary of the blockbuster, it was playing all over the US on theater screens, giving those who'd never seen the film (are there actually people out there who haven't seen it?) or anyone who was up for a re-visit a chance to watch Bruce wreak havoc on Amity Island.  This was my dream come true.  I was only 7 when it came out in 1975, so obviously I didn't see it then.  I've watched it countless times on Blu-Ray, DVD, VHS, plain ol' TV....but to see it in the way it was originally intended made my year.  (Only thing better this year for me was American Pharoah winning the Triple Crown in June. Actually, that was seriously the best day of my 47 years so far, bar none!)

It Follows

FAVORITE THEATER EXPERIENCE (Besides seeing JAWS, obviously):  IT FOLLOWS.  I saw this in a theater completely alone.  No one else in the theater with me.  It was creepy as hell and if I hadn't been in the very back row, I'd have been looking behind me the entire time.  It was like a private screening. Unnerving and deliciously fun!

What We Do In The Shadows

MY FAVORITE FIFTEEN HORROR FILMS OF 2015: (in no particular order except my top five)

1) WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS - At the top of most of the "top-ten" lists that are already out there, this film is a charmingly hilarious 85 minute homage to vampire films.  I've watched it countless times already this year and every single time I have LOVED it.
2) CRIMSON PEAK - When I hear people complain about it not being "horror" enough, I want to pretty much punch them. This is gothic romantic horror.  Still a sub-genre.  And it had some really good horror elements. No film looked as beautiful as this one did this year.
3) IT FOLLOWS - Why are people divisive about this movie?  I'm not sure what people expected.  It is a classic creep-fest with a great score (the best of the year by far), boatloads of atmosphere and a strong female lead who is going places, mark my words. Horror fans are known to be violent critics, and I suppose when a movie is as hyped as this one was, there are some that will be bound to be disappointed.  Just don't count me in that group.  I loved it.
4) SPRING- This has been called, several times I might add, a "Linklater by way of Lovecraft" film. And I think that is a fair comparison.  I had no idea what to expect going in, which is the perfect way to experience this beautiful yet extremely unique horror film. One of my absolute faves of any year.
5) WE ARE STILL HERE - Fulci lives!  Well, he's at least stirring in his grave after this little beauty.  Subtle.
6) JURASSIC WORLD- Please don't try to tell me that dinosaurs eating people is not horror.  In what world is that NOT horror? Not Jurassic World, that's for sure.  The most fun I had all summer.
7) THE FINAL GIRLS - This self-aware throwback to the 80's camp-slasher flick has a lot of heart.  And a really good cast. It's not a perfect film by any stretch of the word, but it has some genuine humor and is a fun time.
8) VALLEY OF THE SASQUATCH - An indie flick with the titular "In Search Of" monster front and center. Writer/director John Portanova brings us the tense atmosphere of the deeply wooded Pacific Northwest and throws in a good measure of family drama to keep things interesting.
9) GOODNIGHT MOMMY - While I may not have liked this one quite as much as others, there is no denying it is quite possibly the most unnerving movie from 2015.  It's a slow burn - but that ending! It more than makes up for any amount of waiting for something to happen. 
10) THE VISIT- Some may disagree that this film even belongs on a best-of list from last year, and I'm not saying this is a return to his "Sixth Sense" form, but The Visit is M. Night Shyamalan's best offering in at least a decade. Witty and unsettling (sometimes simultaneously), I really did find it one of the better contributions of 2015.
11) CREEP - Found footage films are something I usually veer away from, but one day I just happened upon this indie weird-fest and found myself oddly unable to stop watching it.  The entire running time is marked with abject dread....you just know something is going to happen....but when?  Take my word for it - it will happen.
12) DARK WAS THE NIGHT- Playing like an extended episode of The X-Files, this monster-of-the-week flick brings us a wendigo-type creature that we are lucky enough not to see for nearly the entire movie, allowing eerie atmosphere and mounting dread to give us chills. I didn't hear much about this one this year, but I couldn't leave it off my list.
13) BACKCOUNTRY - While no bear attack could possibly top the one in the DiCaprio vehicle, The Revenant, the one in this adventure-horror film had me outright cringing.  Animal attacks are always going to be scarier to me because THAT SHIT CAN HAPPEN! (Hence why JAWS is my favorite film.) A couple on a camping trip gets avoidably lost.  Simple concept. Maximum effect.
14) BONE TOMAHAWK - Boasting a fantastic cast headed up by Kurt Russell, this horror western, while probably overly-long, is a delightful example of how to merge genres. It also gives us one of the most gruesome deaths in a film this year- it's just cringe-worthy!
15)  ANGUISH - I recently caught this subtle indie and was blown away by Ryan Sympkins, just one of the strong female leads here. A teenager (Sympkins) already suffering with anxiety and multiple emotional issues starts to experience an increase in hallucinations and other instabilities - does she need to increase her already hefty medication regimen or is something a little more....supernatural going on?
16) EXTINCTION - Hard to believe Matthew Fox is on this list twice, but I've got to be honest when I say I liked this different take on the zombie apocalypse - partially because of Fox and his pre-teen co-star (Quinn McColgan) who brought enough family drama to the table here that it made more than tolerable something that would have otherwise been The Walking Dead meets The Descent meets 30 Days of Night.  I'm aware I could be alone in liking this one, but that's what makes the world go round...

Let Us Prey

ON THE FENCE IN 2015
1) LAST SHIFT - This one I actually did like as it had a boatload of atmosphere, taking place in a closed police station.  But it went so off the rails at the end!  It was like two separate movies.  I was really into it until about the last third.  At that point there was just too much thrown in visually that I expected the kitchen sink to show up. Why!?!
2) TALES OF HALLOWEEN - While I did enjoy this one also, it failed to capture my attention like Trick R Treat did back in 2007.  Perhaps there were just too many stories and not enough cohesion. This is a real negative point for me, I love anthologies but things like those ABC's of Death movies and ones like it - too much going on.  Not enough continuity.  The segments have got to be related and mold together somehow - otherwise we're just watching a bunch of unrelated shorts on YouTube on a random Tuesday afternoon.  I also have to admit the "funny" segments left me totally cold. Ugh. Someone in charge could benefit from seeing 1945's Dead of Night.)
3) LET US PREY  - Like Last Shift, we have another film that takes place in a creepy police station. This one benefits from having both Pollyanna McIntosh and Liam Cunningham in the lead roles, which is never a bad thing.  It did drag a little, and some of the Scottish accents were a little thick for we uneducated Americans...and I just felt a little bored by the end.

The Green Inferno

FOUR FILMS I FOUND TO BE PRETTY OVERRATED
1) THE GREEN INFERNO (After all that hype, all that waiting, it was really just Meh...  In all honesty, Cannibal Holocaust (1980) is vastly superior. If you can stomach the animal cruelty in that one, just see that one.) Yes, people eat other people.  But these days, that's just not enough.
2) THE BOY (I love a slow burn just like the next guy, maybe more...but nothing happened in this film. For minutes and minutes and minutes and.....days.... The ending was unnerving but not unexpected.  In my opinion, it was all a bit too nap-inducing.)
3) DARK SUMMER (Gotta be honest, this felt like a Chiller PG-13 flick for tweens.  Blah. So boring. Nothing...and I mean NOTHING...scary happens.  In other words:  move along...nothing to see here.)
4) A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT - Yes, I realize it is an art-house type film with loads of monotone atmosphere...but I just couldn't get into it! Maybe it's because I went into it thinking I HAD to like it because it had such great critical reviews.  I tried to watch it twice.  I guess it's just not for me. 

Poltergeist

SIX FILMS I'M PRETTY GLAD TO HAVE MISSED AND HAVE NO REAL INTENTION OF SEEING:
1) Poltergeist - No need for this remake in the least.
2) The Gallows - Seemed good in the trailer, failed miserably at the box office and with critics.
3) The Vatican Tapes - Apparently nothing sets this apart from any other religious dreck.
4) The Human Centipede III: Final Sequence - Let's hope Final means FINAL.
5) Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension (Plea to Paramount/Blumhouse: Please stop making these films.)
6) I Spit on Your Grave III:  Vengeance is Mine.  (seriously...? Just put on Ms. 45 and don't suffer through what I'm sure is pure dreck.)

Cooties

A DOZEN FILMS I MISSED SO I CAN'T CRITIQUE YET:
1) Krampus
2) The Editor
3) The Hallow
4) Cooties
5) Sinister 2
6) He Never Died
7) When Animals Dream
8) Deathgasm
9) Maggie
10) Hidden
11) Stung
12) Victor Frankenstein

The Lazarus Effect

BAD. JUST PLAIN BAD.
1) THE PYRAMID:  If you have seen As Above So Below, you needn't even bother with this one.  And AASB was one of my favorites last year.  This one seemed like a total rip-off of that one, with a horrible - and I mean HORRIBLE version of Anubis.  Just comedic, really.
2) THE WOMAN IN BLACK 2: ANGEL OF DEATH.  I am usually not one for sequels, but was hoping for the best with this one.  The original 1989 version of THE WOMAN IN BLACK is in my top five, all time faves. The remake wasn't too bad - saved by the actors if I'm being honest. So I should have known this one would be crap.  And it was. 
3) THE LAZARUS EFFECT.  The concept was unoriginal.  The acting was only marginally good (though Evan Peters is a joy to watch in anything). And the scares?  Not even remotely there.
4) INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 3.  I think they can stop making these films any day now.  Please, go no farther with the further!


   

SIX UPCOMING FILMS I'M MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2016:
1) THE WITCH - My most anticipated film of the new year.  Don't let me down!
2) THE FOREST - This may not do well and is most likely crap, but I am terribly intrigued by the whole concept - the Aokigahara Forest in Japan just reeks dread. 
3) THE CONJURING: THE ENFIELD POLTERGEIST - Because I am a sucker for both Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga.  And ghosts.
4) 31 - I'm also a sucker for genre super-fan Rob Zombie, because no matter what - he's got passion.
5) THE BOY - A different BOY than the one I already mentioned, this one involves Lauren Cohen (TWD) and a life-sized doll.  Bound to be terrifying, as I just can't stand dolls of any kind.
6) A MONSTER CALLS - Because well....Liam Neeson. And.....Sigourney Weaver.

Ash vs. Evil Dead (Starz)

MY FAVORITE HORROR TV EXPERIENCES OF 2015: Another banner year in horror television brought so many great things my way - there was a lot to love. If I'm being honest though, American Horror Story Hotel left me completely cold.  I stopped watching after 4 episodes and haven't looked back.  But Bates Motel had a banner season in which the end of the season had Norman wearing his mother's housecoat, making pancakes for breakfast and talking in her voice.  Oh, and peeping on motel tenants and committing murder.  Can't wait for the new season of that one!  The Walking Dead had me on pins and needles waiting to see if Glenn was dead or not. That was just rude. Andl Penny Dreadful, in all its gothic goodness, brought us some more characters from classic literature to life and amped up the violence in season 2. 
But for sure, the best horror TV experience of 2015 is Ash Vs. Evil Dead!!  To bring back the iconic character of Ash Williams in his quest to rid the world of deadites just made any horror fan's entire decade.  To see it renewed for a second season? Icing on the cake.  It's outrageous and campy and fun and perfect as hell! Thanks Starz! Year made!

MY FAVORITE BOOKS I READ IN 2015:  Fiction: The Bazaar of Bad Dreams by Stephen King.  If I need to explain that, then you don't read enough. 
Non-fiction:  The Horror of It All: One Moviegoer's Love Affair with Masked Maniacs, Frightened Virgins, and the Living Dead - by Adam Rockoff.  Guess that title is as self-explanatory as the fiction title above.

FAVORITE GENRE MAGAZINE: Rue Morgue gets my number one spot again this year.  I don't think I need to reiterate that it is simply the classiest horror magazine out there with the most well-rounded content. I still love that they review books and music, which all mags don't do.

FAVORITE MOVIE SCORE:  IT FOLLOWS.  Electronic goodness at its best.  Evoking fear and atmosphere in every note. Composer Disasterpeace really nailed it!
Kudos also to John Carpenter's return to composing with Lost Themes.  Feels like it could be the score of any recent horror film.  More please.
I also really liked the score to Crimson Peak by Fernando Velázquez. Feels as old-school gothic as the film.

The Revenant

FAVORITE NON-HORROR FILM I SAW IN 2015:  It came out in the last week of the year (in order for Oscar contention I'm sure) and went wide the first week of January 2016.  THE REVENANT is a perfect film in nearly every way.  There are some nasty elements that border on horror, but it's an adventure/revenge film at its core.  Leonardo DiCaprio really needs to win the Oscar, dammit.

Random Year-End Awards:

*THE "I CAN'T BELIEVE I SAT THROUGH THE WHOLE MOVIE" AWARD:  As previously mentioned, The Pyramid

*THE "WHEN THE HELL IS THIS TITLE GOING TO GET CRITERION RELEASE?" AWARD:  Dead of Night (1945).  I'm still waiting.....................................

Bone Tomahawk

*BEST DEATH SCENE:  Hands down, Bone Tomahawk.  (Spoiler Alert!) Dude is scalped, has the bloody scalp jammed down his throat, and is then cut apart from the groin with a tomahawk while upside down.  Then they ate him.  Wow. Just wow.

*BLOODIEST MOVIE I SAW IN 2015:  Well, I guess it may have been The Green Inferno but my mind is a little fuzzy on that one.  Crimson Peak would have been the obvious choice but there wasn't as much blood as expected....well, at least not spilled.

The Gift

*FOUR FILMS THAT WERE SO MUCH BETTER THAN I EXPECTED:
1) Unfriended
2) Kristy
3) Ex Machina
4) The Gift

Ryan Simpkins in Anguish

SIX STELLAR FEMALE PERFORMANCES THIS YEAR:
1) Ryan Simpkins in Anguish
2) Nadia Hilker in Spring
3) Maika Monroe in It Follows
4) Eva Green in Penny Dreadful
5) Barbara Crampton in We Are Still Here
6) Pollyanna McIntosh in Let Us Prey

Lou Taylor Pucci and Nadia Hilker in Spring

SIX STELLAR MALE PERFORMANCES THIS YEAR:
1) Lou Taylor Pucci in Spring
2) Mark Duplass in Creep
3) Tom Hiddleston in Crimson Peak
4) Bruce Campbell in Ash vs Evil Dead
5) Freddie Highmore in Bates Motel
6) Rory Kinnear in Penny Dreadful

*MOST CURIOUS TITLE OF HORROR FILM IN 2015:  Sharknado 3: Oh HELL no! Now that's funny, I don't care who you are.

*THE "THEY'RE SPEAKING ENGLISH!" AWARD:  Let Us Prey.  God Bless the Scots but I can't understand them sometimes.

*THE "SOOO DIDN'T LIVE UP TO THE HYPE" AWARD:  The Green Inferno

*THE "I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE SEQUEL" AWARD:  First things first - I haven't heard that there is a sequel coming, but I'd be first in line for:  "What We Do In The Shadows 2:  Werewolves, Not Swearwolves!"

The Witch (February 2016)

*THE MOVIE I'M MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2016:  The Witch.  Hope I'm not disappointed!!

*THE "MOST UNNECESSARY SEQUEL AWARD: With so many to choose from I'm going to draw out of a hat.  The Human Centipede III: Final Sequence gets my vote this year.  I think it's fairly obvious why.

*THE MOST UNNECESSARY REMAKE AWARD: Another obvious choice here:  Poltergeist.   Not sure who green-lighted this one but they need to be taken out back and shot.

Well that wraps up yet another year.  Goodbye 2015.  You've been good to us!  Here's hoping 2016 is even better!
Thanks for reading and sticking with us here at Fascination with Fear!!

Goodbye 2014: Wrapping Up A Great Year Of Horror In A Loose, Rambling Bow

2014 was an exceptional year for horror.  And as usual I have my longest, most rambling post ready for you right here, right now.  It's a recap of what I loved (and hated) about the horror genre this past year.  From The Babadook to Godzilla to Starry Eyes to The Guest, I was more entertained this year than I have been in several years.  And as in years past, this is not a "best-of" list like most sites do, it is more of a thank you to the horror industry, as well as several lists (my forte) that describe my favorites and some random "awards" that pretty much speak for themselves. 

I also want to give a quick shout out to my partner in crime, Marie, for all her hard work this year!  We'll be back in full force soon, with loads more original content, lists, special features and reviews. And thanks to everyone and anyone who has taken the time to read our scribblings.  We enjoy doing it!!

I hope you have a bit of time on your hands - this is a long one!!

BEST HORROR EXPERIENCE OF 2014:   Seeing Psycho on the big screen.  Anyone who knows me or has spent any time perusing this blog knows my all-time favorite horror character is (and forever will be) Norman Bates.  His over-anxious, quirky yet enigmatic self was such a joy to finally watch at the theater! I wasn't even born yet when Psycho came out in 1960, but have seen it countless times and have just about every version of the film on VHS, DVD, and even Blu Ray.  So to top it off by finally watching that shower scene on the giant screen was a dream come true. After seeing The Shining last year at the theater and Psycho this year, the only thing that could top those two is (quite obviously) Jaws.  Someday!

**In second place would really have to be The Walking Dead.  As per usual it has been a banner year so far for our favorite zombie apocalypse survivors, with some serious heartbreak on the back eight.  We've got a lot to look forward to from TWD in 2015, and I'm overly anxious to get that party started again!

FAVORITE THEATER EXPERIENCE (Besides seeing Psycho):  Godzilla
Just loved seeing the big guy again.  And he was bad-ass!

MY FAVORITE FIFTEEN HORROR FILMS OF 2014: (in no particular order)
1) Only Lovers Left Alive
2) Starry Eyes
3) 7500
4) Godzilla
5) Blue Ruin
6) The Taking of Deborah Logan
7) Soulmate
8) As Above So Below
9) Wer
10) Late Phases
11) The Sacrament
12) The Device
13) At The Devil's Door
14) The Babadook
15) The Guest

NINE MOVIE PURCHASES I'M HAPPY WITH:
1) As Above So Below
2) Sightseers
3) Stonehearst Asylum
4) Wer
5) Haunter
6) The Thing on the Doorstep
7) At the Devil's Door
8) Here Comes the Devil
9) The Invisible Man

EIGHT FAVORITE NETFLIX RENTALS THIS YEAR:
1)  The Purge: Anarchy
2) The Seasoning House
3) We Are What We Are
4) Black Rock
5) The Possession of Michael King
6) Cold In July
7) Blue Ruin
8) Only Lovers Left Alive

THREE "WHY THE HELL DID I RENT THIS" MISTAKES FROM NETFLIX:
1) Snowpiercer
2) Cassadega
3) Oldboy

 THE 'WHY THE HELL DID I BUY THIS' AWARD: The Quiet Ones.
This could fall under the "Bored me to tears" award as well...

SIX FILMS I'M PRETTY GLAD TO HAVE MISSED AND HAVE NO REAL INTENTION OF SEEING:
1) Devil's Due
2) Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones
3) I, Frankenstein
4) Dracula Untold
5) Cabin Fever: Patient Zero
6) Dead Within

TWELVE FILMS I MISSED SO I CAN'T CRITIQUE YET:
1) Cheap Thrills
2) Housebound
3) The Houses October Built
4) ABC's of Death 2
5) Dead Snow 2: Red vs. Dead
6) The Green Inferno
7) Honeymoon
8) The Pyramid
9) A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
10) Afflicted
11) Tusk
12) Willow Creek

 NINE UPCOMING FILMS I'M MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2014:
1) Crimson Peak: del Toro. A haunted house tale. In October. Starring Charlie Hunnam. This is a no-brainer
2) The Woman in Black: Angel of Death:  While I've never been a fan of sequels, the original source novel from Susan Hill knocks my socks off, so everything and anything even remotely regarding that story is something I can't pass up.
3) Jurassic World: Because I'm an absolute dinosaur FREAK.
4) It Follows: Getting great buzz in horror circles, it has a 100% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes.  That's worth at least a look.
5) Insidious Chapter 3: Because once you've seen the other two, do you really have a choice?
6) Sinister 2:  I will admit I thoroughly enjoyed the first Sinister, and also enjoyed Sinister 2's director Ciaran Foy's Citadel (2012), so I'm curious what he will do with this script.
7) The Lazarus Effect: Starring American Horror Story's Evan Peters, this one is about med students bringing patients back from the dead.
8) Victor Frankenstein: With Daniel Radcliffe as Igor and James McAvoy as the titular doctor, this is one I'm really psyched for.
9) Krampus: The polar (pun intended) opposite of Santa Claus, look for this bad-ass Santa to raise his ugly mug right around the silly season!

MY FAVORITE HORROR TV EXPERIENCES OF 2013: Even though it has been an absolutely banner year for horror on television, as mentioned previously I don't think anything could top my enjoyment of The Walking Dead this year, but two series came DAMN close:  Penny Dreadful and True Blood. 
*Penny Dreadful brought multiple fictional characters like Victor Frankenstein, Dorian Gray, and Dracula's Mina Murray together in Victorian England.  It's a dark, delicious series, and I can't wait to check out season two in 2015. 
*True Blood ended its seven year run by wrapping up series-long storylines and giving everyone (well, almost everyone) a happy ending in Bon Temps. Many thanks to the show's creators for giving me something to look forward to on Sunday nights.
From here on out though, it's all The Walking Dead to close out the weekend.  It continues to thrive and surprise and just flat-out entertain on a regular basis.

MY FAVORITE BOOK I READ IN 2014:   REVIVAL by Stephen King. Wow. Blew me away. SK will forever be my favorite author, but not all his work has me as excited as this return to form novel did. Stellar.

FAVORITE GENRE MAGAZINE:  This year I've gotta give it to Rue Morgue. Consistently fabulous on every level, it remains a cornerstone of horror publications that is just one step ahead in class than all other horror rags.

FAVORITE MOVIE SCORE:  I bought a re-issue of Psycho II in October that knocked my socks off. That was my favorite purchase.  As far as new scores, I thoroughly enjoyed the score from The Device, by Joseph Molner.  When and if it becomes available I'd scoop that up in a heartbeat.

FAVORITE NON-HORROR FILM I SAW IN 2013: Gone Girl.  While I wasn't quite as enamored with it as the rest of the nation, it was a good adaption of the best-selling novel and the two leads (Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike) were spot-on as a married couple that love to hate each other.
And as an extreme weather freak I loved guilty pleasure flick Into The Storm. 

Random Year-End Awards:

*THE "I CAN'T BELIEVE I SAT THROUGH THE WHOLE MOVIE" AWARD:  Jessabelle
While this wasn't awful, it was a real snooze-fest and it's hard to believe I actually stayed awake for it. I wanted to love it - there just aren't enough movies with voodoo themes out there - but it really lacked for excitement and the scares were only mediocre.

*THE "SURPRISE! THIS REMAKE IS ACTUALLY GOOD" AWARD:  Godzilla
I realize some people didn't enjoy this remake but I think the general consensus is that it was a really decent reimagining of one of horror's most longstanding and beloved monsters.  To see him onscreen - after a lengthy wait time of at least 2/3 of the film - was, in a word, sublime.
Coming in second place in this category was Stagefright.  A whole lotta bloody fun!

*THE "DID WE REALLY NEED ANOTHER SAW CLONE" AWARD:  13 Sins
While slightly different in nature as the famous horror series, its graphic nature and disturbing challenges made it seem awfully familiar. Even the main theme in the beginning sounds the same. Though I did like seeing True Blood's Rutina Wesley again.

*THE "DID I SAY I DIDN'T LIKE SEQUELS?" AWARD:  The Purge: Anarchy.
I actually enjoyed this movie ten times better than the original.  Go figure.

*THE "WHEN THE HELL IS THIS TITLE GOING TO GET A DOMESTIC RELEASE?" AWARD: The Green Inferno. 
When the hell are we going to be able to see this effing movie?  Somebody give me a damn clue! 

*THE "WHAT THE HELL IS THIS MOVIE ABOUT, ANYWAY?" AWARD:  Under the Skin.
While this film sat near the top of many horror fans this year, I know I'm not the only one who found it an utter bore-fest. Too artsy-fartsy for me, it takes Scarlet Johansson, makes her an alien in human disguise - puts her in dark hair, a fur coat, heels and bright red lipstick and sends her to Scotland to seek out men to kill in her own bizarre way. No thanks. Wins the "DULL MOVIE OF THE YEAR" award for me, too, sorry. 

TOP FIVE MEDIOCRE FLICKS OF 2014: None of these films were anything to write home about, despite the hype and loads of press.  I could have foregone them completely.
1) The Quiet Ones- Interesting premise but bored me to tears.
2) Annabelle - A real disappointment.  Nothing scary about this one at all.
3) Horns - Daniel Radcliffe is perfectly fine here, but the story lacks pizazz.
4) Deliver Us From Evil - Based on a "true story". Wanted to like this a lot more.
5) Ouija - A trite teen horror movie. Nothing more, nothing less.

*BLOODIEST MOVIE I SAW IN 2014: Not certain, but maybe Starry Eyes.  With that shocking final act, it may have just taken this prize.

FIVE AMAZING FEMALE PERFORMANCES THIS YEAR:
1) Jill Larson in The Taking of Deborah Logan - Just an unbelievable performance that goes beyond all boundaries and takes it one step further. No one even came close.
2) Essie Davis in The Babadook - As a single mother dealing with a bad-natured little son who just can't seem to get the monsters out of his head, Davis shines as things go from bad to worse and she is soon battling a force set to destroy her and her young son.
3) Anna Walton in Soulmate - A beautiful, nuanced performance by Walton, playing a suicidal woman who has just lost her husband in a horrible accident.  She retreats to an isolated cottage in Wales to mourn and discovers the home to be haunted....and she likes it.
4) Alex Essoe in Starry Eyes: Essoe goes above and beyond to portray a young actress hoping for her big break.  She finds it when an obscure producer singles her out to star in his latest horror feature.  But what she has to do to hold on to the role is much more than she bargains for.
5) Tilda Swinton in Only Lovers Left Alive: Swinton is excellent in everything she touches of course, but I especially loved her in this offbeat, unique vampire story that transcends all the bullshit we've seen in this overcrowded genre the last few years. 

FIVE AMAZING MALE PERFORMANCES THIS YEAR:
1) Dan Stevens in The Guest: One of my favorite movies this year, Stevens is David Collins, who shows up at the Peterson home claiming to be a friend of the Peterson's own deceased soldier son. He stays with the family and begins helping them with their various problems in life...until the family discovers he may be their biggest problem yet.  An astoundingly fun character that Stevens plays with a restrained abandon.
2) Tom Hiddleston in Only Lovers Left Alive: Yes, this film was officially released in late 2013, but we did not see it here in the US until 2014.  Hiddleston is stellar as a melancholy, vampire musician despondent with his life and wishing to end it, until his vampire wife of many centuries comes back to help him through his latest depression.
3) Gene Jones in The Sacrament - As "Father", the head of a religious cult, Jones gives a frightening turn as a character loosely (but oh-so-obviously) based on the People's Temple cult and the horrors of the 1978 Jonestown tragedy.  Sunglasses and all, you'll be terrified of his power and persuasion in keeping his flock under his wing.
4) Macon Blair in Blue Ruin:  In one of the best revenge films of the last couple decades, Blair stars as Dwight Evans, a man obsessed with exacting vengeance on the man who murdered his parents.  At first a vagrant, he quickly uses his street knowledge to track the man and through a series of uneven (sometimes hilarious) events comes to realize revenge is a tricky beast.
5) Michael C. Hall in Cold In July:  This crime thriller was the first film Hall took on after finishing his run as Dexter.  He stars as a man who shoots an intruder in his own home one night, only to find out it may have all been a set up by local police who are using him for their own gains.  Keeps you guessing till the end.

*THE "IT BETTER BE AS GOOD AS EVERYONE SAYS BECAUSE I'M DAMN SICK OF THE HYPE' AWARD:  Starry Eyes.  
All I can say is: believe the hype!

THREE FILMS THAT WERE BETTER THAN THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN:
1) The Possession of Michael King: A man searching for the existence of God and/or the Devil after his wife's untimely death gets more than he bargained for. Generally I don't care for found footage or films that attempt to be The Exorcist or in that vein.  This was a good surprise.
2) Beneath: Jeff Fahey stars as a coal miner whose last day on the job finds his inquisitive, environmental lawyer daughter traveling below ground with him to see just what her dad did for a living. What they and the other miners find is something that stalks them relentlessly.  Underground horror is always scary, in my opinion.
3)  Don't Blink:  What at first seems like a Lifetime Movie of the Week starring Brian Austin Green actually turned out to be a fairly decent supernatural flick. A group of friends arrive at a mountain lodge to discover no one there, and as they start to disappear one by one, it's obvious something else is at work...

*MOST CURIOUS TITLE OF HORROR FILM IN 2014:  Fairly certain we could peg The Babadook with this reward.  Though admittedly, the name Oculus was a tad odd.

*THE "SOOO DIDN'T LIVE UP TO THE HYPE" AWARD:  Annabelle. 
Just. Not. Scary.

*THE "OK, THAT WAS WEIRD" AWARD:  Come Back to Me. 
Sometimes, weird is good.  This oddball resurrection tale was just crazy enough to work.

*THE "I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE SEQUEL" AWARD: Hands down Godzilla.  I've heard Mothra makes an appearance, among others. 

*THE MOVIE I'M MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2015:  I said it before I'll say it again, JURASSIC WORLD!!

*THE "THIS IS WHAT I'M WATCHING TONIGHT SO I HAVE TO GET OFF THE LAPTOP":
I'm actually about to watch my Pittsburgh Steelers play the Baltimore Ravens in a playoff game.  How they do will determine if I watch more horror tonight or go to bed crying the blues.  Regardless, I hope you enjoyed my little walk down 2014 memory lane.  It's been a banner year for horror - especially independent films - and I'm jazzed for what's to come!  Here's to a terrifyingly wonderful 2015!  Cheers!

End of the year run-down: Goodbye 2012..(and Good Riddance!)

 2012 was really a mixed bag for me.
Personally, outside of horror my year was kind of distressing. And while I won't get into those boring details, I will say it caused me to have a very uneven year as far as entertainment goes. 

While I think I've finished some of the best books I've read in years,  I have to admit I think I may have seen more awful films than good ones, or at least less original ones.  Television was pretty damn good though, so it probably all evens out in the end.  And let's be frank, thank heavens it's THE END.
I'm ready for 2013, how about you?

One of the best things that happened in 2012 here at Fascination with Fear is the addition of a fresh new writer.  Due to life getting in the way more oft than not, I needed a bit of help to keep FWF from gathering dust bunnies. After a bit of poking and prodding around the interwebz, I was absolutely blessed with meeting someone who has become like a little sister to me - a kindred soul who has been kind enough to take a spot at my side and help me out more than words can say.  So to Marie I say a great big THANK YOU, and I hope that you lovely readers have enjoyed her stellar articles and posts over the course of the last several months!  Please, stick with us:  we have such sights to show you!

The Walking Dead

Best Horror Experience of 2012:  Hands down, The Walking Dead.  While there has been an unbelievable amount of horror this year, in particular on television, I have no choice but to single out this utterly fan-fucking-tastic trip through apocalyptic walker-land. The emotions displayed within the realm of this show are really far and above most other scripted television these days. AND IT'S A SHOW ABOUT ZOMBIES.  This. Is. Epic.

Coming in a lukewarm second would be True Blood.  I loved the Bill-Eric bromance this summer, and was happier than tits on a bull that Alcide showed off well...everything...as much as he did this year.  More of that, please.
I haven't been as big an advocate for American Horror Story as last year, but don't get me wrong - it's still one of my favorites. 

Sinister

Favorite theater experience:  Sinister - I saw this on Halloween day, in a darkened theater, alone.  That made everything about it perfect, and the film itself was one of my favorites of 2012.  It really reeked atmosphere, had a terrific lead actor, and was truly chilling.

Eighteen Horror Purchases I'm Happy With:
*Absentia - Probably one of my favorite indie films, maybe ever. Just one of the creepiest little films I've seen in years.
*Lovely Molly  - Somewhat flawed with confusion at times but eerie and tense and right on the mark.
*Murder by Decree - A 1979 film with Christopher Plummer (one of my faves) starring as Sherlock Holmes investigating the Jack the Ripper case. A fellow horror pal recommended it - much appreciated!
*Alfred Hitchcock: Legacy of Suspense (2011) - A bargain DVD that includes some of Hitch's older flicks such as The Man Who Knew Too Much, Sabotage, The 39 Steps....among others.
*The Walking Dead: Complete Second Season - Goes without saying...
*The Woman in Black (2012) - While I still prefer the 1989 original version, I did like this one a lot. It still managed to capture the isolation of Eel Marsh House and the dread when the volatile title character appeared.
*Spider Baby - The 1964 (do we say) classic about one fucked-up family. A must see!

Event Horizon

*Event Horizon - Seriously one of the weirdest yet intriguing sci-fi films of the 90's, with a stellar cast.  Almost like Hellraiser in space.
*Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) - Funny enough, I didn't own this one till this past October. So glad it's finally on my shelf!
*Diabolique (Criterion) - The 1954 masterpiece of murder and suspense.  It's said Hitchcock was rather irked that he didn't get his hands on the classic novel first.  And this Criterion edition is superb.
*The Yellow Wallpaper (2012) - Though at times an uneven film, the heart of the story is unnerving, to say the least.
*Gosford Park - Robert Altman directed this period mystery starring some of Britain's best.
*Wendigo - I've been looking for this 2002 film on DVD for quite a while.  While not the most stellar film, there is something inherently spooky about a family spending time in the winter woods and happening upon a scary Native American myth that has apparently come to life. Little seen, but I like it loads.
*The Entity (1983) - While parts of this one don't hold up well nearly 30 years later, Barbara Hershey's performance is undeniably fantastic.
*Eden Lake - Because I love Michael Fassbender. Period.
*Jaws (1975) - Um, yes I have several editions of this, my favorite film, on both VHS and DVD, but hey - this is the just released Blu-Ray.  Never mind that I don't even own a Blu-Ray player yet...
*Prometheus - A Christmas gift from my astute hubby.  (Of course I did give him a list, but still....)
*Vertigo - Because my love for this film knows no bounds...

Excision

Seven favorite Netflix rentals this year:
*Excision - AnnaLynn McCord totally embodies the role of a misfit with a penchant for blood and sex fetishes.
*Grave Encounters - Generally I detest the found footage sub-genre, but this one really did light my fire and caused some actual chills.
*Trollhunter - Another film that used the shaky-cam to induce fear, I happened to enjoy this romp in the Norwegian woods. It never gets too serious, which is part of its charm.
*Martha Marcy May Marlene - Elizabeth Olsen is very good in this film that just goes to show cults are still alive and well and taking control.
*Rabies - Those Israeli's know how to make a horror film!  Who'd have thought???
*Dream Home - As opposed to Dream House, this one just rocked. Josie Ho was unreal. Watch this film!
*The Loved Ones - Just a seriously fun horror film that proves if someone asks you to the prom, just go. Take my word for it.

Dream House

Six "why the hell did I rent this?" rentals from Netflix -
*Beneath the Darkness - Just a god-awful piece of crap starring Dennis Quaid. Guess I should have known.
*The Woman - Everyone loved this. I did not. Matter of fact, I DISliked it, a lot. Just redundant and lame.
*Don't be Afraid of the Dark - Just not scary at all. Completely pointless remake. I cannot believe Guillermo del Toro wrote this screenplay and produced this lemon. Ugh.
*Dream House - Oh Daniel.  Really? All I can say is thank heavens you found your future wife while making this film or it would all be for naught.  Really, REALLY bad.
*Wrecked - I wish I could say I could give a valid opinion on this film, or understand just wtf was going on.  But I think I may have fallen asleep from boredom.
*Atrocious - STOP WITH THE FUCKING SHAKY-CAM ALREADY!

The Tall Man

Three "I wish I'd have rented this first so I'd have known not to buy it" purchases:
*The Tall Man - The new Mrs. Justin Timberlake in a massive fail with a great premise. I mean, who hasn't heard stories about "The Tall Man"?  See:  Slender Man. See: Marble Hornets. Please.
*The Cabin in the Woods - While I didn't dislike this one, I didn't love it like everyone else seemed to.  I feel like I could have just rented this and not bought it outright. Not sure when I'll really want to watch it again.
*Outcast - Though the atmosphere was really spooky, with celtic legends and witch-hunting and all, but parts of it were too damn slow. Could have rented and would have been happy.

Chernobyl Diaries

Eight films I'm pretty glad I DID miss and have no real intention of seeing in the future:
*Chernobyl Diaries
*House at the End of the Street
*Paranormal Activity 4
*Piranha 3DD
*Snow White & The Huntsman
*The Devil Inside
*The Collection
*Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance

My thoughts on films I was looking forward to in 2012:
*The Woman in Black -  Many people didn't like this one, but I enjoyed it a lot.  I love the original story and certainly have been an advocate of the story as well as the 1989 version (still vastly superior), but I thought this one held its own, and showed that Harry Potter can move on to adult films. And I don't mean that in the porno sense. (Though there was that play with naked Daniel and the horse, right??)
*The Yellow Wallpaper -Not quite as creepy as the short story, but it has its moments.

The Awakening

*The Awakening - Very effective ghost story that I am still waiting on a DVD release
*Dunderland - Still unable to find this film anywhere
*The Raven - John Cusack is a funny guy. It shows here, with him playing Poe and lightening up the mood with witty banter amongst the dead corpses.  Interesting.
*The Silent House -  Yeah. Um. Pretty much the same as its Uruguayan counterpart, so I didn't see much reason to have re-done it.  But then again, I feel that way about most films.
*The Grey - It's Liam Neeson, folks. A very good man vs. nature adventure film. Wolves can be downright scary. But I think we already were aware of that after Frozen.
*Prometheus - Even if I hated this film to its core (which I didn't), I could not put down a film that I get to see Michael Fassbender act in.  I think you all know how I feel about him.

Rabies

*Rabies - Lived up to my expectations and more, really.  Israel can do horror. Nothing wildly original, but I really did enjoy this one.
*The Dark Knight Rises - Holy crap! This was made in my backyard of Pittsburgh and I haven't even seen it yet.  I haven't rented or bought it yet....so I reserve judgement until 2013. But I have heard it rocks.
*Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter - Yet to see, not sure I'm going to anytime soon.  The book was fun but the film just looked flat to me. Hard to adapt that kind of silliness.
*Dark Shadows - Um. Okay, not my favorite Johnny Depp film. Was expecting (hoping) for a true gothic film,  at least more along the lines of Sleepy Hollow than what we were given.  I did like the use of Nights in White Satin over the opening credits. That's something, right?
*World War Z - Still not released yet, but I honestly haven't heard very good things about it, so I'll obviously be waiting for DVD in this one.
*The Expendables 2 - I love me some Jason Statham. The film was nothing but shooting guns and testosterone, but hey - I'll take it.  Again, I can't hate a Statham film. Bring on Expendables 3.

Mama

Fifteen upcoming 2013 films that have peaked my curiosity -
*Mama - This will certainly be my first horror experience in the theater in 2013, as it opens in January. I am loving the trailer and the television spots, so we shall see! Looks awesome!
*Pacific Rim - del Toro brings monsters from the sea back into the limelight?  Count me in. I hope the monsters kick the robots asses. Call me a sadist if you will. The added bonus of SOA's Charlie Hunnam makes it even more worthwhile.
*Stoker - Hey! The dude from Prison Break (Wentworth Miller) wrote a screenplay! And this is it. Oh, and apparently it is not a vampire film.
*Warm Bodies - A zombie rom-com based on a book and poised to be the next Twilight. Wait a tic....do I really want to see this?
*Horns - Based on the book by Joe Hill, it stars Daniel Radcliffe as a man who grows horns out of his head. Yep, it sounds weird. So it should be fab.

The Evil Dead (2013)

*Paranoia - A thriller with Gary Oldman and Harrison Ford.  How can we go wrong?  (Oh yeah, Amber Heard is in it.............crickets.........)
*I, Frankenstein - Not exactly sure what is going on with this one....but Bill Nighy is in it, so I'm on board.
*Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters - This could be fun, right?  I'm not much for horror comedy, so I'll have to wait and see how this one goes...
*Oz: The Great & Powerful - Sam Raimi makes an adventure film that's a prequel to the age-old favorite about the Wizard.  I'm just not sure how I feel about this one....
*Jurassic Park 3D - Normally, I don't go in for the 3D phenomenon. In fact, I hate it. But goddammit, it's dinosaurs!  I'll put on those annoying glasses one more time!
*The Conjuring - Dude from Saw and Insidious decides to make a film with two words in the title.  He's really changing things up, folks! Look out!
*The ABC's of Death - Sounds like a pretty big project: 26 horror shorts packaged in one film. Um...?
*Carrie - WHY this needed remade is beyond me, but I do like Chloë Grace Moretz a lot, so I'll give it a chance.
*The Evil Dead - Another remake. Sigh. But I think this one might be worthwhile. And I feel sure it will kick some ass at the box-office.
*The Lords of Salem - Satanic witches and Rob Zombie. Yes, I am interested.

Favorite Book I read in 2012 - The Seance (by John Harwood) - Though written in 2009, I just got my paws on it this year and I have to say it's one of the best gothic/victorian ghost stories I've ever read.  I loved it.

Non-Fiction: Reel Terror - A great book on the history of horror. I couldn't put it down.

Runner up -  The Wicked (by James Newman) - Originally published in 2007 but re-released in 2012, you can read how much I loved this book right here.

Book I'm most looking forward to in 2013 - Doctor Sleep by none other than Stephen King.  It's been a long time since I've been truly excited about a King release, but seeing as how this is the sequel to The Shining (my fave King title), I'm over the moon and anxiously awaiting.... (projected arrival 9/2013)

Favorite Movie Score: The Woman in Black by Marco Beltrami.  Moody enough to evoke chills and dark enough to make me happy.

Favorite Movie of 2012:  Skyfall. Yes, it's a non-horror entry but hot DAMN was it a fine film! I really can't say enough about the latest 007 installment, and it is actually speaking for itself by hitting the BILLION dollar mark this weekend.  I love Daniel Craig. Apparently everyone else in the world does as well...

Random Year-End Awards:

Wrecked

*The "I can't believe I sat through the whole movie" award:  Wrecked. I'm sorry Adrien Brody, this was all over the place.  I may have even snored.

*The "Surprise! This remake was actually good" award: The Woman In Black. While not crazy-fantastic, I still loved it.

*The "When the hell is this title going to get a domestic release" award: The Awakening....though last year's winner of this award (All The Boys Love Mandy Lane) STILL isn't available.  Ditto that to Cold Prey 2. You cut me deep, Norway. You cut me deep.

*The "What the hell is this movie about, anyway" award: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. Oh heavens. I was waaay too tired when I put in this DVD. I know it's a good, critically acclaimed film, and maybe someday when I'm loaded up on caffeine and have a couple hours to kill, I will check it out again.

*Bloodiest movie I saw in 2012:  I watched Martyrs again, so...

Cabin in the Woods

*The "It better be as good as everyone says because I'm damn sick of hearing about it" award: Cabin in the Woods.  And while I liked it well enough, I have to say I didn't think it was the next coming of Christ or anything.

*Most curious title of an upcoming film:  John Dies At The End.  I guess it begs the question of how he arrives at that point.

*The "SO didn't live up to the hype" award:  Dark Shadows. Oh Johnny, it was only mediocre, hun.

*The "I really don't give a shit whether I ever see this" award: Piranha 3DD. Ugh. Spare me, please. I've seen enough titties and blood for a lifetime, I don't need them all condensed into one movie.

A Christmas Carol

*The "I can't wait for a sequel" award:  Prometheus. As long as Fassbender shows up, I'm in.

*Movie I'm most looking forward to in 2013:  Mama.  And I don't have long to wait. (Jan 18, 2013)

*The "This is what I'm watching tonight so I have to get off the laptop" award:  A Christmas Carol (the George C. Scott version, natch) - because the hubby and I were too damn tired on Christmas night to watch it.