By Nia Edwards-Behi
2013 seems, to me, to have been a bit of strange year for horror. While a lot of excellent films have been released, I’m hard pressed to think of any that got me supremely, uniquely excited. Then again – there are a great deal of films from this year, as always, that I’ve yet to see, and a great number of the popular festival films this year are ones I didn’t especially enjoy. There have been moments this year when I’ve really questioned whether or not my own taste in genre film is completely out of sync with the majority, but each time I’ve thought that, I’ve realised that that’s exactly what makes writing about films interesting. As always, my list is quite heavily comprised of films not yet on general release, due in part to my own festival involvement. Hopefully, they’re ones that will continue to play festivals and go on to get released more widely in 2014. Without further ado then, here follows my top ten horror/genre films of 2013 (arranged in a very flexible and not particularly strongly-felt order of preference).
1. Spring Breakers
Surprised? If I travelled back in time to January 1st, 2013, and told my past-self that Spring Breakers would be anywhere on my end-of-year list, never mind at the top, I would have laughed in my own face. But, here it is, a stylish nightmare of a film that addresses youth, class, femininity, crime and punishment, starring bikini-clad stars and rocking a banging soundtrack. I unashamedly loved Spring Breakers, and while it’s clearly not a horror film, nor explicitly a genre film, it’s definitely that strange sort of art film that seems to straddle genre and defy characterisation. Ben’s review from earlier this year sums up a lot of my feelings on the film.
2. The Strange Colour of Your Body’s Tears
If Amer was a film that divided opinion, then Strange Colour definitely out-does its predecessor. It out-does it in style and foggy narrative, too, which was something I enjoyed immensely. I’m a big fan of apparent style-over-substance (see also Spring Breakers, above, and Kiss of the Damned below), but I’m an even bigger fan of it when there is, actually, quite a bit of substance involved. Strange Colour is a film I’m very excited to watch over and over again, to delve deeper into its imagery, symbolism and utter sumptuousness.
3. Kiss of the Damned
Another film that has seemed to divide opinion is Xan Cassavetes’s Euro-sleaze inspired vampire drama. Again, the style of the film completely won me over, heavily-accented acting included. It’s a slick melodrama, its leads Josephine de la Baume and Roxane Mesquida shining as vampiric sisters with apparently very different outlooks on un-life. If not for the high production values, the film might easily be mistaken for a rediscovered cult gem. The film’s poster might also be my favourite of the year (along with Strange Colours), so it’s with great annoyance that I’m looking forward to owning the generically-covered DVD early next year.
4. Byzantium
Yet more sultry vampires appear in Neil Jordan’s return to the sub-genre. The film is dominated by Gemma Arterton’s supremely dangerous temptress Clara, as she attempts to shield her daughter Eleanor (Saoirse Ronan) from the harsh realities of their world. The film offers a sad portrayal of vampirism, and a refreshing narrative, which is ultimately about the relationship between mother and daughter. (Read my full review here.)
5. All Cheerleaders Die
A film I suspect will divide people when it’s seen more widely, Lucky McKee and Chris Sivertson’s latest film is a wicked and witty take on the mess that can be teenage relationships. Managing to be ridiculous, laugh-out-loud funny and yet incredibly dark, the film offers one hell of a ride – again, managing style and substance, if you’re willing to be receptive to both. The film might also feature the best opening sequence I’ve seen all year – one I’ll definitely be keeping unspoiled. (Read Tristan’s review.)
6. The Machine
It’s very exciting to feature a Welsh film on my end of year list. The Machine looks set for big things, having already won BAFTA Cymru and BIFA awards before it’s even been fully released. The film doesn’t exactly break new ground, but it doesn’t really need to, as it does what it does so well. Caity Lotz is incredibly impressive in her role the self-aware artificial intelligence taken from her maker to be utilised as a weapon. Given the film’s relatively low-budget, it looks stunning, and in many ways much better than bigger-budgeted sci-fi fare. Look out for a UK release early next year. (Ben’s review.)
7. The Man with the Iron Fists
For some reason this seemed to come and go with little fanfare and even less praise, yet when I saw it on DVD earlier in the year I couldn’t possibly have been more entertained. Yes, it’s a bit of a mess, but my god you can tell that director and co-writer RZA loves the films that inspire it. The Man with the Iron Fists offers a gloriously convoluted narrative vehicle for lashings of kung-fu action and wonderful performances (Russell Crowe’s never been better). Throw another ace soundtrack on top of all that, and here’s another film I could happily watch over and over again. (Ben’s review.)
8. The Station/Blood Glacier
Yes, this film is a lot like John Carpenter’s The Thing. However, it’s got a couple of aces up its sleeve that makes it stand out, though – a great sense of humour, and a badass middle-aged lady-politician who gets in on the action. The film is packed to the brim with likeable characters, which is always refreshing, and it’s inventive and pacy with its creature-feature elements. An absolute blast of a film, I’m looking forward to more people getting to enjoy it in 2014 (and just you wait for that ending).
9. Discopath
It’s a film about a guy who feels the impulse to kill when he hears disco music. I mean…what’s not to love? Quite a lot, according to some people, but damn their eyes, because Discopath is exactly what it should be – ridiculous, gory, and a heck of a lot of fun. Much like Kiss of the Damned and The Man with the Iron Fists, Discopath throws back to a different era with aplomb, and without any of that pretend scratchy film nonsense. And I still can’t get ‘I Was Made For Loving You’ out of my head.
10. Chastity Bites
I really hope that this film gets some wider attention, but I have a horrible feeling it’s going to be one of those utterly brilliant films that doesn’t get seen past some festivals and a limited DVD release (see: Travis Betz’s The Dead Inside from a couple of years back). Chastity Bites puts a very modern spin on the legend of Elizabeth Bathory, refiguring her as an abstinence teacher in an American high school. While other girls fall for her cover, and unwittingly become her perfect victims, it’s up to teen feminist blogger Leah to reveal the truth and save her friends and classmates. With a synopsis like that it’s probably clear that Chastity Bites isn’t for everyone, but it very definitely was for me. Charming and witty, the film holds up to repeat viewings and does wonderful things with genre conventions without ever coming across as smug, like so many of its peers.
Whittling a year’s worth of films to just ten is always difficult, and I must give special mention to the brilliant Pacific Rim on one end of the scale, Chanthaly on the other, as well as the excellently spooky The Last Will and Testament of Rosalind Leigh – and gosh, probably others I’ve foolishly and predictably forgotten about. Oh, and wondering why American Mary, released on DVD in January, isn’t on my list? Because it appeared at the very top of my list last year!
Of course, horror’s about the broader community as well as the films, and so here I also offer some personal highlights of the year, and, just to remind ourselves that everything’s not always brilliant, some, er, outstanding lowlights.
Personal highlights of the year:
– Bothering the Soskas in London and Sheffield when American Mary toured the UK in January
– Taking part in the Women in Horror calendar, raising money for charity alongside some far more well-known and talented people
– One Way Static’s Last House on the Left soundtrack re-release
– [smug] Co-organising yet another ace Abertoir [/smug]
Lowlights of the year:
– Joblo’s shameful comparison of ‘movie hotties’ Abigail Breslin (aged 17) and Chloe Grace Moretz (aged 16) to determine which of the two under-age actresses is more deserving of their sleazy attention
– The revelation of Lianne Spiderbaby’s plagarism
– Some of the more disgusting responses to Lianne Spiderbaby’s plagarism
– The trailer for I Spit on Your Grave 2’s DVD release being able to use ‘the best horror sequel ever!’ as a legitimate review quote.
And so onward to 2014. There’s possibly only one horror title that I’m really quite desperately looking forward to, and that’s one which many will have seen this year already – Only Lovers Left Alive. My hopes for Godzilla are high, and I hope that The Raid 2, Zombie TV and Gothic Lolita Battle Bear make it to the UK in 2014 too. What’s certain, though, is that, like every other year, there’ll be surprises in store and shocks a-plenty in 2014, so here’s to it!