By Stephanie Scaife
Following on from Tristan, Nia and Keri, here’s Steph with her take on the highs and lows of 2013, kicking off with her personal top ten…
1. Only God Forgives
Bizarre, violent, unquestionably pretentious but that combined with it’s couldn’t-give-a-fuck attitude is precisely why I loved Only God Forgives so much. Nicolas Winding Refn has produced a singular vision that has proven to be incredibly divisive and you’re unlikely to see anything else like it. (My review.)
2. Cheap Thrills
This anarchic punk rock feature debut from E.L. Katz really needs to be seen to be believed. A vicious indictment of the lengths desperate people will go to and a vicious warning of the perils of one-upmanship, yet at the same time incredibly funny and jaw-droppingly audacious. (My review.)
3. The Battery
The Battery is a tiny indie picture with a budget of just $6000 written, directed, produced by and starring Jeremy Gardner and the fact that he has managed to create something so good is testament to the old adage, where there’s a will there’s a way. (Keri’s review.)
4. Antiviral
There are a lot of first time directors on my list this year, which is great. What is also great is that they are producing such brave and original work. Antiviral may have its flaws but it is a visually striking satire on celebrity culture and worship. Brandon Cronenberg and his star Caleb Landry Jones both prove themselves ones to watch and I expect great things from them both. (Keri’s review.)
5. Maniac
Shock horror! A remake that is not only good but is actually better than the original. Elijah Wood shakes off any remnants of Hobbiton as Frank, a serial killer with a penchant for scalping his victims. Shot entirely in Frank’s POV, this could easily have been a gimmick but it works to chilling effect, only heightened by the fantastic score. (Keri’s review – Ben’s review.)
6. The Desert
As with The Battery, this is a low budget indie where the event (in both cases a zombie apocalypse) is secondary to the human relationships at its heart. This is about what actually happens to the people in the aftermath, and it’s profound and oddly romantic at its heart. (My review.)
7. We Are What We Are
Unbelievably, I have not one but two remakes on my list this year! We Are What We Are is a very different beast to the original and both work, but for quite different reasons. I like the gender switch and the gothic Americana of this version, and although I wouldn’t describe it as “better” than the original, it has made the story feel new and created a new mythology around a central theme. (My review.)
8. The Borderlands
I really don’t get the whole found footage thing and I have been genuinely surprised this year, not just with the continued appeal of this sub-genre but with the fact that there have been a few good ones. The Borderlands was unexpected for a number of reasons: it’s genuinely funny, it’s well executed and has some genuinely creepy moments. (Ben’s review.)
9.Willow Creek
Gosh… another found footage. I’m really going to have to reconsider my position when it comes to this sub-genre. As with The Borderlands, this is a very funny film indeed; clearly improvised and using real locals and locations, it creates a really naturalistic feel. The main horror also centres around a shot that lasts a good fifteen minutes without a single cut, which is a feat that the actors and filmmakers manage to pull off to great effect. (My review.)
10. A Field in England
I am a huge fan of Ben Wheatley and this homage to British folk horror is a fascinating oddity that is visually stunning and oftentimes baffling. It’s the sort of film that you experience and although it may not be to all tastes it should be commended for its audacity. Wheatley regular Michael Smiley is suitably terrifying as the mysterious O’Neil.
Honourable Mentions: Filth, Byzantium, Warm Bodies, In Fear, The Bay, Safe Haven segment in V/H/S 2
Most Underrated: How I Live Now – Unexpectedly bleak and brutal coming-of-age post apocalypse from Kevin Macdonald.
Most Overrated: The Conjuring – Dull, lazy and not in the least bit scary.
Pleasant Surprise: Willow Creek – A found footage movie that doesn’t suck? Thanks to Bobcat Goldthwait such a thing is indeed possible.
Most Disappointing: Pacific Rim – Guillermo del Toro, giant robots, monsters… this has got to be amazing, right? Nope, I fell asleep.
Worst Film: Machete Kills – Lazy, offensive and Mel Gibson.
Most Unnecessary: I Spit on Your Grave 2
Best Soundtrack: Maniac OST by Rob
“Holy Shit” Moment of the Year: Dog eating scene in Cheap Thrills.
Best Performance: Kristin Scott Thomas as Crystal in Only God Forgives, especially for the line “How many cocks can you entertain with that cute little cum-dumpster of yours?”
Best Genre TV: The Returned tied with Utopia.
Most Anticipated of 2014: Horns, Under the Skin, Only Lovers Left Alive, The Sacrament, Godzilla, How to Catch a Monster, Nymphomaniac (three of these titles were on my list last year, lets hope they actually get released in 2014!)