Top Horror Films of 2018!

The end is nigh! With the end of 2018 and the first year of Movie Night Massacre, I like to look at all the films that I enjoyed in the world of horror. For anyone who has been following this blog since it began as a new years resolution of sorts, you may remember that my first ever post was my top films of 2017!

9. The Nun

Now, I am very aware that a lot of people did not enjoy this film, and while I am completely aware of the flaws of the film, it didn’t stop me enjoying it as a fun, creepy if somewhat generic entry in ‘The Conjuring’ universe. The film looks gorgeously shot, full of enjoyable creepy moments and a moody, unsettling atmosphere. While the film as a whole was nothing special (hence why it is at the lowest point of this list) I still had a lot of fun with it, and would happily watch it again. You can check out my full review here!

8. The Secret of Marrowbone

I was very excited to check out this film as it starred some of my favourite up and coming actors in Anya Taylor-Joy, Mia Goth and Charlie Heaton. While it didn’t fully live up to my expectations, with Heaton’s performance feeling somewhat lacking and the pacing feeling a little messy, I still really enjoyed this film, again, really nice cinematography, an immense air of mystery and a really strong final act.
A haunting family drama, haunting being meant in this most literal of senses. You can check out my full review here!

7. Ghost Stories

When I first reviewed ‘Ghost Stories’, I was definitely not it’s biggest fan, after countless reviews praising every aspect, I went in expecting more than I got. But after having a while (8 months to be exact) to think about it and process the character of the film, the clever story telling devises and the truly great paranormal sequences as well as some highly enjoyable performances, I have changed my mind, it is a really strong film, however, I still feel somewhat disappointed with the ending as I feel it takes away a great deal from the rest of the film. However, the vast majority of the film is still down right scary and unnerving!

6. Insidious: The Last Key

‘Insidious: The Last Key’ is the latest instalment in the ‘Insidious’ franchise, one of my absolute favourite modern horror franchises and I was very happy with this addition to the story of the further and those entangled within it’s grip. The creature design as usual is original and unsettling, the characters are well fleshed out for the most part thanks to Leigh Whannel’s great writing and film is highly enjoyable, frightening and brimming with character from start to finish. You can check out my full review here!

5. Annihilation

Alex Gartland is the sci-fi mastermind that brought us the mind shattering ‘Ex-Machina’, and while ‘Annihilation’ is not as mind melting, it is much more intense, expansive and action packed. Clear inspiration being drawn from ‘Aliens’ as we follow a team throw an other worldly landscape (this time set on a slowly terraforming Earth) how ever, the threat is not as straight forward as a vicious alien creature despite what my choice of image may suggest. If you love sci-fi horror then I would definitely recommend checking out this gem! You can check out my full review here!

4. The House That Jack Built

My latest review was for ‘The House That Jack Built’, a dark, twisted tail full of violence, abuse and gallows humour. I won’t repeat myself too much, as the review is still fresh.
The artistry on display in ‘The House That Jack Built’ is incredible, as writer and director Lars Von Trier displays a brutal and surreal film that also stylistically manages to feel all too real in particular scenes. This film is not for everyone, but if like myself you enjoy slow burn horror with an artistic flair then I would highly recommend checking this film out!

3. A Quiet Place

These next three films is where I have a great difficulty in putting one above the other, because I absolutely adored them all, but there can be only one! So in third place is John Krasinski’s ‘A Quiet Place’, a film that uses silence to build one of the most intense and suspense filled film’s I have ever seen. The sense of family is extended to audience in way that allows us to feel the loss, fear and dread of out protagonists in such a way, that each action and every event that takes places matters to us. This is a big factor for a strong horror film in my eyes because if we as the audience don’t care what happens to the characters, then what is there to be scared of? ‘A Quiet Place’ is absolutely brilliant and utterly unnerving! You can check out my full review here!

2. Halloween

‘Halloween’ was so, so nearly first as it has everything I could have wanted it to. A brilliant score by John Carpenter himself (that I have had on loop on Spotify ever since it was released), brutal kills, a great story, great scares and unexpected heartfelt touch that made this film hit in a sentimental way that only makes you love it more. Aside from one moment in the film that leaves you questioning what the writer’s were thinking as a result of how out of nowhere it is, this film is outstanding. The perfect sequel to John Carpenter’s original. You can check out my full review here!

1. Hereditary

‘Halloween’ and ‘A Quiet Place’ were the only two horror films this year that met my expectations. ‘Hereditary’ is the only one that exceeded them. The only film I left feeling an emotional tole after witnessing it. I felt unsettled, uncomfortable, scared and shocked. I always love a film that can make me feel this wide range of fear filled emotions. The several layers present in this film culminate to create an immeasurable sense of discomfort and fear. The dramatic tension present in the family, the mental health related undertones of the story and the supernatural elements all come together to make one of my now all time favourite films. One last aspect I truly love about the film is the way in which it feels as though I have barely scratched the surface of the hidden details present in this film and the way in which it feels like there is something new to be found with each watch. ‘Hereditary’ is a horrifying and utterly unnerving film, filled with immediate shocks as well as slow burn tension and subtle background details that are perhaps even scarier than what is clearly presented to us! You can check out my full review here!

Favourite Non-Horror Film of 2018: The Shape of Water

I couldn’t not give at least a slight mention to ‘The Shape of Water’ as it is my overall favourite film of the year. I love every single scene and every moment. I saw it several times in the cinema and bought it immediately when it was released and watched it countless times since. This movie is the sole reason I haven’t watched more movies this year, as I have just opted to put it on instead. You can check out my full review here!

If you have made it this far, thank you so much for reading my top horror films of 2018! I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did enjoyed writing it. I’ll be back in the new year with my most anticipated films of 2019 list! What did you think of the movies I listed? Let me know in the comments or on the comments of what ever social media you seen my post this review on! In The meantime, stay creepy!

Dark Ditties Presents ‘Mrs. Wiltshire’ (BCFC Screening): Review

I was lucky enough to attend the debut public screening of Dark Ditties latest chapter in their on going anthology series ‘Mrs. Wiltshire’ with star Simon Bamford (Hellraiser, Nightbreed) and special effects artist Stuart Conran (Hellraiser, Shaun of the Dead) in attendance. All of this was hosted by Burnt Church Film Club as a part of their screening of Hellraiser, it was a special night!

‘Mrs. Wiltshire’ focuses on the titular pensioner, a kind but shaken old woman who lives on her own, telling stories from her troubled past to the audience. As the film progresses we meet her son Tony (Stanley Rawlings) as he begs his mother to leave her home behind and come to stay with him, so that she can finally let go of the house that remains a constant reminder of the pain she has went through. Along the way, the audience is greeted with twists and turns that bring both shock, horror and clarity.

From the start, we are introduced to our lead character Mrs. Wiltshire (Doris M.F. Bohnam) and immediately, horror norms are broken as she starts talking to the audience. It is this story telling device that allows us to learn about her back story, as well as learn about Mrs. Wiltshire herself. This allows the viewer to sympathise and care for her as a likeable and fleshed out character. The rest of the cast do a great job too, particularly Stanley Rawlings as Tony, as he gives a great and emotional performance which furthers the care the audience develops for these characters.

Creating and developing strong characters is something writer/directors Neil Morris and Gary Smart have clearly paid a great deal of attention to as they understand a fundamental principle of horror film making that I feel often goes overlooked. If a character is not well written and/or acted, the audience won’t care for them and if the audience do not care for them, then the stakes are lowered. If no one cares about the character, why would anyone be scared for them?

The score composed by Sean Schafer Henessy was also very enjoyable, as it sets the dark and dramatic tone for the film. Henessy does this by the means of dissonant strings rising in volume to build tension, as well as composing delicate yet melancholic melodies in the more upsetting and sombre moments.

My only real issue with this film was in relation to it’s tendency to fade to black after each scene had finished, then fading back in to a new scene set a little bit later on. This happened a bit too often and caused the film to be feel rather disrupted at times and caused the flow of the film to feel somewhat uneven. However, this was not enough of an issue to prevent me from enjoying the film as a whole.

But is ‘Mrs. Wiltshire’ scary? I would say it is certainly very dark in nature, with an immense sense of gloom, unease and discomfort throughout the film. Rather than scary in the usual sense (aside from a few well earned jumps), this film does something more interesting and noble. It creates a parallel between the fictitious horror of hauntings and ghouls with the very real horror of domestic violence and abuse in a way which is respectful to those who have sadly suffered such a fate, while also creating an intense sense of shock and fear as we watch our protagonist fight against her inner and very literal demons.

‘Mrs. Wiltshire’ is a dramatic and unique tale thanks to its powerful performances, harrowing story that is rooted in an all too real and distressing concept. As Simon Bamford himself said, “it is a film that is hard to say you enjoyed” due to the upsetting topic it focuses on, but it is a great film none the less. When it gets a wider release in some shape or form, I would highly recommend seeing it!

I’m going to give ‘Mrs. Wiltshire’ 77%!

Have you seen ‘Mrs. Wiltshire’? If so you were probably at this screening,  unless you are reading this in the future! But if you have seen it, what did you think of it? Let me know in the comments and lets talk about it! This is where I would normally say the trailer can be watched below, but there doesn’t seem to be one that I could find, so I will link below to the Dark Ditties Facebook page where you can follow their anthology further!
Stay creepy and thanks for reading!

https://www.facebook.com/DarkDitties