Are these films really THE best? Well, they are to me – but I obviously didn’t see every horror flick and the ones that I did see have my own biases and tastes attached. The purpose is to maybe give you some ideas of films to check out, or to see if you agree or disagree with one guy’s opinion.
There are no major spoilers in any of the reviews below:
My favorite of the year isBarbarian.Why? Because it surprised me – took me to places I didn’t expect
Talk about Mean Girls? This one proves me wrong that horror and comedy can’t co-exist. It’s a blast! Read the Sissy Review
Director Ti West had a great year – even if he never has another success in his career, he’ll always have the double-whammy of 2022. Starting with the cool throwback-ish flick called “X”. And then he follows that up with a prequel, Pearl. Mia Goth plays Pearl as a murderous old woman in “X”, but her origin story is a glampy, candy-colored tale of how the poor girl started down the wrong road and never quite found her way back.
No apology: I really dug the latest incarnation of Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It took a beating in some critical circles, but all I know is that I was on board from the get go and thought it did its thing. Read the review here
Several of my favorites are not what I would strictly call “horror,” but they have been marketed and categorized as such, and so I include them here. Examples:
Nanny. Senegalese actress Anna Diop gives a luminous performance – you cannot stop watching her face. Playing a nanny to a rich Manhattan couple do that she can send money back home and bring her son over seems like a workaday narrative line. It’s only as we enter the final act that we see what every mother’s true nightmare is. Read the Nanny review
The Guest Room. When a film grabs you by the collar in the first ten minutes, that’s usually a good sign. This one is a good argument for not opening your front door to a stranger. Great cast and kinda freaky. Read the Guest Room review
Saloum. Another one that seems more creepy than anything else, until the final act. This one is smart, goes in unpredictable directions and sticks the landing. Read The Saloum review
You know what’s scarier than a slasher and more chilling than a ghost? Having uninvited guests in your house who just.won’t.leave. Read the review
Finally, one I accidentally stumbled upon and was absolutely charmed by. It’s just an hour long and it’s so well done that I can’t wait to see if this continues as a series. read the review for Werewolf By Night here.
