Summer 2022 Saved Horror Films
I think we can all agree that this summer was a great time for horror, don't you think?
As the spookiest month of the year has begun and Halloween to soon be on its way let's talk and rank the horror flicks that saved the genre that is horror.
I say saved very heavily because the horror film scene started to look honestly repetitive and not scary at all. Within the last couple of years, I have left the theater unsatisfied or just mundane to the film I just saw. Most movies were trying to start their own cinematic universe (little to no shade to you “The Conjuring Universe, great storytelling, starting to lack fear) or just playing it safe and rebooting or continuing cult classics. *Cough* “Halloween.” *Cough*
Of course not every horror movie or series that came out before this past summer was bad. There were some good ones like “Last Night in Soho”, “Malignant”, “The Night House”, and my all-time favorite modern slasher… “The Fear Street Trilogy” on Netflix.
10. Men
Although summer officially starts on June 21 I will start when some children start to get out of school, which is May. The horror started with “Men” a movie about a woman consistently being abused verbally and physically by men written and directed... by a man. Nothing necessarily wrong with that but let’s just say that movie was definitely something. It was enough of something that it landed itself at number ten just cause it made me that uneasy.
9. The Invitation
Black female lead? Check. Vampires? Check. A romance that was quickly pulled from underneath my feet? Also, check.
Look I know we’re getting older and can’t stop rewatching the Twilight Saga now that fall is here and honestly, I wouldn’t mind another vampire take-over. Although this movie was very entertaining I couldn’t help but get the vibe that it was “Ready or Not” (2019) but with vampires. Still enjoyable.
8. Orphan: First Kill
I know I talked mess about remaking or continuing cult classics, and in this case a prequel, but I have to hand it to them.
I felt like after watching the original all those years ago, I felt like we didn’t get enough of her story. We just knew that she did the same thing with multiple families. She tries to have relations with the father, kill off the rest of the family, and live happily ever after, and fails each time. I would say we felt short feed. So when they dropped the sequel AND brought back the original actress despite her being a full-grown adult now it was a must-see and I didn’t hate it at all.
7. Doctor Strange: Multiverse of Madness
Hear me out.
Please hear me out. I may be biased cause I am a huge Sam Raimi fan and he was in my theater on opening night but you can’t deny he did a phenomenal job.
We go in thinking he’s going to bring in his skills from his Tobey Maguire “Spider-Man” movies since it is Marvel but he tricks us and actually pulls “The Evil Dead”. And he did a great job at everything especially at putting us in America Chavez’s shoes and making us terrified of Wanda ourselves. This was the first time I’d experienced jumpscares to an MCU film and honestly, I would do it ten times over.
6. Watcher
This sundance film had me hooked on the trailer and gave me the heebeejeebees. More so cause of its realism. A lot of horror movies play on things that are a bit unrealistic and of course, that’s the fun of horror films. But This one made me rethink the whole “let the sun in!” open window concept I wanted to have in my apartment.
5. Prey
Another prequel that did a phenomenal job. The choice to have it set in the 1600s during the times of Native Americans was not only smart but very interesting. It added to the lore of the “Predator” movies and honestly made me want to rewatch all of them in order. It had me on my toes the entire time and wanting more when it ended.
4. Pearl
Pearl, Pearl, Pearl.
A24 never fails me with movies that make me say “What the f***”. This is also a prequel but not a cult classic that came out in the past. The first installment of this movie, “X” features the same actress playing the exact same character aged up, Mia Goth as pearl. It was a very original story that I greatly appreciated and an interesting take on how to roll out both films.
3. Bodies, Bodies, Bodies
Speaking of A24 not failing me, this one might be tied up with “Pearl” for the best thing they put out this year. Since I saw the trailer drop in theaters I knew I was to be seated in that seat opening weekend and I was not let down. This movie not only give me slasher but it gave me the same vibe as a late 90s horror film that also made me laugh a ton and even though I didn’t leave the theater scared, I left with a smile on my face.
2. The Black Phone
This movie is the reason why I’m even writing this newsletter. If you ask me, I feel the Blumhouse struck gold with this movie. “The Black Phone” single-handedly brought horror back this summer and I hope they continue. This little Tom Holland look-alike and his co-stars did a phenomenal job at making me forget I was in a damn theater with other people. The mixture of light supernatural with suspense was the perfect balance for this story. This film was chef’s kiss and I hope that Blumhouse continues on with the momentum from it.
1. Nope
Do I honestly need to say anything?
If you haven’t seen “Nope” buy it and tell Jordan Peele thank you! Although I walked in thinking I was gonna get a bunch of jumpscares left and right I didn’t and I was happy about it. The horror of this film is the suspense and the fact that you’re figuring everything out along with the main characters. The side story even added to the uneasiness despite having almost to nothing to do with the original plot. I applaud all of the cast, especially Keke Palmer and newcomer Brandon Perea. If this movie doesn’t clean up during award season I will be rioting and you will all hear my mouth … or read my words.