Sam Raimi's first theatrical release, The Evil Dead has garnered cult status since its initial release. The plot is kind of nonsensical, the dialogue stilted, and the acting is pretty amateur. What makes the film work is Raimi's gonzo direction. His use of tracking shots, in particular is really impressive. Despite how cheesy and low budget it is (or perhaps because of this) the film is really atmospheric and creepy. The blood and gore effects, though they often looks fake, are really innovative considering what Raimi and co. had to work with. This is one of those movies that is better appreciated if you know about its production history. It was shot on a shoe-string budget with an inexperienced crew. Consequently, many mishaps occurred including getting lost in the wood and numerous injuries. It might not be a "good" film by conventional standards but it is incredibly creative and entertaining. As far as I'm concerned, that's all that matters.
Score: 8/10
Raimi followed up his first effort with a sequel that, essentially, rewrote the first movie. The ten minute recap that starts the film strips the plot of the original movie down to the bare minimum, with all of the characters except Ash and his girlfriend excised. The rest of the film picks up right where its predecessor left off, expanding the mythology of the "Book of the Dead" and up the ante on the blood, gore, and impossible looking tracking shots. Raimi also adds a healthy dose of humor this time around. Drawing inspiration from the three stooges, old cartoons, and Ray Harryhausen, he creates scenes that are both disturbing and hilariously funny. Evil Dead II is, quite possibly, the directors magnum opus.
Score: 10/10
The last film in the Evil Dead trilogy is something of a stylistic departure from the first two. Eschewing the limited setting and graphic horror of the earlier films, Army of Darkness is a medieval fantasy epic. As such it's more erratically paced then the first two movies. It also had a much bigger budget. Despite these changes, Raimi stays true to his sensibilities, doubling down on the slapstick humor and Harryhausen-esque effects. Over the course of the three movies, Bruce Campbell's Ash is transformed from a bumbling college student, in over his head, to a grizzled BAMF (though one who's not as cool as he pretends to be). The film is filled with memorable sequences and the special effects are really impressive. I'm not sure if any other film has quite this many stop-motion effects.
Score: 9/10
Bonus:
Halloween (2018)
Score: 8/10
We actually started "Shocktober" at the end of September and ended up going one film over. I can understand why many horror fans love Michael Dougherty's modern cult-classic. It has a lot of atmosphere, is expertly directed, and cleverly weaves together five disparate plot-lines to create a sense of a larger, connected world within the movie. It also captures the feeling of trick or treating on Halloween night better then any other film I've seen. But I found it really mean-spirited at times. It's basically a series of terrible things happening to terrible people. This took a lot of suspense out of the movie, as I didn't really emphasize with the characters. I also felt that one of the plot lines was out-of-place and used a bait-and-switch in a way that felt really disingenuous in retrospect. I did enjoy the scenes with Brian Cox's character and the movie, as I said, is well made and has a good sense of world-building and atmosphere. I just wish it was at the service of a story I cared more about.
Score: 6/10
Beetlejuice never fails to bring a smile to my face. It's a go-to movie whenever I need cheering up. Being one of my favorite films of all time, this was a given that it would top this list.
John Carpenter's masterclass in minimalistic horror gets better every time I see it. It has become required October viewing.
In my opinion this is the haunted house movie against which all others must be judged.
Sam Raimi's masterpiece. No one else can blend horror and comedy to same mesmerizing effect.
One of the most fun (and underappreciated) dark fantasy films. Army of Darkness is brimming with creative energy.
Wes Craven's first foray into the slasher genre widened the scope of what these films could be. The nonsense third act is the one sore spot in what is otherwise another first class horror film from the acclaimed director.
In the running for greatest horror movie ever made. It's not as rewatchable as some of the other films on this list, but it may be the best from an objective standpoint.
One of the better horror films of recent years, James Wan proves, once again, that he understands the genre better then almost any of his Hollywood contemporaries.
Sam Raimi's first film may not be a "good one" by conventional standards, but it has more creativity, passion and genuine talent behind it then then any passable Hollywood genre fare.
A truly unnerving film, Let the Right One In is what Stephen King would describe as true terror. “Terror often arises from a pervasive sense of disestablishment; that things are in the unmaking."
While lacking Craven's unique directorial flare, Nightmare on Elm Street 3 is a really solid sequel, expanding on the mythology of the first film and continuing the main character's story in a way that makes sense.
As much a metaphor for the Hiroshima and its effect on Japanese culture as it is a monster movie, the classic kaiju film remains effective 60 years after its release.
A really solid sequel, Conjuring 2 amps up the scares from the first movie while still retaining its focus on character.
What starts out as a really effective horror film runs out of steam by the end. Still, there were moments in Jeepers Creepers that were more unnerving then almost anything else I watched this year.
An over-the-top gore fest in the tradition of Sam Raimi and George Romero, Dead Snow is a ton of fun, though it has a little too mush gross-out humor for my taste.
It's far from perfect but Halloween II is still the sequel that best captures the feel of the original movie. It's worth watching mainly for Donald Pleasence.
The last really iconic film of the Universal horror cycle, Creature from the Black Lagoon continues the studios (former) penchant for atmospheric horror.
Though suffering from some jarring tonal shifts, Richard Donner's The Omen is bolstered by a strong leading performance from Gregory Peck.
A really fun little eighties vampire film, The Lost Boys has helped to shape the genre both for good and for ill.
A really humorous and well made found footage movie, Trollhunter still falls prey to the subgenre's limitations.
A fun and unique independent horror film, The Blob is worth watching for Steve McQueen's presence alone.
Another beautifully animated effort from Laika, ParaNorman lacks the dramatic throughline to stand with the best of the stuidios movies but its still a fun time.
Though I prefer Halloween II (and even Halloween IV to some extent) David Gordon Green's nonsensically named reboot is probably the most well crafted of the sequels from an objective standpoint.
A lesser effort from Carpenter but a ton of fun none-the-less. Worth watching to see James Woods as a vampire hunter.
The first film in the series to hit the reset button, Halloween: H20 is a little too pedestrian to really make it's mark. Though it tried to end the series in a satisfying way, the next movie kind of ruined that.
A rather limp adaptation of Anne Rice's morose novel, the film is, at least, well cast and features some gorgeous production design.
A weaker entry in the Hammer Dracula series, Risen from the Grave has enough atmosphere and tension to overcome its over-complicated and unfocused narrative.
It's not a patch on the original, but Craig Gillespie's remake has enough new ideas and good performances to make it work.
A middling Jack Black comedy, Goosebumps is best suited for those who grew up with R. L. Stine's books. As I didn't grow up with them I'm not likely to revisit this any time soon, though I don't regret watching it.
Though a really well made movie, Trick 'r Treat was just too mean spirited for my taste.
Though it has some really awesome moments in the third act and the production is generally competent, the 2014 "reboot" of Godzilla (if you can call an Americanized version of a still running Japanese series a reboot) is mostly a bore.
A truly bizarre sequel, the second Nightmare is only of interest as a curiosity.
An ill-conceived and incompetently made cash grab, Halloween: Resurrection was bad enough to kill the franchise for 16 years. Only watch it if you want a good chuckle (and preferably if your intoxicated).
Well that's it for this year. Let me know if you want to see me make this a yearly tradition!
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