Top 10 Horror Films of 2011

Top 10As 2011 draws to a close and we prepare for the Olympic hell that will be 2012, we here at LoveHorror would like to share with you – our bedevilled and beloved readers – our picks of the best Horror from 2011.

From full-on frighteners to cult comedy horror, to foreign fear, to shockingly good sequels, 2011 has had some great gore. Severed fingers and toes crossed that 2012 brings even better and a happy horror filled New Year to you all.

So here is our Top 10 Horror Films of 2011, see if you agree and if not we would love to hear what you think.

Kill List
11 Words why its in the Top 10:
Tense and terrifying this is the best British horror of 2011

What We Said:
Blowing audiences away when it premiered at FrightFest 2011, what Ben Wheatley delivers with Kill List is a stunningly original, immensely powerful movie which will have you transfixed and gripped from start to finish, leaving you thinking about what you have witnessed long after the credits have rolled.
Heralding Wheatley as one of the most interesting, innovative and important English filmmakers working at the moment, Kill List is the best British film of the year so far and is sure to put U.K films back on the map in a big way.

Movie Rating: ★★★★★ 

Trailer:

Red State
11 Words why its in the Top 10:
Radical religion gone wrong in a true tale of our times.

What We Said:
Red State is a highly political, scarily believable horror movie. It’s ripped from the fundamentalist Christian reality that has engulfed America in recent times, however the most shocking thing you’ll find out about the film is that it is written and directed by Kevin Smith.
As important as it is shockingly realistic in revealing what some people will do when they hold such strong beliefs, Smith has created a modern day morality tale in Red State. Where good and evil is not simply set out and the horror is all too human and close to home – especially for American audiences

Movie Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Trailer:

Deadheads
11 Words why its in the Top 10:
A heart warming humorous horror, injecting originality into the zombie genre.

What We Said:
Switching seamlessly between horror, comedy, action adventure and romance the film never looses focus or the audiences attention which is a true achievement especially as this is the Piece Brothers first major movie.
With great and gory special effects, touching and moving moments, entertaining action and lots and lots of laughs this is feel good film where people get eaten alive. A truly original take on the zombie genre and a must see for all horror fans DeadHeads proves there’s definitely still life in the undead.

Movie Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Trailer:

Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark
11 Words why its in the Top 10:
Be afraid of the dark in this modern gothic childhood nightmare.

What We Said:
Crafted as a twisted fear filled fairy tale in the way only del Toro can do, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark mixes the myths of an ancient creature with the modern day troubles of broken homes and childhood trauma – much like Pan’s Labyrinth. This is blended together with an excellent script which builds brilliantly, increasing the tension within the fragile family and terror attacking it as it goes.
With a great cast and a great story Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark is definitely del Toro’s movie in its style, themes, look and its ability to take you back to revisit your childhood fears. A modern day fairy tale with a fairly twisted take on the tooth fairy myth, this movie is a must see.

Movie Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Trailer:

Troll Hunter
11 Words why its in the Top 10:
Best foreign horror from 2011 finally revitalising the found footage film.

What We Said:
Troll Hunter impressed me. The trolls were ugly, huge and I imagine terrifically odious, the performances were believable and in Otto Jespersen, humorous and understated. While I ha-ven’t really learnt anything about Norway I have learnt something about a bunch of creatures that don’t even exist. Or do they!? Yikes!

Movie Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Trailer:

YouTube video

Final Destination 5
11 Words why its in the Top 10:
Showing that 3D and sequels can both be bloody brutally brilliant.

What We Said:
What is most impressive about Final Destination 5 however is not the spectacle but the story and script, which manages to stay true to the other films in the series while also introducing some new ideas. Themes of ‘how much control we really have over the course of our own lives’, ‘survivors guilt’ and the very nature of the randomness of death are discussed, with the relatively unknown cast doing a brilliant job, particularly Miles Fisher who crafts Peter into an interesting and complex character not seen in previous movies.

Giving Final Destination fans everything they could have ever wanted in a sequel (including the return of Tony Todd) Final Destination 5 is one of the best horror films of the year so far. It’s the kind of horror movie that 3D was made for, giving final proof that 3D can work well when used properly and intelligently.Guaranteed to make you wince, laugh and scream it’s a thrilling ride of a movie that entertains all the way through to its amazing ending.

Movie Rating: ★★★★½ 

Trailer:

Hobo with a Shotgun
11 Words why its in the Top 10:
Rutger Hauer as a shotgun wielding hobo, need we say more?

What We Said:
From the dirt ridden dystopian cityscape which is excellently realised to the lurid colour palette to the creative characters such as the biker knight assassin duo The Plague the movie is so extreme in its corrupt content and twisted ideas that it is almost a live action cartoon. Manhole cover decapitation’s, pedo Santa, a human piñata and a bus load of children burned alive to Disco Inferno all take place in Hobo with a Shotgun and more the gore although very well done is pushed so far it becomes comedic.

Blazingly brilliant and brutal from start to mucked up finish, Hobo with a Shotgun is a terrific tribute to the exploitation movies of old while upping the ante and the gore factor for horror and action films to come.

Movie Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Trailer:

I Saw the Devil
11 Words why its in the Top 10:
Visceral violent revenge pushed to the edge of insanity and beyond.

What We Said:
The psychological and physical battle between the two leads is brilliant and their pitch perfect powerhouse performances are the driving force of the film which along with the deft direc-tion propels this movie above and beyond the seemingly endless amount of revenge thrillers which have hit our screens.

Not for the faint hearted I Saw the Devil is definitely one of the most disturbingly violent films of recent times taking its audience on a dark and terrifying journey into that abyss where good and evil seem to cease to exist showing the true price of revenge and leaving the audience haunted some time afterwards by what they have experienced.

Movie Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Trailer:

Insidious
11 Words why its in the Top 10:
A creepy and highly atmospheric chiller which will scare you senseless.

What We Said:
Insidious starts off as an exercise in atmosphere building. The first two thirds of this film really put my back up. It was all the usual fare, books falling off shelves, possessions turning up in odd places and an orchestra of creaks and groans. But that’s exactly the type of thing that reduces me to a quivering wreck.
The film really starts to ramp things up in the middle third. Creaks and groans get louder and Renai’s otherworldly visions become more pronounced and terrifying. It seemed fairly relentless at the time but the atmosphere building really doesn’t let up, there’s no light relief or dark humour here, Insidious is going all out. The score and sound effects also play a massive part here, making sure that you are under no illusion that something truly untoward is going on here. You know what to expect – small noises and building menace and then BANG! – a big reveal and huge noises combine to fist clenching horror.

Movie Rating: ★★★★☆ 

YouTube video

Attack the Block
11 Words why its in the Top 10:
Funny, frightening and full of action, the years best directorial debut.

What We Said:
Feeling like a genuinely British film, realistic in its setting and surroundings if not in its story, Attack the Block is also a true tale of our times, cleverly and subtly. It deals with issues on the minds of everyone in the audience and the entire country in regards to urban community, youth culture and inner city crime while never patronising or breaking the mood of the film.

Like Kidulthood meets Critters, Attack the Block is a must see movie and a phenomenal feat for Cornish as his first feature film. With a great cast, spot on script and a brilliant balance of real horror and humor this original urban epic packed full of home grow talent is exactly what the U.K, film industry should be all about.

Movie Rating: ★★★★★ 

Trailer:

Thats all for now and see you in 2012!

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Alex Humphrey

Alex studied film at the University of Kent and went on to work for Universal Pictures in their Post Room gaining an inside look at the movie industry from the very bottom. Constantly writing reviews in everything from local magazines to Hip Hop sites Alex honed his critical skills even spending a brief period as a restaurant critic. Read more

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