by Staci Layne Wilson [1]
As with every category when it comes to the year -end round ups, it's difficult to work out the criteria… Is a movie direct-to-disc if it's had a festival run, or a one-weekend limited release? It's practically the same thing.
This time, I've chosen not to include any of the TV-to-DVD (I still love and faithfully watch True Blood and Dexter both as they air and on disc, but never tuned in to the new Vampire Diaries and I have yet to see a single episode of Supernatural).
Originally produced web-series have also been quite impressive this year (Joe Dante's Splatter, Robert Hall's Fear Clinic) but I haven't seen enough to be able to rank them.
One thing I am definitely not lacking in is DVDs to watch and review. An average of 5 or 6 show up on my front porch via delivery every week, and those are just from the studios and indie wholesalers. I also get test discs directly from the filmmakers as their movies make the rounds at festivals and await distribution. (I did perhaps cheat a little bit in choosing a few movies I saw onscreen in 2009, but I know won't be going to disc until 2010.)
Here are a few which were hits and misses.
Bottom of the Bloody Barrel
10. The Canyon
"Watch this, or a giant hole in the ground. Same difference." Read the whole review here [2]
Studio: Magnolia Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: November 17, 2009
9. Lost Treasure of the Grand Canyon
"Some things should stay lost." Read the whole review here [3]
Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
DVD Release Date: May 26, 2009
8. Anacondas 4: Trail of Blood
"Dead end." Read the whole review here [4]
Studio: SONY PICTURES
DVD Release Date: June 2, 2009
7. Infected
"Don't catch it!" Read the whole review here [5]
Studio: Genius Products
DVD Release Date: May 19, 2009
"Do I have anyone in my teeth?" [Infected]
6. Haunted Airman
"Team Edward will be very disappointed in this bloodless thriller." Read the whole review here [6]
Studio: E1 Entertainment
DVD Release Date: October 13, 2009
5. It's Alive (remake)
"This movie suckles!" Read the whole review here [7]
Studio: First Look Pictures
DVD Release Date: October 6, 2009
4. Stan Helsing
"No funny-bone left unturned." Read the whole review here [8]
Studio: Anchor Bay
DVD Release Date: October 27, 2009
3. Staunton Hill
"Quite a climb." Read the whole review here [9]
Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
DVD Release Date: October 6, 2009
2. The Cell 2
"Saw's sawed-off spawn." Read the whole review here [10]
Studio: New Line Home Video
DVD Release Date: June 16, 2009
1. Seventh Moon
"Not Smart." Read the whole review here [11]
Studio: Lions Gate
DVD Release Date: October 6, 2009
"Excuse me. Can you help me find my agent?" [Seventh Moon]
Cream of the Creepy Crop
10. Horsemen
"Famine at home, war on the job… the death of a cop, or his conquest?" Read the whole review here [12]
Studio: Lions Gate
DVD Release Date: July 14, 2009
9. Carriers
"Carriers is like Zombieland without all the jokes." Read the whole review here [13]
Studio: Paramount
DVD Release Date: December 29, 2009
8. Vampire Party
"This party doesn't suck." Read the whole review here [14]
Studio: Dark Sky Films
DVD Release Date: November 17, 2009
7. Simon Says
"Simon simply slays." Read the whole review here [15]
Studio: Lions Gate
DVD Release Date: June 23, 2009
6. The Hills Run Red
"Action… CUT." Read the whole review here [16]
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Release Date: September 29, 2009
"Always wear red during hunting season." [The Hills Run Red]
5. The Skeptic
"Don't believe the bad reviews." Read the whole review here [17]
Studio: MPI HOME VIDEO
DVD Release Date: December 8, 2009
4. Passengers
"First class suspense." Read the whole review here [18]
Studio: Sony Pictures
DVD Release Date: May 12, 2009
3.The Children
"Not those 'Damned', 'Corn', or 'Men' wimps, these are just The Children. Word." Read the whole review here [19]
Studio: Lions Gate
DVD Release Date: October 6, 2009
2. Sauna
"Sweat your sins." Read the whole review here [20]
Studio: MPI HOME VIDEO
DVD Release Date: October 27, 2009
1. Fear(s) of the Dark
"(s)ublime (s)cary (s)ketches." Read the whole review here [21]
Studio: MPI HOME VIDEO
DVD Release Date: October 27, 2009
"I'm not bad. I'm just drawn that way." [Fear(s) of the Dark]
The Rest of the Best
Here are some independently produced horror films I liked a lot; they are either still looking for a distributor, being sold directly from the filmmaker's production companies through Amazon, or are poised for a very limited time of release in 2010.
7. Sweatshop
"Gross, gory, green, ghoulish & Goth." Read the whole review here [22]
From: Bloodline Entertainment
Release Date: TBA
6. Cryptic
"Living in the past can be murder." Read the whole review here [23]
From: Cryptic Movie LLC
Release Date: TBA
5. Red Velvet
"Visually sweet." Read the whole review here [24]
From: 3Mac Studios
DVD Release Date: August 28, 2009
4. Bitch Slap
"Bitch Slap is the crack-addicted trick baby of Modesty Blaise and Russ Meyer." Review not available
From: Epic Slap
Release Date: January 8, 2010
3. The Echo Game
"Old-School Horror - it's even got the school!" Read the whole review here [25]
From: Psychic Bunny
Release Date: TBA
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"Is that a knife in your hand, or are you just happy to see me?" [The Echo Game]
2. Dark House
"Snarky cinema fantastique!" Read the whole review here [26]
From: Fatal Frame Pictures
Release Date: TBA
1. Dread
"Not exactly the feel-good movie of the year." Read the whole review here [27]
From: After Dark Films
Release Date: January 29, 2010
= = =
Also see:
Best Feature-length Horror Films
Worst Feature-length Horror Films