Favorites of 2013

This year was a great year for me and my DVD player, we got to enjoy countless hours together, chilling.  I’ve never really kept track of whether it was a good year for horror movies, because I’d never really set out to watch as many as possible.  Over the course of 2013 I watched tons of current year movies, but also ones from the past that I’d never even heard of.

After visiting many of your blogs and using the good old google search key, I realized there’s a whole world out there that I’d never known about.  I’m so happy that I don’t have to depend on movies reaching the theaters to watch them.

Here are the movies I talked about in 2013 (starting in September).

Martyrs (2008) was one of the first movies I bought on recommendation from blogs, searches, and lists.  I can’t even begin to tell you how blown away I was, the story was superb and the director really hit a home run.  I can’t believe I’d never heard of it before, but I guess raising two baby’s means I spend a lot of time on the Disney Channel.  So as far as the best movie I saw this year, I have to give it to Martyrs.  That movie’s a game changer.

So the new stuff, oh yes were there some great new movies this year.  I have to give my favorite award to American Mary.  It’s so fresh, so sleek, and so entertaining.  I have to give an honorable mention to Contracted, I know not everyone loves this movie but sometimes you like what you like = and I LIKE it.

I did manage to watch a few things that didn’t live up to my expectations - well actually maybe they did (because they weren’t high).  I have a chip on my shoulder as far as what makes it to the theaters and gets lots of hype.  Perhaps it colors by view, so there’s quite a few I saw in the theater that didn’t impress me.  Now does this mean I thought they were bad?  No, it doesn’t.  I think most of these are just not my style. 

The movies that didn’t float my boat in 2013 - The Conjuring, You’re Next, Mama, Evil Dead, and Maniac, just not my style.

I don’t really ever think a horror movie is bad, when I think bad I think someone forcing me to watch something that they intentionally made crappy in order to torture me.  I think a lot of work goes into every movie, even ones I don’t particularly like.  There were quite a few movies I watched that I would never recommend to anyone else unless they enjoy horror no matter the end product – but really if I think about it, the more movies I see (even the bad ones) the more I ultimately enjoy those random gems that come along each year.

Bravo to all the writers, directors, screen writers, and make-up artists. I bow down to the folks that venture off to make horror movies – You’re living your dream, and I can’t imagine the work it takes.  I will continue to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Here's to the Horror of  2013, bring on 2014!