10 Worst Movies Of 2021
8. The Unholy
Aside from superhero movies, horror films are basically the one genre that's continued to perform reliably in cinemas during the pandemic, and so despite feeling like an also-ran streaming flick in every fiber of its being, the Sam Raimi-produced horror The Unholy actually got a theatrical release.
Despite Raimi's involvement and a rock solid cast led by Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Cary Elwes, and William Sadler, The Unholy is about as generic and unimaginative as supernatural horror comes.
There's not a single beat or piece of dialogue in this movie that doesn't feel completely mechanical and soulless, perhaps in part because, by Morgan's own admission, the cast and crew were preoccupied with intense COVID protocols during shooting, due to The Unholy being one of the first Hollywood productions to resume filming following global shutdowns.
Even ignoring its difficult production - which required the same 10 extras to be recycled throughout scenes - The Unholy is on its own demerits a lackluster horror crammed with irritating jump scares and unintentional comedy. Let's not even get started on Cary Elwes' attempt at a "Boston" accent.
The production values are fine, but beyond that this is so completely full of dead air. Even at just 99 minutes in length you might struggle to stay awake to the end.