20 Horror Movies From The 21st Century That Didn't Actually Suck
1. You're Next (2013)
Adam Wingard and Simon Barrett's re-imagined slasher is an excellent, funny example of what a little bit of imagination can do for one of the most hated of sub-genres.
Made for $1million, the film has so far grossed almost $30million at the world-wide box office. In the world of the billion dollar blockbuster, it's easy to forget that class is given and not bought. Centring on the wealthy Davison family as they have a reunion at their Missouri vacation house, it initially focuses on the usual family arguments and sibling rivalries we've seen a million times before. What they don't know, however, is that their neighbour, a college lecturer, has been murdered by Lamb Mask after seeing the words 'You're Next' written in blood on his patio doors.
Just as the family are settling down to dinner Tariq (played by horror director Ti West) is shot through the neck by a crossbow bolt. What then follows plays along similar lines to many home invasion movies but it is conducted with a great sense of humour (but never falling into comedy/parody). This is primarily because of Sharni Vinson's 'Erin', a hard-as-nails Australian girl who has been brought to meet her future in-laws.
Of course, there are twists and turns but the reason this makes the list it because there is a great humour, imagination and horror to the proceedings which has been missing from most slashers of recent years. Wingard has an excellent cast to work with including eighties scream queen Barbara Crampton, and great villains in Fox Mask, Lamb Mask and Tiger Mask. If you thought this was 'just another crappy horror' then think again and give it a bash.
Also, although this has been a look at full-length features, a special mention must go to Wingard's and Barrett's contribution to last year's ABC's of Death. Although the horror anthology contains some truly awful shorts, their contribution, Quack, is not only the best of the 26 films but also a very funny dissection of how hard it must be to make an original horror film in the new millennium. Find it. Watch it. Love it.
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