15 Greatest Horror Films Of The Decade (So Far)
13. Grave Encounters
Grave Encounters stands out among the packed found footage genre, with some of the most truly disturbing horror imagery of this decade. It's practically guaranteed to stick with you.
The premise is brilliant, following the hosts of a ghost hunting show who go to investigate a supposedly haunted mental hospital. But the hosts don't really believe in ghosts, and the show is essentially completely fake. So they're all surprised when it turns out this hospital actually is haunted.
It's a found footage film, and a few of the most annoying aspects of that genre are present here. But even with a relatively small budget, this movie manages to create some downright horrifying moments, in particular some famous ones involving characters with morphing faces.
Grave Encounters also relies a lot on claustrophobia, with the whole thing taking place in the hospital and with the characters being unable to escape. The building itself seems to take on a life of its own, totally messing with the crew's heads and getting them lost inside it.
There are certainly some issues with the script, but for its moments of sheer terror and the sense of dread it builds, Grave Encounters shouldn't be overlooked.