Editorials
Luiz Picks the Best Horror Shows of 2016!
5 Pretty Good Horror Movies You Might’ve Missed in 2016
[Poll Results] The Bloody Disgusting Readers Chose the 10 Best Horror Movies of 2016
10 Biggest Horror Stories of 2016
Let’s Play Pretend and Give Academy Awards to 2016’s Best Horror Movies
Since The Walking Dead premiered back in 2010, it seems that horror in television has been going through an unexpected renaissance. What was once an extremely small corner of TV history has since become mainstream, with more shows like American Horror Story, Hannibal and many others proving that general audiences are ready for genuine scares on the small screen. This has given networks a chance to take risks with their more terrifying material, resulting in some amazing shows.
2016 has continued this delightful trend with what may as well be one of the best years for horror television in history. Not only did we see a lot of creepy new programming, but some established shows also found their footing this past year. Below I’ll be listing my personal choice for the Top Five Best Horror Shows of 2016. However, I’d love to see what your favorites are as well, so post them in the comments!
5. The X-Files
Many viewers don’t quite appreciate the lasting effect that The X-Files had on television in general. This monster of 90s pop culture was everywhere back then, and there’s a good reason for that. When the new season was first announced I couldn’t help but squeal like a schoolgirl, anxious to see what Chris Carter had in store for Mulder and Scully after so many false starts over the years.
While the new season wasn’t exactly the best that The X-Files has to offer, I can honestly say that I wasn’t disappointed. Seeing Duchovny and Anderson onscreen together again was one of the highlights of the year for me, despite that frustrating cliffhanger and some questionable humor. Hopefully, we won’t have to wait another 14 years for the next season.
4. Ash vs Evil Dead
I probably wasn’t the only one that felt a little skeptical when it was announced that Starz would be bringing Ashley Williams to the small screen, but I’m glad they did. The first season may have had some ups and downs, but Ash vs Evil Dead is definitely a welcome addition to Sam Raimi’s franchise.
The show’s sophomore season has only improved so far, with a great cast, clever writing and exceptionally brutal gore, stretching the limits of violence on television. The network has already confirmed a third season, which is great news for those who, like myself, would like a frequent dose of Bruce Campbell in their lives.
3. Channel Zero: Candle Cove
Few people would have expected SyFy to deliver one of the best pieces of serious horror entertainment of the year, but they most certainly did. Based on the eponymous Creepypasta, Channel Zero: Candle Cove was a pleasant (not to mention extremely creepy) surprise and I can’t wait to tune in next year for their adaptation of the No End House.
I’ve done a full review of the series before, so suffice to say that SyFy gave us a tremendously entertaining Halloween treat. However, I’m sure many viewers will agree that if we never see the horrific Tooth Child again, it’ll be too soon.
2. Wolf Creek
The Wolf Creek franchise doesn’t seem like an obvious choice for a TV adaptation, but Greg McLean’s latest foray into the gruesome adventures of Australia’s favorite serial killer is certainly worth a watch. John Jarratt’s Mick Taylor is memorable as always, and he finally has a worthy adversary in Lucy Fry’s Eve Thorogood.
I’ve also done a full review of this one, and I stand by my opinion that it’s one of the best television events of the year. The cinematography is nothing short of beautiful, and the story takes itself seriously, resulting in a more-than-worthy sequel to the Wolf Creek films.
1. The Exorcist
From the first few trailers and TV spots, I didn’t have much faith in Fox’s The Exorcist series. I honestly didn’t think it was possible to adapt such a perfect film (and novel) to the small screen without losing something in the process. When the first episode finally aired, it didn’t seem like anything special, though it certainly wasn’t the disaster many were expecting.
However, much like Trace, my opinion of the show improved with each passing episode, and by the time we reached the mid-series twist, I was hooked. From the perfect cast to the meaningful story about faith, loss and love, there is so much to like about The Exorcist. There have been many quality horror stories on television this year, but I don’t believe any of them are on the same level as this one. Now, we can only hope that Fox listens to the fans and renews the series before it’s too late.
Honorable Mentions
There were a few other contenders for this list that didn’t quite make the cut for one reason or another. Penny Dreadful was one of them, as I didn’t think the third season felt like a proper conclusion to the series, especially considering the heights that it reached last year. Supernatural also came surprisingly close to being featured, as the second half of the 11th season felt like a return to form after a disastrous couple of years, but the show still feels redundant at this point. Finally, MTV’s Scream was also briefly considered, as I honestly enjoy the show, but it still comes off as a guilty pleasure.
Editorials
‘Leprechaun Returns’ – The Charm of the Franchise’s Legacy Sequel
The erratic Leprechaun franchise is not known for sticking with a single concept for too long. The namesake (originally played by Warwick Davis) has gone to L.A., Las Vegas, space, and the ‘hood (not once but twice). And after an eleven-year holiday since the Davis era ended, the character received a drastic makeover in a now-unmentionable reboot. The critical failure of said film would have implied it was time to pack away the green top hat and shillelagh, and say goodbye to the nefarious imp. Instead, the Leprechaun series tried its luck again.
The general consensus for the Leprechaun films was never positive, and the darker yet blander Leprechaun: Origins certainly did not sway opinions. Just because the 2014 installment took itself seriously did not mean viewers would. After all, creator Mark Jones conceived a gruesome horror-comedy back in the early nineties, and that format is what was expected of any future ventures. So as horror legacy sequels (“legacyquels”) became more common in the 2010s, Leprechaun Returns followed suit while also going back to what made the ‘93 film work. This eighth entry echoed Halloween (2018) by ignoring all the previous sequels as well as being a direct continuation of the original. Even ardent fans can surely understand the decision to wipe the slate clean, so to speak.
Leprechaun Returns “continued the [franchise’s] trend of not being consistent by deciding to be consistent.” The retconning of Steven Kostanski and Suzanne Keilly’s film was met with little to no pushback from the fandom, who had already become accustomed to seeing something new and different with every chapter. Only now the “new and different” was familiar. With the severe route of Origins a mere speck in the rearview mirror, director Kotanski implemented a “back to basics” approach that garnered better reception than Zach Lipovsky’s own undertaking. The one-two punch of preposterous humor and grisly horror was in full force again.
With Warwick Davis sitting this film out — his own choice — there was the foremost challenge of finding his replacement. Returns found Davis’ successor in Linden Porco, who admirably filled those blood-stained, buckled shoes. And what would a legacy sequel be without a returning character? Jennifer Aniston obviously did not reprise her final girl role of Tory Redding. So, the film did the next best thing and fetched another of Lubdan’s past victims: Ozzie, the likable oaf played by Mark Holton. Returns also created an extension of Tory’s character by giving her a teenage daughter, Lila (Taylor Spreitler).
It has been twenty-five years since the events of the ‘93 film. The incident is unknown to all but its survivors. Interested in her late mother’s history there in Devil’s Lake, North Dakota, Lila transferred to the local university and pledged a sorority — really the only one on campus — whose few members now reside in Tory Redding’s old home. The farmhouse-turned-sorority-house is still a work in progress; Lila’s fellow Alpha Epsilon sisters were in the midst of renovating the place when a ghost of the past found its way into the present.
The Psycho Goreman and The Void director’s penchant for visceral special effects is noted early on as the Leprechaun tears not only into the modern age, but also through poor Ozzie’s abdomen. The portal from 1993 to 2018 is soaked with blood and guts as the Leprechaun forces his way into the story. Davis’ iconic depiction of the wee antagonist is missed, however, Linden Porco is not simply keeping the seat warm in case his predecessor ever resumes the part. His enthusiastic performance is accentuated by a rotten-looking mug that adds to his innate menace.
The obligatory fodder is mostly young this time around. Apart from one luckless postman and Ozzie — the premature passing of the latter character removed the chance of caring about anyone in the film — the Leprechaun’s potential prey are all college aged. Lila is this story’s token trauma kid with caregiver baggage; her mother thought “monsters were always trying to get her.” Lila’s habit of mentioning Tory’s mental health problem does not make a good first impression with the resident mean girl and apparent alcoholic of the sorority, Meredith (Emily Reid). Then there are the nicer but no less cursorily written of the Alpha Epsilon gals: eco-conscious and ex-obsessive Katie (Pepi Sonuga), and uptight overachiever Rose (Sai Bennett). Rounding out the main cast are a pair of destined-to-die bros (Oliver Llewellyn Jenkins, Ben McGregor). Lila and her peers range from disposable to plain irritating, so rooting for any one of them is next to impossible. Even so, their overstated personalities make their inevitable fates more satisfying.
Where Returns excels is its death sequences. Unlike Jones’ film, this one is not afraid of killing off members of the main cast. Lila, admittedly, wears too much plot armor, yet with her mother’s spirit looming over her and the whole story — comedian Heather McDonald put her bang-on Aniston impersonation to good use as well as provided a surprisingly emotional moment in the film — her immunity can be overlooked. Still, the other characters’ brutal demises make up for Lila’s imperviousness. The Leprechaun’s killer set-pieces also happen to demonstrate the time period, seeing as he uses solar panels and a drone in several supporting characters’ executions. A premortem selfie and the antagonist’s snarky mention of global warming additionally add to this film’s particular timestamp.
Critics were quick to say Leprechaun Returns did not break new ground. Sure, there is no one jetting off to space, or the wacky notion of Lubdan becoming a record producer. This reset, however, is still quite charming and entertaining despite its lack of risk-taking. And with yet another reboot in the works, who knows where the most wicked Leprechaun ever to exist will end up next.
Horror contemplates in great detail how young people handle inordinate situations and all of life’s unexpected challenges. While the genre forces characters of every age to face their fears, it is especially interested in how youths might fare in life-or-death scenarios.
The column Young Blood is dedicated to horror stories for and about teenagers, as well as other young folks on the brink of terror.
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