Movies
[BEST & WORST ’13 ] Lauren Taylor’s 5 Best Films of 2013
Let me start by saying there are still many films that came out this year that I have yet to see. However, when first considering my Best list, I was almost concerned I wouldn’t be able to produce enough films that were good enough. 2013 wasn’t very kind to the horror genre, in my opinion. Sure, we had a few big name releases this year and quite of few of them were remakes. But even with these, I wasn’t sure I could pull a top 5. After looking at every single movie released this year, I was finally able to scrape up a few that definitely stood out. What were they?
Read on…
Lonmonster (Best/Worst) | Lauren Taylor (Best/Worst) | Ryan Daley (Best Novels)
Best Posters | Best Performances | Best Trailers
Not a perfect horror film, but definitely not a movie you’d expect from a member of Broken Lizard – the guys behind movies like Super Troopers. Paul Soter’s debut horror film had a balanced mix to make for an eerie and disturbing movie about new parents whose baby just doesn’t want to sleep. Combine that with some psycho woman wandering around their property and you get a nice little movie worth checking out.
The only way I can describe James Wan’s The Conjuring is “classy”. The scares, the acting, the setting, the entire feel for the film seems to be warm and inviting, though the story being told is chilling. While the jump scares may have been what shocked the audience, it was the bedroom/behind the door scene that got me. What exactly was in that darkness? The imagination taking hold to answer the question is why I describe The Conjuring with that one word.
This Is The End, while being mostly a comedy, mixed in the right elements of horror to make it a bit disturbing. Whether it be the giant sinkhole to Hell, or that amazing tribute to Rosemary’s Baby, (ok, it’s probably my Seth Rogen infatuation), the unsettling subject of the Apocalypse has never been this fun. And what is more horrific than knowing Danny McBride may cover everything in your house with his, uh, man goo? Again, it’s not exactly a horror film, but for what it is, it deserves placement for sure.
The Battery is quite possibly the one movie on my list that some people still may not have heard of. Yet, it is quite possibly the best zombie movie to come about in a long time. Classic in the sense that it focuses on the hardships of the survivors versus the zombies themselves, the movie is simple and clean. There is nothing fancy about it – including its $6,000 budget – and that’s what makes it damn good.
This is the one I waited on all year. Being a huge fan of the original, and making it my #1 of 2011, Insidious: Chapter 2 delivered for me, personally. I loved how it was connected to the first film, yet told a separate story at the same time. While it wasn’t absolutely perfect, the disturbing plot, and Patrick Wilson’s insanely awesome acting, had it almost steal the #1 spot for me again…but…I saw another movie that blew me away…
I had the opportunity to see Maniac in March of this year, and like a damn idiot, I passed on it. I am still kicking myself. There are so many things about this movie that make it absolutely incredible. Elijah Wood is perfect for this role with his unsuspecting little boy face. Those mannequins. The way the movie is filmed. THE SOUNDTRACK – dear god! That soundtrack is just amazing and is repeat worthy in every way. Maniac, to me, is simple and beautiful. It has been a very, very long time since a movie has motivated me to write a story – and Maniac has done just that. That alone, to me, makes it, without a doubt, the best movie of the year.
Movies
SCREAMBOX Investigates UFOs and Extraterrestrials: Several Documentaries Streaming Right Now!
As someone who is obsessed with UFOS (or more recently known as UAPs) and the concept of extraterrestrials, I love a good documentary. Sightings have been on the rise since the 1940s, with the atomic bomb seemingly acting as a catalyst for new visitors. But what are these UFOs/UAPs? Is there an explanation or are they simply beyond our explanation? Why are they here? Who are they? How much do our governments know? The questions are endless and so are the documentaries that attempt to uncover the secrets behind decades of sightings and alleged confrontations.
Whether you’re a seasoned viewer or new to the rabbit hole, there’s always a handful of interesting documentaries to get your neurons firing and leave you with sleepless nights. SCREAMBOX is investigating with the addition of several docs, all streaming now on the Bloody Disgusting-powered service. Here’s the breakdown:
Aliens (2021): Beam into this unidentified streaming documentary for a glimpse into Extraterrestrial life. Aliens are hypothetical life forms that may occur outside Earth or that did not originate on Earth.
Aliens Uncovered: Origins (2021): Before Area 51, hidden deep in the desert, the military discovered a hidden gem that helped them create Project Bluebook.
Aliens Uncovered: ET or Man-Made (2022): The crash of Roswell wasn’t meant for New Mexico. In 1947, a neighboring state had 3 major sightings that were swept under the rug.
Aliens Uncovered: The Golden Record (2023): In the late 70s, the US government launched a message to our distant neighbors.
Roswell (2021): This high-flying documentary examines the July 1947 crash of a United States Army Air Forces balloon at a ranch near Roswell, New Mexico. Theories claim the crash was actually that of a flying saucer, but what is the truth?
Also check out:
The British UFO Files (2004): Since the 1940’s the British Government has been investigating the Flying Saucer phenomenon. High-ranking military and government personnel, speak out for the first time, offering unique eyewitness accounts and inside information.
Alien Abductions and Paranormal Sightings (2016): Amazing Footage and stories from real people as they reveal their personal encounters of being abducted by Aliens.
And do not miss Hellier (2019): A crew of paranormal researchers find themselves in a dying coal town, where a series of strange coincidences lead them to a decades-old mystery.
These documentaries join SCREAMBOX’s growing library of unique horror content, including Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls, Here for Blood, Terrifier 2, RoboDoc: The Creation of RoboCop, Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story, The Outwaters, Living with Chucky, Project Wolf Hunting, and Pennywise: The Story of IT.
Start screaming now with SCREAMBOX on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Prime Video, Roku, YouTube TV, Samsung, Comcast, Cox, and Screambox.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.