*Keep up with our ongoing end of the year coverage here*
There is nothing quite like getting together with some friends, grabbing a few drinks, and having a horror movie night. Whether you’re revisiting the classics or catching up on the latest in the genre, there’s no denying the ability of a horror movie to bring people together and make for a hell of a good time.
Granted, some films tend to be more explosive and outright entertaining than others, making for more of a crowd-pleasing time than perhaps the latest arthouse horror flick. While there’s nothing wrong with the latter, you’d probably get a more enthusiastic response if you popped in The Evil Dead or Hatchet at a party than, say, The Witch or The Innkeepers (though I suppose that depends on how you and your friends like to get hyped on horror). In any case, we compiled a list of some of the year’s top horror flicks that we feel are best enjoyed with a crowd of good friends–either because they are non-stop thrill rides, deeply satisfying crowd-pleasers, or just plain hilarious.
Alright, here we go…
The Babysitter
McG’s The Babysitter seemingly came out of nowhere, with an action-packed trailer dropping just a couple of weeks prior to its Netflix premiere. The film follows Cole (Judah Lewis), a 12-year-old boy who discovers that his babysitter Bee (Samara Weaving) is the leader of an evil, murderous cult. While some have argued that The Babysitter is not quite as riotous as they’d hoped it would be (I’d disagree!), it is hard to deny that everyone is having a blast here. The outlandish death scenes and gleefully wicked performances from Weaving and her fellow cult members (Robbie Amell, Andrew Bachelor, Hana Mae Lee, and Bella Thorne), who play up a few of our favorite high school archetypes, definitely make the film a worthy group watch.
Don’t Kill It
Catching Mike Mendez’s Don’t Kill It back at its Fantastic Fest premiere last year with a packed crowd unquestionably convinced me that we need to see at least one Dolph Lundgren-fronted horror flick released every year. The perennial action icon delivers a riotously self-aware performance as demon hunter Jebediah Woodley in this underrated and under-praised gem, tracking down an evil force that body-hops to a new host every time the previous one is murdered. Characterized very quickly by outrageous, hyperviolent action sequences and laughably-written dialogue, Don’t Kill It is the best made-for-Syfy movie that Syfy never made.
Get Out
For all of the focus on its effective social commentary, it may be easy to forget that Jordan Peele’s breakout horror hit is also one of the year’s most undeniably enjoyable genre rides. Adeptly using humor to both call out racism and break up the tension in an otherwise dark story, Peele succeeds in bending genres and broaching sensitive subject matter in a way that mainstream audiences can truly get on board with. You and your friends will no doubt root for Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) as he begins to discover the truth behind his girlfriend’s (Allison Williams) very suspicious family and friends, and it’s impossible not cheer when the film finally reaches its cathartic finale.
Happy Death Day
Happy Death Day got some notable flak once it was stamped with a PG-13 rating–a brand in the horror genre often conflated with watered down violence and hack-job edits for the sake of reaching wider audiences. Yet Christopher Landon’s film–which follows Tree (Jessica Rothe), a sorority girl who must relive the day of her murder over and over again until she finds her killer–genuinely feels like it was always meant to be a more accessible in its execution, focusing more on snarky dialogue, familiar college stereotypes, and humor than gruesome death sequences. Say what you will, but I found Happy Death Day–and Rothe’s insanely likable performance particularly–to be pretty damn fun. Sure, it may not bring much new to the table and it is clearly geared towards the genre’s younger fans, but where it lacks in lasting chills and gore, it delivers in spirit and enough entertaining twists and turns to make for a good (if not inoffensive) time.
Mayhem
Joe Lynch’s Mayhem boasts a general set-up comparable to that of this year’s The Belko Experiment: workers in an office complex commit violent acts against each other, this time due to a mysterious virus. Yet Mayhem succeeds for me where Belko faltered in that it makes ingenious use of its office setting and the props at hand in its wild and violent ride. Beyond being a fast-paced and comedic thrill ride, the film is worth watching alone for Steven Yeun (The Walking Dead) and Samara Weaving (who deserves to be a genre staple at this point); the pair’s chemistry and pitch-perfect comedic chops are electric as they fight off infected coworkers acting out their worst and most violent impulses. Think of it as horror’s comedy-tinged answer to Gareth Evans’s The Raid.
Lake Bodom
Finnish slasher Lake Bodom starts off in very familiar territory, with four teens stealing away to the woods for a camping trip at a site where famed murders once took place. Once its more traditional first act ends, however, Lake Bodom heads into a very different direction, recalling some of Europe’s other well-known horror favorites. And even so, the film doesn’t stop there; it continues to unapologetically twist and turn, either to the sheer enjoyment or laugh-laden incredulity of its audience. Whatever you may ultimately think of it by way of plausibility, it’s hard to deny that Lake Bodom is one of the most enjoyable straightforward horror rides this year. Stick around at least for the second twist if nothing else–which is paired with a Fast & Furious-worthy chase scene that everyone slasher lover should see at least once.
Better Watch Out
Chris Peckover’s Better Watch Out is primed to be a new holiday favorite for modern horror fans, taking the very familiar home invasion formula and turning it on its head with nasty glee. Starring impressive Levi Miller and The Visit‘s Olivia DeJonge and Ed Oxenbould, the film pairs perfectly with the aforementioned The Babysitter, sharing a similarly dark sense of humor and unpredictable narrative course. Simply put, Better Watch Out is a demented spin on Home Alone, and you’re likely to hear numerous gasps at the film’s audacious use of violence between its young cast members.
Tragedy Girls
Tyler MacIntyre’s Tragedy Girls is both an effective take-down and outright celebration of modern millennials dressed up in very stylish horror-comedy trappings. Where films like Detention did not necessarily work for me in similar execution, Tragedy Girls more cohesively and humorously weaves familiar slasher tropes with commentary on social media, teenage narcissism, and the vapidity of youth. The film, boasting quick-witted humor reminiscent of 2009’s Sorority Row, is carried by razor-sharp dialogue and biting performances from Brianna Hildebrand and Alexandra Shipp as two high school students exploring the world of murder in the name of fame. Tragedy Girls also features some of the year’s best sequences of physical comedy, as well as two hilarious appearances by Craig Robinson and millennial icon Josh Hutcherson.
Cult of Chucky
If you haven’t followed the last few films in the Child’s Play franchise, you will likely be extremely taken aback by how damn weird the world of Chucky has become. Cult of Chucky is by and large the most out there entry to date–which of course makes it a perfect flick to pop on with a crowd of unsuspecting viewers. Some will love it, some will outright loathe it, but Cult of Chucky delivers some of the franchise’s most fun death scenes, ridiculously entertaining twists, and memorable Chuckyisms in years. Almost 30 years later, it remains a joy to revel in the insanity of Don Mancini’s creation, and franchise fans particularly will be hollering at the return of Alex Vincent, Jennifer Tilly, and (new franchise favorite) Fiona Dourif in one film. Stick around for that post-credits stinger, too, and you’re bound to hear some major cheers from the more die-hard fans of the series.