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James Jay Edwards’ Top Ten Fringe(ish) Horror Movies of 2019
Hey there, it’s your friendly neighborhood fringe horror guy back with another year-end list that will either intrigue or anger you. The choice is yours. Because my choices for best horror-ish movies have all been made.
Remember, these are fringe horror movies. Although this year’s list includes more “traditional” horror than it usually does, every movie here has been accused of “not being horror” by someone, most likely in the comments section of the internet. Of course, I’ve also seen It Chapter 2 accused of not being a horror movie in these comments sections, and it literally has a shape-shifting murderous clown, so maybe I really do know as little as people say I do.
So, without further ado, here are my top ten fringe(ish) horror movies of 2019.
10. Knives Out
The body count in Knives Out may be low (it’s one), but it’s a brilliant twist-a-minute tribute to Agatha Christie that will make even the most ardent haters of The Last Jedi forgive writer/director Rian Johnson. Basically, the patriarch of a family turns up dead, and an enigmatic private detective (played by Daniel Craig) has to sort through a mansion full of suspects. Whodunnit indeed.
9. Parasite
Parasite is another twisty and turny one that ends as a completely different movie than it started. This Bong Joon-ho joint is about a family of schemers who infiltrates a rich household by posing as skilled and talented workers. But, of course, there’s more to the story than that. Much more.
8. Bliss
This one is more of a pure horror flick, possibly the most so on this list. Bliss is about an artist who is under the gun as she faces the terrible combination of a creative block and a looming deadline. She turns to drugs to spark her inspiration, but the drugs she gets are not the normal, run-of-the-mill hallucinogens.
7. Brightburn
If you’ve ever wondered what would have happened if Superman was evil, Brightburn is for you. It’s basically the origin story of the Man of Steel – a boy comes crashing down from the stars and is raised by a midwestern couple. But this alien child doesn’t stand for Truth, Justice, and the American Way. He’s a naughty little camper.
6. Joker
Ah, yes. Joker. This is ostensibly an origin story for the most notorious villain in pop culture history (at least until Darth Vader came along). It steers away from the comics and makes up a lot of the story in places, but since the Joker has always been a famously unreliable narrator (“wanna know how I got these scars?”), we’re going to allow it. This may be the most important film of the year on a social level, and that’s in a year that includes Parasite.
5. Doctor Sleep
Doctor Sleep is the long overdue cinematic adaptation of Stephen King’s long overdue sequel to The Shining. Director Mike Flanagan does the impossible by bridging the gap between the story telling of King and the visual aesthetic of the 1980 Stanley Kubrick original. Great fun for admirers of either camp, or especially, of both.
4. The Death of Dick Long
Probably the least known movie on this list. Try to go into The Death of Dick Long with as little prior knowledge as possible. If you need a brief synopsis, it’s about a band whose drummer, one Richard Long, winds up dead after a night of partying. His pals spend the next day trying to cover up the cause. This one is more Coen Brothers than traditional horror, but it’s a shocker.
3. Greta
What do you get when you cast a bona-fide Oscar caliber actress to play across from two modern scream queens? You get Greta, that’s what. Elle’s Isabelle Huppert has a devilishly delicious time villainizing Carrie’s Chloë Grace Moretz and It Follows’s Maika Monroe in this stalkery slasher. Along with Ma and The Intruder, this was one of three respected-thespians-tormenting-innocents movies this year, but it’s easily the best of the bunch.
2. Us
Jordan Peele’s Get Out established the filmmaker as one to watch in the horror world, and Us just confirms that notion. The movie is about a family who goes takes a trip to their vacation home, and are the victims of a home invasion. The kicker is that the invaders are carbon copies of themselves. And it just gets weirder and more disturbing from there. Not quite the social message that Get Out is, but it’s close.
1. Midsommar
And speaking of establishing a reputation as a master of horror…Ari Aster’s Hereditary was one of last year’s best movies, and Midsommar shows the writer/director picking up right where he left off. Midsommar is about a group of Americans that travels to Sweden for a cultural festival, and things go very wrong. Believe it or not, the three-hour director’s cut is better than the two-and-a-half hour theatrical – and that’s coming from a guy who lives for 80 minute slashers. Midsommar is a brutal treatise on grief and mourning, all wrapped up in a neat little condemnation of toxic relationships. And it’s the best movie of the year.
For more year-end best-of lists, check here.
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Mike Flanagan In Talks to Direct New Exorcist Movie for Blumhouse
Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House) is a national treasure that must be protected at all costs. Not only has he created some of the best horror series to ever exist, but he also managed to make a Ouija Board movie genuinely terrifying.
A report from Deadline yesterday indicates that we may be seeing even more from this legendary storysmith. According to Deadline sources, Flanagan is in talks with Blumhouse and Universal Pictures to direct the next Exorcist film. However, Universal Pictures and Blumhouse have declined to comment on this collaboration at this time.
This change comes after The Exorcist: Believer failed to meet Blumhouse’s expectations. Initially, David Gordon Green (Halloween)was hired to create three Exorcist films for the production company, but he has left the project to focus on his production of The Nutcrackers.
If the deal goes through, Flanagan will take over the franchise. Looking at his track record, this could be the right move for the Exorcist franchise. Flanagan consistently delivers amazing horror media that leave audiences clamoring for more.
It would also be perfect timing for Flanagan, as he just wrapped up filming the Stephen King adaptation, The Life of Chuck. This isn’t the first time he has worked on a King product. Flanagan also adapted Doctor Strange and Gerald’s Game.
He has also created some amazing Netflix originals. These include The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, The Midnight Club, and most recently, The Fall of the House of Usher.
If Flanagan does take over, I think the Exorcist franchise will be in good hands.
That’s all the information we have at this time. Make sure to check back here for more news and updates.
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A24 Creating New Action Thriller “Onslaught” From ‘The Guest’ & ‘You’re Next’ Duo
It’s always nice to see a reunion in the world of horror. Following a competitive bidding war, A24 has secured the rights to the new action thriller film Onslaught. Adam Wingard (Godzilla vs. Kong) will be directing the film. He will be joined by his longtime creative partner Simon Barret (You’re Next) as the scriptwriter.
For those unaware, Wingard and Barret made a name for themselves while working together on films such as You’re Next and The Guest. The two creatives are card carrying horror royalty. The pair have worked on films such as V/H/S, Blair Witch, The ABC’s of Death, and A Horrible Way to Die.
An exclusive article of out Deadline gives us the limited information we have on the topic. Although we don’t have much to go on, Deadline does offer the following information.
“Plot details are being kept under wraps but the film is in the vein of Wingard and Barrett’s cult classics like The Guest and You’re Next. Lyrical Media and A24 will co-finance. A24 will handle worldwide releasing. Principal photography will begin in Fall 2024.”
A24 will be producing the film alongside Aaron Ryder and Andrew Swett for Ryder Picture Company, Alexander Black for Lyrical Media, Wingard and Jeremy Platt for Breakaway Civilization, and Simon Barret.
That’s all the information we have at this time. Make sure to check back here for more news and updates.
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Director Louis Leterrier Creating New Sci-Fi Horror Film “11817”
According to an article from Deadline, Louis Leterrier (The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance) is about to shake things up with his new Sci-Fi horror film 11817. Leterrier is set to produce and direct the new Movie. 11817 is penned by the glorious Mathew Robinson (The Invention of Lying).
Rocket Science will be taking the film to Cannes in search of a buyer. While we don’t know much about what the film looks like, Deadline offers the following plot synopsis.
“The film watches as inexplicable forces trap a family of four inside their house indefinitely. As both modern luxuries and life or death essentials begin to run out, the family must learn how to be resourceful to survive and outsmart who — or what — is keeping them trapped…”
“Directing projects where the audience gets behind the characters has always been my focus. However complex, flawed, heroic, we identify with them as we live through their journey,” said Leterrier. “It’s what excites me about 11817‘s wholly original concept and the family at the heart of our story. This is an experience that movie audiences won’t forget.”
Leterrier has made a name for himself in the past for working on beloved franchises. His portfolio includes gems such as Now You See Me, The Incredible Hulk, Clash of The Titans, and The Transporter. He is currently attached to create the final Fast and the Furious film. However, it will be interesting to see what Leterrier can do working with some darker subject material.
That’s all the information we have for you at this time. As always, make sure to check back here for more news and updates.
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