Well here we are. Another year is coming to an end, and holy shit.. What a year it was for the horror genre! Some time ago, usually when a horror movie goes to DVD and or Netflix, it’s pretty safe to say that it’s going to be a load of assfucks. While there were a few solid films given the theatrical treatment; I have to say VOD and Netflix absolutely trumped any horror theatrical release this year. In my opinion as to why: Most theatrical releases have a formula to them. To guarantee some sort of profit for the distributor. Many of these movies, just seem like the same plot over and over. At the risk of sounding like a Horror Snob, I just feel like the true fans of the genre, deserve a little better. And we found it available right at our own comforts at home. We had so many hidden gems available to us that were quite the breath of fresh air. For me anyway. So here is my list of the top five best horror movies of 2014 in no particular order.

1. The Babadook

The babadook is proof you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover. Mr. Babadook, a top-hatted, claw-footed, black-cloaked ghoul who is the star of a disturbingly child-inappropriate tale that turns up one night on the bookshelf of a little boy. The visuals are stunning as it comes across to me just as much as an art film as a horror movie. Echoing the book’s palette of grays and blacks and then adding the touch of blood blue and red. Quite magnificent. Superbly cast and sleekly crafted, The Babadook is vastly superior to many of the vaunted recent fright flicks, including Annabelle and Ouija. It blew me out of the water. And one of the first movies in a long time that actually made me scream. Ummm yea I didn’t want to go to bed that night. I highly recommend if you haven’t seen it. Babadook give me that desired amount of scare many horror fans reach for.

You can rent the video here from Amazon.com.

2. Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones

I already know I may get a lot of shit for this one. But let me start off by saying, I’m not a huge PA fan. Frankly I thought the first was decent and the rest were garbage. Using the same predictable plot over and over. I went into The Marked Ones not expecting much but I was actually surprised when the movie ended. It was actually really good?! Previous PA entries tended to focus on the relationship between family members and or couples along with the annoying ass camera shot thats conveniently placed in every room . The Marked Ones takes a unique approach as it places the family aspects in the background and places the bond between friends at the forefront.  The change creates a substantial shift in tone for the film that adds a bit of freshness to it. It definitely has one of the best climactic builds and awesome ending of all the previous movies. Yes.. I know that this series can be extremely diverse in the horror community.  If you’ve hated all of the previous PA films, then there’s nothing I can say that would convince you to want to see this one.  However, if you’ve been a fan of the series since the beginning then I have no problem saying that this is the best entry in the sequels.

You can buy it here on Amazon.com.

Tusk

Tusk is Kevin Smith’s 11th film. And in my opinion his most deep as it this film takes you from some hysterical jokes to some downright horror as we get deeper into the movie. Now, this movie tanked at the box office. It received many mixed reviews from viewers and critics alike. I really felt as if Tusk was a real breath of fresh air as a horror fan. It’s brilliant, edgy, and NEW. Kevin Smith plumbs into the depths of human misery. It is a bit unnerving to watch at times. But overall I really enjoyed it. Tusk is about a psychotic recluse who turns a guy into a walrus. You see that man-made walrus in all of its what-the-fuck glory, and it doesn’t disappoint.

You can pre-order Tusk here at Amazon.com.

V/H/S Viral

Back for its third installment, VHS Viral offers up visually stunning scenes and keeps its viewer guessing to what is next. I’m a huge fan of the first two, so i went into the third expecting the same treatment of suspense and gore. Having seen all three, VHS 2 is still my favorite in the series, but i can attest, Viral offers up the goods to the horror fans. The basis is the same with three short stories with a bit of a twist. Viral tries to connect and explain the reasoning behind all the tapes and why they cause horrible things to happen. With an eclectic group of filmmakers back once again for three short stories, including cult favorite Nacho Vigalondo, they all merge together well enough to create a final product worth recommending.

You can rent to watch here or pre-order your own copy from Amazon here!

The Taking Of Deborah Logan

I can honestly tell you I knew NOTHING about this movie going into it. Ok, old lady with Alzheimers. Sad. Oh she’s levitating now. Ummm. Ok, now thats a possession movie. Bore. I almost lost interest when it started to take a few twists and turns into a not so typical horror possession movie. Parts of “The Taking of Deborah Logan” are vaguely reminiscent of “The Ring” and “Paranormal Activity,” but this is so much better in terms of the writing, acting and unique storyline. Like any good thriller, little hints start dropping to indicate things may not be what they seem. And they deliver fantastically on that aspect. It was the big surprise for me in 2014 and I highly recommend tuning into Netflix for this one or better yet, getting your own copy for the DVD shelves in your home.

You can get your copy here from Amazon.

There you have it. Grant it, I haven’t seen EVERY horror movie released this year, but these are my top five based on what I had seen. You can agree or disagree. We all have diverse opinions so lets hear yours! What are some of your favorites?