Best Horror Films of 2021
A list of my favourite horror films released in 2020 - films added as and when I see them.
Films are in a vague order of quality, starting with the better ones.
Every film in the main list I gave at least 6/10.
Honourable mentions: The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, Gaia, Escape Room: Tournament of Champions.
Films are in a vague order of quality, starting with the better ones.
Every film in the main list I gave at least 6/10.
Honourable mentions: The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, Gaia, Escape Room: Tournament of Champions.
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- DirectorRose GlassStarsMorfydd ClarkCaoilfhionn DunneJennifer EhleA pious nurse becomes dangerously obsessed with saving the soul of her dying patient.Bleak psychological drama-thriller with some horror elements. An unsettling and uncomfortable descent into madness. It's a slow build, but the climax is all the more effective for it.
Acting is spot on and it's very well shot, with some very nice colourisation in some scenes. The grim British seaside setting is also a great contrast to the religious themes, making it almost bleakly comical in places.
A great film that will definitely be of interest to fans of films like The Witch (2015), Hereditary (2018), The Shining (1980), The Lighthouse (2019), The Babadook (2014), Midsommar (2019), etc.
Released Feb 2021 in the USA - DirectorSteven KostanskiStarsNita-Josée HannaOwen MyreMatthew NinaberAfter unearthing a gem that controls an evil monster looking to destroy the Universe, a young girl and her brother use it to make him do their bidding.Batshit insane horror-comedy b-movie! A love letter to cheap and cheesy 80's / early 90's VHS schlock like He-Man: Masters of the Universe, Power Rangers, Troma films, Guyver, etc. with LOADS of gore.
Laugh out loud funny and wonderfully cheesy. Made by some of the same guys from Astron 6 (Manborg, Bio-cop, The Editor, Father's Day) and it's great to see their spirit live on in this film.
It may be an acquired taste tho. Not every gag lands and the little girls overacting can grate (there's also a very dazed and bewildered looking performance from Adam Brooks, which is just odd), but if you like Troma and Astron 6 flicks you'll absolutely love it!
Released in January 2021 - DirectorPrano Bailey-BondStarsNiamh AlgarMichael SmileyNicholas BurnsAfter viewing a strangely familiar video nasty, Enid, a film censor, sets out to solve the past mystery of her sister's disappearance, embarking on a quest that dissolves the line between fiction and reality.Very well made psychological horror-mystery with a cracking 80's VHS aesthetic and a superb ending.
Great acting, score, theme, story and visuals. The only minor fault (in my eyes) would be the slightly rushed escalation into madness - psychological horror works best with a slow and steady descent into madness, an extra 10 minutes of building tension in the first two acts would have made this film even better.
A slow, weird film with little in the way of scares, kills, action, etc. You either like this kind of horror film or you don't :) - DirectorAndrew GaynordStarsGeorgina CampbellChristopher FairbankDustin Demri-BurnsPete is cautiously excited about reuniting with his college crew for a birthday weekend. But, one by one, his friends slowly turn against him. Is he being punished, is he paranoid, or is he part of some sick joke?Fantasticly unique psychological thriller that's also darkly humorous.
Not a horror film that relies on traditional tropes (ghosts, killers, a spooky house, gore, etc) as all the horror comes from not knowing what's going on - this is purely about the fear of the unknown and social rejection. It doesn't sound like much, but I found it mortifying! - DirectorKeith ThomasStarsDave DavisMenashe LustigMalky GoldmanA man providing overnight watch to a deceased member of his former Orthodox Jewish community finds himself opposite a malevolent entity, in writer-director Keith Thomas' electrifying feature debut.Good production values, cinematography, acting and premise.
A slow-burning, creepy film that hits all the right notes if you like supernatural horror. Ever so slightly hampered by a lack of strong characterisation and reliance on tropes.
Released Feb 2021 in the USA - DirectorDamian Mc CarthyStarsBen CaplanJohnny FrenchLeila SykesA lone drifter suffering from partial memory loss accepts a job to look after a psychologically troubled woman in an abandoned house on an isolated island.Very slow and very creepy psychological horror with supernatural elements.
Superbly shot, stellar score, pretty good acting and an intriguing story. I did find the unfolding mystery a little hard to keep track of (who killed who, why they killed so and so, is there a ghost or is it all in the mind, why did the man take the job, why did so and so even give the man the job, what was the dog about, why is she doing what he says and why doesn't she just leave, etc.), it all feels a tad convoluted, vague and confusing, or maybe my mind was drifting too much due to the slow pace of the film and I missed some very basic story points along the way, I can't really say!
It's creepy as hell and well worth a look, just make sure you're in the right frame of mind for something this slow and try to pay close attention to what's going on :)
Released in 2021
- DirectorJohn KrasinskiStarsEmily BluntMillicent SimmondsCillian MurphyFollowing the events at home, the Abbott family now face the terrors of the outside world. Forced to venture into the unknown, they realize the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats lurking beyond the sand path.Solid, tense horror film, if a little overrated. I definitely preferred the first film, although this is still a good watch.
Very good acting, good sound design, nicely shot, and very tense in places. Not so keen on the hit-and-miss CGI monsters (you see too much of them and some shots look very cartoon-like), nor was I into characters repeatedly doing silly things just so there's an excuse for another monster scene, it wore quite thin by the end of the film.
Released in 2021 - DirectorCody CalahanStarsRJ MittePeter OuterbridgeAri MillenA drifter returns to his hometown bar during a snowstorm. To settle a debt, he tells a story involving mistaken identities, betrayals, and violence, taking a dark turn from the night's simple start.Engrossing mystery-crime-thriller, not really a horror film but it's listed as one so makes the list.
It's a slow film, but its simple premise of different characters telling stories works very well and was a nice departure from the norm. Worth a look if you like a slow-burn thriller.
Released in 2021 - DirectorJames WanStarsAnnabelle WallisMaddie HassonGeorge YoungMadison is paralyzed by shocking visions of grisly murders, and her torment worsens as she discovers that these waking dreams are in fact terrifying realities.Incredibly silly and not scary at all, but fast paced and quite fun.
Lots of homages to 80's horror b-movies, a couple of high-octane action sequences, a nice bit of gore and some classy Argento-esque visuals make this quite the roller coaster ride!
It's more style than substance and I would have preferred the film to lean into the genuine horror element more than fast-paced action, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. More nasty 80's body horror and less Matrix next time please!
Pure, unashamed popcorn fodder. I think that's what it set out to be, so thumbs up! - DirectorDavid BrucknerStarsRebecca HallSarah GoldbergVondie Curtis-HallA widow begins to uncover her recently deceased husband's disturbing secrets.Looks great, is well acted and has some really creepy scenes, but the third act was a flop for me.
Above average high-brow horror.
Realsed in 2021 - DirectorValdimar JóhannssonStarsNoomi RapaceHilmir Snær GuðnasonBjörn Hlynur HaraldssonA childless couple discovers a mysterious newborn on their farm in Iceland.Surreal drama. Engrossing, quirky and unique, but it really isn't a horror film, and my definition of 'horror' is pretty damn broad!
Great viewing if you're in the mood for a weird indie flick, but if you want an actual horror film then maybe look elsewhere. - DirectorSimon BarrettSteven KostanskiChloe OkunoStarsAnna HopkinsChristian PotenzaBrian PaulA police S.W.A.T. team investigate a mysterious VHS tape and discover a sinister cult that has pre-recorded material which uncovers a nightmarish conspiracy.Solid found-footage anthology.
All the separate "stories" were pretty good, but the FBI/SWAT team thread story was abysmal, it's got some of the worst dialogue and acting I've seen in years and is so bad it lets the whole package down. Make sure you have the fast forward button ready and you'll have a much better time! - DirectorAnthony Scott BurnsStarsJulia Sarah StoneLandon LiboironCarlee RyskiA teenage runaway takes part in a sleep study that becomes a nightmarish descent into the depths of her mind and a frightening examination of the power of dreams.Pretty good dark sci-fi flick with some horror elements.
The soundtrack is the absolute standout feature here, with some very nice visuals to complement it. The script is ok but it's not as engaging or interesting as the premise needed it to be. As a whole the film definitely has its moments tho, and there's some real talent behind it.
One for fans of weird sci-fi and etherial horror
Released in March 2021 - DirectorJames AshcroftStarsDaniel GilliesErik ThomsonMiriama McDowellA schoolteacher is forced to confront a brutal act from his past when a pair of ruthless drifters take his family and him on a nightmare road trip.Solid thriller from New Zealand.
Very well made, with some shocking scenes and an engrossing, unfolding mystery. It doesn't really come together in a totally satisfying way, but it's a quality film nonetheless. - DirectorBen WheatleyStarsJoel FryReece ShearsmithHayley SquiresAs the world searches for a cure to a disastrous virus, a scientist and park scout venture deep in the forest for a routine equipment run.A nice bit of ponderous, psychedelic horror. I have to admit that although it's good, it's very slow ...too slow, especially the second half of the film. It's not quite in the same league as films like Annihilation or Color Out Of Space, to which it's tonally very similar to.
- DirectorLeigh JaniakStarsKiana MadeiraOlivia Scott WelchBenjamin Flores Jr.A circle of teenage friends accidentally encounter the ancient evil responsible for a series of brutal murders that have plagued their town for over 300 years. Welcome to Shadyside.Solid teen slasher that's squarely aimed at young adults.
Some cool mask / killer designs and one or two decent kills are probably the only things that will be of interest to horror fans over the age of about 20, this is very much a film made for teenagers - and at that I think it succeeds. - DirectorLeigh JaniakStarsSadie SinkEmily RuddRyan SimpkinsShadyside, 1978. School's out for summer and the activities at Camp Nightwing are about to begin. But when another Shadysider is possessed with the urge to kill, the fun in the sun becomes a gruesome fight for survival.Much the same as the first entry.
A couple of nasty kills, decent enough story, couple of cool masks and lots of filler & teen angst. One for teens / young adults only methinks. - DirectorLeigh JaniakStarsKiana MadeiraAshley ZukermanGillian JacobsThe origins of Sarah Fier's curse are finally revealed as history comes full circle on a night that changes the lives of Shadysiders forever.Again, very much the same as the first and second entry.
A couple of nasty kills, decent enough story, lots of filler, etc. The "blind" preacher was pretty damn cool.
The whole trilogy is watchable, good in a couple of places, but unmemorable as a whole.
One for teens / young adults / anyone who's not seen many slasher films before. - DirectorNia DaCostaStarsYahya Abdul-Mateen IITeyonah ParrisNathan Stewart-JarrettA sequel to the horror film Candyman (1992) that returns to the now-gentrified Chicago neighborhood where the legend began.Passable reboot / remake / quasi-sequel.
In some ways the story was decent, following on from the original film and continuing its themes of gentrification and racism - in that way it's far more faithful than most reboots. Alas, a meandering third act, underdeveloped characters, a choppy screenplay (or just bad editing) and an overly heavy hand with the films racial themes come up short. The acting was solid all around tho, everyone absolutely made the most out of the script they were given.
After a strong start, issues become apparent when the film reaches its mid-way point. The tone and feel of the original is just not here, it's a little soulless in comparison.
The original had wide establishing shots of the desolate looking Cabrini Green, its grim innards decaying around the people who have to live there, replete with Candyman graffiti plastered in its bowels. It had Phillip Glass' timeless score (half fairytale, half requiem), Tony Todd's booming voice ("Be my victim" "I'm the whisper in the classroom" "Sweets to the sweet") the nagging question of whether the character of Helen has become obsessed to the point of insanity or if Candyman is actually real, the tragic interracial love story ...I could go on and on. Every time Tony Todd's 'Candyman' was on screen the film took on an otherworldly quality, the combination of his visual presence, his voice, that amazing score and the quality of the direction, cinematography and Virginia Madsen's superb reactions. Just brilliant! So yeah, there's very little of that here, unfortunately. Tony Todd's basically not in this reboot so don't get your hopes up.
You get a couple of cool glimpses of the "new" Candyman in mirrors, a nicely shot opening scene in 70's Cabrini Green, a tiny tease of the Phillip Glass score, and lots of retreading the beats of the original but all done without the nuance and bleak otherworldly quality that made the original stand far above it's "slasher movie" brethren.
A missed opportunity, but not a terrible film in its own right. - DirectorKarl HoltStarsKarl HoltClaire CartwrightGeorge CollieJack, a man desperate to improve his life throws away his beloved childhood plush, Benny. It's a move that has disastrous consequences when Benny springs to life with deadly intentions.Nutty British horror-comedy about killer toys. Think 'Child's Play' meets 'Shaun of the Dead' with a bit of 'Puppet Master' thrown in for good measure.
Does a hell of a lot on what looks like a very modest budget - the VFX and camera tracking are really good in some shots. Also has some quality laughs and a nice bit of gore. Not perfect but it's a fun watch.
Keep on eye on this writer/director, I'd love to see what he could do with a bigger budget!
Released in February 2021 - DirectorRyan KrugerStarsGary GreenChanelle de JagerBrett WilliamsBarry is a drug-addled, abusive bastard who - after yet another bender - is abducted by aliens. Barry takes a backseat as an alien visitor assumes control of his body and takes it for a joyride through Cape Town. What follows is an onslaught of drugs, sex and violence as our alien tourist enters the weird and wonderful world of humankind. FRIED BARRY is based upon the short film of the same name, which earned 57 official selections and 12 wins at festivals around the world.Dark, weird, plotless, psychedelic, gross, sometimes amusing. Like a bunch of music videos mashed together with 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas', '12 Monkeys' and Troma-esque 80's exploitation flicks.
I'd normally go nuts for a film like this, but it's a little long for a "head" film and lacked enough of a plot to hold my attention throughout, especially whilst watching sober.
An amazing soundtrack, some great visuals and some funny scenes are the reasons to watch, but you'd have to be a fan of really dark psychedelic stuff and have access to some suitable medication to get the most out of it!
A cautious recommendation.
Released in May 2021 - DirectorRodo SayaguesStarsStephen LangMadelyn GraceBrendan Sexton IIIThe sequel is set in the years following the initial deadly home invasion, where Norman Nordstrom lives in quiet solace until his past sins catch up to him.Very silly and quite different from the original. Cartoonish villains with outlandish motives are just fodder for our John Wick Snr. anti-hero as he hacks his way through an hour and a half of nicely-lit kills.
Perfectly fine entertainment if you like that kind of thing. - DirectorCody CalahanStarsEvan MarshAmber GoldfarbAri MillenJoel, a caustic 1980s film critic for a national horror magazine, finds himself unwittingly trapped in a self-help group for serial killers. With no other choice, Joel attempts to blend in or risk becoming the next victim.Watchable comedy-horror with a thick 80's aesthetic.
A good cast, some nice visuals and a couple of laughs, but it doesn't really fulfil its potential - more gore and more outrageous humour would have been muchly appreciated, it's a bit tame.
Released in 2021 - DirectorCorinna FaithStarsMark SmithMarley CheshamRose WilliamsIn 1974 a young nurse is forced to work the night shift in a crumbling hospital as striking miners switch off the power across Britain; inside the walls lurks a terrifying presence that threatens to consume her and everyone around her.Decent ghost-mystery film helped by it's setting, especially the time period it takes place in. Quite good in places; quality acting, solid score and it's visually very nice - but the story is extremely generic and the ending is absolutely awful.
To summarise: Good direction, acting, cinematography, score and setting. Generic script. - DirectorCastille LandonStarsKatherine HeiglHarry Connick Jr.Madison IsemanA girl living with schizophrenia struggles with terrifying hallucinations as she begins to suspect her neighbor has kidnapped a child. The only person who believes her is Caleb - a boy she isn't even sure exists.
- DirectorPhilip GelattMorgan Galen KingStarsRichard E. GrantLucy LawlessPatton OswaltUltra-violent, epic fantasy set in a land of magic follows heroes from different eras and cultures battling against a malevolent force.
- DirectorTravis StevensStarsBarbara CramptonLarry FessendenBonnie AaronsAnne, married to a small-town Minister, feels her life has been shrinking over the past 30 years. Encountering "The Master" brings her a new sense of power and an appetite to live bolder. However, the change comes with a heavy body count.