Top 10 of the Past 10: The Continuing

Well color me pleased as shit at the response I'm getting to the Top 10 of the Past 10 Liststravaganza. Y'all are stepping up and showing the love in a big way.

If you've been following this topic, you'll have noticed many bloggers have contributed with posts on their own sites, then added a link to the comments section. I've been adding them to my posts just to make sure they don't get overlooked in the comments section, and so I can comment on their lists. I'll present these bloggers first:

First up is John Bem of I Will Devour Your Content:

John Bems's Top Ten of the Past Ten

http://iwdyc.blogspot.com/2011/08/spelunking-in-montana-mancave-john-bems.html

Lots of surprise picks here. I'm mildly amused every time I see the Zombie Strippers trailer, but have never considered actually watching it. That has all changed now.  John, you and your blog have made a difference.  I'm also delighted to see House of 1,000 Corpses getting some love. It didn't quite make my cut, but I love it to death. I'm kind of surprised that no one else has mentioned Zombieland yet. And Snakes On a Plane? You may have won the prize for oddball pick of the week, my friend. I haven't seen it, but it comes highly recommended by my brother-in-law as a so-bad-its-good classic.


Please give a warm Mancave Massacre welcome to our next Liststravaganza contributor: Queenie Tirone of the endlessly inventive blog, Kweeny Todd:

Queenie Tirone's Top Ten of the Past Ten

http://kweenytodd.blogspot.com/2011/08/response-to-tmmm-ten-best-horror-films.html

More surprises here. In particular I was intrigued by Repo! The Genetic Opera. I've heard mixed things about this one, but a recommend from you means I should probably see it.  I tend to like oddball movies anyway. I'm also intrigued by Dead Girl, which I've heard horrible things about, but always wanted to see for myself. I can't help it, I've been fascinated by necrophilia ever since my best friend in college wrote a binder full of Necro poems including the classic: Pulse-Free Handjob. Then there's Midnight Meat Train, which is based on one of my favorite stomach-turning Clive Barker stories. I thought the adaptation was pretty good, though the over-the-top CG gore effects in the very beginning turned me off. Still, the acting was really good, I liked the story, and the gore got much better and realistic later on. Still, first impressions are hard to shake.

Next up: the mind-blowingly prolific El Miguel of everyone's favorite horror blog - From Midnight with Love:



The Mike's Top Ten of the Past Ten

http://frommidnight.blogspot.com/2011/08/mikes-top-10-favorite-horror-films-of.html

Nice picks, L'Mike. Great to see Coscarelli getting his due. I too completely dug Incident On and Off a Mountain Road. Remember when Mr. Asshole Survivalist was but a wee lad mugging alongside Chevy Chase in Christmas Vacation?  I think his association with that role made him even more effective in this one since it was such a departure. And yes, it was awesome to see a new final girl in the vein of Nancy thompson who's going to take the fight to the psycho, all the while setting MacGuyveresque booby-traps.

I am conflicted about Bubba Ho-Tep though. I thought all the ancient Egyptian spirits stuff was unnecessary.  Bruce Campbell is fricking brilliant as a decrepit Elvis-in-hiding, and Ossie Davis is every inch his equal. I honestly would have preferred a quirky buddy-comedy tinged with moments of raw drama about two deluded old-timers doing their damnedest to break out of the nursing home. Maybe that's just me though...

Moving right along we come to an excellent blogger who I hadn't checked out until she responded to my call for top 10 lists. Andreas from Pussy Goes Grrr has posted a wonderful and insightful list, and promises another from her co-blogger in the coming days. Do check it out:

Andreas's Top 10 of the Past 10

http://mendthiscrack.wordpress.com/2011/08/09/the-past-decade-in-horror-part-1/#comment-2429

Hell yeah Coraline! I didn't even consider that one. Not exactly wet-yourself scary, but creepy as all get-out. Lots of surprises here, including two I've never heard of (The Host and Cache).  Good to see my beloved [REC] getting all kinds of love, as well as the innovative Pontypool and the unbelievably good May. I haven't seen Seed of Chucky yet, though it is waiting on my shelf. Bride was pretty funny. Anyway, some great, original picks here.

Now, you may have already seen this list in the comments, but I wanted to make it more prominent, so here is the top ten from the indefatigable Banned In Queensland:

 Banned in Queensland's Top 10 of the Past 10

10. Eden Lake (2008) – Young punks can be seriously scary dudes and this movie rams home why very effectively.

9. Paranormal Activity (2007) – Proof that things that go bump in the night can still be damn scary.

8. Saw (2004) – It’s easily to forget how awesome the original was given all the crappy sequels, but the original was indeed quite awesome.

7. Skeleton Key, The (2005) – Suspenseful and atmospheric with an absolute cracker of an ending. Definitely needs more love.

6. Descent, The (2005) – Pipped only by Buried as the most claustrophobic movie I’ve endured in recent times.

5. Funny Games (2007) – Gets right under your skin despite its seemingly innocuous elements.

4. Buried (2010) – Easily the best “true life” horror movie made in the past decade.

3. Rec (2007) – Scariest horror movie finale ever.

2. Orphanage, The (2007) – Gorgeous looking film with a suspenseful story and a brilliant ending.

1. Ring, The (2002) – I’m still trying to get the stains out of my undies that resulted after watching this.

Alright, I'm baffled. First, why did I think The Ring was from 2000? But more troubling than that, why is this the first mention of The Ring?  BIQ, I must revise my list because of you. This was one of those rare movies that stuck with me for a month, freaking me out every time I'd turn off the lights at the far end of the house. Great pick.

I haven't checked out Buried yet, and I've heard nothing good (until now) about The Skeleton Key, so now I'll obviously have to give it go. This also marks the first appearence of Eden Lake among these lists, which is a little surprising. A very effective little film, and one that had me fuming with rage throughout. If there's one thing I can't stand, it is disrespectful punk teenagers (check out BIQ's blog for the chronicles of a real-life Eden Lake stand-off). A fine list, and nary a one I can argue against.

And last, but certainly not least, is BROWN! from the If We Made It podcast and the blog This Coleslaw Makes Me Sick. Give him some love, or at the very least, check out his Friday the 13th podcast, in which his band, The Wham Bam Thank You Band, performs a musical tribute to the series. I'm not sure about the title, but the chorus goes: "Bush in the lake, bush in the lake, bush in the lake, and there's a head in the tree." Good shit, that.

BROWN!'s Top 10 of the Past 10

10. 28 Days Later (2002) Danny Boyle directs this great zombie thriller. Stylish, but not overdone, Boyle reinvents the zombie movie.

9. Grindhouse (2007) Tarantino and Rodriguez created one of the greatest theater experiences of recent memory. Trashy and fun homage.

8. Drag Me to Hell (2009) Nobody makes horror movies as fun as Sam Raimi. I was so glad he came back to the genre he owns.

7. Bug (2006) Exorcist director William Friedkin directs this creepy psychological thriller. Not a conventional horror movie, but disturbing none the less.

6. The Orphanage (2007) Juan Antionio Bayona directs this Spanish ghost story. Great story, and fantastic directing. One of the best ghost stories in years.

5. Triangle (2009) I love it when a film sneaks up on you. This movie is nothing like what I expected in a great way. Directed by Christopher Smith. Mysterious and twisted.

4. The Descent (2005) This story of some female cave explorers getting terrorized by cave mutants was the scariest movie of the decade. Directed by Neil Marshall.

3. Piranha 3D (2010) I can't remember having more fun than seeing this in the theaters. Delivers in every way. More gore and nudity than I could ever wish for. A dream come true.

2. House of the Devil (2009) Director Ti West creates this throwback film that looks and feels remarkably like a late 70's early 80's horror movie. West plays it completely straight and succeeds. Truly remarkable.

1. Let the Right One In (2008) Tomas Alfredson directs not only the best horror movie but in my opinion best movie period of the past decade. This Swedish film at it's heart is a tender love story between a 12 year old boy and a forever young female vampire. Unique, horrific and magical.

I can't believe I had to leave out so many films such as Devil's Rejects, Hatchet, The Mist, Freddy vs. Jason, Jason X, Cabin Fever, Slither and on and on. Every decade is a great decade for horror. Can't wait for the next.

Nice picks, man!  I was so glad to see Triangle on someone's list. That movie pulls off an impressive mindfuck, and does so seamlessly. Also great to see Piranha 3D represented. Some horror movies are scary, revolting, and disturbing, while others are just great fun. Top-notch carnage in this one, and what an ending!  Bug also makes its first appearance among the lists. Just watched this one the other day and was impressed by the caliber of the performances. There was something about it that didn't sit quite right with me until I checked out the special features and realized it was initially written and performed as a play. Then I was like, okay, that scene makes sense is that context.

And let me just second the motion, in all caps to indicate that I'm screaming maniacally, EVERY DECADE IS A GREAT DECADE FOR HORROR!!! Except maybe for 1870-1880. That one kind of sucked.