2011 was a big year. There was the royal wedding, a history-making baseball season, and some of the most ingenious horror films of the modern era. We got a supernatural ghost hunt with The Innkeepers, grisly murder mysteries like You’re Next, and . . . Shark Night 3D. OK, they weren’t all winners, but as someone who’s been watching horror movies since the tender age of 7, I can attest that it was an overall amazing year for horror.
Shark Night 3D
Shark movies are always fan favorites, especially when it comes to college kids having to survive a shark-infested lake weekend. But sadly, this one wasn’t the best. Despite it grossing over $15 million more than its budget, critics were not impressed. While it tried, the movie fell flat: it didn’t have a solid plot line or enough blood for the gore fanatics.
The Moth Diaries
The Moth Diaries revolves around a haunted girl, Rebecca, who suspects her new roommate, Ernessa, is a vampire. Through a series of disturbing hallucinations and creepy nursery rhymes, Rebecca tries to figure out what Ernessa wants with her. While it was a daring experiment, critics said it was way too serious for its own good. While I loved the actress’s portrayals, I agree with critics on this one.
The Thing
In the middle of a snowstorm, a team of pilots and scientists explore the ruins of an alien crash site. From there, they quickly discover someone or something is killing them off one by one. While this remake tries to surpass the original, critics pointed out that it lacked a few key aspects of a good horror film. Although the audience thought it was a solid remake.
Silent House
With only a 43 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, critics claimed the film came up short but was mostly saved by Elizabeth Olsen’s brilliant performance. Her character finds herself in a secluded cabin, where things start going crazy. This film is full of jump scares, so you’ll want to make sure wine is on hand for the inevitable anxiety.
Final Destination 5
With fairly mixed reviews from critics and a 62 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, reviewers mainly said the gross factor is what most will take away from Final Destination 5. Unlike Scream 4, the fifth installment of this classic horror series was actually needed. While it followed the same formula, it answered a lot of questions.
