Mike’s Top 10 Films of 2018

Hey 2018!  Nice job.  Really.  You did pretty well.  Or rather you really blew it on a lot of fronts, but horror was not one of your blind spots.  Horror in 2018 was quite the sight to behold.  Shorts, trailers, remakes, feature length master classes — the whole horrible kit and caboodle.   I’m going to give the year in horror, as a collective… 👻👻👻👻 out of 👻👻👻👻👻 While my blind spot really is modern horror, I did my darnedest to keep up with my stellar podcast parter. A tough task for sure that required me to get out of my comfort zone and away from my 12th viewing of My Bloody Valentine — which is by the way an exceptional piece of cinema.  But this isn’t about 1981, it’s about 2018!  So with out further ado, here’s THE. BEST. FILMS. OF. 2018.

1. Halloween.  Yep.  The best. Make no mistake this film is legit. 👻👻👻👻 out of 👻👻👻👻👻
2. Suspira.The Movie that could not be remade, has been remade.  Luca Guadagnino’s complex retelling of the Giallo Classic is artistically compelling.  👻👻👻👻 out of 👻👻👻👻👻
3. The Bloody Ballad of Squirt Reynolds.  Clocking in at 7:20, the kids at Camp Nawgonamakit are about to find out the tragic tale of Squirt Reynolds is more than just a legend. Fun. Fun. And more fun.  👻👻👻👻 out of 👻👻👻👻👻
4. Slice.  When your film’s foundation is ensconced in werewolves, witches, ghosts, lots of present day political allegory, a portal to hell, whacked-out fast food delivery kids, and a “shitty” pizza place — you’ve got no where to go but up.  Add in Saturday Night Live alum, Chris Parnell, and well, you’ve got yourself a fun little film.  👻👻👻 out of 👻👻👻👻👻
5. Hereditary.  I’d be lying if I didn’t think this was a great film.  The hype is real.  The hype train is leaving the station, so y’all better get on board. 👻👻👻👻 out of 👻👻👻👻👻
6. Unsane. Pure brilliance.  Elegant simplicity.  Well if Regency pictures came to me and asked me for a pull-quote blurb, that’s what I’d say.  Because it’s true.  👻👻👻👻 out of 👻👻👻👻👻
7. Big Legend.  He’s big.  He’s a legend.  This is big, dumb, fun. The Scariest Things Podcast team got to check out the World Premiere of this Northwest myth put to film at the Portland Horror Film Festival and boy was it worth it!  👻👻👻 out of 👻👻👻👻👻
8. A Quiet Place.  Bordering more on sci-fi than horror, Jim Halpert’s first outing as a writer/director is SOLID.  Hoping there’s more to come from this fine young man.  👻👻👻👻 out of 👻👻👻👻👻
9. Summer of 1984. Somehow things are just scarier in 1984.  That’s a fact!  These teens are believable, legit, and well-constructed.  The gut punch of a climax is a real gut punch.  For real.  👻👻👻 out of 👻👻👻👻👻
10. Mandy.  Whoa.  Slow down there.  I’m not sure what I’m actually looking at. A strange and visionary tale of strange visions and a chainsaw fight. Yes. A chainsaw fight!  👻👻👻👻 out of 👻👻👻👻👻