While 2020 will go down as the worst year ever for humanity, at least it has been a great year for horror movies. Here are my picks for the best of the best with everything from grim trauma to lighthearted comedy to visual sci-fi madness. I normally pick 13 favorite movies but this year deserves a bonus 7, plus plenty of honorable mentions to round out the list.
The Dark and the Wicked - bleak, grim and terrifying haunted house film
Relic - family tragedy that is well-acted with an unexpected ending
His House - chilling haunted house tale with a unique refugee setting
Color Out of Space - bizarre Lovecraftian nightmare
Extra Ordinary - hilarious, goofy fun abroad with ghost busters
Gretel & Hansel - the classic story gets a beautiful and dark artistic makeover
Host - a surprisingly effective and timely ghost story
La Llorona - urgent storytelling with deeply resonate themes
The Invisible Man - big budget thrills done right with a great lead performance
Anything for Jackson - quirky and scary film of elderly couple going satanic
Impetigore - dense Indonesian folklore masterpiece
Love and Monsters - upbeat apocalypse with giant bugs and affable lead
She Dies Tomorrow - quirky, thought-provoking and darkly humorous
The Mortuary Collection - fun, classic horror with an anthology format
The Platform - morality tale with a stark, visionary approach
The Beach House - disorienting hopelessness imbues this apocalyptic tale
Amulet - a victim's story with mystery, mythology and surreal flair
Blood Machines - visually striking sci-fi that's evocative and obscure
Scare Me - absorbing performances, funny and an ultimately dark indie
The Lodge - bleak holiday-set film that tackles religion and mental stability
UPDATE! LATE ADDITIONS!
Freaky - Fantastic fun, ultra gory with the best kill of the year
The Wolf of Snow Hollow - hilarious with a stellar lead performance
Spontaneous - Insane in the best way and anxiety-producing madness
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Bliss
Butt Boy
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Part 3 (Tv Series)
Come to Daddy
Cursed Films (Documentary Series)
Devs (Tv Series)
The Haunting of Bly Manor (Tv Series)
The Hunt
Lovecraft Country (Tv Series)
The Outsider (Tv Series)
Possessor
Save Yourselves!
Scream, Queen (Documentary)
Shirley
Swallow
Synchronic
Tread (Documentary)
Underwater The Vast of Night
We We Do in the Shadows, Season 2 (Tv Series)
Why Don’t You Just Die
The Wolf House
The Wretched
Yummy
CONTENDERS STILL ON THE WATCH LIST
Alone
Becky
Hunter Hunter
Monstrum
Parallel
Peninsula
Shortcut
Vampires Vs. The Bronx
VFW