Creature Features
Good creature features are a dime-a-dozen these days, as so many wasted efforts emphasize normalcy over ingenuity. Sure, you can watch another ridiculous monster movie where the monster is hidden until the final act, getting screen time for a quickie final battle, or you can opt for a creature feature that enjoys the hell out of playing Dr. Frankenstein. I choose the latter.
My first two picks, Trollhunter and The Host, are more large-scale monster movies that have their own merits. Trollhunter utilizes found footage much like Cloverfield did, catching the gargantuan scale of all creatures involved. Some of the trolls are manageable when encountered, but others are these towering giants who make us feel wholly insignificant. The Host, on the other hand, has a smaller monster, but captures the ferocity of a beast who wreaks chaotic havoc on a bustling city.
On a smaller scale, Bad Milo! is about a monster that lives in Ken Marino’s butt and comes out to make his most sinister urges reality. Yes, Milo is the manifestation of Marino’s darkest thoughts, and those unmentionable feelings can be bottled no longer. Including a hilarious supporting cast, Bad Milo! also finds immense amounts of comedy throughout Milo’s violent rampage that makes for a brilliant horror comedy experience as well.
My last recommendation is Frankenstein’s Army, a found footage attempt that dates all the way back to WWII Nazi Germany. Some Russian soldiers stumble upon a mad scientist’s workshop, who then unleashes his freakish creations on the unsuspecting squad. Each hybrid creature has its own unique appearance, from a Slenderman-esque stilt creature to an airplane propeller with legs, impressing through imagination alone.
