Matt Donato’s 7 Runner-Up Horror Films For The Best Of 2015

Over the last few years, I've rocked out a Top 13 and Bottom 13 for the horror genre here at We Got This Covered. My thought process was simple - recommend the horror films you shouldn't miss, and the worst duds you should avoid. But there's just too much hate in the world today and we need more positivity! We, nay - I need a change. So, instead of pumping out a generically snarky "Worst Of Horror" list for y'all this year, I'll just recommend a few more horror flicks that DEFINITELY deserve your attention, even if they didn't make my top-tier cut. There are still a good amount of films I'd love to have included here. For example, Insidious: Chapter 3 saw Leigh Whannell achieve success through his own unique vision, and while we're on the topic of Whannell, Cooties would be #21 if this list kept going. Movies like Zombeavers and Wolfcop deserve shout-outs for being goofy genre explorations into the absurd, while The Midnight Swim provided whimsical creeps through a sisterly bond. Avenged resurrects a strong female revenge story, Suburban Gothic shows why Richard Bates Jr. is a filmmaker who should be on EVERYONE'S must-watch list, and A Christmas Horror Story brings us another holiday massacre when the season calls for it. So you've already read my Best 13 Horror Films of 2015 by this point (right?), and now you're ready to see what just missed the cut. Let's take a look then, shall we? 1) The Visit Welcome back, M. Night Shyamalan! The Visit marks a successful return from a filmmaker who's proven he knows tension. I know some of you may scoff at the first-person camera gimmick, but Shyamalan avoids many of the generic mistakes cash-in movies of the same nature have once tried. Jump scares are at a minimum, chaos ensues, and our child actors are pretty damn likable. This is horror comfort food from Grandma's kitchen. What works so well is that M. Night never tries too hard. There's no twist this time - just a simple reveal that works tremendously. Peter McRobbie and Deanna Dunagan bring it home as a devilishly lovable pair of grandparents, who keep us guessing for as long as necessary. Shyamalan gets his scares when possible, but also finds ways to interject a rustic sweetness that pairs nicely with senior citizen chills. More of this M. Night Shyamalan, please! 2) We Are Still Here Not everyone will enjoy We Are Still Here. It's another one of those slow-burn efforts where either you have the patience, or you shut it off halfway through. I understand that. But it's on my list, so I think you know where I stand on this New England-set nightmare. Patience is surely a virtue, and its reward is a violent, absolutely no-holds-barred finale from the bloody bowels of Hell. The ending hits like explosive satanic diarrhea blown from the asshole of Satan, and I mean that as a compliment. Honest! Everything about We Are Still Here is calculated. Evil is introduced early on, and it's never hidden. We know something sinister is about to go down, but we never know when. Filmmaker Ted Geoghegan lets horrific elements trickle out in small doses, but they're still effective, priming us for bigger attacks that occur later on. It lingers intently and keeps us hooked - then knocks us dead with a closing haymaker. Satanic diarrhea blown from the asshole of Satan - how is that NOT a pull quote? 3) Unfriended When you think Unfriended, I bet you immediately think of Jason Blum and his production company, Blumhouse - right? Truth is, Blum had very little to do with the making of this film, since he snatched it up after seeing a screening of its then-title, Cybernatural. This is the brainchild of director Leo Gabriadze and writer Nelson Greaves, who create a modern urban legend through the death of Laura Barnes. The horror genre is always evolving, and Unfriended takes the genre to new technological lengths by capturing all the action on a laptop scree. It's been done before, in movies like Open Windows and The Den, but not like this. Not. Like. This. What's most impressive is the way that Unfriended interjects scares through simple methods, like screen glitches and cut video feeds. The deaths creep under your skin, especially Jacob Wysocki's blender mishap, and despite sometimes grainy feeds, the characters are able to convey fear in their own ways. There's also attention to detail, like actually using Google versus some made-up "AskSteve" fake-out, which emphasizes the little things. Unfriended is a 21st century nightmare, and as an avid internet user, I stand by that statement. 4) Goosebumps Here's the pick everyone is going to hate on, and that's expected. Goosebumps is goofy, family-friendly fun in the vein of Monster Squad, but for fans of the bedtime stories, not much more can be given. R.L. Stine's creations collectively attack a small, unsuspecting town, and Black's role as Stine proves what great characterizations the funny-man is capable of. Every monster makes an appearance in some capacity, from background mummies to Slappy's leading villainy, and my generation gets to see our childhood boogeymen on the big screen. Horror can be a familial affair, you know! What's more impressive is that minimal practical effects don't hinder the film in any way, as most the creatures are CGI productions. Rob Letterman orchestrates the chaos while having to use lots of green screens, but the magic is never lost. This is an introduction to horror that both children and parents can enjoy, and it's a fun one at that. There's nothing wrong with being a little immature sometimes, but there's still enough smarts about this horror comedy to make for an entertaining, fulfilling adaptation. 5) Cub I feel like Cub flew inexplicably under the radar, since I didn't even know it released this year until stumbling upon its Blu-ray on a random website. My love for Jonas Govaerts' boy scout horror flick dates back to Fantastic Fest 2014, where it kicked off a stellar week of screenings for myself, but then no one talked about it. Why? Frankly, I have no idea. The film itself does a great job building backstory, and Govaerts' experiences filming artsy music videos pays off in the ways of cool stylings, detailed productions and tremendous snippets that create a unique moving picture. Even though it stars mostly young children, there's no sense of playing it safe - these kids are alone in the woods and they have every reason to be afraid. Deaths are outdoorsy and Govaerts enjoys building his urban legend with all the right campfire touches. Hopefully people will discover Cub as it makes VOD rounds - starting with you! 6) Bloodsucking Bastards Comparing smooth-talking salesmen to bloodsucking vampires? Genius. Seriously. Why has no one made a business-horror-comedy about this topic before Dr. God? It's one of those ideas that makes you jealous in its simplicity, but Bloodsucking Bastards succeeds because of the comedic talents that bring such a clever idea to life. Hell, I work the same kind of day job and part of me now thinks some of my coworkers are vampires - no one can be that soulless! A good horror comedy understands its material, and stays topical throughout. Smartly, Bloodsucking Bastards is as much about satirically mocking the daily grind as it is a gory vampire picture. Joey Kern plays the lovable slacker, Fran Kranz the over-working drone - these are real people. As a 9-5-er, I found myself relating to most characters in some way, even after the vampires take over. Don't worry, it gets vicious and messy later on, but laughs are abound for those who wouldn't mind a vampire takeover to spice up their own dull jobs. 7) Killers Killers was an early-year watch for me, but it never stopped polluting my thoughts. Until I saw Anguish only a few weeks ago, it was in my Top 13. Deservingly. The Mo brothers deliver a chilling serial killer story birthed from the bowels of nightly news headlines, spiked by the YouTube-obsessed generation we now live in. All two-hours-and-seventeen-minutes are used to their full potential, as an early torture porn feature evolves into a battle of good-ish versus evil - with plenty of blood spilled. What intrigues most is the effort to describe "good killing" and "bad killing," and the lack in differentiation. One person kills victims who "deserve it," while the other kills for pleasure. As the two murderers begin to trade sentiments, their stories intertwine, and the lines begin to blur. It's a vicious, sharpened satire that bites to break the skin, and doesn't shy away from moral quandaries. In the vein of I Saw The Devil, you're in for a criminal treat that draws horror from society - the nastiest monster of all.