21 Movies. 5 Filmmakers. Limitless Futures: The Best of the New Breed Horror Director
Matt Molgaard
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Mike Flanagan
Absentia
Absentia looks like little more than a shoestring film. It also feels like a shoestring film, with a few wooden performances and some very limited sets. But it’s also a wildly creepy affair that boasts some imagery you’re not likely to forget. The final 15 minutes are utterly mind blowing. Pumping out a movie like this so early in his career, it seemed inevitable that Flanagan would go on to much bigger and better things, which he absolutely has. He’s arguably the hottest name in the game today.
Hush
Home invasion tales are becoming harder to get right as the market gradually becomes flooded by mediocre subgenre efforts. But Flanagan’s Hush is no mediocre piece of work, it’s a paralyzing project that needs to be seen to be believed. There’s a surprise or two in waiting, but those surprises hardly feel necessary. Watching a deaf woman battle for her life as a masked lunatic lurks outside is more than enough to give viewers the willies. Top notch home invasion films like Ils, Funny Games, Strangers</>, Wait Until Dark (which is actually quite similar to Hush), When a Stranger Calls and You’re Next now have a new film to join their sublime ranks.
Oculus
A scary movie about mirrors? Really? Well, yes… and no. This is far more a psychological picture than a supernatural piece, though Flanagan blends the two concepts perfectly, often leaving viewers wondering what is real and what isn’t real. The commercially successful Oculus proves that Mike Flanagan isn’t just a talented filmmaker, he’s also got a great imagination with a wide array of ideas floating about in that noggin.
Up Next: Before I Wake and Ouija: Origin of Evil
Adam Wingard
A Horrible Way to Die
A Horrible Way to Die seems to fly under the radar quite a bit. It shouldn’t. It’s a certified ass-kicking production that serves not only as a mesmeric introduction of Wingard, it’s also a very smooth tale that could be likened to a taut game of cat and mouse. It’s very dark and the screenwriting is quite crisp. The locale also makes for a chilling sensation as two worlds that should by all means be completely separate, ultimately collide. This one isn’t quite as refined as some of Wingard’s more recent works, but it’s a strong film that deserves more attention than it gets.
You’re Next
This home invasion tale works extremely well for two primary reasons. One, there’s never a lull in the action. As soon as the film’s focal family is introduced and getting settled, people start dying, in horrific ways. The second reason it works so well is because there’s a believable revelation that awaits viewers with a strong enough stomach to make it through the final act. Speaking of final, did we mention the film features an amazing final girl?
The Guest
Another fast-paced pic, The Guest isn’t what most would consider a horror film, technically speaking. That said, it is a true mind-bender with plenty of twists in turns in the narrative. It’s very dark in tone and it does have a few total WTF moments and a hint of a throwback vibe. The performances are exceptional, and if you really want to know what masterful manipulation looks like, you’ve absolutely got to look into Wingard’s (who no doubt now positions himself as one of the finest in the business) unconventional thriller.
Up Next: Blair Witch
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