https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-rgyEt0LflK4gLIHEzWMSYB0kp0xHJDAFxo_LREonNs/edit?usp=sharing

I love horror films. I’ve loved the feeling of being scared since I was a kid. I remember army-crawling out of my bedroom and down the hallway, into the kitchen where I would poke my little head out and around the wall to try and sneakily watch Tales from the Crypt. I wonder if my Dad ever knew I was there? Probably, since later I would have to scream for my parents to come help get me to the bathroom because I was too afraid of stepping on and being absorbed into a roaming blob monster, made up of sneaky midnight snackers and kids who drank too much water before bed.

I watched 100 horror movies since last October, rated and wrote mini-reviews for them, and it was a total blast. It's by no means incredible, but I got to have fun and feel good writing, again.

Check out the list for some recommendations for this Halloween weekend! I promise there is something for everyone. I hope you have as much fun as I did with whatever you pick. The link is for the whole list, but the following are my favorite of the year, in no particular order. PRESENTING, my Lucky 13:

Warning for Possible Spoilers

1. The Wailing - Super Dope. This film's gorgeous setting, in rural South Korea, felt familiar and hauntingly surreal at the same time. The thick forest is beautiful and ancient. Lots of creepy shit can exist in there. A demon story that does what many great horror movies do; Effectively make you question your own morals and judgments while making you poop your pants.

2. Psycho Goreman - Super Dope. This one is made for me. One of my new favorites. The movie feels something like the sick offspring of a discount Power Ranger villain and The Toxic Avenger. Real good. It feels real good. Great music, funny writing, gross-out special FX, and hunky boys. What's not to like?

3. Midnight Mass - Super Dope. I loved this one. Mike Flanigan has quickly become one of my favorite modern horror directors. I was so impressed with the bleak story that took place on this dying and decrepit island town. The performances were all so solid, but Hamish Linklater and Samantha Sloyen, who played Father Paul and Bev, respectively, completely blew me away. Sloyen for making me dislike a character to the Joffrey Baratheon of extremes, and Linklater for giving these powerful, building monologues that when they finally crested had me, ME, feeling like I needed at least a communion wafer, or something. Seriously had my blood pumping. Don't miss this one. And if you're a fan of horror, you owe it to yourselves to check out Flanigan's other projects.

4. It Follows - Super Dope. Such a strange idea that could've easily gone off the rails or came off as a little goofy, which would've totally broken immersion. Thankfully, it's handled with such suspenseful precision that your butt will stay more puckered than if it grew teeth and bit a lemon. A puckered butt might be useful in the horrifying premise this movie lays out. It leaves you wondering when your turn could be. And that is something you don't want to be thinking about when you're laying in bed, afterwards. There are scenes in this one that will stick with me forever.

5. One Cut of the Dead - Super Dope. The most imaginative and impressively acted zombie film I've ever seen. Creativity just gushes out of every newly fresh wound, then sprays the audience, keeping you engaged and glued to the screen the whole time. I had so much fun watching it. I'm still left in awe at just how they managed to film this so flawlessly, so effortlessly, while making it look just the opposite.

6. Mandy - Super Dope. Fucking wonderful and brilliant. This is a Nic Cage trip you absolutely need to take. It's a Mad Max nightmare. It's sick and perfect. I love the colors, the direction, the story and the dark-ass places it goes. It doesn't make a lot of sense, but when something has this much style it doesn't have to.

7. Society - Super Dope. Holy shit, what the fuck? Seriously. Just go in blind. Know that it's exceptionally gross, though. Exceptionally, like you can't even imagine. How did this one ever get past me? Surely I would've heard about a movie with a literal butthead, no? Well, forget I said that and go and watch this one. Preferably on an empty stomach.

8. The Thing - Super Dope. My super-secretest of shames. I hadn't watched this classic up until earlier this year! I know. What a poser. Listen, something about the premise just never grabbed me. A bunch of dudes in the cold with a thing? Come on. But I gave it a shot, and this thing shot right up to my top three horror films of all time. Shoot, top films period. God, those creature and make-up effects. I could not get enough and now I totally understand. It lived up to all the 40 years of hype I let accumulate, and it outshined even that. Learning more and more about how they filmed this just makes me appreciate it even more. Lot's of things like how they kept the sets cold, and how Tobe Hooper almost directed it. Watching The Thing will be an annual tradition for me, from now on. How cool that a 40 year old film can hold up like this?

9. Hellbender - Super Dope. Really loved this honest and genuinely independent horror film. All done by a small, but extremely creative film-making family. Witchcraft and the lure of power that exists for it felt super fresh in this film. The special effects are gory and hellish, the music rocks, and I loved the main actresses' genuine portrayal of a mother/daughter relationship. Probably because they are actually mother and daughter in real life. How cool. Really looking forward to whatever they put out next.

10. Mad God - Super Dope. I can't believe this movie. The stop-motion animation is a gruesome experience that I just can't get over. The movie is horrifying and twisted in all the best ways. Don't try to follow the plot. Something about our cycles of violence and pain and our willingness to torment those we perceive as less than and how it all doesn't really matter. It's nihilistic and depressing. But stay for the nightmarish visuals. They are why you're here. This world is brutal, scary, sick, and wet. The monsters in it are as well.

11. Lake Mungo - Super Dope. Incredibly terrifying. One of the most unique watching experiences I've ever had. Go into this one without looking too much into it. Going in, the one thing I knew was that this is the director's only movie. He has since disappeared. Creepy. There were points throughout this film where I wasn't sure if what was happening was actually real or not. I had to actually check to make sure these were actors. Fun fact: This movie completely fucked up two nights of sleep, for me. Now that is something special.

12. Deadstream - Super Dope. What a fun and unexpected movie for my 100th. I caught wind of these directors when I watched their short on V/H/S/99. It was by far my favorite part of that anthology, and I was so happy that they brought the same exact energy to this one. Fast paced, hilarious writing, and genuinely creepy scenes. Best part, though? The main dude’s screams. Holy crap, they’re so funny.

13. Barbarian - Super Dope. Possibly my favorite horror movie of 2022. I don't want to say too much, as this one is best experienced by just jumping in with as little info as possible. Which is what I was able to do and, goddamn, it got me good. I was scared to walk to the bathroom, after, and then I had a terrifying dream based on it. Took me right back to my childhood. I loved, loved, loved it.