The Top 10 Best Horror Movies of 2004

   YEAH BABY! SURVIVING CHRISTMAS...is already hitting DVD that's how pathetic it is. Most of you are going "Wait...it came out already!?" First Gigli now this....wow...Can't wait to see what Ben tries next year on his trip down career suicide lane. But that's not the point here folks, It's the time of year again when people try to kill each other at the mall, have brawls in front of there kids in parking lots and spend hundreds of dollars on some toy that the media says there infant wants who would be just as content with a doggy toy that lights up and squeaks as he is with anything else. But that's not what this list is about, this is the top 10 best horror movies of 2004 so let's begin shall we? This year...I almost had to make it the top 5 for...let's face it...nothing but crap seemed to come out this year and to be honest...I had a hard time finding 2 of them...so...

Number 10

Spider Man 2~ I honestly couldn't think of any other movie to put here. I spent days and days trying to fill this 10 spot but I COULDN'T!!! A lot of people seemed to be able to with no problem but I found this year to be a so so year for horror. The films that did kick ass did it with style and deserve to be on here. Spider Man 2 was a good film as well, it displayed some intense scenes, solid acting, and more Bruce Campbell then the last! I also was surprised as to how much I liked Alfred Molina in this role. So there you have it...Spiderman 2 starts us off at number 10.

Number 9

Taking Lives~ I wasn't sure whether or not to put this on the list cause a lot wouldn't deem it a horror film pursay but seriously...there wasn't really anything THAT good that came out so...it's on here. This was a film that I went to see it expecting it to be about a supernatural killer who kills someone and takes over there identity via there body. Well, I was close, it's about a killer who kills people, stealing there identities...no supernatural shit going on. While it was pretty obvious who the killer was, it still managed to hit you with the goods including one major scare that I would deem the best cheap scare of the year. Plus how can you go wrong with Jolie's Jollies? :) 

Number 8

The Butterfly Effect~ This film got major shit because it starred Ashton Kutcher and I feel it got the raw deal. Critics focused to much energy on Ashton not being the greatest actor of all time and didn't spend the time to look at the movie itself. I loved the storyline to this movie, the characters and how everything kept on changing. It reminded me of my childhood in a way and I feel that it made the movie more of an emotional experience. So deal with it, Butterfly Effect is at number 8.

Number 7

I, Robot~ This was a complete surprise for me, I had no idea I was going to like this. I thought this movie looked like total shit when I saw the previews with Smith wielding duel Sub machine guns while soaring through the air on a motorcycle. Instead it has an intriguing story, solid acting, some awesome special F/X, and some nice gore. Man Vs. Machine is the premise of this movie but it is so much more then that. I would have to say that this movie was the biggest surprise of the year cause usually, I hate these kinds of films. 

Number 6

Exorcist: The Beginning~ Ok, you all can stop scratching your  heads and wondering what drug I was under while watching this film now! I LIKED IT! It could have been because I was so hyped up for OPEN WATER and that totally sucked and everyone told me how bad this movie was so I was expecting total shit from it. Well, whatever the case, I ended up liking it a lot and found it to be a very interesting installment into the Exorcist series. While most people bitched that the CGI sucked and it made the movie laughable (they were kinda right, the CGI in this film was that of a made for TV SCI FI original movie) it was the lead actor's, Stellan Skarsgård acting that made this one hell of a movie. 

Number 5

Dawn Of The Dead~ Yes, this is a remake and yes this is the top 10 BEST horror films countdown. I am as shocked as you are that a remake of one of the greatest horror films of all time ended up on this list but it did. This remake did it right though, instead of saying "This is the right version." And disrespecting the original, it took the concept of it and made one hell of a fun horror zombie movie. I loved the gore, I loved the characters, while they were not as in depth as I had hoped or as the original 4 were, they were still decent on there own. Ving Rhames alone was a powerhouse and everyone else in this movie made it worth the watch. 

Number 4

Bubba Ho-Tep~ Bruce Campbell is back and he hasn't aged a bit! Ok so maybe he aged to the ripe old age of 79 and now is a retired Elvis impersonator who is trying to save his rest home from a 300 year old, soul sucking, mummy who sucks the soul's out of the elderly and shits them down the crapper. Try saying that 5 times fast, well with a plot line like that how COULDN'T it end up on the countdown!? 

Number 3

Saw~ This is the smartest horror film of the year and one that I found to be a very pleasant surprise. First off, the plot itself was enough to draw me into it about 2 guys chained to a wall in a basement and being forced to kill each other to stay alive. But not only does it have a good premise, but it also has one fuck of a great twist at the end, lots of gore, and much more that make SAW worthy of the number 3 spot!

Number 2

Shaun Of The Dead~ Like I have said in the past, the British are saving horror with Dog Soldiers, 28 Days Later and now Shaun of the Dead, they are making some of the best horror films and that's why Shaun landed at number 2. This movie had me laughing so hard that my sides were killing me. To me, this is one of the very few horror/comedies to come out in the past few years that doesn't insult horror. Scary Movie, Shriek if You know what you did last Friday the 13th and Club Dread seem to insult horror and make fun of it but Shaun of the Dead succeeds where the others fail. It combined slapstick comedy with horror and does it in such a good way that it's no wonder I have watched this movie 7 times in 5 days!  Shaun of the Dead is funny on it's own, and also knows how to please the horror fan who it is so obviously geared to. Great job Simon! Great Job!!! 

Number 1

Malevolence~ This was the one film this year to completely blow my mind and prove that it is in fact possible to make a scary horror film and NOT rip off 13 classic films. Stevan Mena proved once and for all that the slasher genre isn't dead and neither is suspense. Malevolence, while only in limited release, is a must see for everyone who loves horror movies and misses the good old days when John Carpenter was out there scaring the shit out of people.  It was the only movie to come out this year to pull a triple scare out of me and I have yet to see that duplicated or have it happen to me again. It was hard to choose between the top 2 films but Malevolence went the extra mile and succeeded in combining great characters and scares without falling to the clichéd horror slasher with the nudity, non stop gore, and a WB cast of idiots. Also, Malevolence sports one of the best soundtracks since the original Suspiria!!! To me, this movie is going to be a film that people will look back upon in 20 years and wish they were around when it came out so they could have had the privilege of experiencing it in theatres. Like how I feel with the original Halloween! Make sure to check this movie out or else get off the site damn it!

   Now each year I do something new with these top 10 lists, well this year I decided to do the top 5 Best Performances From a Actor in a Horror Film so...

    5th Place

Bill Nighy for his role of PHILIP in the movie Shaun of the Dead. Last year, he was amazing as the lead vampire VIKTOR in the movie "Underworld" and this year, although he had a very small role in the movie, he still kicked major ass. I loved his character and I loved his performance. Just wish he was in it more. Regardless, Bill is an amazing actor and I can't wait to see what great film he shall be a part of next. 

   4th Place

Brandon Johnson for his role as JULIAN in the indie movie "Malevolence". I was lucky enough to meet him in person and when I saw him on the screen I was blown away as to how good of a performance he did in that movie. I will be looking forward to seeing him in the future and you all will see what I am talking about when you see Malevolence.

   3rd Place

Simon Pegg for his role of SHAUN in the movie "Shaun of the Dead." Ok, this movie is beyond hilarious and Simon is just beyond great in this. Not only can he pull of the slapstick shtick, but he can also go pull off the serious side of the character. Simon is a hilarious guy but I see big things coming from this guy. I can't wait to see what he cranks out in '05.

   2nd Place

Goes to the man himself, Bruce Campbell for his role of SEBASTIAN HAFF/ELVIS PRESLEY in the movie "Bubba Ho-Tep" It was only a matter of time before he would be Elvis, might as well be at the age of 79. Bruce Campbell nailed this one right on the numbers and the fact he didn't have a single note of any Elvis song to work with makes this performance even more worth while. Great job Bruce!

   1st Place

Stellan Skarsgård for his role of FATHER MERRIN in the movie "Exorcist: The Beginning" I was completely blown away by his performance in this movie and it was probably the biggest reason I loved the movie. He knew how to get the emotion going and he knew how to draw a dramatic performance out of nowhere.  Stellan is an extremely amazing actor and I think he should be recognized for that. One hell of a performance and one great job you did. You should be proud!

   There you go folks. That's the best of 2004, for the most part...it was a good year but it wasn't the best year for horror. Hopefully next year it will bring a lot more good fortunes. I mean, it is looking to be very promising right off the bat with "White Noise" and of course "War of the Worlds" being a Spielburg and Cruise combo. '05 looks amazing with the highly anticipated sequel to House of 1,000 Corpses, "The Devil's Rejects", Ring 2, and who can forget, the 4th installment, LAND OF THE DEAD. Now that's going to be something to write in the history books folks.  AND HOUSE OF WAX! Yeah right, the day that ends up on here is the day hell freezes over! We can only wait and see what 2005 brings us but you can be sure of this much...Kick Ass Horror Reviews will be there the whole time!!!

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