The Sacrament (2013)

Originally, I was going to review a completely different movie for Day 20, but it was bad. In fact, it was so bad I quit watching it a quarter of the way through. That movie was The ABCs of Death, a 26-part anthology film mostly made by criminally insane filmmakers I have never heard of.

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Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2010)

Tucker & Dale vs. Evil is a film I can recommend to anyone. Sure, it caters mostly to horror fans, poking fun at familiar tropes, but it has a wider appeal as well. Tucker & Dale is a laugh-out-loud comedy with over-the-top violence and no shortage of sight gags, but it still has heart. Tucker & Dale are backwoods bumpkins, but they are backwoods bumpkins with hearts of gold… and chainsaws.

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Stake Land (2010)

Though I doubt few outside the world of horror have heard the name “Jim Mickle” this NYU educated writer-director has in ten years already carved out an impressive filmography. Breaking out with the low budget Mulberry Street in 2006, Mickle has since made three films; Stake Land, We Are What We Are and Cold in July, all of which have been well reviewed. I think it’s time some of us take note not only of the quality of Mickle’s films but the content. I can’t remember the last time I watched films from a horror director who spent so much time on character development. Mickie’s characters are never props to the actions or monster bait with targets pinned to their backs. They are living, breathing people with defined motivations and fleshed out personalities. Perhaps one of Mickle’s best examples of this is the 2010 film Stake Land. Although it may sound like a gory vampire romp (and it is occasionally) the film flashes a few moments of brilliance.

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Sleepy Hollow (1999)

Sleepy Hollow is the first film on this year’s list I have a history with. I remember the film’s trailer back in the day; a full scene from the movie of a young boy hiding from the Headless Horseman as his parents are butchered before his eyes. I also remember seeing the film in theaters, and my mom spilling an entire bag of popcorn on a random stranger after a jump scare from a witch. And who could forget the highly detailed action figures from McFarlane Toys? Truly, it was my Woodstock. But is it any good?

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Rear Window (1998)

I have never felt this guilty about giving a film a subpar rating. Not only because it’s a film starring a paralyzed actor doing his best, but because it was one of that actors last roles. Apart from a few guest spots, this made-for-TV movie that premiered on ABC on November 22nd, 1998 was one of the last times any of us had the pleasure of watching Christopher “Superman” Reeve. Though what would pleasure be without pain?

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Scream 2 (1997)

It’s easy to forget how influential Scream was to the horror genre. Not only did the series pave the way for meta movies it paved the way for horror-comedies. Would we have movies like Shaun of the Dead without the Scream franchise? Scream was a trendsetter, but what about Scream 2? Well, I’m happy to say that not only is Scream 2 just as influential, it’s just as good.

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