Dread Central’s Best and Worst Horror Films of 2015
- Anthony Arrigo’s Best and Worst of 2015
- Ari Drew’s Best and Worst of 2015
- Debi “The Woman in Black” Moore’s Best and Worst of 2015
- The Foywonder’s Best and Worst of 2015
- Gareth Jones’ Best and Worst of 2015
- John Squires’ Best and Worst of 2015
- Matt Molgaard’s Best and Worst of 2015
- Paul “Nomad” Nicholasi’s Best and Worst of 2015
- Stephen Romano’s Best and Worst of 2015
- Steve “Uncle Creepy” Barton’s Best and Worst of 2015
- Todd Rigney’s Best and Worst of 2015
- Trisha Chambers’ Best and Worst of 2015
Matt Molgaard
Goosebumps
I’ve got a feeling I’ll be hearing the sound of more gunshots than Art Bell with this pick, but I’ve got my flak jacket handy, so I’m about as prepared as I can be. Hardcore fanatics will likely overlook this one, as it isn’t “extreme,” “edgy,” or “frightening”; but that doesn’t bother me in the slightest. The truth is I haven’t been frightened by a film since the 1980s, when A Nightmare on Elm Street disrupted the dreams of the masses. Needless to say, I don’t factor in the fear element in my personal judging criteria; I’m desensitized. That said, entertainment is the number one thing I look for in horror, and Goosebumps was the most entertaining film I saw in 2015. It’s just a boatload of fun that had me completely glued to the screen from beginning to end. That’s a fine film, in my opinion.
Cooties
The coolest zombie flick to be released in 2015 treated the concept of the undead as pure comedy. It also featured a handful of amazing performances from some of the finest in the biz today. That movie was Cooties, a balls-to-the-wall flick with polarizing characters, strong special effects, and a fine finale. There are a few crucial rules broken in the film, and that added to the mystique for me. Don’t sleep on this one. It’s excellent.
The Hallow
Still something of an under-appreciated picture, The Hallow is a shocking sleeper hit. We get some brilliant practical effects, excellent performances, and some very, very disconcerting creatures. This one could have easily gone awry, as a hint of neglect in the script or any less than stellar special effects would have immediately sunk the ship. Fortunately for us fanatics, those misfires never rear their ugly heads. The Hallows doesn’t miss a beat. It’s eerie, it’s refined, and it’s one of the best creature features to hit the market in years.
Maggie
Like a great deal of you, I grew up worshiping the bulky, punchline-tossing Arnold Schwarzenegger. I wanted to be the guy, even if it meant being dropped in a jungle and tangling with a well-equipped monster not from this world. But even as a fan, I never gave Arnie the credit he deserved, as even in his comedic roles, he seemed like a one-note performer. That opinion went out the window when Maggie was released earlier this year. This may be a zombie story, but it casts aside all emphasis on the brutality of the shambling, reanimated corpse, instead opting to focus on believable characters and their emotional struggles. And Arnie absolutely kills in the film! If you haven’t checked this one out, you’re missing a beautiful picture with jarring work from one of the world’s greatest action stars.
Deathgasm
The surprise of 2015? Quite possibly so! Deathgasm is insane! One massive nod to the great Evil Dead, Jason Lei Howden’s feature length debut is to die for. This one boasts infectious visual effects, some stellar practical special effects, a handful of really, really spirited performances, and a script that is to die for. Of all the amazing films that were released in 2015, Deathgasm surprised me most. It’s just a blast of a film that’s going to have fans of the insane throwing their arms up in joy. Watch it, immediately!
#Horror
Hands down the most grating flick of the year, #Horror didn’t have to be a bomb of near-unparalleled proportions. It has the potential to be a brilliant film, in fact. But that was not meant to be. Tara Subkoff’s script is absolutely revolting. She takes a bunch of soon-to-be-teenage girls and turns them into the least likable characters to be captured on film in 2015. These brats are so astoundingly obnoxious they’ll have you contemplating suicide before the 101-minute runtime reaches its drawn-out end. Skip it, for the love of God… skip it!
Dollface
Why was this film made? That’s the one question that pounded through my feeble brain as the final credits rolled on Dollface. It doesn’t get a whole lot worse than this one, and slasher fans are going to be repulsed by the lack of effort from filmmaker Tommy Faircloth. It’s not creative, the story is trash, the characters are loathsome, and believe it or not, we don’t even get any good gore. It’s just a failure in every way imaginable, which sucks because Dollface could have been a cool villain that warranted more than a single picture showing.
Muck
Another stinker of epic proportions, Steve Wolsh’s Muck deserves an almost identical breakdown to that afforded to Dollface. Somehow, though, the script of Muck is even worse than that of Dollface. You want to talk about characters who make every last wrong decision imaginable? You want to talk about this shitstorm. You want to talk about deeply embarrassing (I was literally embarrassed for Wolsh) dialogue? You want to talk about this shitstorm. You want to talk about… ah, what the hell, I’m just going to move on. You get the gist, and if you don’t, just forget that Muck was ever made. The film sports zero redeemable qualities.
Silverhide
Want to know how to make a miserable werewolf film? Study Silverhide. This movie is riddled with so many problems it would likely require a full 10-page essay. I don’t have that kind of free time, and the film just doesn’t warrant the work. Rather you’ll want to know that this film has one of the most convoluted scripts, sub-par performances, and a monster that might have been cool… if we ever got a clear look at the beast. A disappointing and dreadfully boring viewing experience, Silverhide is best left passed over.
Scream Machine
I won’t take up your time reading an unnecessary spiel about everything that is wrong with this movie. It’s the worst anthology film I’ve seen all year, and sadly, there isn’t the hint of an impressive segment in the entire stinker. My advice: Watch this one if you need sleep in a desperate way. It’s ensured to send you into a coma.
