As December nears its bitter end, one can’t help but reflect on another year’s passing. 2011 was a horrible year for Horror movies, with only a few notable exceptions (watch for my Best Horror of 2011 List coming soon).
Below are the 10 titles that I found the most underwhelming. This “Worst of” list is flawed by nature, as it implies I’ve actually seen every Horror movie released in 2011. I haven’t. There were more Horror movies than days in the year, and that’s before I factor in foreign films, straight to DVD releases, and obscure indies. Not to mention the fact that I don’t go to movies hoping they’ll be terrible, nor do I seek out films that I’ve heard are especially awful. I’m sure there are dozens of Horror movies released in 2011 worse than my 10, but I didn’t see them. So this is really a list of Horror movies that I was excited to see, but then felt disappointed at the conclusion of my viewing.
See 2011’s worst Horror offenders after the jump…
51: What’s especially disappointing about this film is that I actually recommended it to my readers as a film to watch out for. 51 (as in Area 51) is an After Dark Original, a company that I have mad respect for as a producer of quality indie Horror. And while I can’t say that every After Dark film is a hit, 51 falls so far below the mark it’s ridiculous. Even as a made for TV movie, 51 fails utterly.
Photos/Trailer: http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/film/4514
The Task: Unfortunately, I’ve got another After Dark Original for this worst of list: The Task. It’s a reality game-show gone awry film, a theme that’s been stale for over 5 years. The actors are awful, the script is a joke, the “twist” is stupid and the ending is a huge letdown. While After Dark’s Class of 2011 had some bad apples, you should still consider Husk, Prowl, and Seconds Apart.
Photos/Trailer: http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/film/4511
The Roommate: The writers of Single White Female should have sued the pants off of Sony Screen Gems for this one. Even the film’s Wikipedia page admits it’s an “unofficial” remake of the 1992 hit starring Bridgette Fonda and Jennifer Jason Leigh. But whereas Single White Female succeeded as a study of female friendships and envy, The Roommate was nothing but a lazy quasi-thriller aimed at members of the Twilight Generation.
Photos/Trailer: http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/film/2340
Camp Hell: I’ve got to take issue with a film that claims to star Jesse Eisenberg (Zombieland, The Social Network) even though he’s got less than 3 minutes of screen-time. Jesse agrees. Per Bloody Disgusting: “Jesse Eisenberg has filed a lawsuit against Lionsgate and Grindstone Entertainment for allegedly turning his less-than-five-minute cameo in the horror flick Camp Hell into an above-the-title star turn. The actor is using the Los Angeles Superior Court to make a point. According to the complaint, “Eisenberg is bringing this lawsuit in order to warn his fans and the public that, contrary to the manner in which Defendants are advertising the film, Eisenberg is not the star of and does not appear in a prominent role in Camp Hell.” http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/27407 I also take issue with the fact that Camp Hell is not nearly the Horror movie they would have us believe. It’s really more of a drama. A few scares? Nope, none. Camp Hell is like an R-Rated Afterschool Special.
Full Review: http://filmsponge.com/review-not-much-horror-at-camp-hell
Photos/Trailer: http://filmsponge.com/camp-hell-trailer-release-date-poster
The Rite: Exorcism movies are getting stale and Anthony Hopkins hasn’t been scary since he played Lecter. The Rite was especially dull, predictable, and disappointing.
Photos/Trailer: http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/film/2096
Hellraiser: Revelations: AKA Hellraiser Part IX, Revelations was thrown together quick and sloppy in order for the Weinstein Company to retain the brand name. For the first time, the iconic roll of Pinhead was NOT played by Doug Bradley. At first I was fine with his decision not to participate, but Revelations was no worse than Hellworld or Deader so WTF Doug? Pinhead got way more face time than he usually does. If Doug had played along and taken the money, Revelations might only have sucked (instead of being the abomination it was).
Photos/Trailer: http://filmsponge.com/hellraiser-revelations-why-the-weinstein-company-made-a-crappy-movie-on-purpose
Red State: Quentin Tarantino seems to be the only one who enjoyed Kevin Smith’s horrible Horror movie. While the first 20 minutes are promising, Red State devolves into a series of long conversations and unrealistic violence. Snore. Hey Kevin, I miss Jay and Silent Bob!
Photos/Trailer: http://filmsponge.com/red-state-kevin-smith-takes-a-trip-to-the-dark-side
Full Review: http://filmsponge.com/red-state-kevin-smiths-horrible-horror-movie
The Thing (Prequel): You have no idea how much I wanted to love this film. Perhaps a victim of my own unrealistic expectations, The Thing was Saucy Josh’s biggest disappointment of the year. Even though filmmakers employed amazing practical/physical creature effects by Amalgamated Dynamics, they ruined them by dumping CGI all over the top of everything. Kind of like covering a porter-house steak with ketchup. So whereas John Carpenter’s The Thing was a disgusting, visceral experience, this prequel was sterile and cartoonish.
Photos/Trailer: http://filmsponge.com/the-thing-prequel-trailer-gore
Full Review: http://filmsponge.com/the-thing-worst-horror-movie-2011-might-have-been-great
Fright Night (Remake): My hatred of this film has been well documented on Film Sponge this year. Perhaps I could be more forgiving were I not such a big fan of the original. They changed the story, the characters, and the entire feel of the film. And talk about a 3D/CGI cluster-fuck!
Photos/Trailer: http://filmsponge.com/fright-night-remake-trailer-poster
Full Review: http://filmsponge.com/review-fright-night-bites
The Darkest Hour: The Darkest Hour was released just in time to make my Worst Horror of 2011 List. Congratulations! After watching this ridiculous, formulaic alien invasion flick, I decided to shun all PG-13 Horror films in the future. If I do subject myself to a PG-13 Horror movie, I will not review it. No offence, but PG-13 is for pussies. Quit pandering to the Twilight kids and get back to pleasing us gore-hounds. A Horror movie should always be rated R. What’s next, PG-13 Strip Clubs? PG-13 porno? PG-13 Vodka? NEVER!
Photos/Trailer: http://filmsponge.com/trailer-concept-art-darkest-hour
Full Review: http://filmsponge.com/the-darkest-hour-another-3d-cgi-cluster-fuck
Check back soon for my list of the Top 10 Best Horror Films of 2011.
Saucy Josh writes a blog for intelligent Horror Movie aficionados called Blood and Guts for Grown Ups: https://bloodandgutsforgrownups.wordpress.com/
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