2011 was a solid year for horror flicks (click here to read my favorites) but 2012 offers some pretty serious competition. Here are the ones I am most looking forward to right now:
13. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (Release Date: 6/22/2012)
12. Harold's Going Stiff (Release Date: TBD)
The Brits reinvented the zombie genre with Shaun of the Dead, and it looks like they're up to it again with Harold's Going Stiff. In this mockumentary style horror comedy, an elderly man falls victim to a new disease where people have slow-onset zombie-like symptoms. The trailer is an interesting one, as it starts out looking like a funny zombie hunters film, but becomes a tender story from the perspective of a zombie. No US release date has yet been announced.
13. Piranha 3DD (Release Date: Spring 2012)
I am excited for this one for the same reason I was excited about Piranha 3D - gore, gore, and more gore! I am disappointed that Alexandre Aja did not return to the director's seat, and flat-out crushed that Greg Nicotero and Howard Berger are not behind the FX. However, gore shots like this have renewed my faith. And Gulager's Feast was splattery fun (even if the sequels fell flat). If you really need convincing though, this film has the following 3 items: 1) David Hasselhoff; 2) Gary Busey; and 3) Ving Rhames with shotgun legs. 'Nuff said.
10. Grabbers (Release Date: TBD)
13. Piranha 3DD (Release Date: Spring 2012)
10. Grabbers (Release Date: TBD)
This Irish horror-comedy takes place on an island overrun by bloodsucking tentacled creatures. The characters find the best way to survive is a high blood alcohol content. The tagline is, “In 1759 Ireland invented the pint. In 2012 it’ll save their lives.” Best of all, this film stars Richard Coyle (Jeff from Coupling and the forthcoming Pusher remake) - love that man. This monster comedy makes its American premiere at the Sundance Film Festival this month but there is no trailer or promise of a wide release yet.
9. V/H/S (Release Date: TBD)
Some of the best filmmakers of indie horror today have joined forces to create this found-footage horror film. The synopsis is as follows: When a group of misfits is hired by an unknown third party to burglarize a desolate house and acquire a rare VHS tape, they discover more than they bargained for. It has been called "The Shining meets the Blair Witch Project." Attached are Ti West (House of the Devil), Adam Wingard (A Horrible Way to Die), Joe Swanberg (Silver Bullets), Glenn McQuaid (I Sell the Dead) and David Bruckner (The Signal). V/H/S also premiers later this month at Sundance, with no official release date or trailer as of yet.
8. The Woman in Black (Release Date: 2/3/12)
Based on Susan Hill's supernatural novel, The Woman in Black is about a small English village that is haunted by a vengeful spirit. Daniel Radcliffe plays a young lawyer who is summoned there. This film is produced by Hammer Films, whose Let Me In was a surprisingly good remake. The primary reason I want to see it, though, is the trailer, which is pretty gosh darn spooky. Take a look:
7. John Dies At the End (Release Date: TBD)
6. Cabin in the Woods (Release Date: 4/13/2012)
After sitting on the proverbial bench for three years, this highly-anticipated horror flick written by Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard is finally hitting theaters this year. Thor's Chris Hemsworth stars in this convention-bending thriller about a group of college kids who spend the weekend at a mysterious cabin. Sounds like the film will be set up exactly like your average slasher film, and then cleverly turn each cliché on its head. Can't wait!
5. You're Next (Release Date: TBD)
Before working on V/H/S, Adam Wingard helmed this flick, which is already making a splash at film festivals. This one is about a couple who are harassed by mask-wearing intruders. Sound familar? Of course, but the caliber of talent involved with this film suggests it won't be your average dull home invasion horror. The film was written by Simon Barrett, who also penned Wingard's A Horrible Way to Die. That film's stars are also back - Amy Seimetz, Joe Swanberg, and the ever-watchable AJ Bowen. Joining them is horror icon Barbara Crampton, no less! I am SO excited for this one! When the trailer finally arrives, you can be sure VDA will share it!
4. Livid (Release Date: TBD)
3. The ABCs of Death (Release Date: TBD)
If the concept of V/H/S got you excited, how about 25+ genre directors in an epic alphabet based horror anthology? The ABCs of Death boasts such talent as Xavier Gens, Christopher Smith, Jason Eisener, Ti West, Nacho Vigalando, Jake West, Adam Wingard, Yoshiro Nishimura, and many more. Each filmmaker will direct one segment of the film based on a letter of the alphabet, and each will be directly related to death. The 'T' portion of the film was recently decided by a contest. The winner was the gory claymation short 'T is for Toilet' by Lee Hardcastle - also my #1 pick from the competition. With so many directors, at least a good portion of this film has to be awesome. And I never turn away a horror anthology.2. [REC]3: Genesis (Release Date: TBD)
Despite all the crappy found footage movies out there, there is one franchise that always reminds me there is hope - [REC]. That Spanish zombie film blew me away, and proved there are innovative ways to utilize the POV style. Imagine my surprise when its sequel turned out to be just as good if not better. So I am VERY excited for this third one. This time around, the filmmakers are abandoning the found footage look, which I think is wise. [REC]2 found innovative ways to make it fresh but it has to get stale eventually. Judging by the trailer, it looks like this film will start out POV style (via a wedding video) then cleverly transition to regular narrative style (no doubt via the gruesome death of the camera man). Even with its new makeover, this movie looks fantastic! Take a look (sorry for the lack of subtitles):
1. Prometheus (Release Date: 6/8/2012)
What movies are YOU looking forward to this year? Please comment below!
