The 10 Best Horror Movies of 2019
For our “Best of 2019” list, we enlisted the help of some friends of the podcast/all-around wonderful people to create this unique sampling of horror movies that left a mark on all of us for one reason or another.
We asked each contributor to write a few words about their own personal favorite from 2019. A few contributors had to pick a movie that was one or two down on their list, but overall, we were surprised at how little competition there was in deciding who would write about which movie. In hindsight, this makes total sense in a year that some, myself not included, are labeling an average year for horror.
While 2019 may not have had a crossover hit like 2018’s A Quiet Place or 2017’s Get Out, us horror fans were given a wide array of films to choose from this year. Be it one of the many big budget theatrical releases peppered throughout the year, a low budget indie film that dropped on VOD without much fanfare, or a Shudder exclusive - 2019 had plenty to offer, and we feel this list is a great reflection of what made the year so special.
Thanks so much to our contributors who are credited beneath each of their picks. We encourage you to check out their podcasts, Etsy shops, Twitter accounts, etc. We’re lucky to have these great folks take time away from generating their own great content to help us make this wonderful list. So without further ado, and in no particular order…
The Dead Don’t Die
What we, a post-zombie fatigue society, needed this year was a super goofy zombie flick surrounded by an absolute bop (written by Sturgill Simpson) and starring the unconventional cast of Adam Driver, Bill Murray, samurai Tilda Swinton (including Scottish accent), MAGA Steve Buscemi, and wilderness-hermit Tom Waits. This movie isn’t really scary, and people who came in expecting an American Shaun of the Dead will definitely be disappointed. But as a lover of completely goofy, self-aware movies, I was on board throughout.
Be it the comedy rules of three scene with “A wild animal? Uh, several wild animals?”, Rosie Perez being a journalist named Posie Juarez, or Adam Driver knowing that it’s all a movie (including reading the whole script), I knew that this was a movie made for me. While the message of the movie can be a bit heavy-handed when it surfaces, it’s surrounded by a rich small-town environment that reminds me of my family’s hometown, including the general population (sans zombies and racist Steve Buscemi). It may not be the greatest movie this year, or even the best horror comedy from this decade, but I feel like it’ll become a cult film many will flock over later in life.
- Brian Komatz
Brian is one of the wonderful cohosts of The Blood Buddies: Horror Podcast. You can chat with them on Twitter @thebloodbuddies!
Ready or Not
Ready or Not hit theaters in August and was easily one of the movies I was most excited for in 2019. Not only did it star my pseudo-boyfriend Adam Brody (shhh… let me have this…) but it just just looked downright fun. I’m happy to say I wasn’t disappointed and I’m officially going on record to say it was my favorite horror film of 2019. Take that, IT: Chapter Two.
Starring Samara Weaving, Adam Brody and Mark O’Brien, the movie follows a new bride as she attempts to become a member of the Le Domas gaming family. The catch? She has to participate in a potentially deadly game in order to officially become a Le Domas. No biggie.
I’m always skeptical when a movie is billed as a horror-comedy because it’s a hard mix to perfect, but Ready or Not nails it. The kills are gruesome enough to satisfy even the biggest splatter-gore fans and the laughs balance them out in a way to keep the audience on their toes. I’ve been a fan of Weaving ever since her take in Netflix’s The Babysitter and with Ready or Not under her belt, it’s safe to say she’s vying for her spot as an official Scream Queen.
For me, Ready or Not successfully checked the box of what I wanted the movie You’re Next to be and I couldn’t be happier.
- Whitney Danhauer
Whitney is a cohost of the always hilarious Lights, Camera, No podcast. Find them on Twitter @LightsCameraNo!
Parasite
While technically not a horror movie, the third act of Bong Joon-ho’s film Parasite does utilize some classic horror tropes in ways that were surprising and completely unexpected for me. I went into this movie completely blind, and mistakenly thought based on the name that it WAS a horror movie. The lighter tone of the first few acts was a pleasant surprise, and the likable main characters got me solidly invested in the story. You know they’re dirt bags, but they’re fun and lovable so you care about what happens to them.
Without giving too much away, Parasite made me feel a wonderful sense of dread and fascination that most modern horror films only wish they could inspire. It’s so rare to find a film with so many different tones and themes so masterfully balanced. The only thing it’s missing for me as a horror fan is schlock. But I suppose the lack of campiness and bad acting actually make it a great film, rather than a good/bad horror movie.
- Joseph Arcos
Joseph is the North Carolina based musical artist Alloy Fox, a horror film enthusiast, and guest starred on the HMC episode on the film Mandy.
Doctor Sleep
As a very big fan of The Shining, I was slightly skeptical when I heard the news that nearly 40 years after its release, there would be a big screen sequel in Doctor Sleep. But, as it turns out, there was still a compelling story to tell in the wake of what happened to the Torrances at The Overlook Hotel. Not only is there a little boy whose childhood and adulthood have been completely shaped by the traumatic events that unfolded there, but that little boy also has...well...superpowers.
Doctor Sleep focuses on Dan Torrance’s life as an adult coping with loss, alcoholism, and the weight of his own abilities. It also expands the world to reveal the fact that Dan isn’t the only one with The Shining, and not everyone uses The Shine for good (enter the hypnotic Rebecca Ferguson as Rose the Hat).
What I love about Doctor Sleep is that it truly cares about its characters. While the film could have milked the scares of The Overlook for all they were worth, it found a way to weave them into its own distinct narrative. Was it at the expense of the scare factor? Maybe. But director Mike Flanagan still managed to pay homage to everything that made The Shining so spooky while also crafting a well-rounded movie that truly (oh God, here it comes)...shines.
- Brian Bisesi
Brian is one half of the Horror Movie Club Podcast.
Velvet Buzzsaw
Velvet Buzzsaw is a satirical thriller about an undiscovered artist, Vertril Dease, who uses paintings to reflect his tortured past. Morf Vandewalt (Jake Gyllenhaal) becomes obsessed with Dease's work - and being the first to share it with people.
I liked this movie because it was mysterious - Dease's spirit started attacking people through his paintings, but you never knew how they were going to come alive and kill. Eventually, any form of art could come to life and trap any given character (who were intentionally portrayed as uppity members of the art community) in the netherworld of art.
I also liked this movie because it had some damn good actors in it, including John Malkovich and Toni Colette. Velvet Buzzsaw kept me guessing and was one of the more entertaining (both in a comedic and suspenseful sense) movies of 2019.
- Lauren Anderson
Lauren is part of the comedic trio over at the Lights, Camera, No podcast. Find them on Twitter @LightsCameraNo!
Child’s Play
2019 saw the attempted remakes and reboots of a number of classic horror films (Pet Sematary, It: Chapter 2, Black Christmas, Doctor Sleep to some degree). It's always a challenge going up against a classic - expectations and passions are high, and as a filmmaker you have the option to play it safe and stick to the source material or venture into brand new territory, or ideally some blend of both which is mostly impossible.
Lars Klevberg's Child's Play is one of the best examples of bringing a classic into the modern age while maintaining the gems of the original franchise. Everything about this reboot feels like an amped up version of the best elements of the original franchise: Chucky is modernized and feels more sinister than his original smack-talking villain, kills are elaborate and gorier than ever, and there's a fresh cast led by Aubrey Plaza and Gabriel Bateman that carry the emotional weight of the film. A fun ride with great overall production make this one of the stand out horror films of the year.
- Ashvin Prakash
Ashvin is one half of the Horror Movie Club Podcast.
Climax
I want to talk to everyone I know about my favorite horror movie of 2019, Climax. It’s a French film, based on a true story about a troupe of dancers whose drinks were spiked with LSD at a party in the 90s. Of course, the director Gasper Noe took extreme liberties with the story and basically turned it into a euphoric dance nightmare set in the sexiest underground club in hell. The movie starts with a 6 minute single shot dance sequence that will make you feel high even before the sangria gets spiked. Only one of the performers is an actual actor. The rest is an international collection of some of the best dancers I’ve ever seen. Their contorted bodies and pure passion drive the narrative with no problem.
I don’t want to give much away, but this movie is equal parts fun and uncomfortable to watch. Similar to Midsommar, you may feel like you are tripping out when you are stone cold sober. I could go on, but just watch and go along for the ride.
- Amy Arcos
Amy is the owner of Amy May Pop Art, a horror film enthusiast, the creator of Horror Movie Club's logo, and guest starred on the HMC episode on the film Night of the Demons.
Midsommar
Midsommar was easily one of the top two most hyped films of the year, for me (The Lighthouse was the other). It hit that level of hype, perfectly. I have rarely ever been so engrossed in a film from start to finish. Every scene was absolutely gorgeous and haunting simultaneously. From the heartbreaking beginning to the, in all honesty, happy ending; I was absolutely immersed and enthralled in this world that Ari Aster created. It is quite a long film, especially for the horror genre, but I think it deserves that lengthy run time. I cannot think of a single shot or scene that I would remove. It is all needed.
The concept of horror taking place in broad daylight isn't new, but I truly think Aster has honed the idea of broad daylight horror to perfection in this film. Midsommar instills a sense of dread unlike any other, despite it being extremely bright and colorful almost the entire film. The cinematography is the best of the year, hands down. From the lingering shots, to the weird and interesting transitions it was phenomenally shot. I'm staying away from any plot discussion because I truly think you should go in as blind as possible, not that there are any huge twists or anything like that, but it deserves to be seen with fresh eyes and a fresh mind.
- Blake Pobst
Blake is a film enthusiast and the driving force behind Horror Movie Club’s Discord Server. You can chat with Blake on Twitter @pobst_blake_92.
Us
Nowadays, it's hard to find good original ideas from major studios - which is what made Us, Jordan Peele's home-invasion/sci-fi horror follow up to the groundbreaking Get Out, stand out. Here was an entirely unique story involving a high-concept central theme that created a unique class of monsters highlighted by a hauntingly brilliant dual performance from Lupita Nyong'o. It's important to celebrate this kind of output, as horror desperately needs more original ideas, lest we get bogged down with countless Conjuring spin offs or Purge sequels.
Was the movie all that scary? Not really. The home invasion sequence was cool and tense, but the menace is undercut once the movie's central conceit is revealed. Still, for its unique and interesting take on alienation, nature vs. nurture and the politics of self, Us has to be considered one of the best horror movies of 2019.
- Jason Segarra
Jason is a cohost of the Adventures in Pod Taste podcast, a one-stop shop for all that your nerdy heart desires. He also guest starred on the HMC episode on Friday the 13th.
Little Monsters
Can anyone get enough of Lupita Nyong'o? After her brilliant performance in Us, she triumphantly returned to the horror universe with Little Monsters, a heart-felt zombie film directed by Abe Forsythe. With a strong cast and a smart script that’s equal parts comedy, horror, action, and general cuteness, Little Monsters is a stand-out addition to the zombie genre, showing how far a little bit of heart can go in reviving the undead genre.
- Ashvin Prakash
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Well, let’s have it…what did we miss? I’m sure there’s one or two that you’re shocked not to see on this list, so feel free to let us know! You can join our Discord Server where you can chat with us and some of the fine folks who contributed to this article, or find us on Twitter or Facebook.
- Brian Bisesi