There are a lot of high school movies. From comedies to dramas to horror, there’s a seemingly endless onslaught of these type of movies releasing each year. While many are very formulaic and uninteresting, there are some truly great ones. While anybody could definitely enjoy the films on this list, I believe that those currently going through high school will find the most enjoyment in them. I’ll definitely miss a few, but I haven’t seen every movie.
Juno (2007)
Juno tells the unconventional story of a high schooler who navigates her pregnancy while managing relationships, high school, and trying to find somebody to adopt her baby. While the excellent writing certainly plays a large part, I believe that the actors are what really carry this movie. Elliot Page and Michael Cera are perfect for these roles, and the supporting cast of Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, and J.K. SImmons just add to it. While Elliot Page really is the standout performance here, I really enjoyed Michael Cera as Paulie Bleeker (probably because I just enjoy Michael Cera). Characters are charming, dialogue is witty and energetic, and the story manages to be very funny while also making sure you’re invested.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is by far the least dramatic movie on this list. It’s a pure comedy about high schooler Ferris Bueller and his friends trying to skip school and have the best day off they possibly can before graduation. The personality of these characters is absolutely magnetic; the back and forth that Ferris, Sloane, and Cameron have does not get old for one second. It’s a movie that everybody’s seen, and is something that everybody should watch. While anybody could enjoy this, I think that the best time to first experience it is in high school- it reminds you to give yourself a break, especially when life is extremely stressful. Just like Ferris himself said- “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it”.
Scream (1996)
Scream is probably the most recognizable teen horror movie. While many horror movies involve teenagers, this series is probably the most popular with its age group. When Scream released in 1996, it recreated interest in the slasher genre, which was basically dead at the time. Its mix of comedy, references, and solid horror scenes was a breath of fresh air for this type of film, and was extremely popular because of it. While you’ll probably get a bit more out of this if you’ve seen a lot of horror movies, it can still be enjoyed without. Many of the jokes revolve around horror tropes and references, but the majority of them are recognizable enough to understand even if you haven’t seen movies like Halloween or A Nightmare on Elm Street. This is one of the most iconic horror films of all time, and deserves a spot on this list.
The Spectacular Now (2013)
This is probably my least favorite movie on this list, but I still like it a decent amount. While it leans very heavily into tropes that most people groan at in a high school movie, I think it does it in a unique enough way to ignore it. I think that it’s trying to do something similar to 500 Days of Summer, where the main male protagonist is a charming character, but isn’t the best to others- I just don’t think it does it quite as well as 500 Days of Summer. This is still a pretty decent movie, though, and I didn’t mind the heavy amount of drama or tropes that would be eye roll-worthy in a different movie.
Eighth Grade (2018)
While this does take place during a middle school girl’s final days of eighth grade, I think that Eighth Grade does a fantastic job of showing what late middle school and early high school can be like. If you can’t stand awkward scenes, avoid this movie. Some of the most uncomfortable interactions I have ever seen in a piece of media are present in this film. A lot of this movie is focused on the main character, Kayla, attempting to fit in, and discovering who she is. She tries to work her way into the ‘popular’ crowd, with little success- but makes high school friends who treat her as an equal. It explores some darker topics, as well, and shows how older teenagers sometimes try to take advantage of those that are younger and more impressionable. Eighth Grade is an awkward, uncomfortable, but immensely realistic and genuine experience.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2013)
This movie did not end up being what I thought it would. I went in expecting a charming, entertaining teen movie similar to something like Juno. Instead, I got a dark, moving, yet still fantastic experience that I won’t forget for a long time. The Perks of Being a Wallflower will keep you entertained with these amazing characters for most of the film, only to hit you with some extremely impactful moments throughout. This movie is beloved by many, and I really do understand why. I didn’t quite connect with it as much as others do, but I still found it to be very well done.
Lady Bird (2017)
Probably my favorite movie on this list, Lady Bird is charming, genuine, and just delightful in every way. You can see just how deeply Greta Gerwig cares about her films while watching this; it’s one of the most authentic scripts I’ve ever seen. Every moment of this movie’s runtime feels like it’s just excited to exist. While it’s not trying to leave some huge emotional impact on you like several other films on this list are, it still has its fair share of impactful drama. Lady Bird is one of those movies I wish never ended, like The Nice Guys or Scott Pilgrim. I feel like I could listen to these characters talk about anything for any amount of time.
Moonlight (2016)
While Moonlight isn’t one of my favorite movies of the 2010s, I find it to be one of the most important. It tells the story of a man’s life, split into three sections: child, teenager, and adult. The words ‘authentic’ and ‘genuine’ have been used many times on this list, but it’s hard to think of any other words to describe Moonlight. It feels real. It feels like you’re watching Kevin grow up, and facing the struggles along the way. After growing up in a rough neighborhood and being bullied for a lot of his life, Kevin eventually learns to accept himself, with one of the most touching third acts I’ve seen in a while. Moonlight truly is what its tagline proclaims- the story of a lifetime.
The Breakfast Club (1985)
The Breakfast Club is probably the most famous high school movie ever made. John Hughes’ classic still manages to be relevant to this day; while some aspects were definitely a thing of the 80’s, I still find it to be accurate. Even if you haven’t seen this movie, you probably know the general outline of the plot- five completely different high schoolers are stuck in Saturday detention with each other, and form a bond that changes their lives forever. Honestly, the only part about this movie that I don’t love is the ending- I feel that it kind of undermines the point that the movie is trying to make. Regardless, this is a must-watch, and is still one of the most essential high school movies.
While I continue to catch up on this year’s Oscar nominees for a future article, I thought it might be fun to just list a bunch more movies I really like and tell you to watch them.
Interstellar (2014)
I first watched Interstellar a couple of years ago, and remembered enjoying it, but not as much as most. However, I recently rewatched it, and understood why it’s so loved. While Nolan had to go against his preference of practical effects (no, they didn’t actually film in front of a black hole), it pays off. Some of the neatest space scenes I’ve seen in a movie are present in Interstellar. This is one of the most perfect science fiction movies I’ve ever seen; everything here is just great. The performances, story, visuals, music, and characters all work together to create what is probably one of the best movies of all time. Nolan’s films are universally beloved, and this is his best one… that doesn’t involve Batman.
The Menu (2022)
The Menu has exploded in popularity lately (likely due to its availability on HBO Max), and it’s easy to see why. While I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as many have seemed to, I still had a lot of fun watching it. While many of the jokes did land, it just didn’t quite reach the highs that I was expecting it to. In my opinion, it’s not quite as absurd as it should be. I was expecting it to be simultaneously more violent and more amusing. However, despite my slight disappointment, this is still a great time. It can be very funny, and Ralph Fiennes gives a great performance as Chef. While the majority of this paragraph was me criticizing The Menu, I think that most people would really enjoy it, and probably a lot more than I did. Now, if you do decide to watch this movie, be warned: do not watch it while hungry.
Inglourious Basterds (2009)
Inglorious Basterds is essentially just good actors acting at each other for two and a half hours. Everybody does a really great job here, but the standout really is Christoph Waltz as Col. Hans Landa. He won an Oscar for his performance, and 100% deserved it. It focuses on a group of Jewish U.S. soldiers called the Inglorious Basterds, and their mission to assassinate top Nazi officers and leaders. However, do NOT go into this thinking it’s going to be a historical drama- it is not trying to be even remotely historically accurate. This is the second Tarantino film I’ve seen (if you count Kill Bill as one movie). While I do prefer Kill Bill a little bit, Lt. Raine’s final words are still accurate- “I think this just might be my masterpiece.”
Hardcore Henry (2015)
This is one of my weirder recent watches- Hardcore Henry is probably the only first-person movie in existence. It’s shot from a first-person perspective, and is supposed to be like a first-person shooter video game. That may sound like a bad idea, and it probably is. But, it doesn’t matter. This movie is a blast. It’s pretty much nonstop action, and has some of the craziest action set pieces I have ever seen in a movie. While the story is incredibly dumb, and the performances are pretty lackluster, it just adds to the charm. The movie knows just how stupid it is, and goes all out with it. It’s impressive how they actually managed to make a movie feel like you’re playing a video game. One of my favorite things a video game can do is have chaotic, fast-paced shooter combat set to good music, and this movie does it better than most games. If you’re as big of a fan as dumb fun action movies as I am, Hardcore Henry is one of the best choices possible.
In Bruges (2008)
If you’re into dark comedies, you will love In Bruges. It focuses on two hitmen hiding out in the Belgian town of Bruges, the last place in the world they want to be. It’s vulgar, dark, violent, and hilarious. The film is consistently very funny, but has many sad and shocking moments. I think what really carries it is Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson’s characters. The two have a very natural chemistry, and their performances in addition to the writing make for very entertaining interactions. Throw in Ralph Fiennes as their boss, and we have one of the best black comedies I’ve ever seen.
RRR (2022)
RRR (or Rise, Roar, Revolt) is an Indian film focusing on two legendary revolutionaries fighting against the British occupation in this piece of historical fiction (heavy emphasis on the fiction). It is extremely exaggerated and over the top, in the best way possible. I’ve never seen anything quite like RRR; I’m interested in watching more Indian films to see if they can match the level of fun I had watching this. The fight scenes are completely ridiculous, and are some of the best parts. The two main characters are essentially unstoppable superheroes that can take down entire armies without breaking a sweat. The thing is, outside of fight scenes, they’re normal people. But when the British start attacking them, they’re Superman. I haven’t even touched on the real best part- the musical scenes. The scene involving the song ‘Naatu Naatu’ is my favorite part. The song was nominated for an Oscar, and I sincerely hope that it wins. If you’re looking for a change of pace from your usual watches, RRR is a fantastic pick.
Barbarian (2022)
If Nope didn’t exist, Barbarian would easily be the best horror movie of 2022. This one kind of took me by surprise. I had heard it was good, but I was NOT expecting this movie to do some of the things that it does. This is one of the more creative ideas I’ve seen in a recent horror movie, and it hooks you until the end. The twist is very shocking, and will leave your jaw on the floor. At times, it can be a pretty heavy watch, but aside from a few very frightening and creepy moments, Barbarian is a very enjoyable horror film that is touches on some interesting themes not often seen in the genre.
This week, I was going to write about this year’s Oscar nominees, and what I think should win. Then, I realized that the 2023 Oscars aren’t until March 12th, and there are still 5+ movies that I should watch before writing about this year’s nominations. So, instead, I decided to make an easy list, and discuss some of my favorite video games of all time, and why I think they’re so great. I have based this off of many things- gameplay, story, graphics, replayability. Of course, a lot of them are personal choices, but I believe that they all fit these factors; they’re all very fun, and I’ve beat them all at least twice- and most of them more than 3 times.
10. Resident Evil 4 (2005)
Resident Evil 4 is probably one of the most important games ever made, and it still holds up very well to this day. If you enjoy third person shooters such as Uncharted,Mass Effect, Gears of War, or the recent Tomb Raider reboots, you have Resident Evil 4 to thank. It revolutionized games like this, and is still the best title in the Resident Evil series. It moved the series into a more action-heavy theme, but that’s not to say it’s not creepy. Anybody who’s encountered the first Regenerator in the game knows what I’m talking about. Resident Evil 4 really doesn’t get old; the amount of guns you have access to makes each replay fresh. This game has been ported to pretty much every single console made since the GameCube (including the Brazilian Zeebo console), so if you’re looking to play a true classic, you can’t go wrong with RE4.
9. Titanfall 2 (2016)
I believe that Titanfall 2 is the best multiplayer game of all time. You’ll notice that this is really the only multiplayer game on this list- I’m pretty biased, I’m not going to lie. However, I put over 100 hours into this game’s multiplayer alone, and have played the campaign probably 5 times. It’s very addictive. It really is a shame how badly EA screwed over Titanfall 2; they released it the same week as the new Call of Duty and Battlefield, two much bigger franchises. Titanfall 2 never had a chance. It died over a couple years, and it seemed that this franchise would be dormant forever. But then, in 2020, it randomly became very popular again, as people started to realize how great of a game it is. The Pilot combat is very parkour-heavy; it’s very fast-paced, and requires you to be on your feet at all times. You can also jump into your Titan, which is a bit slower, but almost equally fun, as each Titan comes with a different gun and ability. It’s very hard to find a match for this game at this point, as the servers have been suffering major DDOS attacks for around a year and a half. However, it’s on sale most of the time, and is 100% worth it for one of the best single player FPS campaigns ever made.
8. The Walking Dead (2012)
In a weird way, The Walking Dead has become an almost comfort franchise for me. I love watching the show, even if it’s not all that great sometimes. The comics are my favorite ‘book series’, and I’ve read the entire run twice. The games tell some truly fantastic stories in the same universe as the comics, and the first stands as by far the best. This is one of the most engaging and emotional video game stories you’ll ever experience. The final moments of this game are some of the most moving I’ve seen in a piece of media, and it has remained effective throughout 3 (and more future) playthroughs. Just like other Telltale games, you’re basically watching a very long movie where you get to pick what happens. While the overall story does follow the same model, many key moments and character deaths depend on your choices. It really does force you to make some very difficult choices. The game is split into 5 episodes, essentially making for 5 two-hour long movies. That sounds like a lot, but trust me, you’ll be hooked. I finished the game in two days- it’s like binging a season of the show.
7. Super Mario Odyssey (2017)
Super Mario Odyssey still stands as the best game on the Nintendo Switch. I’ve played through this game 5 times, and I’m sure I’ll go through it many times in the future. Everything here works together to create the perfect Mario experience: the platforming is the tightest I’ve ever played, the best music Nintendo’s ever made, the best art style in the Mario series, and one of the most consistently fun games I’ve ever played. If Super Mario 3D World‘s levels are like amusement park rides, Odyssey‘s kingdoms are like spending a whole day at an amusement park. The collectibles feel very rewarding to find, and each kingdom is a blast to explore every inch of. I think it’s fair to say that this is the best platformer ever made; it easily outclasses the rest of Mario’s catalogue.
6. Far Cry 5 (2018)
I find the Far Cry series to be quite underrated. I love all of them a lot, even the side games, but 5 will always be my favorite. Far Cry 3 probably is the best, but 5 is what got me into the series, and is partially responsible for my love of video games to this day. It really did come at the perfect time for me- it was April 2020, and we were still fresh into quarantine. I had binged through the entire Tomb Raider reboot trilogy and Uncharted series, and was looking for something new to play. I had always heard about these games, but never tried any- and this was quite possibly the best one to start with. It has the best open world and atmosphere of the entire series, and arguably the best gameplay, as well. I find the story to be a lot deeper than people give it credit for- while I would like if they had gone a bit deeper into the social or political commentary, it still does have some things to say, and does so effectively. It’s an overall slightly above average story with some fantastic moments. I love the entire thing, but Jacob’s final speech and the finale stand out as the best story moments. Most agree that the series peaked with Far Cry 3, but this is by far my favorite.
5. Marvel’s Spider-Man (2018)
Spider-Man is the best superhero game ever made. No questions asked. While Batman is my favorite superhero and the Arkham games provide some solid competition, Spider-Man is my second favorite, and he gets a much better game. This game just feels so good to play. Swinging through the city and parkouring through rooftops never gets old, and fighting criminals is always a blast. The gameplay requires very quick reaction time- if you get hit more than a couple of times, you’re in trouble. In my opinion, this is the perfect Spider-Man story- it’s fun and lighthearted, but can be quite serious at times. I think it does it much better than any of the Spider-Man movies, and even most Marvel movies in general. We’re finally getting a true sequel later this year, and I am far more excited for it than any other 2023 game; the gameplay style was somehow improved by the spinoff, Miles Morales, so I’m excited to see what new gameplay features they can fit into this new entry.
4. Bioshock (2007)
Bioshock revolutionized first person shooters in the same way that Resident Evil 4 revolutionized third person shooters. Single player first person games would not be the same as they are today if not for the Bioshock franchise. Not only is the gameplay loop extremely creative and enjoyable, but the story is one of the most memorable and famous in any video game. This is one of the most creative stories ever made, and explores and critiques many political ideologies, such as the dangers of a free market, and why a utopian society is impossible. Not only that, but it takes advantage of the fact that it is a video game to craft a narrative that makes the player a character in the story. Again, just like Resident Evil 4, this game is infinitely replayable. The amount of different guns, ammo types, and powers (or plasmids) you’re given to mess around with ensure that each playthrough feels like a new playstyle. When the discussion of ‘are video games art’ is brought up, many people instantly point to Bioshock as an example, and rightfully so.
3. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End (2016)
This was my favorite game for a long time, and it is still one of the best. I love everything about the Uncharted series, but this one just takes it to another level. The first three are mainly fun Indiana Jones-type action stories, but have some solid emotional moments. Uncharted 4‘s story is a gripping tale of Nathan Drake’s final treasure hunt, with much more realistic characters and relationships than we had seen up to that point. Not only that, but the gameplay was improved as well. The cover/shooting mechanics of the first three still work very well, but everything just feels so much better in this game. Parkour has been perfected, allowing Drake to climb, roll, and duck behind cover seamlessly. The guns feel and sound incredible, making each combat encounter feel like a nonstop adrenaline rush. The graphics are still breathtaking- when the game released in 2016, it was the best looking game ever made. As these games released, the quality improved drastically, until we got Uncharted 4. I really don’t think this series will ever be able to live up to this game, and I really love the Lost Legacy spinoff. There have been recent rumors of another studio developing a spinoff focusing on Drake’s daughter, and I really hope it happens. Naughty Dog may be done with Uncharted and Nathan Drake, but another studio could still make some great legacy sequels.
2. The Last of Us (2013)
What is there to say that hasn’t been said about The Last of Us? This is one of the most critically acclaimed games of all time, and deservedly so. I’ve already written a lengthy article about this one, and yet, I could still talk about it for hours. Instead, I’ll touch on my recent playthrough of the Part I remake, as I hadn’t played it at the time of writing that article. This remake may not have been necessary, but it really does feel like a new game. It’s kind of like buying the ultimate collector’s edition of a game that comes with a giant statue, DLC codes, a steelbook of the game, and probably some other random junk that you’ll never use- it’s completely unnecessary, but it’s a really cool thing to own. This remake gives the game the graphics and gameplay that it deserves. While it still technically plays the same, the quality of life features such as the improved UI, enemy behaviors, gun feeling, and dualsense haptic feedback really do make it worth your time. If you’re looking to revisit one of the greatest pieces of media ever made, or play something this great that you never got around to, this remake is exactly what you’re looking for. If you’re not into video games, please watch the recent HBO series. There are currently three episodes out, and it’s already one of my favorite TV shows ever made.
The Last of Us Part II (2020)
So, yeah. The only thing that can outdo The Last of Us is The Last of Us Part II. This is basically my favorite… thing ever made. I love it more than any other movie, video game, book, song, whatever. Everything here is just perfect. My favorite story of all time. Crisp, violent, and stealthy combat. Lifelike graphics and animations. Fantastic performances. Amazing soundtrack, mostly performed on an acoustic guitar. To explain why this game truly is perfect would take a very, very long time. So, instead of trying to come up with some way to explain why it’s so good in a short paragraph, I’ll leave you with this: you can play fetch with a dog multiple times throughout the game.
Over the last year, I watched all of Edgar Wright’s films, and became an instant fan. If you’re not familiar with Wright, you may recognize his famous ‘Cornetto Trilogy’- Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and The World’s End, all of which feature two actors as the main characters, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. It’s referred to as the Cornetto Trilogy because each one references the famous British ice cream company, Cornetto. Although his films may vary in genre and style, they all feature his trademark comedy style and fast-paced editing.
Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Shaun of the Dead was Wright’s first movie, and is one of his most most recognizable. The first in the Cornetto Trilogy, Shaun of the Dead is meant to be a parody of zombie films, and it does that very well. This is where you first see Wright’s comedy style and in-your-face editing; the famous ‘The Plan’ scene stands as one of the most memorable moments throughout the film. This is by far my favorite of the trilogy, and definitely made me laugh the most out of the three. Shaun of the Dead is one of the most iconic comedies of the 2000’s, and it’s definitely one of my favorites. If you like zombie films, this is a no-brainer. How many other movies have you seen where a group of people beat a zombie to death with pool cues synced to the beat of Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now?
Hot Fuzz (2007)
Hot Fuzz is my least favorite of the Cornetto trilogy, but it’s still a very solid comedy. Shaun of the Dead was a parody of zombie movies, and Hot Fuzz is a parody of over-the-top police action movies. It has the least amount of big laughs across the three (at least to me), but it still has a lot of great moments. The final shootout is one of the best scenes across the trilogy, and is probably one of Wright’s most memorable moments. I think the main problem that I have with Hot Fuzz is that the characters and story aren’t as fun or interesting as those present in the other two Cornetto films. This is probably why a lot of the jokes don’t land as much for me- the characters just aren’t as fun as somebody like Shaun or Gary King. That’s not to say the movie’s not funny, as it definitely is. Most people tend to prefer this over the other two, and I understand why; I’m just not as big of a fan.
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010)
It’s hard to really find a single thing wrong with Scott Pilgrim. This is one of the most consistently enjoyable films from beginning to end that I’ve ever seen. Wright has always had a knack for writing lovable characters, and I believe that this is where that skill really shines. I love almost every character that Wright has created, but none of his other films have Wallace Wells, so this one wins in that category. The Cornetto trilogy is very popular, but this is probably the most well known of Wright’s filmography, and understandably so. There’s a lot for the viewer to enjoy- the previously mentioned characters, fun action scenes, extremely funny dialogue, and frequent pop culture references. Scott Pilgrim does ‘reference comedy’ better than most movies that rely on that sort of thing- the only one that comes close for me is Scream. There really is something here that almost anyone could enjoy. It’s worth watching just to see what Young Neil is doing in the background at any given moment.
The World’s End (2013)
When the Cornetto Trilogy is brought up, people tend to forget about The World’s End, as it has to compete with the two insanely popular comedies that are Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, but I really love it. The first half is a very fun comedy about a group of friends that reunite to finish a bar crawl that they once attempted in their youth, and the second half revolves around said group realizing that they are humanity’s last hope to stop a robot uprising. Poor pacing is generally something that I have a problem with, as it can make an otherwise decent or good movie feel rushed or too slow. The World’s End does not have very good pacing, but honestly, it doesn’t matter. This movie is all over the place, but it somehow works. The tonal shift around the halfway point can feel very weird, and I get why that would cause people to not like it as much as the other two. Its predecessors are very consistent with their flow and comedy style from beginning to end, and this one feels very different from the others. I understand why this is the least talked about among the trilogy, but I find it to be very solid. Gary King is a great character, and I appreciated how they switched Simon Pegg and Nick Frost’s usual roles. Frost usually plays the crass, unprofessional, and immature character, while Pegg plays the slightly more serious character. In The World’s End, Pegg plays the guy who peaked in high school, while Frost plays the professional businessman who is very hesitant to reunite the friend group when he learns how little Gary has changed. If you choose to watch Wright’s films, don’t skip The World’s End. Most don’t love it as much as I do, but it’s still a great comedy that’s worth your time.
Baby Driver (2017)
I’ve talked about Baby Driver very recently, and my opinions have not changed since then. This is one of my favorite movies of all time, and blows the rest of Wright’s films out of the water (not to say they’re not still great). It’s hard to fit all of the reasons I love it into one paragraph- there’s so much here to love. It has by far the best car action in any movie I’ve seen, and one of my favorite film soundtracks. It’s extremely enjoyable the whole way through, but the third act is one of my favorite finales in film history. The last half hour is pretty much nonstop, chaotic, loud, and exciting action, and it doesn’t slow down until the very end. This is an easy recommendation for almost anybody. If you like amazing action scenes, lovable characters, charming dialogue, exciting editing, good music, neat cinematography, and a great story, this is a fantastic choice.
Last Night in Soho (2021)
It really is a shame that Last Night in Soho didn’t turn out that great, as it has a LOT of potential. We have a great director, a solid premise, two of the best young actresses currently working, and it’s a horror movie? What exactly went wrong? Last Night in Soho focuses on an aspiring fashion designer named Eloise who moves to London to chase her dreams. While living there, Eloise discovers that she can mysteriously transport to the 1960s, and follows a woman named Sandie who is attempting to become a singer. As she repeatedly visits the 60s, she finds that this world of glamour and fame was not all it’s cracked up to be, and discovers how horribly Sandie was treated across her career. The film focuses on themes of nostalgia, exploitation, and trauma. It’s trying to show how the past is frequently celebrated, and the many darker sides are never discussed. I really appreciate what the film is attempting to do, and there are a lot of scenes that I really like, but ultimately, Last Night in Soho just doesn’t do it for me. Like I said, there’s some serious potential here. The horror moments didn’t really land, and the twist is on an M. Night Shyamalan level of bad. I don’t dislike this movie, but I was left very disappointed. It really is unfortunate that I wasn’t crazy about this one- the trailer was one of the best I’ve seen in recent years, and once I learned that it was directed by Edgar Wright, I was all in. Overall, it’s very mediocre, and the very positive aspects of the film are buried under the many negative ones. I’d still be interested in seeing another horror movie directed by Wright- it’s clear he’s interested in the genre, and I believe that he could make something truly special if he attempted it again.
Wright has also been behind several other projects, but they aren’t nearly as well known. There’s his cult classic comedy TV series, Spaced. He recently created a recent documentary called The Sparks Brothers that tells the story of the British rock/pop duo, Sparks. I haven’t gotten around to either of these yet, but I definitely plan to at some point- it’s just a matter of finding a place to watch them. I hope this article was able to make you interested in one or more of these films; they’re all good. Edgar Wright is probably my second favorite director, and I believe that his movies could be enjoyed by almost anybody. His upcoming projects include The Chain, a thriller in which Emma Stone was recently cast. There’s also the long-rumored Baby Driver 2, which I will be seeing day one when it actually happens. Wright has created some of the most charming movies I’ve ever seen, and is one of the best directors currently working. He’s probably my second favorite, after Steven Spielberg. It seems that he’s shifting his career to focus on more serious projects, as his recent films include Baby Driver and Last Night In Soho, and The Chain will revolve around a series of kidnappings. I’m all for this, and am really interested to see what he does in the future- his past work has already made me interested in anything that he will ever make.
I’m writing something a bit different this week- instead of focusing on reviewing one thing, or creating a list of a bunch of similar things, I’m going to tell you about a bunch of random movies I like. This will cover a wide variety of genres: horror, comedy, drama, romance, thriller, action, and more. I’ll cover things that you’ve probably heard of, and some that you might not have. This is basically me saying ‘I can’t come up with anything specific to talk about this week, so I’m just going to take this opportunity to talk about some of my favorite movies’.
The Nice Guys (2016)
The Nice Guys is one of the most entertaining comedies I’ve seen in a while. The 70’s environment pairs perfectly with the comedy of Shane Black, Ryan Gosling, and Russell Crowe. This one flew under the radar, and barely broke even at the box office, which really is unfortunate. It’s extremely quotable, and has some of the funniest lines I’ve ever seen in a comedy. It focuses on a pair of private detectives that investigate a missing girl, and the mysterious death of the other. If a lighthearted comedy with good characters, hilarious jokes, and Ryan Gosling sounds like a good time to you, The Nice Guys should be on your watchlist.
Hereditary (2018)
Hereditary is my all-time favorite horror movie. I rewatched it recently, and picked up on a few things that I hadn’t caught the first time; there’s a lot of very subtle foreshadowing that you can only catch your second time through. This is one of the most disturbing horror films you will ever watch- the whole movie is very tense, but the last 10 minutes stand out as some of the scariest filmmaking I have ever seen. One thing I really noticed when watching it again is the soundtrack. Every song is terrifying, yet strangely beautiful. Although the events of Hereditary are impossible, it feels VERY realistic. Ari Aster is a master of building tension, and this still stands as his best work. Aster is creating a new movie next year, Beau is Afraid, where he attempts something besides horror, and I am very interested- I think that he is one of the most promising directors currently working. After Hereditary and his second film, Midsommar, he has more than proved himself, and I am looking forward to what Aster can create in the future.
Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003)
This is the only Quentin Tarantino movie I’ve seen up to this point, but it was some of the most fun I’ve had while watching a movie in a while. It’s pretty much 75% well choreographed fight scenes, and 25% entertaining character dialogue. If you like to watch sword fight scenes in movies, this is the perfect movie for you. It was almost given an NC-17 rating for its violence- Tarantino had to add filters over a couple of scenes to prevent this. He originally wanted to make this one long four-hour movie, but he was forced to split it into two parts. I haven’t gotten around to Volume Two yet, but I’m sure I’ll love it just as much. Someday, I’ll set aside a Saturday afternoon and watch both back-to-back, the way it was intended, as that’s probably the best way to experience these movies. If you’re like me and love fight scenes that are purposely over-the-top, you’ll love Kill Bill.
Enemy (2013)
Enemy is probably the most confusing movie I have ever watched. The plot revolves around a man who seeks out his exact look-alike after spotting him in a movie. It sounds simple, but trust me, it is not. The first time I watched it, I had some basic ideas of what the movie was trying to say, but I was still very lost. However, upon rewatch (and some internet searching), I believe that I have finally deciphered what Denis Villeneuve was trying to say with Enemy. Not everybody will like this one, but I firmly believe that it’s Villeneuve’s best, and it will be very hard for him to top it in the future. I’d really like to write an article about Enemy at some point- explaining the plot would require an essay.
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010)
Edgar Wright is my second favorite director- only topped by Steven Spielberg. Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World is his second best movie (we’ll get to his best later in this article). It’s extremely fun from beginning to end, and has that trademark Edgar Wright charm. The comedy style is a bit different from his previous comedies (Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz), but I find it to be much funnier. If you’re a fan of video games, rock music, or Michael Cera in Superbad and Arrested Development, make sure to check out Scott Pilgrim.
Memento (2000)
Memento is probably one of the smartest movies I’ve seen. As you watch, the movie gives you new information that completely changes the story every few minutes, and you’re left to piece it together by yourself. I find this to be Christopher Nolan’s best non-Batman related movie because it doesn’t explain what’s happening. I do think that Inception and Interstellar are very good movies, but I tend to prefer things like Memento or Enemy when it comes to ‘confusing’ movies, as you actually have to think about the story and what’s really happening. Inception has a very interesting premise and a solid execution, but I find it to have far too much exposition. A large chunk of that movie is characters explaining what’s going on instead of the movie just happening while you figure it out. Memento fools you countless times. Every 10 minutes, you think to yourself, ‘Ok, I get it. I understand what’s happening, and I can predict what’s going to happen.’, and then it pulls something that you never would have anticipated. If you enjoy Inception or movies similar to it, I would recommend giving Memento a shot- you might like it more.
Baby Driver (2017)
I’ve been looking for an excuse to talk about Baby Driver for a long time. This is the previously mentioned best movie by Edgar Wright- in fact, it’s one of my favorite movies of all time. It’s very difficult to not love this movie. There’s so many fantastic parts about it; the characters, the soundtrack, the action scenes. The music is woven into the film in some really interesting ways. If there’s a song playing, then the beat or lyrics will probably be lined up with something happening in the movie, like a gunshot, a car door opening, or people walking by. In my opinion, the third act of this movie is one of the best third acts in film history. Once Baby attempts an escape, it devolves into pure chaos, and it does not slow down once for the last thirty minutes. This is such an easy recommendation for almost any person. It’s what really cemented Edgar Wright as my #2 director, and is a culmination of all of his strengths as a director into one movie.
Ex Machina (2014)
Ex Machina might just be the greatest science fiction movie of all time. Artificial Intelligence stories have always fascinated me- I love movies like Blade Runner and games like Detroit: Become Human. There are a lot of very well-made and realistic pieces of android media, but I find Ex Machina to be especially brilliant. It’s trying to say a lot of things; you’ve got your usual android tropes, like an AI gaining consciousness and outsmarting humans, but it focuses on many themes you don’t see in your usual AI narrative. I don’t want to spoil anything, as this is something you should go into completely blind, but I may write an article covering it in the future.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
It’s hard to classify Eternal Sunshine in a specific genre. Yes, it is a romance movie and it is a comedy, but it’s not really a typical romcom. It can be very funny at times, and the focus is on two characters’ relationship, but it’s really about the extreme measures these two people go to to get over their breakup. They both have each other erased from their minds, and still manage to run into each other and create a new relationship. It’s almost reminiscent of a Sci-Fi movie like Memento, where you have to piece the story together as it goes, since it’s told out of order. I find this to be Jim Carrey’s best performance. I’m not really a fan of Carrey’s comedy style, but whenever he takes a role like this, he’s great. The Truman Show is also a fantastic movie, and another example of how Jim Carrey can be a good actor. I believe that Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a movie that almost anybody could enjoy. Even if you don’t relate to the characters, the charm of the writing and dialogue will hook you. For me, it stands next to About Time as the best romance movies ever made.
I hope that at least one of these movies caught someone’s attention- I think they’re all great. Maybe my inability to come up with an idea for an article can help you find some movies that you like. I may write more similar to this in the future; there are a lot of movies that I love, and I often struggle to come up with article ideas. So, moral of the story: use laziness to your advantage and write about things that you like instead of trying to actually write about something specific.
Where to watch all of these:
The Nice Guys– Netflix
Hereditary– HBO Max
Kill Bill Vol. 1– Only available to rent
Enemy– HBO Max
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World– Netflix
Everything Everywhere All At Once– Only available to rent
Memento– HBO Max
Baby Driver– Hulu
Ex Machina– HBO Max
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind- Only available to rent
2022 ended up being a solid year for movies. There weren’t many releases this year that were flat-out bad, and one of my all time favorite movies came out this April. I did still miss out on quite a few I’d still really like to see, such as Aftersun, Babylon, X, and The Fabelmans. But, I still saw a decent amount, and I’d like to discuss them.
21. Morbius (2/10)
There’s not really much I need to say about Morbius. You all already know that it’s bad. This is one of the most pointless movies I have ever seen. Sony saw the massive success of the Venom movies and decided that they’re going to make a movie series revolving around only Spider-Man villains. They’re currently producing a Kraven the Hunter movie. You may have heard of that character, but have you heard of Madame Web or El Muerto? Because they’re both getting movies too. Fun fact: El Muerto has only had two appearances in mainline Marvel comic books. TWO. And Sony’s making a movie about him. Morbius is just the beginning. We’re about to see a wave of flat out awful comic book movies. Here’s hoping that they’re at least fun like Venom, and less like Morbius.
20. Halloween Ends (3/10)
The first two films in David Gordon Green’s recent Halloween trilogy aren’t the best, but I love them. I already discussed Halloween Ends at length earlier this year, so I’ll keep it short- this movie is bad. There are some very interesting ideas present in this film, but they are executed in the worst way possible. This could have been a very refreshing change of pace for the series, but it’s just another terrible Halloween movie. Add it to the list. And the worst part? It’s not even funny, which is my favorite part about most of the Halloween movies.
19. Jurassic World: Dominion (4/10)
I don’t think anybody really expected Dominion to be good. As a big fan of the Jurassic Park franchise, I recognize that the series has one great film, and a lot of bad to mediocre ones. But, I still love all of them. They’re all very fun to watch- even Jurassic Park 3. There’s really only one problem with this movie, and it’s the fact that dinosaurs are barely even in it. This was set up to be a movie about humans learning to coexist with dinosaurs, which is a very neat idea for a Jurassic Park film. But, for some reason, that’s the B-plot. The main focus of this film is on… giant locusts? What? It truly baffles me why this movie made the choices it did. It’s kind of like Halloween Ends– some good ideas, but just executed horribly. I really don’t understand why they made this choice. These movies have such a big budget, but pick the worst ideas for stories. It’s not the worst thing ever, but it’s definitely not good. If you’re watching the series, I wouldn’t say you should skip it, but I don’t think I really need to see this one again (or, at least, not for awhile.)
18. Uncharted (4/10)
I am a massive fan of the Uncharted games. It’s probably my favorite game series of all time, except for The Last of Us. This movie has been in the works for a very long time. I believe the idea was initially brought up after the release of the first game, Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, in 2007. It was considered cancelled or scrapped for a long time until rumors started to spread about an Uncharted movie actually happening. I was cautiously excited- video game movies have a pretty bad reputation, but it’s Uncharted. This is quite possibly Sony’s most recognizable game franchise, except for maybe God of War. And then Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg were casted. And then the trailer came out. I knew this movie was going to be bad, but I was still excited. And surprise, surprise- it is bad. It basically takes plot points from the first 4 games in the series and mashes them together in this hodgepodge of a movie. It wasn’t good, but it really wasn’t as terrible as I thought it would be. It’s worth watching at least once, especially if you’re a fan of the series- there are a lot of fun references and easter eggs. Plus, if you don’t want to pay to watch it, it’s on Netflix now.
17. The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (5/10)
I was very disappointed by this. The first two Guardians of the Galaxy movies are the best in the MCU, and some of my favorite superhero movies in general. The Guardians seemed like the perfect pick for a holiday special, and the idea behind this one is actually quite funny- Mantis and Drax kidnap Kevin Bacon as a Christmas gift for Quill. The problem is, it’s not funny or charming. It feels extremely rushed and lazy. It’s odd- this special was announced quite a while ago, and wasn’t some random thing they decided to make in a couple months just because. They had a lot of time to work on this short, but it feels like the script was written in two days. It’s hard to explain why this wasn’t great- you kind of just have to watch it for yourself. The best part about it is that it’s only around 40 minutes, so you don’t have to deal with it for that long.
16. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (5/10)
I may love Sam Raimi and his Evil Dead franchise, but Multiverse of Madness is not his best work. I’m not somebody that wants every single MCU movie to have massive consequences and effects on the whole Marvel universe, but this movie really seemed like it was going to be one that did. It’s called Multiverse of Madness. I was really expecting Dr. Strange to explore the multiverse a little bit more, especially after he appeared in Spider-Man: No Way Home. The best part of this movie is when Sam Raimi is just making horror scenes. I never expected to say this about a Marvel movie, but this one has some pretty brutal kills. Spoilers, I guess, but it was also pretty fun to see characters like Professor X, Reid Richards, and Black Bolt that hadn’t appeared in the MCU yet. This is worth watching if you want to see every Marvel movie, but I really don’t feel any desire to revisit it.
14. Thor: Love and Thunder (6/10)
I really like Taika Waititi’s movies- Thor: Ragnarok is one of the best MCU movies, and Jojo Rabbit is one of the best movies of 2019. So, when I heard that he was making a new Thor movie with this logo, I was excited. Unfortunately, it didn’t turn out that great. The jokes don’t land a lot of the time, and the visual effects are very lacking. Gorr doesn’t get nearly enough screen time, and the plot just feels very lazy. I don’t dislike this movie like a lot of people do, but it’s definitely not great. It’s a perfect example of the MCU oversaturation that me and many others have been feeling lately. Ever since Wandavision, Disney has been releasing MCU movies and shows nonstop, and you can really feel it with this one. It’s not bad, but again, I don’t feel much of a desire to revisit it.
13. Black Adam (5/10)
Yes, it looks odd that I put a 5/10 movie above a 6/10 movie, but I would rewatch Black Adam over Love and Thunder any day. This movie is not good, and I recognize that, but I had so much more fun than I thought it would. The action scenes are surprisingly well done, and it is very entertaining. Love and Thunder is probably a bit better, but we’re splitting hairs here. This one is 100% skippable, but it’s honestly not the worst.
15. The Adam Project (6/10)
It seems that the world is now being put through extremely mediocre yearly Sean Levy and Ryan Reynolds projects. In 2021, we got the most 6/10 movie I’ve ever seen, Free Guy. Earlier this year, Netflix put out The Adam Project, which isn’t bad, but very forgettable. Honestly, I’ve got nothing to say about this one. It’s very inoffensive, but nothing special. If you’re looking for a fun, lighthearted action comedy to watch with your family, this is a good pick.
12. The Bob’s Burgers Movie (6.5/10)
I was a bit disappointed by The Bob’s Burgers Movie. I’ve seen the whole show, and it’s one of my favorite animated series of all time. It just never gets old; I love all of the characters, and even the episodes that aren’t as good have some great moments. The movie was essentially a longer version of one of those meh episodes. I did enjoy it, and the animation looks very nice, but it was definitely lacking something. However, if you’re a fan of Bob’s Burgers, this is worth your time- plus, it’s on HBO Max and Hulu.
11. Werewolf By Night (7/10)
This was a very nice change of pace from the recent Marvel oversaturation that I discussed earlier. It’s a Halloween special, and was a nice addition to my October 2022 horror marathon. It introduces some very interesting new characters, and a side of the Marvel universe not yet seen in the MCU. It also proves that Michael Giacchino can do more than soundtracks, as he directed this short film, and I really hope he’s given more work.
10. The Woman King (7/10)
A lot of people really hated on this movie, and I don’t think that that hate is warranted. This definitely wasn’t the best that I watched this year, but it was still a very solid attempt. It didn’t perform very well, but I think that’s more of Sony’s fault than the movie’s. I only ever saw a trailer for The Woman King play before one movie, and I went to the theater a good few times this year. It goes on for about 15 minutes too long, but besides that, this is an overall good film. I don’t think that everybody would enjoy it, as it can be pretty slow at times, but I did enjoy it.
9. The Bad Guys (7/10)
While it may be a little forgettable, The Bad Guys is probably the best animated kid’s movie of this year. I enjoyed watching it with my younger brother, and really appreciated the animation style. It uses ‘cel shading’, which is quite possibly my favorite type of animation. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Telltale games such as The Walking Dead and The Wolf Among Us all use this style. It always looks very nice, and I will watch a movie or show exclusively for this reason- it’s the reason I wanted to watch The Bad Guys in the first place. Besides that, it’s a fun kid’s heist movie, and you won’t be bored if you find yourself watching it. I hope this one gets a sequel or two- again, I’d watch it just because of the visuals.
8. Prey (7/10)
The Predator franchise has finally received its second good movie with Prey. Dan Trachtenberg of 10 Cloverfield Lane fame made a solid action film, and I hope they let him make more. It could be very interesting to see different Predators challenging humans across history. Imagine a Predator going up against a Gladiator, the Spartans, or a Chinese dynasty. Personally, I believe that this is the best way to continue the franchise- it had become very oversaturated in recent years with mediocre to bad movies.
7. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (7.5/10)
I’ve discussed this film at length, and my opinions are still very similar. While I don’t think it’s as good as many others, it still provided some great emotional moments, character work, and very solid action scenes. It is very long, but you really don’t feel the length. It only starts to fall apart for me when the Everett Ross subplot is introduced. This is the only part that really feels unnecessary, which is pretty impressive for an almost three hour long Marvel movie. This is by far the best Marvel movie of the year, and probably the best of phase four.
6. Bullet Train (7.5/10)
Bullet Train is not by any means a great movie, but it’s one of the most fun blockbusters I’ve seen in a while. I’ve talked about this one at length as well, and again, my opinion hasn’t changed. This one caught a lot of flak from critics, but I don’t think much of that criticism was very fair. Many summer blockbusters don’t really attempt to have an interesting story, but this one does, and I really appreciate it. The action is great, the story is interesting, and the characters are very charming. This is a very easy watch, and something I can see myself revisiting several times in the future.
5. Top Gun: Maverick (8/10)
I’m not the biggest fan of the original Top Gun. Honestly, I find it to be pretty boring at times, and really don’t care for any of the characters. When I saw the trailer for Maverick, I thought to myself, ‘that’s probably going to be bad‘. Safe to say, I was very wrong. This movie has received universal critical and commercial acclaim, and many have put it at the top of their list for this year. It’s pretty hard to not enjoy Maverick– the performances, action, and story are all very good, and it’s a great time from start to finish. Tom Cruise might be a bit of a weird guy, but his passion for this project really shows.
4. The Batman (9/10)
While I don’t think that this is the best Batman movie, it’s a very solid second. In a way, I think that this is the Batman movie me and many others always wanted- a dark, brooding, slow-paced noir thriller that never gets boring for one second. Personally, I think that it’s the best comic book movie in recent memory, probably since Logan or Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. This probably gets the character of Batman more than any other Batman movie, except for maybe The Lego Batman Movie (I’m not joking). The Dark Knight is my favorite Batman and comic book movie, and one of my favorite movies of all time, but I do understand why some prefer The Batman. Matt Reeves did a fantastic job with this one, and I am very much looking forward to the already greenlit sequels.
3. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (9.5/10)
The original Knives Out was probably my favorite movie of 2019. It’s a very rewatchable, charming, and just fun whodunit. I’ve seen it four times, and plan on watching it many more. Glass Onion is just as entertaining as the first, and provides an even more complicated mystery. These are the type of movies where you notice something new on each rewatch. I was lucky enough to catch it during its limited release in theaters, and had such a blast. It’s coming to Netflix on December twenty-third, and I’ll probably watch it again the day it releases digitally. The Knives Out franchise can be enjoyed by anyone, and I am looking forward to what new mysteries and cast members they can get for future entries.
2. Nope (9.5/10)
This is another one I’ve already written an article about, and yet again, my opinion remains the same. It’s very different from any other alien movie I’ve seen, although it may not seem that way at first. Some of the most memorable horror scenes in recent memory came from Nope- if you’ve seen it, the ‘Jupe show’ and ‘blood rain’ scenes probably come to mind. Jordan Peele is still on a hot streak, and I doubt that it will end anytime soon. Not everyone will enjoy this one, but if you’re looking for a horror movie that’s not too scary, Nope is a perfect choice.
Everything Everywhere All At Once (10/10)
Everything Everywhere All At Once isn’t just my favorite movie of 2022, but one of my favorite movies of all time. This is quite possibly the most creative and unique film I’ve ever seen. The Directors, Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan (AKA Daniels) are very good at making weird movies. If you’ve seen their directorial debut, Swiss Army Man, you know what I’m talking about. I could write a whole article about all of the different reasons I love this film, and I probably will eventually. For now, I’ll leave it at this: Everything Everywhere All At Once is the best movie in years, and I truly believe that this is a solid recommendation for anybody.
If you’ve become tired of watching the same three Christmas movies every year, then you should maybe consider changing up your holiday watchlist. These may not be the most conventional Christmas films, but they all remind me of Christmas or the holiday season in some way.
Gremlins (1984)
If you haven’t seen Gremlins, you’re still probably familiar with the characters of Gizmo and Stripe. Its holiday setting is important to the plot, making it more of a Christmas movie than many others on this list. This movie is surprisingly violent. Along with Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Gremlins is the reason the PG-13 rating exists. It’s not my favorite 80’s movie, but it’s still a solid film. It does drag on a little bit towards the end, but it’s never boring. It’s worth watching Gremlins just to see Gizmo.
The Harry Potter franchise (2001-2011)
I’m definitely not the only one that views the Harry Potter series as Christmas movies. The first four, especially; they all have a lot of snow and Christmas scenes. I find myself watching at least one of these every time the holiday season rolls around. Even though I’m not the biggest fan of J.K. Rowling, I still love this franchise, and probably always will. It’s pretty hard to not love it. My favorite of the series is probably Chamber of Secrets. I’m not really sure why, but I always seem to have the most fun watching it. Prisoner of Azkaban provides some solid competition, though. You’ve probably seen all of these 5 times already, but they’re insanely rewatchable, and provide some solid holiday entertainment.
Batman Returns (1992)
Unlike some of the other movies on this list, Christmas actually plays an important part in Batman Returns. Gotham City’s public Christmas tree is featured many times. Snow, Christmas decorations, and carols are all common things in Tim Burton’s second Batman movie. While the ’89 Batman is superior, this movie is still good. It is very fun to watch Danny Devito as the penguin, and even though he’s not even close to my favorite Batman, Michael Keaton is still good in the role. Batman and Batman Returns aren’t the best Batman movies, but they helped create the modern superhero movie. Batman, Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man, and The Avengers are probably the most influential superhero films ever made. If you’re a comic book movie fan and haven’t seen Tim Burton’s Batman films, they are 100% worth your time. Make sure to stay away from Batman Forever and Batman and Robin, though. Pretty much nobody from the first two is involved, and they’re just awful.
Krampus (2015)
Krampus is the most fun I’ve had with a Christmas movie in a while. There’s just one bit in the middle of the movie that was so ridiculously stupid, it made me upset. Don’t get me wrong, this movie should be at least a little stupid. It’s about an evil goat-Santa. A good comparison is two different Sam Raimi movies: Drag Me To Hell and Army of Darkness. They’re both pretty goofy, but in a good way. I’m not as big a fan of Army of Darkness as the other Evil Dead movies. It’s just too dumb. Even something as ridiculous as the Evil Dead franchise has a line, and Army of Darkness crosses that line many times. Drag Me To Hell was a surprisingly solid attempt at a horror film that still has its fair share of that Sam Raimi stupidity that I love so much. Krampus is more like Drag Me To Hell, but there’s a pretty lengthy segment where the characters fight living gingerbread men and toys. I hate this. Show me more of Krampus murdering children, and less living gingerbread men. That’s what I want to see. That complaint aside, this movie is very enjoyable. The last 10 minutes are surprisingly effective, if a bit predictable. If you want to change up your usual feel-good Christmas lineup, this is one of the best choices.
Iron Man 3 (2013)
I find this to be one of the most underrated movies in the MCU. I do like the other Iron Man movies, but this is my favorite of the three. It’s just so different from the others. You see Tony being forced to solve issues without his suit, and really think through how he’s going to take down Aldrich Killian. I think that the main reason people hate this movie is because they changed the identity of The Mandarin. I still find this pretty dumb. I’ve always said that a comic book movie should be able to change whatever story beats it wants, as long as it works. And this movie definitely works. This was released during the summer, but I think it works as a holiday movie. It takes place during Christmas, and that’s enough for me. Completely off topic, but if you enjoy Iron Man 3, check out The Nice Guys, which is the best movie made by Iron Man 3‘s director, Shane Black. Not enough people are aware of The Nice Guys’ existence.
Violent Night (2022)
I haven’t yet gotten the chance to see Violent Night, but I am VERY excited to. From what I understand, this is essentially Die Hard, but John McClane is replaced with Santa Claus. Plus, people that helped make movies such as Deadpool 2, Bullet Train, John Wick, and Nobody produced Violent Night. Dumb fun action movies are their specialty. Again, I haven’t seen this, but do I really need to sell it? In the trailer, Santa says ‘Season’s Beatings’. That’s really all you need to know.
Die Hard (1988)
By far the most famous example of the ‘Non-Christmas Christmas movie’, Die Hard is still an absolute classic. This is probably one of the greatest action movies ever made- or, at least, one of the most iconic. 34 years later, and the argument of ‘Is Die Hard a Christmas movie’ is still a hotly debated topic. Personally, I don’t think it really counts, but that’s what this list is all about- movies that aren’t Christmas movies, but it just feels right to watch them around Christmas. Usually, I’d give some sort of summary, or further explain my feelings regarding the film, but I really don’t need to. It’s Die Hard. Everybody has seen this movie. Die Hard 2 could also count as one of these, but I don’t like Die Hard 2, so I’m leaving it off the list.
Hawkeye (2021)
Yes, this is a mini-series and not a movie, but who cares? This is my list. I make the rules. This isn’t the best of the Marvel shows, but it’s still a good time. I enjoyed it quite a bit- it was a fun Christmas special to end 2021. It’s pretty low energy compared to a lot of Marvel stuff, which can be a nice change of pace from the constant multidimensional supervillains that we get in every movie. Hailee Steinfeld and Jeremy Renner are both amazing, and it was great to see Florence Pugh as Yelena again. I think that Steinfeld and Pugh are by far the best characters introduced in phase 4 of the MCU. If you already watched this last year when it premiered, it is something that is very easy to revisit. Plus, if you’re a fan of the Netflix Daredevil show like I am, the last episode of this series is fantastic.
Where to watch these:
Gremlins: HBO Max
Harry Potter: HBO Max and Peacock
Batman Returns: HBO Max
Krampus: Peacock
Iron Man 3: Disney+
Violent Night: Only playing in theaters
Die Hard: Available to rent (Or, if you have a VPN, it’s on Disney+ in other countries)
We’ve all seen shows like The Office, Friends, Parks and Recreation, and The Simpsons, probably multiple times. But, today, I’d like to recommend some shows that you probably haven’t watched, even if you’ve heard of them.
Nathan For You (2013-2017)
This is one of my current favorite shows. It focuses on a man named Nathan Fielder who tries to help small, struggling businesses make more profit by coming up with new and marketable ideas. The best part about this show is how far Nathan takes his ideas. For example: he has a gas station offer gas for $1.50 a gallon, upon rebate. To get your rebate, you have to take a 45 minute shuttle, take a 2 hour hike up a mountain, answer countless riddles, and camp overnight. The show often claims it’s 100% real, but honestly, I doubt this; too many scenes and scenarios are far too absurd to be believable. That doesn’t make it any less funny, though. It can be very awkward at times, as Nathan does not break character once. If you’re a fan of episodes of The Office like ‘Dinner Party’ and ‘Scott’s Tots’, you will like Nathan For You.
Harvey Birdman: Attorney At Law (2000-2007)
While I haven’t seen many Adult Swim shows, this is one of my favorites. You’ve probably seen a few random Robot Chicken clips across the internet, and if you have enjoyed those clips, you’ll like Harvey Birdman. It takes characters from classic Hanna-Barbera cartoons such as Scooby-Doo and The Flintstones and puts them in a ridiculous courtroom comedy. This show has some of my favorite characters in all of television- Phil Ken Sebben and Birdgirl come to mind. While the spinoff focusing on Birdgirl (aptly named Birdgirl) might not be very good, this show is, and is 100% worth watching.
Freaks and Geeks (1999-2000)
If you like 80’s music, television, or movies, you should watch Freaks and Geeks. While it ran from 1999-2000, it uses its 80’s setting really well without rubbing it in your face like a lot of 80’s nostalgia projects do. It focuses on two siblings, Lindsey and Sam, as they navigate high school. Lindsey is a straight A student who starts to hang out with the burnouts, including a young James Franco and Seth Rogen. Sam is just starting his freshman year, and tries to get through it with his friends, Bill and Neil. This show works so well because it feels like an 80’s sitcom with much better characters than an 80’s sitcom. You see a lot of development between both friend groups throughout the series. This is one of the most infamous cancellings in all of television; it was universally praised, and only ran for one season consisting of 18 episodes. The final episode very much feels like a season finale and not a series finale- you can tell they planned on making more. If you like comedies that are more laid back, you’ll like Freaks and Geeks.
Smiling Friends (2020-)
This is another Adult Swim show. Beware- it is much weirder than Harvey Birdman. If you enjoy absurd and confusing modern internet humor, this is the perfect show for you. It is very energetic, and does not ever slow down for one second. If Freaks and Geeks didn’t interest you because it’s more relaxed, then you’ll probably like Smiling Friends. It was created by two internet veterans, Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel, who have both done many things online. Now is a great time to start this show- the first season is only around an hour and a half, and season two premieres in January.
Ash Vs. Evil Dead (2015-2018)
If you were as much of a fan of this year’s Peacemaker as I was, this is an easy pick. I really love the Evil Dead movies, and this is a great way to continue the series in a more modern format. It’s funny, gory, and completely ridiculous. Ash is better than he’s ever been, and Bruce Campbell does a great job playing this complete moron. While some of the effects in the first season or two are very bad, it fits the brand. The Evil Dead franchise has always had either terrible effects, or surprisingly realistic ones, and this show very much continues that tradition. I would recommend watching the movies first, but you can still make some sense of the show if you just jump straight into it.
Arrested Development (2003-2018)
This show may seem like it’s very long, but it’s really not- there are only five seasons. Arrested Development’s first three seasons were both critically and commercially acclaimed, and yet, the show was not very successful. They were winning awards left and right, and it was still cancelled after just three seasons. I think it was because the show was just ahead of its time. It’s something that you really need to pay attention to if you want to understand all of the jokes, which just wasn’t the popular style of comedy at the time. Arrested Development was designed to be binged on Netflix, not watched weekly. And, what do you know- the show was picked up by Netflix for a fourth season in 2013, but is very lackluster. Each episode in season four goes on for 5-10 minutes too long, and just isn’t as interesting or entertaining as the initial run of the show. And after that, out of nowhere, Netflix randomly decided to make a fifth season that premiered in 2018. I enjoy season five a lot more than the fourth, but it still does not come close to the original three. Honestly, if I was to watch this show for the first time again, I’d stop watching after season three. Four and five both have some fantastic moments, but it’s just not the same.
Key and Peele (2012-2015)
Everybody has seen at least one Key and Peele sketch before, and it’s probably ‘Substitute Teacher’. I feel most people who this comedy duo is and have seen some of their work, but haven’t watched the show, which I highly recommend. It has some of the best sketches I’ve ever seen, namely the ones surrounding the East/West College Bowl. If you like sketch comedy shows, or even just random sketches on YouTube, Key and Peele is a great pick.
30 Rock (2006-2013)
I wouldn’t say this show isn’t popular, but it is not nearly well known as many other NBC comedies running at the time, such as The Office, Parks and Recreation, and Brooklyn 99. I hold 30 Rock in just as high of a regard as I hold the other three. The others are all very funny, but 30 Rock’s style is ever so slightly different. It’s sort of a mix between The Office and Arrested Development. Arrested Development is something that you really need to pay attention to if you want to understand all of the jokes, while The Office can be put on in the background. 30 Rock strikes a great balance between these two comedy styles. This show has always been popular, but it wasn’t a breakout success like other shows on NBC, and it definitely deserved to be one.
I hope this article leads you to check out one of these shows- they’re all fantastic, and have made me laugh countless times. I’ll list what platforms they’re streaming on below:
Nathan For You: HBO Max, Hulu, Amazon Prime (Prime only has first two seasons)
Harvey Birdman, Attorney At Law: HBO Max, Spectrum TV
Freaks and Geeks: Hulu
Smiling Friends: HBO Max, some episodes available for free on Adult Swim website
Ash Vs. Evil Dead: Netflix, Hulu
Arrested Development: Netflix, Hulu (Hulu only has first three seasons)
October may be over, but I still want to talk about horror movies. Plus, there was one week last month where I didn’t write anything, so I have to make up for it by discussing more horror topics. I watched a lot of these this October, and I want to rank and give my opinions on each of them.
16. The Bye Bye Man (2017)
This was the final movie on my October watchlist, and what a way to end it. I cannot think of a single part of The Bye Bye Man that is good in any way. If I had not watched it with friends, it would without a doubt be one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen. However, I did watch it with friends, so it’s one of the best comedies I’ve ever seen. I’d be interested to see an interview with the director or cast members of this movie- I want to know how it came to be. It’s hard to describe everything in this movie that’s bad; there’s just so much. But, if you’re looking for something to watch with friends to laugh at, this is a very solid choice.
15. The Cloverfield Paradox (2018)
I feel that the Cloverfield franchise doesn’t get nearly enough recognition. The first movie, simply titled Cloverfield, is one of, if not the best found footage movies ever made, and provides a mysterious and interesting story. The second entry, 10 Cloverfield Lane, is a masterpiece, and does a fantastic job expanding upon the lore created by the first. The third, The Cloverfield Paradox, is downright awful. It seems like this movie wants to ruin everything great that was established in the first two, and adds simplistic and ridiculous explanations to a lot of the mysteries surrounding the series. It would take me a very long time to go over everything I dislike about this movie, so I’ll leave it at this: Paradox ruins almost every mystery the first two set up, and spits in the face of the first two’s greatness. However, there is a fourth film in development, so if you’re going through this series, I would still watch this so that you can understand the next one.
14. Halloween Ends (2022)
The newest entry in the franchise, Halloween Ends just… isn’t good. I’ve already discussed this at length, but I’ll give a brief summary- I think that the idea behind this movie is very, very good. It just is not executed well in the slightest. The movie tries to separate itself from the rest of the series, and it could have been good, but I think it needed a bit more time in the oven. The writers needed more time to make the story a bit tighter, and the casting directors needed more time to cast somebody who’s not Rohan Campbell to play Corey. I may eventually learn to enjoy this a bit more, as I have with the other recent Halloween reboots, but as of right now, I found it to be very poor.
13. Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986)
In my opinion, the first Poltergeist is one of the best horror movies of the 80’s, if not one of the decade’s best in general. The Other Side is basically the first movie, but much worse. The movie is ridiculous, and somehow features worse visual effects than the original. If you’ve seen the original, you know that the effects were already very bad. Robbie is severely sidelined, even more so than the first. At least in the original, him being ignored added to the central themes of the plot. They just don’t give him anything to do here. The one interesting part about Poltergeist II is the idea of showing ‘the other side’, where all of the spirits reside; an afterlife, of sorts. We do actually get to see this, but it is extremely brief, and features one of the worst shots of the entire movie; it is very apparent how low their budget was. It does have some interesting ideas, but overall, Poltergeist II fails when compared to the first’s greatness.
12. Army of Darkness (1992)
Army of Darkness is the third film in the Evil Dead series, and honestly, it really disappointed me. I really love the first two movies because of how absurd they are. The first one is trying to be a horror movie, but it’s so cheesy that it becomes a comedy. With Evil Dead II, Sam Raimi just decided to make a comedy that’s as ridiculous as possible. He very clearly wanted to do the same with the third, but just wasn’t able to capture the lightning in a bottle of the first two. This movie is so ridiculously goofy, and it just doesn’t work. The one-liners in Army of Darkness are fantastic. There’s nothing I love more than Ash Williams chopping up a deadite with a chainsaw arm and dropping the most ridiculous line ever conceived, and this continues throughout the third movie. But the rest of the comedy just doesn’t land for me. There is a scene that goes on for several minutes that could be considered a full on Three Stooges sketch. It just goes way too far with it. I didn’t hate this movie, but it left me very disappointed after how much I enjoyed the first two.
11. Halloween II (1981)
Even though the original is much better, Halloween II is still a decent movie. Instead of Michael Myers chasing Laurie Strode around Haddonfield, he chases her around a hospital. I did expect a bit more from this one, but there are some very memorable moments-most notably the ‘hot tub scene’. It’s not bad by any means, but it does feel like those that created it weren’t as interested as they were with the first. This is likely because it wasn’t the original idea for the series; I’ll touch on this a bit more when I get to Halloween III. If you’re going through this franchise, it’s definitely worth a watch. It’s probably better than most of them, but it’s not my favorite.
10. Prince of Darkness (1987)
This is a very strange movie. It doesn’t even really feel like a horror movie. John Carpenter is obviously a great director, and even though this isn’t his best, his talent still shows through here. It’s pretty unique when compared to other movies that focus on demons or the devil. I was a little disappointed with how it turned out, but it’s certainly not bad. Plus, if you’re into rock music, Alice Cooper plays a minor character. John Carpenter has made many better projects, but this one is still decent.
9. Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)
This is a very weird movie. John Carpenter originally planned for the Halloween series to be an anthology, where each entry focused on different characters. But, Michael Myers was so popular that this idea was forgotten, and Halloween II was made instead. However, Carpenter did get one chance to make the anthology he wanted to with Season of the Witch. Instead of Michael Myers, this movie focuses on a toy company called Silver Shamrock that specializes in making Halloween masks. Their evil plot is to distribute these masks throughout the country, and then air a message on TV that turns whoever is wearing the mask’s head into… bugs and snakes? Again, it’s very strange, but I kind of like it. It’s unique, and has carved out a bit of a niche fanbase among the franchise, which I am now a part of. This movie really isn’t that good, but I enjoyed myself watching it, and I know it’s a lot better than later movies in the Halloween franchise.
8. Scream 2 (1997)
I got to see Scream 2 in the theater this year. While I did have fun, I was a little underwhelmed after how much fun I had with the first. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still good, but everything that made the first movie great just isn’t the same. The meta and fourth-wall-breaking humor have some very good moments, but isn’t as entertaining as the first. This one focuses on how horror movie sequels always feature more blood and a higher body count. The body count aspect is definitely true, but the violence is surprisingly tame. The characters are just as good as the first, but the overall story wasn’t as interesting. The first one provided a pretty interesting mystery while also being both a horror and comedy movie. Scream 2‘s mystery just isn’t nearly as interesting; the ending sticks out as being very poor. I had fun watching this, but it is not nearly as good as the original.
7. Werewolf by Night (2022)
It’s weird to put a Marvel movie on this list; I didn’t think that I’d ever be able to count one as horror. This was a Halloween special only released on Disney+, and it’s a very refreshing change from the stale Marvel formula. I really like Marvel movies, but quite a few of the recent entries have not been great. This is a great change of pace; it takes a lot of inspiration from classic Universal horror movies. It’s directed by famous composer Michael Giacchino, and I hope he is able to land some more directing roles after this- it would be interesting to see him direct the upcoming Blade. If you’ve got a spare 45 minutes, this is a solid way to spend them. I hope Marvel makes more ‘specials’ like this; there is the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, and it would be fun to see specials for other holidays besides Halloween and Christmas.
6. Drag Me To Hell (2009)
I’m nearing the end of Sam Raimi’s filmography, which meant I had to experience Drag Me To Hell. This one really surprised me- it’s a pretty effective horror film for being PG-13. Raimi managed to fit his style of horror into a non-R rated movie surprisingly well. The only problem I have with it is that Raimi was obviously trying to make something a bit more serious than his Evil Dead series, but still has moments that are completely ridiculous. I usually adore Raimi’s cheesiness, but it felt very out of place here. It doesn’t take over the whole movie like his other films do, but it did taper my enjoyment a little bit. However, this is still an overall good movie, and I hope that Raimi is able to make more non-Marvel films in the future.
5. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
One of the absolute horror classics, A Nightmare on Elm Street is still a good time to this day. Similar to Halloween III, this one definitely gets points for creativity. Most slashers just have a guy with a knife chasing people. A Nightmare On Elm Street has a guy with a knife glove chase and kill people in their dreams. This movie is still very enjoyable; it captures the feeling of a small, midwestern town perfectly, which is part of what I love about the Halloween franchise. If you want to watch all of the famous horror films like I do, don’t skip Wes Craven’s classic.
4. Summer of 84 (2018)
This one is a bit more unknown, but I really enjoyed it. If you enjoy things like Stranger Things or It, this is a very easy recommendation. It’s pretty much those, but without the supernatural element. It involves a boy named Davey and his three friends investigating Davey’s next door neighbor, who he believes to be a serial killer. The movie is pretty lighthearted and easy to watch, but can be very serious at times- the last 10-15 minutes provides a drastic shift in tone, but it works. This is a somewhat unknown and low-budget movie, so it could be hard to rent or track down a physical copy. But if you can, it’s a great choice.
3. Evil Dead (2013)
This is one that really caught me off guard. 2013’s Evil Dead reboot (?) was surprisingly great. This one is not for the faint of heart; it is quite possibly the most gory movie I have ever seen. I wouldn’t say it’s scary, but it will definitely leave you feeling uncomfortable. I can think of a lot of scenes throughout this film that left me absolutely disgusted, and that’s why it’s so effective. It fully dedicates itself to being a completely over the top gorefest, while retaining a serious tone. As I previously mentioned, the first three Evil Dead movies are completely ridiculous (but in a good way). This reboot is meant to be a legitimate horror movie that takes itself seriously, and it succeeds. Evil Dead is a very solid attempt to reinvent the series, and is something I will definitely revisit.
2. Scream (1996)
I’m not entirely sure why I hadn’t seen this until recently- it’s right up my alley. Wes Craven manages to make both an effective horror film and a parody of other horror movies in Scream. There’s not a whole lot to say about this one; everybody’s probably already seen it. If you like horror movies or have seen a lot of them like I have, you’ll probably enjoy yourself watching this movie. It’s a nice change of pace, and the meta humor almost always lands.
Annihilation (2018)
Out of all of the horror movies I watched last month, Annihilation isn’t my favorite- but it probably is the best. Alex Garland has already shown his talent for writing sci-fi stories with Ex Machina, and this fits right in next to it. Annihilation is absolutely fascinating. The last 10 minutes or so are very unsettling, but not in your typical horror movie fashion. I don’t want to spoil anything, as this is something you should experience for yourself. If you like science fiction thrillers, this is a must watch. The only problem is the pacing. The good parts are pretty much perfect, but the in-between portions do drag at times. If this wasn’t a problem, this would be a near-perfect movie.
Maybe my list of horror movies didn’t quite do it for you, and you still need something spooky to keep you occupied for the rest of October. Well, these games should do the trick- I would recommend them if you’re looking for something to play this Halloween season.
The Quarry (2022)
Released earlier this June, The Quarry is Supermassive’s newest game, and it’s just as much fun as everything else they’ve developed. The element that I admire most about this company’s games is how they trick you every single time. There’s always a twist about halfway through every one of their games that you would never see coming. The Quarry makes itself seem like it’s going to be a Friday the 13th-style slasher that takes place at a summer camp, but is actually quite different. The mystery it creates is enthralling, and will keep you hooked until the end. This game is essentially a movie where you get to pick the choices for the characters. You have to make tough decisions that could decide a character’s fate, and rapidly complete quicktime events to ensure a character’s survival. You can play the game in ‘movie mode’, where you pick who lives and who dies and the game plays itself. You can also play it with friends, and assign different characters to different friends. This is a great game to play with a group- me and a friend spent an entire day and night playing through it in one sitting when it came out.
Days Gone (2019)
Days Gone is more action focused than horror, but it definitely has its creepy moments. The game follows Deacon St. John, a biker surviving two years into a zombie apocalypse while searching for his lost wife. It’s an open world game, and much of your play time will consist of riding around Oregon on your motorcycle and taking down various zombie mutations, and occasionally human enemies. While the combat and overall gameplay is very fun and the story is engaging, the real highlight of Days Gone is the hordes. There are 40 different hordes scattered across the map, each containing 50 or more zombies. The largest horde in the game is at an old sawmill, where you have to take on 500 zombies. You heard me right- five hundred. This game is worth playing for the sawmill horde alone; it’s one of the most memorable experiences I have had in any video game.
Dying Light (2015) & Dying Light 2: Stay Human (2022)
The Dying Light franchise is all about large cities to explore, parkour, melee combat, and a lot of zombies. There are pretty much only melee weapons- the first does have a few guns, but the second doesn’t have any. This just makes it more fun, though; in addition to the weapons, there are a lot of different ways the game lets you drop kick, jump on, punch, and shove zombies in pretty much any way imaginable. Both have an extremely generic and boring story, but it doesn’t really matter. You’re not playing Dying Light for the story, you’re playing it for the crazy stuff you can do. And besides, the stories are cheesy enough to be entertaining. These games are just a blast. The parkour and combat in the first are very fun, but I prefer the second just a bit because of how well everything feels. Combat and parkour are extremely smooth, and the addition of wall running, a grappling hook, and a paraglider help a lot. Traversing the city in both games is the best part- climbing buildings and jumping across huge gaps is so much fun when mixed with zombies randomly spawning all over the place. Now is a great time to become a fan of this series- the first game was consistently updated for almost 8 years with constant DLCs and events, and it seems like they’re going to have the same approach with 2.
Control (2019)
Control is probably one of the most confusing games I’ve played- It’s kind of like Christopher Nolan made a game. The game is full of very weird and abstract sci-fi concepts, and has a story that does not make sense on your first playthrough. The game focuses on Jesse Faden, who enters the Federal Bureau of Control to look for her missing brother, Dylan. As she explores the FBC building (known as ‘The Oldest House’), she becomes director of the FBC, and obtains a strange gun, called The Service Weapon, that can take many different forms. Jesse also obtains abilities, such as floating and picking up objects with telekinesis. There’s a strange paranormal force called The Hiss that takes control of humans. This invasion nearly destroyed the FBC, which meant that The Hiss would have escaped The Oldest House and spread across the world. Jesse must stop The Hiss while also looking for her brother. I know that sounds simple, but trust me, that’s a very basic explanation of Control. The horror in this game isn’t your usual jumpscare or body/gore horror. The Hiss can be pretty creepy, and the game has a very dark tone. It has a very slow start, and navigating The Oldest House can be very difficult at times, but I implore you to see this game through- it will be worth your time.
Prey (2017)
Prey was developed by Arkane, developers of the acclaimed Dishonored series, and the recent Deathloop. Prey is probably the least well-known of their games, and I wish it got more attention. It’s an extremely well made survival-horror game set on the space station of Talos I, which has been taken over by the Typhon alien force. The Typhon take many forms- the Mimics, which can perfectly replicate any inanimate object; the Phantoms, which are mutated humans; the terrifying Nightmare, and many more. You play as Morgan Yu, and must unravel the mystery of what the TranStar Corporation and your brother, Alex, have done with your life. The great part about this game is the sheer amount of ways you can approach a situation. Talos I is a very large area to explore, and there are a lot of different things to discover. There are three different endings you can get depending on very specific choices you make throughout the course of the game, and one minor mistake could have drastic consequences on the outcome of the story. It’s quite difficult at times, and will provide a very realistic challenge, especially if you turn on the ‘extra survival mechanics’- hunger, thirst, and bleeding. I highly recommend this game if you enjoy survival-horror games like Resident Evil– you’ll get some time out of it. My first playthrough clocked in at around 30 hours.
Telltale’s The Walking Dead series
These aren’t really horror games, but it’s a fantastic series, so who cares? There are zombies, it counts. These games connect to Robert Kirkman’s run of The Walking Dead comics, and tell a great story. There are 5 entries- The Walking Dead, The Walking Dead: Season 2, The Walking Dead: A New Frontier, The Walking Dead: The Final Season, and The Walking Dead: Michonne, a side story focusing on one character from the comics. The first season remains the best, and one of my favorite games of all time. These games are like The Quarry– you essentially watch a movie and decide what characters do and say. It’s like playing a choose-your-own-adventure book. The series tells one of the best stories in all of gaming, and will leave an impact on you that very few games can. I love this franchise- the games, the comics, and the shows are some of my favorites of each medium. If you’re a fan of the series, I highly recommend reading the comics and playing the games- they are connected, and both are much better than the show.
Alien: Isolation (2014)
This is the only game on the list I have yet to beat, and I really need to fix that. I love the Alien movies, and this game captures the atmosphere perfectly. Every room on this space station looks exactly like the first couple movies. Isolation is brutally difficult. The Xenomorph’s AI is very smart, and will hunt you down like a real, living creature. There’s even a feature where, if you have a mic connected to your controller, the enemies will actually hear you make noises in the real world and track you down based on that. In addition to the xenomorphs, there are the very creepy androids, called Working Joes, that are nearly impossible to kill, and will see to it that you are dead if you are in a restricted area. You can get a few guns, but make sure to use them sparingly, as you basically get one bullet per hour of play time. This is probably the scariest game I’ve ever played- nothing has ever made me feel as tense as Isolation does. If you’re looking for a challenge, this is a very solid pick.
Bioshock (2007)
Bioshock is one of the best games ever made. Ken Levine and Irrational games set out to make a game that changed first person shooters forever, and I’d say they succeeded. The setting and atmosphere of this game is unmatched; the underwater city of Rapture is enchanting. This game is so great in so many ways, and it’s hard to touch on every aspect of it. The gameplay doesn’t get old, as there are so many different weapons, tonics, and plasmids to mess around with, and discover new ways to defend yourself against the crazed Splicers of Rapture. The Bioshock series, especially the first game, has the most interesting lore of any game series I’ve ever played. The environmental storytelling in this game is great- there are so many small stories you can learn about just by exploring Rapture. This franchise has been dormant since 2013 with its third game, Bioshock Infinite, but a fourth has been announced to be in development, and Netflix is currently working on a Bioshock movie. It’s great to see that this universe is being expanded upon, as I believe that there is much more to be told, especially after Infinite’s insane ending.
The Last of Us (2013) & The Last of Us Part II (2020)
I truly believe that The Last of Us series is the greatest in video game history. They provide the most realistic and grounded story I’ve seen, with the most well written characters and dialogue in any game. The main reason these games work so well is because every single character feels like an actual person. While the dialogue in many video games is good, few manage to capture the realistic feeling that this series does. In most games, characters just say their lines back and forth. These lines are often delivered in a great way, but few actually seem like real conversations. But in The Last of Us and its sequel, there is not a single line that feels forced or cheap. This is probably the best choice if you’re looking for a horror game that won’t freak you out too much. The clickers and zombies are kind of creepy, sure, but the way that the human enemies act is the real scary part. The AI is so good that it feels like you are being hunted by a group of real people. The combat in Part II is supposed to make you feel disturbed, between the extreme violence, enemy behavior, and realism. These games don’t have jumpscares, but it will leave you feeling frightened.
Until Dawn (2015)
Yet another choose-your-own-adventure type game, Until Dawn is one of the best of the genre. It was Supermassive’s first game of this type, and is still their best. It does the whole ‘you-think-that-this-one-thing-is-the-monster-but-it’s-really-not’ trope that Supermassive loves to do, and it does it the best of all of their games. The twist really is unexpected, and the first and second halves of the game are drastically different. This is a fun game to play through in one sitting, as it’s pretty short; it lasts about 5-6 hours. Until Dawn has some really great scares- I’ve played through this game more than five times, and know where all of the jumpscares are, and there’s still one or two that get me every time. Every character in this game is great, and the voice actors consist of some well known actors- Rami Malek, Hayden Panettiere, Galadriel Stineman, and Peter Stormare, to name a few. This game is just so fun to play. It utilizes a lot of horror tropes to create a story that’s actually pretty original, just like The Quarry. This is a good one to play through this October- the different choices and endings can result in very different stories, and you will probably get a good few playthroughs out of it.
The Resident Evil series (1996-)
The Resident Evil franchise is the horror series. There are so many entries, and it would be difficult to discuss all of them, so I’ll just highlight the three best ones.
Resident Evil 4 (2005)
RE4 is still the best of the series. Widely considered to be one of the greatest games ever made, it changed the gaming landscape in 2005, and is still influencing games today. If you like games such as Uncharted, Gears of War, or Dead Space, you have Resident Evil 4 to thank. This game is still a blast to this day, and has truly stood the test of time. This is one of the most timeless and replayable video games ever created. It’s really hard to describe why it’s so fun, but it’s this acclaimed for a reason. The story is extremely cheesy, but in the best way possible. Leon S. Kennedy is one of the best characters in any video game, and his endless stream of action movie one-liners is unforgettable. This is something that any hardcore video game fan should play at least once in their life. Capcom has recently announced a remake of 4, just like they did with 2 and 3, but I do recommend playing this one first. The remake seems to be trying to be much scarier than the original. It will probably be great, but it won’t be as cheesy and goofy as the original, which, to me, means it won’t be as fun.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (2017)
The Resident Evil franchise seems to work in trilogies- the first, second, and third were all PS1 games, and focused on top down camera angles with very strange controls. 4 reinvented the RE formula, and made it much more action-based. It was followed by 5 and 6, which took the action just a bit too far. And after the franchise struggled for many years, Capcom made an extremely smart decision and made Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, which brought the series back to its survival-horror roots, this time with a first person perspective. They then released RE: Village last year, and I bet that the ninth entry will stick with the first person aspect, and then the tenth will be something completely new. This game is hard, and will test you, but it is 100% worth it to stick with it until the end. While the last hour or so of the game is extremely underwhelming, the rest is perfect, so it evens out. The game clearly takes a lot of inspiration from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, as the ‘dinner’ scene in both are very similar, and the houses in the game are reminiscent of that in the movie. The environment in RE7 is just disgusting. I feel like I want to take a shower every time I play the game. This is probably the scariest game in the franchise- it’s very tough, and the enemies are creepy, taking inspiration from a few classic horror movies, including The Thing and the previously mentioned Texas Chainsaw Massacre. This is a very fresh take on the Resident Evil franchise that both fans and non-fans of the series can play.
Resident Evil 2 Remake (2019)
After the smash hit of RE7, Capcom cemented the Resident Evil franchise as great again with the full-fledged remake of the 1998 classic. 2019 was a very dry year for games, and Resident Evil 2 was able to receive the recognition it deserves because of this. Many people would list it as the best game of the year, as would I. Resident Evil 2 is a masterpiece of game design and survival horror. The majority of the game takes place in the Raccoon City Police Department, which is one of the most well designed locations in video game history. The RPD used to be a museum, which is why the building is so difficult to navigate. As you slowly navigate through the maze of a building, everything starts to connect. The map design in this game is truly incredible, and one of the best parts of the game. And at the same time, you have to deal with a lot of very tough zombies and very little ammunition and supplies. You have to be careful with your ammo, and make every bullet count- some zombies can take up to 10 pistol headshots to permanently kill. You are always thinking about conserving ammo, because you don’t want to reach a boss and get stuck. There’s also the threat of Mr. X, a bioweapon created by the Umbrella Corporation to hunt down survivors so that there are no witnesses to the corporation’s crime. Mr. X is invincible, and part of what makes the game so memorable. He will hunt you down and make sure that you are dead. He listens for gunshots and footsteps, and then comes after you. All of this is made that much scarier when you realize how narrow every hallway in the RPD is. This makes it very difficult to avoid zombies and Mr. X, making you think on your feet and carefully consider every decision. I could talk about this game for a long time- Capcom clearly spent a lot of time thinking through the design of the game, and it shows. There are a couple different ways to play it- Leon and Claire have two separate campaigns, and you can play them in any order you like. I recommend starting with Leon’s, as Claire’s is much more difficult. Plus, it’s Leon Kennedy. How could you not start with him?
I hope that this list satisfies your horror needs. These are all great picks if you’re looking for fun gameplay, creepy enemies/environments, and a great atmosphere. My personal favorites from the list are The Last of Us, Bioshock, The Walking Dead, and Resident Evil 4, but they’re all amazing. Of course, there are many more horror games that I haven’t played that would probably make it on the list, but I’m just one person. As much as I would like to, I can’t play every video game. So don’t get mad at me if your favorite isn’t on this list. But please, leave a comment on this post if you decide to play one of these- I’d be interested to see how many people enjoy them.
Scarlet Ink Reviews 