6. It

Director: Andy Muschietti
Writers: Chase Palmer, Cary Fukunaga, and Gary Dauberman

Given how hit-or-miss Stephen King adaptations can be, it’s incredible that we got two great adaptations in one year — three if you count the TV series Mr. Mercedes. (And yes, there were some duds, but the less said about The Dark Tower and the TV show The Mist, the better.) Itsucceeds not just because it’s scary — there’s an ancient evil masquerading as an evil clown (Bill Skarsgård) murdering children, so duh, it’s frightening — but also because it’s a compelling coming-of-age story that features some of the finest child actor discoveries since, well, Stand By Me. Like that film, It raises the bar for Stephen King movies, and that’s a good thing. The film’s record-breaking box-office performance is also an encouraging reminder that there is a massive audience for these adaptations — and for well-made R-rated horror in general. So how about that sequel?

5. The Lure

Director: Agnieszka Smoczyńska
Writer: Robert Bolesto

What’s not to love about The Lure, a Polish comedy-horror musical about killer mermaids that’s inspired by the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale “The Little Mermaid”? OK, so maybe it isn’t for everyone, but if you’re willing to give yourself over to the madness of this bizarre little gem, you’re likely to fall hard for it. Silver (Marta Mazurek) and Golden (Michalina Olszańska) are two mermaids who emerge on land in 1980s Poland and join a rock band. When Silver develops feelings for her bandmate (Jakub Gierszal), Golden worries she will lose her sister forever. Oh, and Golden is also murdering people — just go with it. The Lure has so much to offer: an incredible ‘80s-inspired score, a unique take on the mermaid mythos, and some real body horror weirdness. As it reaches an ending that’s closer to the original fairy tale than Disney’s watered-down adaptation, The Lure proves equally interested in the poignant and the grotesque.

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