4. Creep 2
Director: Patrick Brice
Writers: Mark Duplass and Patrick Brice
Mark Duplass’s charismatic serial killer returns in a sequel that manages to evoke and then surpass the original. Josef is now going by Aaron, the name of his victim in Creep, and he’s looking for another videographer. This time he’s ready to tell his real story — well, maybe. Aaron is a consistently unreliable narrator, and Duplass always plays it so straight that you want to believe him, even though you know he’s completely psychotic. The documentarian this time is Sara (Desiree Akhavan), who barely flinches when Aaron confesses to being a serial killer and seems completely unfazed by his repeated attempts to scare the shit out of her. In the first Creep, it took a while to learn Josef’s true nature — here, the jig is up. But Creep 2 is just as compelling as its predecessor, if not more so. The dynamic between Aaron and Sara is fascinating, and the tension comes from never knowing who’s in control — and realizing they’re not sure either.
3. Happy Death Day
Director: Christopher B. Landon
Writer: Scott Lobdell
In a year with so much exceptional prestige horror — see the next two films on this list — it’s easy for a movie like Happy Death Day to get overlooked. That would be a pity, though, because the Groundhog Day-inspired slasher is a ridiculous amount of fun. It’s also, despite the rampant silliness, a lot smarter than it seems, and that’s saying something for a movie in which the protagonist lets loose an excruciatingly long fart. That protagonist is Tree Gelbman, played by Jessica Rothe in what would be a career-defining performance if Happy Death Daywere the kind of movie to define careers. Tree’s life is kind of a mess and she’s got plenty of problems to deal with, the most pressing being that she keeps getting murdered. And every time she’s offed, her day resets, forcing her to go into detective mode and try to find her killer. Look, it’s not going to get any Oscar recognition, but it’s a goddamn blast from start to finish. Embrace it.
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