Eye On Horror
Eye On Horror
Top Tens of 2024
This week, the boys close out 2024 with their Top Tens! What a wonderful year for our favorite genre, as reflected in these 3 very different Top Tens. What new horror movies made the list? Did Nosferatu sneak in at the last minute? Will the boys be able to come up with clever rhymes for each number? (Spoilers, no) What is the only movie to be featured on all 3 lists?!?!?! Find out on the SEASON 7 FINALE OF EYE ON HORROR!!!
As usual, you will never see a "Worst of List" from Eye on Horror. They are not the level of cheap and tacky we aspire to be.
Films Mentioned in the Episode:
https://letterboxd.com/correianbbq/list/eye-on-horror-podcast-sn-7-ep-21/
Top Ten Films (SPOILERS):
https://letterboxd.com/correianbbq/list/eye-on-horror-podcast-top-ten-of-2024/
Follow us on the socials: @EyeOnHorror or check out https://linktr.ee/EyeOnHorror
Get more horror movie news at: https://ihorror.com
Welcome to Eye On Horror, the official podcast of iHorror.com this is episode 140 otherwise known as season seven, Episode 21 I am your host, James Jay Edwards, and with me, as always, is your other host, Jacob Davison, How you doing? Jacob? Doing
Jacob Davidson:fine. Survived the holidays. Yeah,
James Jay Edwards:survive. That's a good way to put it. Also with us, as always, is your other other host, Jon Correia, how you doing Correia?
Jonathan Correia:Doing great. I'm wearing my poncho. And as we all know, it's scientifically impossible to be unhappy in a poncho. So, you know, feeling great, ate some food, got some caffeine. I'm gonna be a little bit more awake today. It's gonna be great. And it's our finale, right? There was
James Jay Edwards:a new when I was at Costco, there was a new variety pack of Alani energy drink. So I'm trying a flavor cherry twist that I've never had before. So you got here, let me, let me sample it while we're here. Yeah, it's cherry and it's twisty.
Jonathan Correia:Gotta get that product placement. But I thought you were gonna say they had a new variety pack of ponchos. And I just like was about ready to cancel this recording and go get some
James Jay Edwards:that'd be amazing. It is our last episode of the season, even though it's the first episode of 2025 which means top 10 lists. So let's dive right in, because these are always, they always run long because, you know, we we talk too much. Let's see where the order we're going to go in I'm deciding are, how you guys are, how we are showing at the top of my Zoom workplace, which is me, Correia, Then Jacob. So I'm going to go first with my number 10. My number 10 is Heretic, which, I mean, I just loved the fact that we could have a religious movie that is not about possession. Nothing against the movies about possession that have come out this year, but I just love the philosophical religion horror of basically someone challenging someone else's religious beliefs, and that being the scariest part. And Hugh Grant won the best performances of the year, I doubt he'll get nominated for an Oscar, but again, just another thing for us to complain about horror not being taken seriously by the Oscars. So, yep, Heretic, number 10. I mean,
Jonathan Correia:it was definitely the number one and best Jar Jar Binks impressions of the year.
Jacob Davidson:This is true. He gave an Oscar wherever he jar, Jar Binks impression.
James Jay Edwards:All right. Correia, what do you got first? Number
Unknown:10? Number 10, I have M Night. Shyamalan's Trap at number ten, which I can already see people being like, Trap. Listen, that was the most fun I had at the cinemas this year. Was Trap. I genuinely love that movie. I had so much fun with it. And, yeah, it was just in a great experience seeing it with the crowd that was really into it. And, you know, I think it deserves a high, high praise for just being fun as fuck. You know,
James Jay Edwards:I it's not on my list, but I loved Trap. I'm a Shyamalan fan boy, I re watched Trap again maybe three weeks ago, and it really makes me it bums me out that Bruce Willis is not in a condition to make movies anymore, because this movie would fit so well into that Unbreakable/Split universe. You know, the butcher would be such a great villain for that. So bum me out. Also,
Jacob Davidson:I do love, uh, Josh Hartnett's performance was genuinely incredible, and he was able to kind of play that up, because, you know, going from, you know, loving father to the butcher, and just kind of the way that the the perspective follows him as he's kind of navigating the stadium and figuring out a way to escape the trap. Plus, like,
Jonathan Correia:you know, I know a lot of people complain about the multiple endings, which wasn't as bad as Old Old had, like, 20 goddamn endings. But like, if we didn't have the multiple endings, we wouldn't have a shirtless Hartnett. So, like, you know, worth it.
Jacob Davidson:That's why people call them. Josh Hotness, yeah.
James Jay Edwards:And finally, it was, you know, I didn't notice it the first time I saw it, but the second time I totally did. Correia, you're right. It's absolutely a Lady Raven concert movie with a subplot, because there is so much of the music. And, you know, hey, I know I said that I'm Team Sky Riley when it comes to these, but hey, I would, I would go to that tour with both of them, because lady Raven, Lady ravens, got her shit together
Jonathan Correia:too. Yeah. Lady Raven Sky Riley tour, when? Come on, yeah. All right. Jacob, number
Jacob Davidson:10. All right, my number 10 is V/H/S/Beyond Nice. Yeah, no, I'm a big fan of found footage, and the V/H/S/ franchise has been really the gift that keeps on giving since the beginning. Like I've been a been a fan, and it's just such a fun stomping ground for directors to just go hog wild with the sub genre. And I thought there were some particularly fun entries in this one, like the stork one, which was directed by Jordan Downey, which was basically like the best Resident Evil movie. That was an actually Resident Evil plus Justin Long and Christian long did a bat shit crazy like science animal found footage. Thing with the fur babies segment, that one's my favorite. I love that I feel like that was him processing being in Tusk, yeah,
James Jay Edwards:and Barbarian, true and and,
Jacob Davidson:of course, Kate Siegel's film debut with a story with her, with her husband, Mike Flanagan, which was so horrifying and heartbreaking. And also I just love that they decided to do kind of a particular shtick with this entry, in that it's all sci fi horror with this, be it mad science or aliens and all kinds of crazy stuff. So yeah, I thought it was a fun time, and I was fortunate enough to see it theatrically at Beyond Fest, and the crowd went wild with every entry. So, yeah, no, I I've I really like this one, and I'm always looking forward to, forward to more VHS and more found footage. Yeah,
Jonathan Correia:I still need to watch it. I just need to remind the viewers that our top 10s are based on what we've seen and our just our personal opinions, so we can't see everything. So my apologies to V/H/S/Beyond. I will be watching you soon. I
James Jay Edwards:think I forgot that a VHS movie came out this year. That's how good this year has actually been pretty plentiful and and the quality of the movies have been great. Has been has been really good. I've been I had a tough time making my list. Yeah. Speaking of my list, it's my turn again, my number nine is MaXXXine. And I, we discussed how we all have different favorite movies in the the X trilogy. MaXXXine, I think, is my favorite. And actually, it says a lot about this year that it's my number nine when, like, X and Pearl were higher up on my lists in those years. I just think that Ty West totally nailed the landing. And for what he was trying to do, which is make one of those 80s sleazy exploitational crime dramas, I think he just totally nailed it. I mean, Maxine minx is an amazing she has an amazing arc between X and MaXXXine. And I just think that I just love Maxine. I wouldn't be adverse to there being a fourth movie. Honestly,
Jacob Davidson:yeah, I really, I really dug MaXXXine, too. And I do love how it's a franchise where, like, every movie is so completely different from the last you know. It just because, yeah, like the first one's like a throwback 70s slasher. The second one is kind of a psychological thriller, and the third one is an 80s sleaze bloitation.
Jonathan Correia:Korea, number nine. Number nine. I actually, I had a day the other day where two movies snuck into my top 10, and this was the first one, Oddity. Yes, I loved oddity. It's a It's atmospheric as fuck. And I really appreciated just kind of like being in this really dark world where ghosts are real, and it's not just about one ghost, it's not just about one thing. And I thought it was a great, great performances by Carolyn Bracken in there. And, yeah, I love very atmospheric spooky ghost stories. So this one, this one did it for me. Yeah, it's a lot of fun. And the wood, I don't know. It's not a wood creature thing, doll. I don't know he was creepy as fuck.
James Jay Edwards:It reminded me of the thing from Fear,
Jonathan Correia:yeah, yeah, the wood guy, yeah. I just, yeah. I thought it was, it was very just atmospheric. And I'm a sucker for atmospheric ghost stories. So yeah, Oddity snuck its way in there the last minute for me. Cool.
James Jay Edwards:I saw Oddity. I saw the trailer accidentally at some, some other, maybe In A Violent Nature, some, some movie that I had to go see in theaters, you know, with like a paying crowd. And I remember the trailer has kind of that opening scene, and then I couldn't remember the name of the movie. And I was like, What the So when. And it finally hit Shudder. I was like, oh yes, this is that movie, awesome. All right, Jacob, number nine. All right,
Jacob Davidson:Coming at number nine, very fine. Is Lisa Frankenstein by Zelda Williams from a script by Diablo Cody. Yeah. No, I had a real soft spot for this one, because I just thought it was such a interesting and unique take on the Frankenstein story with the kind of pop 80s filter, and also, we're all fans of Catherine Newton here. We all love her, yeah,
James Jay Edwards:so did you put it at number nine just so you could bust that sweet rhyme?
Jacob Davidson:No, it was just pure serendipity. But yeah, no, I really dug Lisa Frankenstein, and it really seemed to resonate with a lot of horror romance fans. And yeah, I mean, it is, you know, kind of post modern gothic romance, also killer soundtrack. Hell yeah.
James Jay Edwards:Cool. On to number eight. My number eight, and I have a feeling that sometimes I feel like this is too low, but it just a testament to how great the year has been. My number eight is The Substance. And yeah, because I have a feeling this is higher on your guys's lists, but we'll see. The Substance is just one of those. You know, it starts off sensible, and then just goes absolutely crazy. And again. Demi Moore, if it wasn't a freaking schlocky body horror movie. She she should be in the awards conversation, and I think she has a better chance of being in it than Hugh Grant does for Heretic, but we'll see. But anyway, I have a feeling we're going to be talking aboutThe Substance a little more later, but that's my number eight to be
Jonathan Correia:more and Margaret qualey Just, oh yeah, giving it all, laying it all out there, fearless performances. All
James Jay Edwards:right, Correia, number eight,
Unknown:number eight. I had to, I had to include this in my top 10, Sasquatch Sunset. Yeah, a lot of my top 10s is going to be. How much fun did I have at the cinemas this year? And let me tell you, Sasquatch Sunset was an experience. And seeing that on the big screen, hearing people having, like, physical reactions to what happens on the screen. I know I just said, I'm probably gonna say fearless performances a bunch with these but truly fear
James Jay Edwards:these ones really are, yeah,
Jacob Davidson:yeah. Like, this is over the line. Talk about actors taking
Unknown:risks, yeah, Riley Keough and Jesse Eisenberg and everyone else, just like, fully went for it. The cinematography is gorgeous. It really does feel like a super high shot, like documentary about these creatures, and it also featured probably the most anxiety inducing scenes of the year for me. I The the scene by the river had me like gripping my chair, just being like, something happened already. God did just, let me. Just release me. Release me. So, yeah, Sasquatch Sunset, you know, I It's Sasquatches and bodily fluids. What? What more could you want?
Jacob Davidson:It also was one of the most dramatic movies this year, especially because, I mean, it was basically a family drama with no dialog with this group of Sasquatches, but also incredibly funny, like, one of the funniest scenes I even saw this year or last year in theaters, was that bit where the one Sasquatch gets been by a turtle, and it can't get the turtle off, so they all have to pull the turtle off. Then the patriarchs Sasquatch holds the turtle up to his ear like a cell phone, yells into it, and then chucks it into the woods like that. Made me lose my shit. That's
Jonathan Correia:so good. It's good. Cool.
James Jay Edwards:Jacob, number eight,
Jacob Davidson:Okay, number eight, and feeling great is Robert Eggers Nosferatu, which, yeah, I mean, I'm, yeah, it was kind of on the fence. You know where to place it exactly. But I knew it was going to be on my top 10 because it was probably the best vampire movie this year, and there were a few, I think. But, yeah, no, I really, I really liked Eggers's remake, just in, you know, like, do well, you know, like following, you know, the original Murnau classic and Herzog's gritty 70s German version. It was interesting to kind of see his own take on it, and bringing his own signature style and just, you know, darkness, darkness, darkness. It was very foreboding. And of course, having such a incredible ensemble cast, particularly I liked Willem Dafoe as the the professor. Like I still can't stop thinking about that line. I've seen things that would make Isaac Newton go back into the womb. It's
Jonathan Correia:such a great line. Oh yes.
Jacob Davidson:And, and also, I just really love what he did with the vampire because between Bill Skarsgards performance and just how imposing is, just how he made the vampire this force of supernatural darkness, like he's like a living corruption, like everywhere he goes, like he drives everyone mad, or brings disease and plague and horror around him, with just the rats follow him and his shadow stretches all over the city. So I really do like how they brought that back. Because, you know, it's like beyond, you know, like being a guy with fans who drinks blood like vampires are supposed to be that, you know, mind warping, or it's like they're just so unnatural that everything around them is corrupted and and Dan. It was last to see on 35 millimeter at the New BEV. I really had great time with that. Yeah,
Jonathan Correia:I saw it. I saw it again for a second time last night, because there was something I was like, I need to watch it one more time before I finalize this top 10 list. And as spoilers, it's not on mine. I absolutely loved Nosferatu, and I love that take on Orlok. But what in re, re watching, because I watched the original again before going to see it. What made me realize, what was the thing that was like keeping it for my top 10 is I love that weirdo. I love Max Shriek's weird Orlock. There's so many scenes where you see his loneliness come out and just in how he interacts the whole dinner scene where he's sitting there with Thomas, and he's just kind of like staring over he's just a weird, lonely guy, um, yep, and he embodies evil, whereas Eggers, uh, Orlok is the embodiment of evil. So there wasn't which is scary and great in its own sense. But I just, I lean more towards, you know, feeling for that, for that weirdo who's carrying his own Casket or through town, which is both really ridiculous and sad but also powerful. It's because at first you're like, oh shit, he's carrying a whole casket full of dirt by himself, but then also, like, that's so sad. He has to carry it himself. I don't know, like, I was just missing that from that and but that's like, my only it's not even a critique. It's just, you know, it's I miss. I like the weirdo guy a bit more. That's all
James Jay Edwards:fair enough. Cool. All right. Moving on to number seven. My number seven is probably my favorite movie we saw from Scream Fest few months back In the Name of God, you know, like I touched on with Heretic in a year that saw a lot of religious horror, this one just stuck out for me because it wasn't just a possession movie. This one wasn't even philosophical. This was literally sacrifices causing miracles and and it I wasn't, you know, truth be told, I wasn't expecting a ton from any of those Scream Fest titles, just because I know how festival movies that you've never heard of Go. But this one just blew me away as I was watching it. I loved this movie. I'm not sure if it has an American release outside of festivals. But you know, that didn't stop me. It's my number seven In the Name of God. I also loved the familiar faces from Misommar that were in it too, which which were a lot of fun for me. But anyway, In the Name of God, it's my number seven. Korea, number seven.
Jonathan Correia:Number seven. All Dogs Go To Heaven. I'm trying to my number seven this year was Sting. Who? Yeah, I Sting was such a fun horror comedy. I grew up on Arachnophobia. I think that's one of the greatest creature features ever. And this one Sting was just like, in that same vein, which is really funny, was really out there, really went for it and had some genuinely tense moments. I also really appreciate movies that have a child as, like the protagonist of the child is well written and doesn't come off of annoying,
James Jay Edwards:you know, and well acted in this case,
Jonathan Correia:yeah, because it's so easy to for an adult writing a child, to not write them well. And I just thought it was all around. Just awesome. That whole, the whole opening joke bit with the with the old lady, and then coming back to it is so good. Yeah, if, if you haven't seen Sting, it's spiders in an apartment building, and it's, it's such a fun ride. Sting is
James Jay Edwards:another one of those movies that I think I forgot. It came out this year, because it was way back in, like February, and it was a lot of fun, too. And I don't know if it would have made my list, but when I was making my list, I didn't think, oh, I should think about Sting. You know, I don't know. I think that it's just been so long, but, yeah, Sting, Stings a ton of fun.
Unknown:About halfway through the year, I just, I made, like, a private letter box list of just like horror movies I liked that came out this year, because I knew I was like, oh, December, I'm gonna be going through my diary and I'm. Gonna hate everything, trying to pick fucking titles. So just, just add everything to this. I had like, 40 my by the end of the year, yeah, I was throwing everything in there. Yeah. All right.
James Jay Edwards:Jacob, number seven. All
Jacob Davidson:right. Look at number seven is friend of the podcast, Steven Kostanski's Frankie Freako did either? Do you guys see that? I didn't. No, not yet. No, no, well, you're missing out, because it is the ultimate tiny little monster, weird guy throwback, and it's basically Connor Sweeney plays this uptight milk toast dude in, I think it's like the late 80s, early 90s, and he calls, like, one of those old 900 numbers for like, party animals. And he invokes Frankie Freako and his friends who are just like little party animal goblin guys. And shenanigans ensue. And it has Kostanski's, you know, you know, sense of humor with a lot of the homage stuff and little creatures. And specifically, it's a big throwback on Ghoulies. And I think particularly Ghoulies Go to College, which is probably one of the best ghoulies hands
Jonathan Correia:down. It's ghoulies three, ghoulies two, ghoulies, and I haven't seen the fourth one.
Jacob Davidson:But yeah, pretty much yes. But yeah, no, it's, it was just so much fun. And again, glad I got to see it theatrically. I saw it at the Alamo. And, yeah, no, just the world needs movies about weird little guys, you know, as I
Jonathan Correia:was just saying for Nosferatu, you know, I love, I love the weird, weird guys. So, yeah, I It's on my list, I just need to
Jacob Davidson:find it. Yeah, like, I was even saying that it would make a great double feature with Hundreds of Beavers, because both of them feel like live action cartoons because, like, there's even a bit with, like, I figured anvils almost dropped on somebody's head in Frankie Freako.
James Jay Edwards:So alright, on to number six, I can't think of a rhyme for six. So anyway, my six is Longlegs, nice. This is a bit polarizing. I know that there are a lot of people who absolutely hated this movie. I loved it. It's sort of like, I feel like it is kind of the the B movie version of Silence of the Lambs, because, because it's sort of a police procedural. But you then you throw in the the psychic element and the occult element, and then by the you get to the end, I don't want to spoil anything, but by the time you get to the end, there is another element that shows up that is just even crazier. And you get Nick Cage singing T Rex to your, you know, rocking out to T Rex. So, yep, Longlegs is my number six, and loved it. It was awesome.
Jonathan Correia:I just love that all around LA, there's for your consideration posters for Longlegs. And it's Yeah, Cage Nick cages face, is it
James Jay Edwards:getting a push? That's
Jonathan Correia:yeah. They have a cool they have a massive poster or billboard for it right outside, right across the street from Amoeba and the Pantages Theater on Hollywood Boulevard, so that they're trying, they're going for it because
James Jay Edwards:it was in the Neon pack that came to the critics groups I'm in. But other than that, they didn't give it a push. And, you know, I couldn't get any traction with it for in my groups, mainly because Anora was also in the neon pack, and everybody focused on that, I mean, and justifiably so, Anora is great. But, yeah, you know what? I'm pretty stoked. And this is kind of going off topic. I don't want to do it for too long, because we're running long, but what I'm stoked with the awards push that's got gotten with critics groups is Hundreds of Beavers. Yes, that's another one. I couldn't get any traction with people in my group, and I don't know if they took it seriously as a movie. I'm like, Oh, dude, seriously. Watch it and you'll love it. But anyway, number six Correia, what's your six?
Unknown:Number six, pick up sticks. There it is, and take your picks. It's number six I have. This was my absolute last second sneak inThe Vourdalak, which is a French Slavic vampire horror fairy tale.
James Jay Edwards:You said Nosferatu wasn't on your list. Well,
Jonathan Correia:The Vourdalak is very different from from, from Nosferatu, in that, basically, if you want your Slavic, did you see Nosferatu? And you were like, this movie isn't cunty enough for me. The Vourdalak checks that box hard. It's if you don't know the story of The Vourdalak it's a Slavic creature tale where it's basically a vampire, but the but it comes back to haunt and eat and infect its loved ones. So it's very specific. Mario Bava did an adaptation of it in one of the segments for Black Sabbath with Boris Karloff, and it is such, so beautifully shot. It's, it's slow, it you so you're really in it. It's, it's beautiful looking everyone again, apologies for the language, but everyone's cunty is fucking it the main protagonist,
James Jay Edwards:are you apologizing for cunty or for Fuck,
Jonathan Correia:I will never apologize for cunty. The main protagonist is this French aristocrat, pansy, and it reminded me a lot of like the Disney adaptation of Sleepy Hollow with Ichabod and Mr. Toad, where he's just like this pansy in tights, who's way over his head in a supernatural situation. The The Vourdalak himself is all puppetry, and it's gorgeous. It's beautiful. Oh, it's it's also very funny at times. It's very haunting. It just checked so many boxes, and I wasn't expecting it. I highly, Oscilloscope released it, and I highly recommend it. It's currently on Kanopy. So if you have a library card which is free to get, you can sign up for Kanopy and watch The Vourdalak, as well as 1000s of other amazing titles.
James Jay Edwards:It depends on if your library has The Vourdalak, because the titles are are different for which library card you use. But have either you guys been watching another side quest? Have you guys been watching that Dexter prequel series on Showtime? No, this. It just made me think of you because, at one point, because, because there's a child Deb, who every other word out of her mouth is fuck, and at one point, another character says, um, pardon my French. And Deb's like Your French is fine,
Jacob Davidson:uh, all right. Jacob, number six, all right, yeah, Jonathan, I was gonna keep up the mighty Bush references by going 666, pick up sticks. I remember from Nanageddon
Jonathan Correia:Yeah, of course, Nana get in. I love it, yeah.
Jacob Davidson:But anyway, so number six, Fe day Alvarez is
Alien:Romulus. Oh, nice, nice. Which, you know, kind of following what Jonathan was saying, just that. You know, a lot of these were based off just my experience seeing them, largely at the movies, at the at the theaters this year, and
seeing Alien:Romulus in a double feature with the original Alien at the Egyptian theater with a sold out crowd of Alien fans, was incredible, like it was the perfect environment for it. And I do really love the movie. I thought it was, well, definitely, was one of the best sequels in years, and it was just so interesting and that it kind of hybridized a lot of elements from every entry in the franchise, because there's a little bit because, I mean, it's largely based in the original Alien, but there's also a little bit of Aliens in there, Alien Resurrection, even Prometheus. And, yeah, no, I thought it's solid cast. And I do love Alvarez's directing and a sense for production value, just how claustrophobic it was and how genuinely terrifying the aliens were in this movie, complete with largely practical effects alien suits, which just really made it in line with the rest of the franchise. Yeah, no. So I really dug that. And, yeah, a little fan service heavy at certain points, but I felt it was negligible compared to how good the overall project was.
James Jay Edwards:And how can you not be fan service to be with an with an Alien movie? I mean, you, you kind of expect it, yeah,
Jonathan Correia:unless you're completely rebooting everything you gotta have to. It's such a rich and complex mythology that's been spread out through all the movies like you gotta, you know, put the little bits in, you know.
James Jay Edwards:But even Prometheus and Covenant were kind of fanservice, so, you know? Okay, cool. We're halfway through, and not a single duplicate, am I right? You have,
Jacob Davidson:I don't think there have been any No, no movie has been called twice.
James Jay Edwards:Yeah, this is, this is exciting, all right, number five to stay alive. See, I'm getting into it. My number five is Civil War. And I have to say, at the risk of being called a liberal left grifter, this movie is a lot more prescient today than it was when it came out in April. But I just think Civil War is such an even keeled portrait of what a civil war would actually be like. I mean, it doesn't really take sides. It's just reporting the facts. So it's more a combination of the war itself than either side, although they drop little hints as to what side might be, you know might be which. But again, Alex Garland is English, so he doesn't really have a dog in the race, you know, he just wanted to make a good movie, and he did. I love Civil War.
Jonathan Correia:I still love that Florida was rogue and doing its own thing.
James Jay Edwards:I still I like how they how they combined Texas and California that actually made it clear that they weren't picking a side, you know, because in a real American Civil War, that they would be against each other, but yeah. Anyhow, Correia number five,
Jonathan Correia:number five, beehive. So for my number five, I have the The First Omen, which, again I Omen is one of my absolute favorite franchises, nothing but bangers with that trilogy. And I say it's a quadrology, nothing but bangers with that trilogy. But I absolutely it was the it was the series I grew up with. I watched constantly. And, you know, I was excited for a new Omen film, but I was like, how the hell are you going to do a prequel that works? Well, I mean, Roe v Wade, that's that's what caused it, that's how, that's why we have The First Omen and Immaculate, let's be honest. And as a body horror, it works tremendously in not just I was afraid it was just going to basically repeat the original. Wrote omen and it didn't. And the cinematography was gorgeous. It looks like it could transition easily into the first Omen, with its style and with such amazing performances. Yeah, The First Omen, I feel like is a little overlooked right now, but, you know, I loved it so
James Jay Edwards:much. All right, Jacob, number five.
Jacob Davidson:All right. Number Coming at number five is Destroy All Neighbors did, either, did any of you guys see that one?
Jonathan Correia:No, I'm, you're, you're beefing up my watch list right now. Yeah, all right.
Jacob Davidson:Well, yeah, no, you gotta, you gotta get in on it, because it was, it was definitely one of my favorites this year. Again, great theatrical screening. There was a premiere at my theater, the Aero and they and again, it's a very practical effects heavy movie with a lot of monsters and ghouls and Alex winter as some kind of Eastern European goblin man named Vlad. Yeah. No, it's, it's a lot of fun. It's basically about Jonah Ray as this, like want to be a prog rocker who's very neurotic and just kind of up in his head when he gets this new neighbor named Vlad who's, like, very imposing and annoying, and he accidentally kills him, but he comes back As a ghoul and a series of Cohen brothers as accidents happen and his neighbors start dying one by one while he's trying to get his life on track and finish his Prague rock album. And yeah, no, it's just such a fun mix of styles. And yeah, it's just so fun to see Alex winter in full body makeup again, like Freaked and, ya know is, it's a good time, and has a surprisingly uplifting message about believing in yourself and, you know, pursuing an art. So, yeah, no, I highly recommend it, and it was definitely one of my favorites
James Jay Edwards:this year. All right, number four in the door. I don't know. I'm not as good at this as you guys. My number four is Love Lies Bleeding, which, you know, punishably Horror. But I'm the fringe guy, and I just I have been waiting with bated breath to see what rose glass does after Saint Maud and it, I wasn't disappointed. Love Lies Bleeding. I mean it, it showed us that one, Kristen Stewart is still one of the premier actors of her generation, post Twilight, she can do no wrong. And also, Katie O'Brien can do more than just stunts and action, because she can act as well, but yeah, Love Lies Bleeding again, questionably horror. It's almost more just like Grindhouse, but I loved it. It's number four, all right. What's your four? Correia coming
Jonathan Correia:in at number four across the floor is I Saw the TV Glow. Oh yeah. I absolutely love this movie. This one is, it's again, cinematic experience. Just the bodily reaction of to that film was, was really intense. Yeah, it had like, I sorry, Sydney Sweeney, but I Saw the TV Glow. Had the best guttural scream of the year, like felt that in my chest Justice Smith, just all around, absolutely fantastic. It's hard to put into words on like, how great that film is, but I Yeah. Let's put. It this way. I went to a signing where Amber Benson was there, and instead of getting anything Buffy signed, I brought my copy of I Saw the TV Glow. I loved it. I love it that much. Yeah, so it's Yeah. I can't wait to see where Jane Schoebrun goes from here, because they're an incredible filmmaker and have such a unique and amazing eye, I'm just so excited for them
James Jay Edwards:and such a unique thumbprint. I mean, you can tell Yeah, a Jane movie when you see it, yeah, it's, it's, and you don't see that often with today's filmmakers. So, I mean, I think you see it with Robert Eggers as well, but yeah, but Schoebruns is even more distinct. So yeah, it's a and I Saw the TV Glow has a banger soundtrack too. Oh yeah, true, Yep, yeah, I Jacob number four.
Jacob Davidson:Well, yeah, number four and mine was also I Saw the TV Glow. Yeah, first duplicate, we matched. But yeah, no, I saw the TV globe just really resonated with me, and was genuinely probably one of the most haunting movies I saw this year, because, you know, largely being a, you know, trans allegory, I also kind of saw it as an ode to depressed Millennials everywhere
James Jay Edwards:I missed the trans allegory in it. I saw that the depressed millennials, but also I thought it was more an allegory for for being stuck in, like a little town kind of a thing, I don't know, but, but, I mean, yeah, there's lots
Jacob Davidson:of way to interpret it, but there was definitely a trans allegory in there with, you know, because Justice Smith's character Owen sees themselves as, I think it was the character Tara in I saw the TV glow, and I think it's like the horror. Somebody even said that it's a horror movie about the horrors of body dysmorphia. But also, yeah, I mean, this is just, that's the thing, you know, just so many different people can get so much out of this movie, because there's so many different ways to interpret and analyze it while also having just yeah, like Jon was saying it these incredible scenes, like the scream, it just is still stuck with me. And I love the pink opaque for the show up in the show which genuinely feels like kind of a like it could be a lost 90s teen show that that's just out there somewhere, and with all the practical effects. And yeah, no, again, it's something. It just something about it is just very haunting. It just really, it really stuck with me long after I saw it. But yeah, no, I it, and it had such great nightmare imagery, like with Mr. Melancholy, the moon guy and that horrible ice cream man monster. So, yeah, no, this is definitely horror. Also has one of one of the best Fred Durst appearances this year, outside of another movie, just
Jonathan Correia:interesting to say, one of the best. Yeah, as if, as in, there's multiple Fred Durst appearances cinematically this year.
James Jay Edwards:Like I said, Hey, anything that keeps him from making music, I'll support you. Number three. My number three is ISS, which I remember I said back in January, that is it too early to declare my my favorite movie of the year. And yes, it was because ISS has been bumped down to number three, but I still love this movie it. It's just such a treat. I mean, we haven't had this good of a treatise on paranoia, probably since The Thing just youknow, to refresh you guys, it's about six Well, three astronauts and three cosmonauts, three Americans, three Russians, on the International Space Station, and World War Three breaks out down on Earth. So they are up in the space station. Each of them gets a message from their respective country, take control the space station by any means, means necessary. So they're up there, and their family up there, but all of a sudden, you know, their country is like, do whatever you need to do. So then they're like, hmm. And then there are interpersonal relationships between the between the people on the space station that are like, Okay, I think I can trust this person more than I can trust my country. I don't know. It's just, it's just crazy, but it's, uh, yeah. ISS my number three. And
Jonathan Correia:it has the amazing Ariana DeBose, who is just, who was just so good in West Side Story. And, oh yeah, just, what are those performers that I will watch, almost anything they're in, which means I have to watch Argylle at some point. All right, Correia, number three. Number three. I've number three for me. No, that was a rhyme. Fuck off. Number three for me was Longlegs.
James Jay Edwards:Oh, nice. Another
Jonathan Correia:dupe. Yeah, we're starting to dupe here. Longlegs hit that special note in my heart. Uh. Like growing up on 90s thrillers that in my parents VHS collection, Along Came A Spider, Se7en, Silence of the Lambs. All those movies were on constant rotation with Independence Day all the time in my household, and it fits so well in that world, and then it just brings in the occult, brings in the Satanic Panic, which is also near and dear to my heart, and it's just genuinely atmospheric, but not in like a ghosty haunted house, like I was talking about with Oddity earlier, but just in like an unsettling like you feel eyes on you the whole time and you but you don't know where they're coming from, and it's so good with such great performances. And surprisingly, like, I just love how they handle like, because you can go so ridiculous with the with the with the FBI agent, with a psychic powers. It's such a silly thing that's not treated silly at all. It's just like, Yeah, this is just a thing, and then you move on and you accept it. And I love that. So yeah, Longlegs was fantastic. And, yeah, I hope, I hope Nick Cage does get nominated for several awards, because what way did he go for it? And his makeup and costume department went ham across the board. Oh, yeah, he is definitely, like we were saying, taking risks. He's definitely not afraid to take risks, either.
Jacob Davidson:No. And I hope if he gets nominated, he shows up to the Oscars or whatever, dressed as Longlegs.
Jonathan Correia:Yeah. And let's not forget, Maika Monroe is also incredible in it, but also Alicia Witt was, oh yeah, Alicia, yeah. Holy shit. That performance as as as the mother, was just insane. I know everyone's gonna be talking about Nick Cage, but Alicia Witt also needs some high praise. And
James Jay Edwards:let's not forget Kieran Shipka, who in the one scene she's in, um, yeah, that was, that was weird. I think she's kind of Osgood Perkins muse, because, you know, he likes to use her, but yeah, that was a that, yeah, right on. There's our repeat, um, number three, Jacob
Jacob Davidson:Coming at number three for me, from the dark recesses of Canada, is Chris Nash's In a Violent Nature. Oh, nice. Is that Canadian? Yeah, it was, it was Canadian. It's, I think it's even set around Ontario.
James Jay Edwards:Oh, it looked, it looked to me like, uh, like it was the Pacific Northwest, but yeah, I guess, hey, any forested area will do true.
Jacob Davidson:But anyway, yeah, no, it's, it was one I was anticipating this year because it did incredible at Sundance, and it just sounded so interesting. It was described as Friday the 13th. It was directed by Terence Malik, and it's basically about like this, Jason Voorhees type undead killer who rises from the grave after his grave is disturbed and somebody steals like his prized locket and the switch on it is, is that it's a slasher movie from the killer's perspective, and even though he doesn't talk or really have much interaction, it's just the cameras following him the whole time, instead of like the teenagers or anybody else around. So you're seeing him set up the kills. You're seeing him just kind of figuring out his surroundings and assembling his costume and weapons, which is the other thing too, the killer Johnny, I love the design for him, because he Don's this old school like timber fireman costume with like this as best dose helmet with big glass eyes, and he grabs these timber hooks that he uses to brutally kill people. And what really sold this is that, you know, just is so brutal in its kills, which, again, had effects done by friend of the show, Stephen Kostanski. And during one particular kill involving a woman doing yoga like a guy sitting near me actually screamed, oh, God, please stop. It
James Jay Edwards:never ends. It was like the bear scene in The Revenant. You're like, oh, okay, she's dead. Yeah,
Jacob Davidson:yeah, no, it just kept going. And you know that is that, although that is a particular highlight that really elevated it for me. And, yeah, no, I just really dug it. I was such fascinating storytelling. And apparently, like most goods slasher see slasher franchises, there's a sequel on the way, so I'm very excited for Johnny to come back.
Unknown:Yeah, I really appreciated what they did with the kills. Because usually kills with slashers, it's quick, it's done. And, you know, it's a bang flash event where you go, wow, that was awesome. But this made you sit in it for so long. It made you sit there and go, Oh fuck this is a human this is happening too. And you felt dirty, yeah,
Jacob Davidson:no, especially like that automatic timber cutter scene Jesus Christ,
James Jay Edwards:yeah, all right. Number two, my number two. And you know what to do, Nosferatu built in. That's not why I did Nosferatu at number two, though that was just serendipity as well. I. Um, I love Nosferatu so much. It's just like we're talking about Robert Eggers. Talk about Robert Eggers, auteurness and just his attention to detail. Every frame of this movie is, is just a its own little cinematic masterpiece, just impeccably shot and and, like you said, Willem Defoe, just aping it up in in a movie that is otherwise serious, it's almost like he is the one who it's not that he's not taking it serious, but he's the, he's the wild card, you know, he's the, he's the guy who cut the brakes on the van. But, yeah, I loved Nosferatu. It was classic period piece, but still felt modern to me, which is another thing that I feel like Robert Eggers is one of the few people who can do that, yeah, Nosferatu, number two. So, another repeat, Correia, what's your number two? Yeah,
Jonathan Correia:my number two is The Substance. Sweet. Oh, fuck. I forgot to do a rhyme. Boo Boo, boo boo. Here's number two.
Jacob Davidson:I was gonna say I stopped rhyming like five entries ago. I don't know why you guys are still doing it. Someone's
James Jay Edwards:gotta pick up the slack.
Jonathan Correia:Hey, Boo Boo. Here's my number two. It's The Substance. No substance. I mean, it's duking it out with The Vourdalak for cuntiest movie of the year. Just fearless performances across the board. It's insane to me that Dennis Quaid had that and Reagan out the same because he was just again in a film that, like, really dive like divulges into Yuzna produced body horror over the topness it, it still the most like visceral, bodily reaction I had is Dennis Quaid chewing shrimp. Few things grosser than that, but yeah, amazing, amazing performances across the board. It was giving face, it was giving body. It was giving Society, you know, like just all around, just an amazing film that felt like it came out of nowhere. It felt like all we were getting were trailers for that one James McAvoy movie that no one talks about now, even though it was advertised for eight, nine months every day, and then all sudden, this trailer came out for The Substance, and it just kind of like took over everything, and it deserves it, and it was, it's such a phenomenal film. And yeah, Demi Moore needs to get fucking nominated across the board. Oh yeah.
James Jay Edwards:All right. Number two, Jacob,
Jacob Davidson:all right. Now we're going into more repeats, because my number two was Osgood Perkins Longlegs. Yes, yeah,
James Jay Edwards:the first Eye On Horror approved movie of the day. Yeah,
Jacob Davidson:triple triple agreement, top 10. So it gets the Eye On Horror seal of approval. But yeah, no, I was at the Beyond Fest premiere where Ozgood Perkins and Nicolas Cage both showed up. And, yeah, no, it's just the first time I saw it, especially with a crowd in a sold out theater, is just, you could feel just the dread wash over the audience as the movie unfolded. Because, like, nobody really knew what to expect it, because speaking on advertising. Like Longlegs had some of the best marketing of any movie this year, like the cryptic teasers, and like you never really saw Nicholas Cage in the trailers or anything, and the right the weird, like little symbol writings, like nobody knew what was going on or what the deal with this was. So you know that thing, it hooks you in. And you know, as the story unfolds, and you see what's going on it, it's, it's a real nightmare, logic type of movie, which is so creepy. And, yeah, like, Nicolas Cage was very unsettling as Longlegs. And just like he's goofy and camp. And he has the whole, like, glam metal thing about him, but, you know, it's, like, the whole thing where he's driving
Jonathan Correia:the car and saying, mommy,
Jacob Davidson:daddy. Like, yeah, you just exactly, it's funny, but it's also really freaky. And like, I'm still, and like, some parts of it, I still, you know, kind of scratch my head over because, again, you know the nightmare logic with the dolls, and you know what exactly it was, and also, like the fact that there's, like, several, or I think, 13, different hidden devils in in the movie, like in the background, like in certain scenes, you can see The Devil like haunting people. But, yeah, no, it. And also what Jon was saying, it just perfectly recaptures that energy of 90s thrillers, especially the supernatural, satanic tinged ones, yeah.
James Jay Edwards:All right, cool. All right, on to our number ones I'm going to do, let's do our honorable mentions before we hit number one. Just about to ask. Yes, let's do a few honorable mentions mine that just missed. Oddity just missed for me, not really horror, but Hundreds of Beavers. I Saw the TV Glow just missed. In a Violent Nature, which Jacob already talked about, that just missed for me, and also, literally, two days ago, almost made me bump Heretic off, Humane Caitlyn Cronenberg's movie, that was another one, but those were the just missed. Let's go to the number one. For me, my number one, no surprise to anyone who listens to podcast, is Strange Darling. I absolutely loved Strange Darling. It almost feels like it could take place in the same universe as In a Violent Nature. Maybe that's why I thought in a violent nature is Pacific Northwest, because Strange Darling is but, um, strange darling is just one of those movies just don't, don't research anything if you haven't seen it, go in completely cold, because things change at the drop of a dime in it. It's beautifully shot by Giovanni Ribisi. Yes, that Giovanni Ribisi. He's a producer on it, but he's also the cinematographer. And also the music. The score is just completely chaotic. But then there's this. It's juxtaposed with the soundtrack songs that are just like beautifully folk kind of songs. So anyway, Strange Darling is the whole package for me, and it is my number one Korea, which is, well, let's get some honorable mentions first.
Jonathan Correia:Yeah. So for honorable mentions, I gotta get I gotta mention Rebel Ridge is just like an amazing at tense action thriller. Cuckoo was also phenomenal. Hunter Stevenson was just fantastic. Schaefer, sorry, Hunter Schaefer was just incredible in it. And my boy, Dan Stevens gave his least sexiest role in this year. Also, actually, yeah, let's list off the Dan Stevens movies, Abigail and Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire, both absolutely fun to see in the cinemas. A Quiet
Place:Day One was just great. I think it was probably the most fun I had with A Quiet Place movie. Furiosa was an incredible prequel. My favorite movie of the year technically doesn't come out till next month, and that's Companion. So that's why it's not on my list this year, it will be next year, The Front Room again. I know I keep talking, but Kathryn Hunter is just absolutely incredible in that it's on Max later this week, if you haven't seen it, and Street Trash also shout out to Ryan Kruger and Co. Was just an amazing legacy sequel that was just absolutely fun. This was a year of goopiness and horniness coming back to the cinema, and I couldn't be happier, which I think leads directly into my number one film of the year, beating Jay out as the Fringe guy, Love Lies Bleeding. Woo hoo. I just loved that movie so much. It was such a great it was grind housey. It was a thriller. I highly debated with myself whether to include it or not on the list, and then when I saw I was on Jay's, I was like, well, it's got to be on my list because there's only one spot for it, and it's number one. It was sweaty, it was horny, it was sexy, it was thrilling, and it just had everything for me again, I including
James Jay Edwards:the bat shit ending,
Jonathan Correia:yeah, I love, oh yeah. Oh no. It was awesome. Yeah, it was, it was great.
James Jay Edwards:Ice becoming one of Rose Glass's trademarks, I think the bat shit can't wait to see what she I stan
Jonathan Correia:Rose Glass till the day I die. Between Saint Maud and Love Lies Bleeding. She has a fan for life in me. And yeah, I it was, I, it almost felt like it was a 4DX movie, because you could feel the sweat coming off the screen. At least we were, we were in the front row, so it was Katie O'Brien and CO were sweating on us. But yeah, Love Lies Bleeding. Best movie of the year for me. Nice,
James Jay Edwards:cool. All right, Jacob, honorable mentions and then number one,
Jacob Davidson:all right, there's still plenty of great movies didn't quite make the cut. I just saw this one a few days ago. Bloody Axe Wound with Billy Burke. Great meta slasher. Would highly recommend it comes to shudder soon. Watch Them Come Blood. Great grind house throwback that's come that's gonna be coming out soon, Street Trash, like what Jon was saying. Had a lot of fun with that. And, oh yeah, just so much good stuff. Mr. Crockett, dug that one. Scared Shitless. Great time. Also really liked Rumors. And my other favorite, Fred Durst appearance and horror Y2K but, you know, there can only be one number one, and I had to hand it to Tillman singers, Cuckoo starring Hunter Schaefer and Dan Stevens. Yeah, no, just that, yeah, this one. Just, just really. Appealed to me. It was such a great horror movie with, again, you know, kind of the nightmare logic and Hunter Schaefer. It was one of the best horror leads of this year. And it just had such a great emotional core to it, dealing with grief, but also this weird, you know, Cuckoo and, like the the weird lady in the woods. And I have to say, Jon, I feel like this was one of Dan Stevens best this year, and his most ridiculous accent, which I think one ties to the other, but just him playing a mad scientist is just like he was, he was meant to do that, and because, which is the thing, like he kind of goes The Guest at the end, like he takes a military rifle and and starts cleaning house. But, yeah, no, just I really loved Hunter Schaefer's performance and the monster in this one. It was just so weird. But I also love that there was very little exposition on what exec was going on. And it's, I think it definitely my opinion, was routed on like I saw it at the Beyond Fest premiere, or No, I saw this at the VISTA premiere on film, and I saw it as a double feature with one of my other favorite movies of all time, Dario argentos C, both said in the Swiss Alps, like, there's exist, just crazy shit happens in the Alps, I guess, also has a phenomenal soundtrack that I've been listening to a lot. But yeah, no, cuckoo just really did for me, because it's the kind of horror movie I love, where it's weird, it's bloody, it's out there. It thrives on its own logic, like it is just such a great film, and I cannot recommend it enough, absolutely.
Jonathan Correia:And I need to clarify something. It is not Dan Stevens's least sexiest role that that goes to Abigail because he plays a cop, true. It's just because he's not as sexy as he is in Godzilla X Kong I mean, you can't beat kaiju veterinarian. Come on. That's just hot with the
Jacob Davidson:ace. Ventura fit, yeah, who listens
James Jay Edwards:to lover boy while he exactly come
Jonathan Correia:on up. Boys, no, but like, it's an amazing performance. And all around is, yeah, Cuckoo was so much fun. Yep,
James Jay Edwards:Cuckoo. And again, you can't say it enough. Hunter Schaefer's performance is amazing in Cuckoo,
Jacob Davidson:yeah. Oh yeah, no. Just, I love when the monsters approaching her, and the first thing she does is, like, just rip a plank out and ready to fight it and and like, they actually show the damage to her throughout the movie. Like she's got wounds, she's got cast like she's going through the ringer in this but she is not going down.
James Jay Edwards:Nope, yep. All right. There you go. Top 10s. Surprisingly, they're only a couple of dupes and only one triple threat, yeah, on all of our lists, which, again, that tells you what kind of year it's been, um there, and especially the fact that so that we all had so many that almost made the cut. I mean, it horror is alive. I mean, it was. And there are probably others that I forgot came out this year that I'm not thinking of, you know, because there, there are ones that I was reminded of.
Jonathan Correia:Yeah, I could have sworn one of you was going to include Late, Late Night with the Devil.
Jacob Davidson:Very surprised that was so hard to prune it down. It really
Jonathan Correia:was a tough year to prune it down. Yeah, it really was. But I love it when we don't have matching lists.
Jacob Davidson:Yep, it speaks to our own tastes and just how many great releases there were this year.
James Jay Edwards:Yeah, yep. So hit us up and let us know what your top 10 is, and what did we get wrong, although, can you really say that any of us are wrong? But you know, hey, that that's the beauty of of movies in general. You know, everybody's got an opinion, and none of them are wrong. So let's, let's get out of here. We will see you next season, which is actually going to be sooner than later. And let's, call this one an episode. Our theme song is by Restless Spirits, so go check them out. And our artwork is by Chris Fisher, so go check him out. You can find us on most of the socials as Eye On Horror. I think we dropped one, but yeah, check us out, or go to ihorror.com which is the site we all call home and we will see you in a couple of weeks with the season eight premiere. So for me, James, Jay Edwards,
Jacob Davidson:I'm Jacob Davison
Jonathan Correia:and I'm Jonathan Correia.
James Jay Edwards:Keep your Eye On Horror.
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