5. Attack the Block (2011)
We may pretend in America that we don’t have an issue with class, but the British practically celebrate the division in their country. Whether it’s Upstairs, Downstairs, or Attack the Block, Brit creatives have spent hundreds of years battling out the concept in their pop culture. Those below scrabble to be recognized as humans while the upper-crust scramble to maintain their stranglehold on the system. Only an alien invasion could disrupt the centuries of status quo, and Joe Cornish delivers this sci-fi rage against the machine with great gobs of passion, gore, and comedy. Attack the Block is a hard slap of a flick that succeeds in all the genre conventions but leaves you wanting more from the society around you. Where are our space invaders? We need those gorilla wolf MFers right now. Allow it. (Brad Gullickson)
4. 28 Days Later (2002)
Zombie films are ubiquitous in horror cinema, but for every three dozen or so movies we usually get a single gem. One such example is Danny Boyle‘s first and arguably only foray into the genre, 28 Days Later. I should add that some people don’t include this under the “zombie” heading for technical reasons — it’s a rage virus, and they’re still alive! — but I don’t care. It’s a zombie flick. It’s also as intense, harrowing, and attractive a horror film as you’re likely to see, as Boyle delivers terror with high energy and carnage. As terrifying and devastating as it often is, the film also stands tall with an atypical sense of hope for both our characters and humanity in general. It’s an emotional ride guaranteed to scare. (Rob Hunter)
3. Kill List (2011)
Ben Wheatley’s genre-mashing sophomore effort is an amalgamation of hitman thriller and folk horror, with some sprinklings of social realist drama and pitch-black comedy peppered in for good measure. One of the most impressive aspects of the movie is the way in which it makes its various influences blend together naturally to create something wholly original. The movie follows two assassins-for-hire who accept a mysterious job, as one of them has bills to pay. Unfortunately, their recruiters are shady types who have their own nefarious plans for one of the hitmen. Kill List is a movie that should be experienced with minimal prior knowledge going in if you’re a first-time viewer. It’s a masterclass in ambiguous horror and unsettling atmosphere that grips you from the get-go. Even the non-horrific moments are unsettling; the characters are walking into a bear trap and the viewer is a spectator to a conspiratorial mystery that culminates with a truly WTF finale. It’s also a movie that will reward you with multiple viewings. (Kieran Fisher)
2. An American Werewolf in London (1981)
A couple of American blokes backpacking in Yorkshire are viscously attacked by an unknown creature one evening after leaving a local pub. One dies from the encounter while the other transforms into a werewolf. As far as treks across England go, this one is pretty bad. This classic from John Landis is not only the greatest werewolf movie of all time, but it also features the most painful onscreen transformation the world has ever seen. David Naughton screams out in agony as he begins to morph into the titular American werewolf, and the audience is with him every step of the way. The sounds of the bones stretching and breaking, the skin pulled tight as thick werewolf hair begins to grow, it’s all there for us to see, and it’s a gnarly sight. Just because David is now a werewolf doesn’t mean he forgets he’s an American tourist. As such, he makes it a point to visit all the popular landmarks including Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, the London Zoo, and the London Underground. (Chris Coffel)
1. The Descent (2005)
The Descent is the scariest movie I’ve ever seen. Of course, results may vary — fear is a highly subjective thing, after all. But for my money, the combination of caves, claustrophobia, and creepy creatures solidifies Neil Marshall’s film as the most terrifying output from both British cinema and the horror genre in general. The film follows a group of savvy spelunkers as they explore an elaborate cave system in the Appalachian mountains (actually filmed in England and Scotland, where the natural landscape is equally as ominously foggy and vastly imposing). Naturally, it doesn’t take long for the crew of women to realize that they’re not alone in this maze below the surface of the earth. Friendships are tested as they are pushed to their emotional and physical breaking points, all while on the run from the creatures stalking them through the pitch-black labyrinth. Any single aspect of this film is enough to warrant its inclusion in the canon of British horror. Put it all together and you’ve got a clear winner. (Anna Swanson)
Related Topics: 31 Days of Horror Lists, Horror
