Horror Quarter 2, 2021

I caught up with 22 new release horrors between April and June this year. See below for my ratings (out of 5) and recommendations:

The Block Island Sound 4.5

Honeydew 2.5

29 Needles 2

The Vigil 3.5

Willy's Wonderland 3

Jakob's Wife 4

The Banishing 2.5

The Power 3.5

Sacrifice 2.5

Spiral 2

The Woman in the Window 3.5

Son 3.5

Oxygen 3.5

Fried Barry 3

Sound of Violence 3

In the Earth 3.5

Initiation 3.5

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It 2.5

A Quiet Place II 4

The Retreat 2.5

Seance 3

Censor 4

Caveat 3.5

False Positive 2.5

This year is absolutely zooming by and the horrors are piling up, not just in my long watch list but also in the world at large. Although the US is seeing a fortunate drop in COVID-19 cases and an easing of restrictions related to it, many parts of the world are still in peril. Ever a nightmare, if there was a good time to denounce the evils of capitalism, we're in it. Global inequities, climate destruction, and oppression abound; our world is chalked full of injustice. But these terrors of our time are perhaps made a smidge more manageable through the therapy of horror. In this spirit I prescribe a few films from the second quarter.

First up is an understated sci-fi-supernatural hybrid, one of my favorites so far this year, The Block Island Sound from writers and directors Kevin and Matthew McManus. I had no expectations headed into this film, as I had heard virtually nothing about it. So the cleverness, the tension, the performances, and so much of the execution of this film was a positive surprise. I was particularly floored at a few lines of writing that framed the beginning and end of this film, and I don't want to give anything away, so I'll just say it's unshakable and speaks acutely to the nature of humanity. The Block Island Sound has the feeling of a ghost story, slowly creeping along, and if you open yourself up to it, you'll find yourself properly unsettled. Check it out on Netflix.

Next up is a film that, though not as strong as it could be, deserves to be championed. Some horror fans are saying that slashers are making a comeback with recent films such as Freaky, The Rental, The Stylist, and an upcoming release of Fear Street. John Berardo's film Initiation, which had its streaming release at the beginning of May, fits solidly in this trend. Initiation would just be a run-of-the-mill, sorority-slasher throwaway if not for its thoughtful, modern, sociopolitical context and its emotional core, which elevates some of the more well-worn material. The whodunit was a surprising aspect that worked for me, but I can see the reveal not being satisfying to some. Initiation has some fun kills and gore, but it also feels a little uneven in its scares and in some of its performances throughout. Dramatic, yet mature, I definitely recommend all horror fans give this indie slasher a watch before the end of the year. It's rent-able on most streaming platforms.

Another film that pulled me in this quarter was Prano Bailey-Bond's debut Censor. An intriguing setting and premise that will excite horror fans, featuring a British film censor in the era of video nasties, Censor follows one woman's journey of past tragedy morphing into unhealthy obsession. It's honestly a difficult film to describe to others. Better to let the woozy atmosphere and throwback imagery wash over you and chill your bones. Sharp and beautiful, there certainly won't be another film like Censor this year. You can rent it from most popular streaming platforms right now.

If you're looking for recommendations from 2020, take a look back at my top 10 of the year. Additionally, if you're interested in following along with upcoming Horror Quarters, you can do so via Twitter or my blog. You can also follow me on Letterboxd. Enjoy your scare!