Horror Quarter 3, 2020

I caught up with 20 new releases from July to September. See below for my ratings (out of 5) and recommendations:

Relic 4

The Beach House 3.5

The Rental 3

The Deeper you Dig 3.5

Impetigore 3

Dead Dicks 3

Host 3

The Siren 3

La Llorona 3

She Dies Tomorrow 4

Amulet 3.5

Bulbull 4

Sputnik 4

Extracurricular 2.5

The Unfamiliar 3

Teddy 4

The Stylist 3

The Boy Behind the Door 2.5

Bloodthirsty 3

Scare Me 4

I had a long watchlist of new-release horror films this quarter, but if you are alive in the world right now you know that it's been incredibly hard to simply function let alone watch a bunch of on-screen violence and mayhem. Personally, I have been struggling with it. I even discontinued my eco-horror marathon because it just didn't seem as fun or as important as it did when I started. That being said, my short break from horror was the opposite of healing. I missed the escapism of the genre and the genuine catharsis of watching weighty themes being worked out in the most wacky, extreme, and original ways. Horror is a gift. The back half of quarter three I FILLED with horror films, new and old. I returned to classics and old favorites like Videodrome, May, Twin Peaks, The Faculty, Hellraiser, Possession, and Society as well as watched 20 new releases.

Of those 20, two films will certainly make it into my top ten of the year: Relic and Sputnik. These are absolute must sees this year. Relic has been the talk of town, a tale of family hardship surrounding dementia and the trials of taking care of an elderly parent. Both scary and moving, Relic hits emotional notes that few horror films can. If you're a fan of family-drama centered horror like The Babadook, Krisha, or Hereditary, you're going to want to check out Relic immediately. Sputnik, on the other hand, is a colder and more measured film, a science-fiction horror in the vein of Alien or The Thing. While the action and plot are sparing, the visuals and thoughtfulness of the film keep you dialed in from beginning to end. Along with the other strong creature features this year--Sea Fever, The Beach House, and A Color Out of Space--Sputnik should be at the top of your watchlist.

Because Fantastic Fest was virtual and FREE this year, I had the opportunity to see a few horror films before the general public. These included Teddy, The Stylist, The Boy Behind the Door, and Bloodthirsty. Of the group, my favorite was Teddy, a French werewolf film that follows the story of an angsty twenty-something who gets scratched by an unknown beast and suffers frightening changes. Teddy is fun and genuine, and everyone knows I love a little class commentary in my horror! This will be a must see for both werewolf fans and general horror fans alike.

Much of quarter three was filled with middle-of-the road-quality films, but of the group, there were a few standouts for originality. Of the smaller releases, I want to call attention to The Deeper You Dig, The Beach House, She Dies Tomorrow, BulBull, Host, and Scare Me. All of these films are worthy watches and bring something unique to table. Host, for instance, with all its imperfections, will still be seen as the official pandemic horror film by making the Zoom call scary. The Beach House, like Sea Fever from last quarter, is a terrifying eco-horror film that dares to question human supremacy, echoing themes from other recent films like Annihilation and The Girl with All the Gifts. Bulbull and The Deeper You Dig are notable for their visuals, which are both horrifying and beautiful. She Dies Tomorrow and Scare Me both play with form in an interesting way, giving us something unexpected and examining the features that make a horror film a horror film.

If you're looking for more 2020 horror recommendations, take a look back at my recommendations from quarter one and from quarter two. Additionally, if you're interested in following along with my upcoming Halloween 2020 horror marathon or my end-of-year horror coverage, you can do so via Twitter or my blog. You can also follow me on Letterboxd. Enjoy your scare!