Horror Movies 2014
Countdown
For 2014 horror movies was definitely a frightening year. Some amazing transitions that took place in 2014 in horror cinema were the shift away from typical teen slasher flicks, placing more emphasis on horror features with dramatic story lines, and horrific dilemmas that characters in these flicks encounter.
Often dark comedy elements are injected into these movies to enhance the likeability of the characters, especially where villains are concerned. It helps the audience to invest emotionally in the characters either negatively or positively, but either way, an emotional reaction is evoked.
Indie movies went over well among horror fans in 2014 and many appear in the following list. These independent features have garnered success due to their original concepts that in spite of smaller budgets are expertly executed on the volition of raw creativity, creative plots and skilled acting. Without further adieu, below are the scariest horror movies 2014.
Titles in RED are available on Netflix Streaming, 3 stars Netflix DVD***
For the Horror Movies 2014 we also have included a trailer so that you can either see what the movie is about or refresh you mind on it.
15. Annabelle
This disturbing sequel to The Conjuring, which was released in 2013, is yet another story that in which the famous Demonologist, Ed Warren, and his clairvoyant wife, Lorraine Warren, were involved in. Haunted dolls are a concept that never gets old and though there are common threads among stories involving this idea, there are boundless scenarios that can tie in an evil doll and Annabelle is no exception.
This nasty little possessed doll, appears at the end of the Conjuring, foreshadowing Ed and Lorraine’s next paranormal case. Like the Conjuring, Annabelle involves yet another family who are oppressed by a negative and angry spirit. This film is set in 1969 in the new apartment of John and Mia, who are expecting their first child. John gives his wife a seemingly average doll that she’s had difficulty locating to complete her doll collection. Sinister events lead to a haunted doll surrounded by events tied in with the Disciples of the Ram, a Satanic cult.
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All of these fantastic elements collide, leading to a thoroughly original haunted doll film that will leave you gasping and jumping at the most unexpected moments. It’s nice to see a modern evil doll film where the doll is scary almost entirely independent of any animation. The dark apartment and a new mom with a baby spending time in it alone and helpless with a possibly demonic doll writes this story and adds your fear connotations on its own!
Keep in mind, though, that this film is only based on some facts and that the Annabelle doll isn’t a true replica of the original Raggedy Anne doll, which now resides in a glass display case in Lorraine Warren’s Occult Museum at her home in Connecticut for safe keeping.
14. Horns
This film exhibits one of the freshest ideas that surfaced in 2014. Based on a book penned by Joe Hill, this story begins when a young man awakes after a rough night of partying and to his horror, he finds that he’s sprouted two horns on his forehead! Unable to remove them, he discovers that he now possesses supernatural demonic powers that mostly involve the ability to extract confessions from others about their deepest hidden sins. His newly discovered powers come in handy as he attempts to locate the person responsible for murdering his girlfriend, especially since he’s being pursued by the as crime’s primary suspect.
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This film splices beautiful young love scenes with disturbing graphic violence, an excellent contrast tool to strike a disturbing chord in the hearts and minds of it’s viewers. What’s most notable is that this film bravely ventures into a mix of genres that all culminate to make a fantastically new film style. This brave endeavor is sure to take up residence in the permanent memory of horror enthusiasts who have had the pleasure of enjoying it’s perfect blend of contemporary genres. Daniel Radcliffe is the perfect choice among actors, who has a surprising penchant for dark comedy.
13. The Green Inferno
Eli Roth is the director behind this “Cannibal Holocaust” reboot. This film centers upon a group of student activists that venture into the Amazon in order to assist with preserving a particular tribe in the region. However, their plane doesn’t quite make it to their desired destination and the group finds themselves battling the very same tribe that was once their goal to protect.
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For anyone who has had the pleasure of viewing the film, Cannibal Holocaust, on which the Green Inferno is based, you can expect all the shocking guts, gore, and blood that is characteristic of any film directed by Eli Roth. Beginning slowly, this film slowly eases the way into an unimaginable abyss of cannibalistic tribal carnage. While we can expect all the gore found in the original film, we can expect slightly more disturbing psychological horror that is also characteristic of Roth.
This film places Roth’s unique flair along with a modern spin on a much loved cult exploitation horror classic, the Green Inferno. Even better is that we can all look forward to an equally jarring and tasty cannibal feast on the horizon, as a sequel is in the works!
12. Late Phases: Night of the Lone Wolf
In this feature, Ambrose, who is a fiercely independent Vietnam Veteran who lost his sight in the war, ultimately faces off against hordes of werewolves that are afoot in his new neighborhood, along with his seeing-eye dog, Shadow. This film is a long awaited, pleasant surprise and an asset to the werewolf genre that horror fans haven’t seen in quite some time!
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In Late Phases: Night of the Lone Wolf, instead of attempting to engage the viewer with clever twists and turns, this film’s Director, Adrian Garcia Bogliano, returns to horror basics. This thrilling werewolf action horror drama is largely driven by it’s hero, Ambrose, who is an excellently developed character, while using subtle foreshadowing as a plot development tool and amazing practical effects.
This contemporary werewolf film combines heartfelt drama, hardcore werewolf action, and humor into an exciting werewolf genre masterpiece, making it not only one of the best horror movies of 2014, but one of the best werewolf genre films of 2014!
11. The Taking of Deborah Logan
This film focuses on a film crew that seeks to document the life of an elderly Alzheimer’s patient, Deborah Logan, but discovers something much more terrifying than the degenerative disease may be happening. The film also depicts the relationship between Deborah Logan and her daughter, Sarah, who cares for her during her further descent into dementia.
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Is what ails Deborah simply the degeneration of her mind or do her issues delve much deeper? The concept in this film is new, because I can’t recall that last time we as horror fans, have encountered Alzheimer’s in a film as an added element through which we must sift. Mental illness is often an element injected to cause both the viewer and the characters in the film to question themselves and what they’re experiencing, but Alzheimer’s and the degeneration of the aging brain is a very new concept.
There’s just something horribly unsettling about old ladies and horror films, but it just works! In this case, the mix of horror and a little old lady worked perfectly in this “found footage” film, where the crafty camera work creates the appropriate atmosphere without lowering the movie’s overall quality. The plot thickens slowly in this film, building momentum as it progresses. However, the ending is wrapped up in a neat little package for you to unwrap. A little old lady and her daughter among a film crew and a disturbing mystery to solve makes this film stand out as not only one of the best films of 2014 but one of the most ambitiously unique films in many years!
10. Housebound
Housebound isn’t your typical horror movie. Exhibiting a clever measure of comedy that is effortlessly implemented into this film without taking away it’s edge, brings about the perfect balance in this feature. Housebound follows the story of Kylie and her horribly botched attempt at robbing an ATM machine. After being sentenced to house arrest, she must come to terms with the fact that her mother’s home is, well, haunted.
This film has a totally unique style, using sarcastic humor, boredom, and a dysfunctional family as the backdrop, it injects an element of dark humor into a bleak horror feature, while producing dread at the same time. It’s like taking a trip back into childhood that you can’t leave minus the freedom of being able to go out and play with your friends!
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However, the kicker is that mom’s house is haunted. This house is dark and creepy and rather dreary, which makes it the perfect environment for a haunting! Mom is a character, too. She’s both super strange and nonchalant, which adds to both the creepiness of this film and the comic relief simultaneously.
This film is fresh and shot in a style that is becoming increasingly popular, reminiscent of horror classics of the past in a dark, mysterious, and foreboding atmosphere, but the humor injected into this foreign area of a haunted house makes this film humorous in spots, because you’re very glad these people aren’t you!
9. The Border Lands
The Border Lands is another modern example of a “found footage”, but unlike some run of the mill contemporary “found footage” features, this film has earned my respect and the respect of much of the horror enthusiast community. In this film, two Vatican investigators intend to embark upon a new investigation regarding a possible miracle in rural England. However, these investigators strive to inhibit the goals of an evil entity.
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This pure piece of found footage supernatural horror with a religious spin is a fine example of modern horror cinema and is sure to creep out it’s viewers. This film evokes a slow burn inside the viewer and has few jump scares, but when they do happen, you’ll know it! The tension builds throughout this film very effectively and once the plot begins to thicken, it’s quite engaging.
The English countryside setting was an excellent film-making decision. This beautiful, quiet, and eerie landscape adds a unique signature to this modern film that give me the creeps! Additionally, the film’s finale ending will turn your head inside out. It’s brought on subtly while you sit in your seat with your mouth agape. This is a gem among modern found-footage horror films, making it one of the best horror movies of 2014!
8. Honeymoon
In this spooky film set on a secluded ranch where a newly married couple plan to enjoy their honeymoon, I bet this couple wishes they vacationed elsewhere! Oddly enough, the new bride begins to wander in the night while her new husband ponders what exactly is happening. Horror enthusiasts can expect a tense build-up and a fast-paced sequence of terrifying events in this adrenaline pumping horror thriller.
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This film is reminiscent of Invasion of the Body Snatchers with an effectively chillingly sinister atmosphere, spooky sounds, and building tension that will leave you on the edge of your seat. This film starts out very slowly, easing your engagement, but when it goes full throttle, it does it quickly!
This film manages to disturb you without the benefit of over-the-top special effects in a very understated way, which is refreshing. It will make you feel dirty and be glad you’re not on your honeymoon, which makes this horror, sci-fi thriller one of the best horror movies of 2014!
7. The Canal***
The Canal is a bone-chilling, dread invoking Irish horror thriller, which is reminiscent of Sinister, but still manages to hold it’s own as a uniquely terrifying cinematic creation. This film tells the story of David, a film archivist, and a film he has received from a co-worker, who wants to prove to him by exhibiting evidence that his house was once a murder scene. To make things worse, his wife, is engaged in an affair and as he finds out the truth, she disappears.
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This film also draws on classic atmospheric horror elements, where tension continuously escalates throughout the film intertwined with an inherent stillness exhibited in David’s home, which is laden with dark nooks and crannies. The Canal leaves the viewer waiting to learn exactly what is lurking in the darkness.
Jump scares are expertly incorporated into this film in a terrifying manner due to it coming from total calm and silence, an effect that is produced with a mastery in this flick. A fair amount of gore appears in this film, which you may not expect, but it’s there, so if you’re a fan of blood and guts, you’re in for a treat when you view this film that is sure to be one of your best horror favorites for 2014!
6. Town that Dreaded Sundown
Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, American Horror Story’s director, directs this modern slasher movie. This film is a typical slasher flick in the sense that it involves a masked mass murderer, but it lacks the qualities that make your run of the mill slasher movie overly contrived. Although this is sort of a masked killer reboot that’s characteristic of the 80’s, this film won’t disappoint avid horror fans.
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This film is constructed differently than the 1976 film of the same name that it attempts to recreate. However, you may wish to view it as a sequel to the original, as opposed to a verbatim remake of the original with only small variations. This film adventurously blends multiple elements, which include the residents of the town recounting historical events, news coverage, the original film made in 1976, what is currently happening, and a cleverly constructed fictional story. This was a clever way to build a recreation of a spooky cult classic, which makes this film one of the best horror movies of 2014!
5. The Babadook
Expect to experience a drama-driven horror flick when you watch the Babadook. This bleakly atmospheric film doesn’t solely rely on special effects, as the acting exhibited in this film is nothing short of brilliant. In this film, a single mother, who struggles to manage the outrageous behavior of her young son after the death of her husband, experiences sinister activity after her only son discovers a horribly disturbing fold-out picture book, the Babadook.
The Babadook delves deeply into the lives of a widow and her young son, who has some behavioral issues. The recently widowed single mom struggles as she holds onto her bleakly monotonous job as a rest home attendant, who works with the elderly. She relies on babysitters to care for her son, as he often misses school. Mom reads her boy a story every night before he drifts off to sleep. The Babadook is one of those special nightly stories. Slowly, the dark descent begins and we must decide whether the downward spiral is a result of the resulting madness of being stuck in considerably stark and hopeless circumstances or is it the book?
I don’t know about you, but a spooky psychological thriller sprinkled with a dash of lonely bump in the night horror gives me a bit of a chill. This film offers many twists and turns, while still being open to your own interpretation, which makes it a masterful choice as one of the best horror movies of 2014.
4. Starry Eyes***
Starry Eyes is a crowd-funded movie that fared quite well with both viewers and critics alike. Starry Eyes follows an aspiring actress, Sarah, and her journey towards stardom. Her day-job as a waitress at a significantly questionable restaurant leaves her pretty unfulfilled. Furthermore, Alex isn’t someone with many true friends. Her fate takes a turn for the bizarre after she shows up for an audition that requires more than just acting. Her transformation to stardom requires a high cost, quite literally her soul, which she gladly hands over.
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This film successfully depicts Sarah as a seductive actress who exists in isolation. Starry Eyes employes raw and gory imagery to evoke the emotions associated with Sarah’s spiral into sacrificing her fragile nature to fame. Sarah effectively transitions very slowly from a stardom starved actress to someone who is psychotic and barely human.
The film is shot with gradual changes in color as Sarah descends into true evil from light to gritty and dark and incorporates mood music, sometimes directly contrasting events to create both a disturbing and mildly comedic effect. This film has amazing spot on musical effects to complement the mood in every scene where it appears. All of these amazing film-making endeavors make this film one of the best horror movies of 2014!
3. The Guest***
At first glance, The Guest, is a basic horror thriller, but it’s so much more than your run of the mill horror thriller. This film centers upon a teenage girl’s suspicions of a soldier,
David, who has recently and randomly showed up on her family’s doorstep claiming to be her deceased brother’s friend. Her suspicion begins to awaken in the midst of a series of mysterious deaths.
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David, a charming, cool, and at first glance put together gentlemen has plenty of surprises and secrets in store for the family he’s begun to help to cope with the death of their recently lost family member. He has seemingly arrived to ease the family’s suffering. However, David never sleeps and possesses an unexpected strength and violence that is uncharacteristic of him on the surface.
This film’s compelling, slow burning plot keeps you guessing from the beginning to the end. The Guest’s scenes shot in a slightly shadowy manner bring the anticipation of mounting danger to the viewer along with the film’s strongly present musical score. It leaves the viewer asking, “What is wrong with this handsome, mysterious stranger?” Theses elements make The Guest one of the best horror action thrillers of 2014.
2. 13 Sins
This movie is a prime example of what people will do for money. Elliot is an average, everyday salesman that offers a uniquely appealing opportunity. After receiving an odd phone call from a mysterious character, Elliot is catapulted into a world of disturbing challenges that offer amazing financial rewards. However, he isn’t permitted to divulge any of the arrangements with anyone. His circumstances reach an all-time low when the police begin to investigate him.
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This ambitious blend of horror, dark comedy, action, and thriller elements makes for an engaging film that breathes new life into the horror genre. 13 Sins raises your heart-rate in the same manner as does Saw. This film offers the viewer a dark and disturbing concept to which we can all relate. 13 Sins masterfully blends the genres of dark comedy, horror, and an adrenaline pumping action thriller, making it one of the best horror films of 2014!
1. Stage Fright
Stage Fright appears at number one of Horror Movies 2014 because it just seemed so refreshing and creative to have a horror movie musical that was not crack pot!
Not everyone is a musical fan, but this energetic horror musical that includes catchy music may just thrill some unsuspecting horror fans. You don’t often see a horror film set to music. However, your own personal tastes are likely to play a significant role in whether this film is your cup of tea.
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Stage Fright is built upon the same principle as “Phantom of the Opera”, but displays significantly more blood and gore in this horror musical cinematic delight. This film is quite reminiscent of Rocky Horror Picture Show spliced with an 80’s slasher film. Stage Fright’s plot centers upon a masked assailant, who is skillfully knocking star stage performers. Due to the fact that the killer gets away with his bloody crimes for so many years subsequent to his initial murder, he isn’t planning on quitting any time soon.
Interestingly enough, like the Rocky Horror Picture Show, this film stars, Meatloaf, who is of course, part of the Rocky Horror Picture Show’s original cast. The catchy music in this film blends classical orchestra music with speed metal. Stage Fright brings squirting blood and genuine gore, conflicting mood music during disturbing horror sequences, and hits the nail on the head with the perfect balance between dark humor theatrics and raw blood, guts, and gore, making it one of the best horror movies of 2014!
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