2022 was a great year for horror movies. Alongside the franchises and familiar faces were quite a few new movies. I was quite pleased with the offerings. Here are my four, favorite horror movies of 2022.
Although I do pay attention to movie ratings and other people’s opinions, I generally like to make my judgments and prefer to go into new movies unbiased. So far, this has served me well. However, it also means that I don’t always agree with prevailing opinions.
This year, I give the spot of my number one favorite horror movie of 2022 to Barbarian. I’ve written about it before on this blog, but I really did enjoy that movie. It was unique, it had a lot of unexpected twists, and it even took place in my old stomping grounds. If you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend it. The haunting setting, compelling narrative, and exciting ending make it a must-see.
Number two in my list of favorite horror movies of 2022 is Black Phone. Black Phone didn’t offer the most unique plot, but it did work really well as a new lens for an old trope. I particularly liked the character arc for Finney, the main character. Like I said, there honestly isn’t much of a plot, but the characterization and acting were all very good.
That brings us to number three which really isn’t a horror movie so much as a very intense historical thriller: The Northman. I’m a huge Robert Eggers fan. To me, this director does a fantastic job of setting a dark, chilling mood. In that regard, The Northman didn’t disappoint. This is an intense, harrowing movie with a lot of violence and gore. It’s one of those slipstream movies that are kind of horror like but at the same time not. Even if you are not inclined to watch historical fiction, I recommend this.
The last of my favorite horror movies of 2022 is a dark, psychological horror movie called Speak No Evil. The question underlying this movie is, “How far would you go to be polite?” It’s a simple premise on the surface, but as events unfold, this question becomes more and more pressing. I’ve been watching and reading horror for years, and there is very little that gets under my skin. However, the ending of this movie slayed me. If you have watched and enjoyed (?) movies like Funny Games (1997), then Speak No Evil is not to be missed.
I realize that top four is a strange number to pick. Usually, lists go for top five. However, these were the movies that stuck out to me, and I figured that I would highlight my favorites rather than dilute the list. In my next post, I plan on identifying my four least favorite movies of the year.
What about you? What were some of your favorite movies this year?
I saw the Northman but not the other three. It sounds like great suggestions. I will get at least the Barbarian.
That’s definitely the one to watch. I hope you like it.