We’ll help you keep a worthwhile resolution to watch more horror, bringing you weekly recaps and reviews from our daily dose of horror.
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At AlethalWeaponArt, movies (particularly horror) are a huge part of our life — and our business — so we take time to celebrate the art of film every day. Follow along with us to see what we watched each week. We will tell you if it’s worth watching or if you should skip it altogether and why.
We are so jacked to bring an expanded version of our popular Movie Nights column to Morbidly Beautiful, where we’ll be sharing our love of movies and horror with you wonderful readers, recapping our weekly watches and providing mini-reviews of six flicks, old and new. If you’re like us and committed to making horror part of your daily routine, these recommendations may help to flesh out your viewing calendar. Or, if you’re a more casual watcher, you can see what stood out for us each week and add a highly recommended flick to your next movie night.
We closed out 2023 and kicked off 2024 with an absolute bang — not a miss on our weekly watch list!
1. TALK TO ME (2023)
OUR FAVORITE OF THE WEEK!This movie is a MUST watch! Talk to Me is, by far, our favorite movie of 2023 and has been added to our all-time list of genre favorites.
Talk to Me embodies everything we love about modern horror. From the killer introduction scene (one of our favorites ever!), the soundtrack/score, which works together to set a tense and dark tone throughout, and the genuinely terrifying storyline, this film has very few flaws. It’s best to go into this one without watching the trailer first because several scenes are shocking, and the plot deserves to be unraveled as it’s meant to be seen.
Throughout the movie, you will notice the strong ties to addiction with the euphoric feelings they get from something so obviously damaging, the peer pressure from the group, and even as obvious as using a belt to tie them down while connected to the hand. Mia’s addiction to the hand ruins the lives of those around her and takes over her life.
Shot perfectly, this movie flows so well you can’t help but get sucked in.
Few films make us cringe, but this one earns it with a few brutal scenes, which add to the reason this is the best horror film of the last year — or the last ten years.
2. EVIL DEAD (2013)
2023 was a banner year for horror, and the latest entry in the Evil Dead franchise, Evil Dead Rise, became another rousing success.
It made us want to revisit the 2013 reimagining of the original 1981 Evil Dead film from Fede Álvarez (Don’t Breathe) in his feature directorial debut, as we consider it one of the best horror remakes of all time. Considered the fourth installment in the franchise, Álvarez’s Evil Dead puts a great spin on a classic and revamps it in a modern way.
The premise is believable and perfectly explains why our group of young protagonists find themselves in this hellish cabin. The drug-addicted sister, Mia (the incredible Jane Levy) of our “Ash” (David Allen, played by Shiloh Fernandez), was taken to this cabin to detox, explaining why they won’t leave when things first get weird. The friend group finds a very disturbing scene in the basement, and one of them decides to read the Necronomicon aloud (which couldn’t be more obviously dangerous).
Of course, this awakens evil, and the subsequent attacks in this movie are especially brutal, with stellar special effects working to increase the visceral impact.
The well-done plot and violent kills make this one a great remake and an essential watch if you enjoy gory supernatural movies.
3. KNOCK AT THE CABIN (2023)
Last year, M.Night Shyamalan returned to the genre in a big way with Knock at the Cabin, an intense film about a young girl and her two dads vacationing at a remote cabin. Their family bliss is interrupted when four armed strangers force themselves into the home.
The opening scene is so creepy that we were immediately hooked.
Dave Bautista does a phenomenal job in this role because he is so physically intimidating and yet somehow so gentle. We were completely captivated throughout and couldn’t stop talking about it well after. This was our second viewing, and it was a completely different experience, surprising us with just how rewatchable and layered the film is.
We are avoiding spoilers on this one in the hopes that you will choose to go watch it for yourself — especially if you’re looking for a film that will intrigue you.
Knock at the Cabin brings interesting questions to mind, showcases all aspects of humanity, and really makes you think.
4. WHEN EVIL LURKS (2023)
It’s great to see foreign films so well received by American audiences, and this is one indie export that is sure to creep you out.
An evil that quickly passes to people and animals is released when you shoot one with a gun. This fast-paced tale is a wild ride full of violence and shocking shots that leave you with your mouth open. The main character will frustrate you, as he seems to make all the wrong choices. Yet, you’ll still be on his side because he seems like a genuine character.
There’s a good reason why When Evil Lurks is one of the most buzzed-about horror films of the past year and topped many critical “Best of 2023” lists.
With ample body horror and legitimate scares, this film’s jaw-dropping special effects and wonderfully creepy vibes make it a must-see horror film.
5. LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND (2024)
This recent apocalyptic gem reminded us of Knock at the Cabin in that the horror is less graphic and gore and more situational.
Leave the World Behind starts with the strangest things happening, such as a massive ship grounding on the beach and planes falling from the sky. The visuals are done so realistically it gave us chills! You are suspicious of all characters from the start, and this adds a layer of anxiety throughout the film. The acting is fantastic (with stellar performances from Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, Myh’la, and icon Kevin Bacon). Moreover, writer-director Same Esmail does a great job of building up palpable tension.
Based on the 2020 novel by Rumaan Alam, this unsettling movie will make you think, make you squirm, and will keep you on the edge of your seat.
6. TERROR TRAIN (1980)
We couldn’t help but kick off the new year with an absolute classic — and one that happens to take place on New Year’s Eve.
Terror Train features our favorite scream queen, Jamie Lee Curtis, at the height of her horror dominance (filmed immediately after Curtis wrapped on Prom Night). It also boasts a killer premise, a concept put forward by executive producer Daniel Grodnik who hoped to make Halloween on a train.
Directed by Roger Spottiswoode in his directorial debut, the film follows a group of rotten college students having a costume party on a train to celebrate the new year. They end up trapped with a kid they once terrorized and start getting picked off one by one.
Good kills, a unique and claustrophobic setting, teen screams, and a fun subversion of the slasher subgenre make this one worth watching.
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