With 2022 pretty much in the books, it’s time to open the House of Horror once again. This time, I’m going to be bringing you my top 5 Horror Flicks from this year. I know that I still have a fair few decades to get to and I will be bringing them to you over the next few months. However, it is the time for year-end articles and what better way to celebrate the end of 2022 than with the best horror films of the year?
With that in mind, and giving you a taste of what’s to come, let’s just get right into the list today and not waste any more time.
Before giving you the meat and potatoes, here are a couple of honourable mentions that I highly recommend. Smile, X, Pearl, Men and Incantation.
The Best Horror Flicks 2022
5. Hatching
Synopsis: A young gymnast, who tries desperately to please her demanding mother, discovers a strange egg. She hides it and keeps it warm, but when it hatches, what emerges shocks them all.
This is an amazing piece of body horror that came out of nowhere in my opinion. It wasn’t even on my radar at first but with what reviews it was getting after its Sundance premier, I had to check it out. Let’s just say that it is incredible and well worth the viewing.
The metaphors and messages are never heavy handed but stay rooted in this incredible horror story. The director here isn’t using horror to convey her message but making an amazing horror movie and then letting the viewer unpack the symbolism of each scene for themselves. It might be a truly flawless movie that I can’t wait for the world to see it. It juggles the scary and disturbing between the sweet and tender in a way that must be seen to be believed. See this movie when and however you can!
The Best Horror Flicks 2022
4. Barbarian
Synopsis: A woman staying at an Airbnb discovers that the house she has rented is not what it seems.
This film is absolutely nerve-racking. From the opening seconds, not minutes, but seconds of the film, director Zach Cregger immediately immerses viewers in an experience that leaves knuckles white, nails bitten, and minds consistently wondering what on God’s green earth could possibly happen next. Viewing Barbarian without any knowledge of what it is about is the optimal viewing experience; however, even if you’ve seen the trailer for this film, you’ll be happy to know that it spoils basically zero of the twists and turns this movie has to offer. I do not want to spoil anything either, so, just go experience this gem for yourself.
The Best Horror Flicks 2022
3. Hellraiser
Synopsis: A take on Clive Barker’s 1987 horror classic where a young woman struggling with addiction comes into possession of an ancient puzzle box, unaware that its purpose is to summon the Cenobites.
This film was divisive at best. Some people hated it, others loved it. I am of the latter. I love the Hellraiser series, yet even I can admit that most of the films are hot garbage. The reboot this year attempted to breathe new life into the franchise and it did a far better job than the last two subpar films we were treated with. Love it or hate it, if you enjoy the Hellraiser franchise you need to check this film out.
The Best Horror Flicks 2022
2. Orphan: First Kill
Synopsis: After orchestrating a brilliant escape from an Estonian psychiatric facility, Esther travels to America by impersonating the missing daughter of a wealthy family.
The Prequel to Orphan was gifted to us this year and my god what a ride and movie it was. Unfortunately, a lot of people seem to be unable to enjoy a movie for what it is nowadays and so O:Fk has garnered a fairly middling rating. I loved this movie and I loved the original. Esther is as psychotic and deranged as ever and this movie has one hell of a twist that came absolutely out of left field. I cannot recommend O:FK high enough.
The Best Horror Flicks 2022
1. Terrifier 2
Synopsis: After being resurrected by a sinister entity, Art the Clown returns to the timid town of Miles County where he targets a teenage girl and her younger brother on Halloween night.
After Terrifier, Art the clown fans demanded more, and more is certainly what writer/director Damien Leone has given us with Terrifier 2: his film clocks in at a weighty 140 minutes and is packed to the brim with gory mayhem. For those who enjoy their splatter with deliciously dark humour, the film is, for the most part, very entertaining.
This time around, Art (David Howard Thornton) targets teenage girl Sienna (Lauren LaVera) and her family and friends, who are gearing up for Halloween festivities. With his trademark finger waves, cheeky grin and lifting of his teeny tiny hat, Art is a superb horror maniac, both hilarious (his silent reactions to his kills are priceless) and horrific, the clown making a real mess of his victims. The practical special effects are top-notch and quite nauseating at times, easily topping what we have seen before. Here’s to hoping that we get even more Art the Clown as he is becoming a horror icon, ala Jason and Freddy. Check out Terrifier 2, and bring a barf bag.