Horror in 2012: Movies, Part Two

By 12:42PM on Jan 10, 2012

Part two of our lookahead at the films of 2012 covers the handful of title not yet given a firm release date. Rumored to release -- or simply TBD -- these films are waiting for their place on our calendar of must-see flicks of the New Year. Check out or top choices below...

You’re Next

Acquired by Lionsgate after an impressive festival showing earlier this year, the indie gem You’re Next is shaping up to be 2012’s iteration of The Strangers, a low-budget, high-impact home invasion thriller. Directed by up-and-comer Adam Wingard, the film reportedly maintains a consistent sense of visceral thrills and sanquine surprises, earning high marks for its smart character work. Early reviews have all been raves, making You’re Next one of our most anticipated of 2012.

Silent Hill: Revelation

Granted, the original Silent Hill is by far a more technically impressive film than it is necessarily a good one. With a weak story driven by flat, lifeless performances – not unlike the games themselves – there was little about the adaptation that worked effectively on screen. That said, the foggy aesthetics and the completely unhinged creature design kept our eyes interested at the very least, and we’re hoping that the upcoming sequel might one-up the original in both regards.

 

 

Juan of the Dead

Billed as Cuba’s first zombie film, Juan of the Dead is already earning praise from critics for its unique political perspective and its clever blend of both the humorous and the horrific. Zombies thrillers are largely about sub-text, so it’s always fascinating to watch a well-executed tale of the undead from a new POV, crafted by an original voice with something new to say. And given Cuba’s rich history of imperialism and oppression, it’s certainly a part of the world rife for exploring the motivations of the undead.

V/H/S

Currently being developed by online horror staple Bloody-Disgusting, V/H/S unites six filmmakers under the supervision of genre maestros Ti West (House of the Devil) and Adam Wingard (You’re Next) in what is being hailed as a unique take on the found footage genre. Rumored to revolve around a set of thieves who come across six pieces of disturbing footage (each helmed by a different filmmaker), the project ultimately promises to connect its puzzle pieces in an inventive and terrifying manner. Rest assured, this is not an anthology, but a single film crafted by a handful of the genre’s top talent.

 

 

Maniac

This remake of the cult-classic 80’s slasher flick raised a few eyebrows when it cast Lord of the Ring’s wide-eyed Elijah Wood as the titular maniac. It raised a few more, however, when word spread that the killer’s sequences would be presented entirely from his own first-person POV. Co-written and produced by French filmmaker Alexandre Aja (The Hills Have Eyes, Piranha) the remake is certain to maintain the bold, tasteless cruelty of the original that made it such a cult favorite alongside slasher fare such as April Fool’s Day or Mother’s Day.

[REC 3]

Over the last decade, a handful of first-rate, over-seas horror films have made a name for themselves here in the States. The [REC] franchise – remade here as Quarantine – is just as effective in its Spanish iteration, if not more so, spawning a set of over-seas sequels, the second of which drops later this year. Whereas the first two films took place in the same abandoned apartment building, the third looks to be set in the daytime during a wedding celebration. Bringing the terror into the sunlight is a smart move for the found-footage series, and one we’re eager to see played out when fresh, crimson blood spatters against an ivory white wedding dress.