2023 looks to be a “bloody” good year for fans of the horror genre, with some high-profile franchises introducing new installments, including a new Evil Dead entry, a new Scream movie, and an Exorcist reboot. There’s also a number of highly original and intriguing films to look forward to, including Infinity Pool and its story of a family vacation gone terribly wrong, as well as the incredibly tense-looking psychological horror Knock at the Cabin. But if we were to jump into a time machine and head back 20 years, we would find ourselves in an equally exciting time for the horror genre.
2003 saw the heavy metal star Rob Zombie make the transition into movie directing, a career in which he has flourished, as well as the start of several, now beloved, franchises. Elsewhere, two of horror’s most iconic serial killers were pitted against each other, and France was seeing its emerging “New French Extremity” subgenre reaching new levels of depravity. Below, we take a look back at 10 horror movies that turn 20 this year.
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10 House of 1000 Corpses
Lionsgate Films
Now just as synonymous with horror as he is with heavy metal, it’s hard to imagine a world where Rob Zombie wasn’t a renowned filmmaker. Prior to 2003 and the release of House of 1000 Corpses, however, Zombie’s experience in the world of movies was limited to a couple of cameos and some animation work on Beavis and Butt-Head Do America. What an entrance House of 1000 Corpses was. Doing exactly what it says on the tin, it is an uncompromising exercise in brutality, which introduced the world to a host of new horror icons, including the unforgettable Captain Spalding, played with utter conviction by the late Sid Haig.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
9 Wrong Turn
20th Century Fox
2003 was the year that kicked off one of modern horror’s most beloved franchise. Now on its 7th entry into the series, Wrong Turn is a kind of The Hills Have Eyes for a new generation (along with The Hills Have Eyes reboot series, which is literally The Hills Have Eyes for a new generation). Starring Eliza Dushku and Desmond Harrington, it sees a group of teenagers who, while heading out on a camping trip, end up taking a wrong turn, only to be terrorized and brutally picked off one-by-one by a group of deformed cannibals. Perhaps, not the most original of premises, the movie didn’t take itself too seriously, was appropriately violent, and was a nice throwback to slashers of the past.
8 Open Water
Lionsgate
Loosely based on a true story, and shot on a shoestring budget, Open Water was released to film festivals in 2003 and went on to become a box office hit the following year, which resulted in two sequels later being released. It follows a couple who are left stranded at sea after their scuba team miscount the participants and head back to shore. Shot up close and personal with the use of shaky cams, a la The Blair Witch Project, the viewers feel as if they’re right there in the action as the couple’s morale begins to dip and things take a nasty turn for the worse when they attract the unwanted attention of a group of sharks. Even from the safety of your own couch, the rollercoaster of emotions you’re taken through is mentally draining — one can only imagine what it would have been like to have been there in the open water.
7 Gothika
Dark Castle Entertainment & Warner Bros.
Gothika was a popular film, at the box office anyway, grossing an impressive $141 million on a $40 million budget. Critics, however, were not impressed with the movie, which scored a paltry 14% on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie, which boasts an impressive cast including Halle Berry, Robert Downey Jr., and Penélope Cruz, follows a psychiatrist and the mystery surrounding how she finds herself incarcerated in the penitentiary in which she works, after being accused of brutally murdering her own husband. Perhaps treated a little unfairly at the time, the movie has enough suspense and twists to keep viewers engaged for its duration, just don’t expect anything ground-breaking.
6 High Tension (Haute Tension)
Lions Gate Entertainment
At the turn of the century, a whole new breed of horror movie was emerging, mainly from France. These movies were nihilistic and brutal, and merged the lines between horror, exploitation, and arthouse. Labelled as New French Extremity, Alexandre Aja’s slasher flick High Tension was among the most talked-about within the subgenre. Dividing critics and audiences alike, many enjoyed the mix of suspense and outright brutality, and were taken aback by a twist ending, whereas others felt the violence was gratuitous and the twist, unbelievable. Whatever end of the spectrum you sit on regarding your opinion on this movie, the memories would have certainly lingered with you long after the end credits rolled.
5 Final Destination 2
New Line Cinema
The original Final Destination, released in 2000, was somewhat of a surprise hit, and despite mixed reviews, proved to be a hit at the box office. Final Destination 2 was much of the same: after being saved from a horrific accident thanks to an eerie premonition, the survivors, unable to escape fate despite their best efforts, one by one meet a grisly end. It was smart enough to set itself aside from the hordes of “torture porn” movies that were flooding the genre, but bloody enough to keep even some of the most avid of gore-hounds satisfied. It seemed to have latched on to a winning formula and was by now developing a cult following, one that would see the franchise continue over the course of four further movies, with a new one reportedly in development.
4 Jeepers Creepers 2
United Artists
If you’re able to separate the art from the artist, the monster slasher franchise Jeepers Creepers is one of the best horror series to be developed in recent history, with the second being the pinnacle of the bunch. However, for many, the movies will forever be tainted upon the discovery that their writer/director Victor Salva was convicted of some particularly nasty sex crimes back in the 80s. Controversy aside, Jeepers Creepers 2 certainly achieves what it set out to do and is equal parts thrilling, violent, and suspenseful, with a number of playful nods back to the golden era of horrors in the 70s and 80s.
3 Underworld
Sony Pictures
A masterful blend of horror and action, Underworld picked up the mantle from Blade and ran with it, as the Blade series began to drop in quality with each outing. Written by Danny McBride, it centers on the secret world of Lycans (werewolves) and Vampires as they battle in the shadows. Combining a dark and moody atmosphere with fast-paced, stylish action sequences, the movie became one of the biggest surprise hits of the year. The movie starred Kate Beckinsale, Bill Nighy, and Michael Sheen, and due to its financial success, has since developed into a successful franchise with a devoted following.
2 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
This, the fifth entry into The Texas Chainsaw Massacre series, was the first remake. Remaking a movie as well respected and revered as the original The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, is always going to be a daunting task. Of course, there will be naysayers and purists, and that is perfectly understandable — as they say: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. These opinions were definitely shared by some of the critics seeing as it scored a fairly disappointing 37% on Rotten Tomatoes, with many feeling it an unnecessary addition to the canon. The movie itself wasn’t bad, though; it did a good job in capturing the essence of the original whilst updating it slightly for a modern generation. It’s worth remembering that having been released nearly 30 years prior, many people may not have seen the original or were even put off by the 70s aesthetics of that movie. This would explain the impressive box office performance of this iteration.
1 Freddy vs. Jason
People like Freddy Krueger, right? People like Jason Voorhees, right? Why not put them in the same movie? To some, this sounds like a horror dream (or nightmare) come true; to others, this seems like a shameless cash grab. Reviews were mixed, but Freddy vs Jason made enough of a splash at the box office to warrant a sequel and inspired the Alien vs. Predator series. Whilst the story made little sense, fans of blood, guts, and action would at least get some pleasure watching their favorite horror icons battle it out, while also taking down a boat load of civilians with them.
