Next Week's Scream Awards

On Tuesday night (October 19th) at 9 P.M. Eastern, Spike TV will air its annual Scream Awards.  The show should be worth watching if only to see what wins Best Horror Movie, a category that is filled with some strong contenders for the title.  Here's my overview of the nominees:

1.The Crazies: Anyone who has read my earlier Make vs. Remake post knows how high I am on this movie.  It's non-supernatural riff on a zombie flick is all the more frightening for the air of plausibility.  A brilliant work of American Gothic, starring Deadwood's Timothy Olyphant as (naturally) the sheriff.

2.A Nightmare on Elm Street: This one sticks out like a Krueger-sized sore thumb from the rest of the group.  Yes, Jackie Earle Haley is a much better actor than Robert Englund, but the plot of this remake has long since grown familiar, and the director seems to think that a succession of loud, startling noises constitutes scariness.

3.Paranormal Activity: Bedroom voyeurism takes a harrowing turn, in a film that proves once again that gore or gaudy FX are not needed to create horror.  My only quibble: the alternate ending on the DVD was actually more effective than the one that aired in theaters (and which was spoiled by the movie trailer, anyway).

4.Shutter Island: A creepy and wonderfully atmospheric Gothic thriller with one whopper of a plot twist.  Rule of thumb: any movie in which Leonardo DiCaprio adopts a Boston accent (cf. The Departed) is bound to be a good one.

5.Thirst: This acclaimed Korean vampire film has arresting visuals (and some scenes that will make you absolutely cringe), but the movie drags on...and on...

6.Zombieland: Honestly, I loved this movie (Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson were incredible both individually and as a tandem).  A terrifically funny comedy, but I don't know if it's worthy of a Best Horror Movie award.


PREDICTIONS:

SHOULD WIN: The Crazies (arguably the best horror movie not just of this year but the past several)

WILL WIN: Paranormal Activity (incredible popularity + next week's release of the anticipated sequel= victory)



To cast your vote for Best Horror Movie (as well as the dozens of other award categories), click over to the Scream Awards website.