Hello,
My name is Brian Johnson and I’m a 23 year old senior from Central Connecticut State University. I’m also an intern at the CPBN Media Lab, and I write monthly film reviews for my local newspaper “The Chronicle”. I’m here to present my top 5 films for 2011. This is not a list of the most commercially successful films or highest critically rated films. It is merely a list of my personal favorites.
Kicking us off at number 5 we have ‘Hobo with a Shotgun’, rated R and directed by David Eisener. This film, based on a 2007 mock trailer in the film ‘Grindhouse’ is like the film Grindhouse in the sense that it is a tribute to the 1970s exploitation film genre. Much like 2010’s ‘Machete’, film is sleazy, violent, and intentionally over the top. However, Rutger Hauer plays his role straight as a hobo fighting against a world gone to hell. Hobo with a Shotgun is not for everyone. However, fans of the B-movie genre will be surely pleased.
At number 4 we have Apollo 18 directed by Gonzalo Lopez-Gallego. This extremely underrated science-fiction/horror film is in the style of found footage. It creates a feeling of isolation, vulnerability, and claustrophobia. The steady pacing creates a sensation of creeping doom similar to the original ‘Night of the Living Dead’. This film does not rely on cheap jump scares, but rather is a highly atmospheric film.
3 on our list is the remake of ‘Fright Night’ rated R and directed by Craig Gillespie. Fright Night is an excellent remake, maintaining a horror atmosphere while maintaining some comedic elements. The acting is sincere with David Tennant in particular providing an excellent performance as Peter Vincent, a celebrity vampire hunter who Charlie recruits. Jerry Dandridge, played by Colin Farrell, is how a vampire should be: A predatory beast who uses his powers of seduction merely to lure in new victims.
Coming in at number 2 is the prequel of ‘The Thing’, rated R and directed by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. A Prequel to 1982’s “The Thing” directed by John Carpenter, this film creates a feeling of intense paranoia as the survivors of an arctic expedition battle an alien parasite. The creature lies dormant within its host until it bursts forth from their bodies in scenes that make ‘Alien’ seem tame. The attacks are sudden and jolting as no-one knows exactly who is infected. The monster designs are gruesome and the drama is intense as the survivors slowly turn on one another.
And the number one movie of 2011 is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Directed by David Yates and rated PG-13. The final installment of the ‘Harry Potter’ film series brings the saga to a thrilling conclusion. The acting is highly expressive and believably conveys the characters’ shifting emotions. The film’s bleak, shadowy landscape reflects its dark tone, and the final battle with Voldemort is truly epic. The audience will be left on the edge of their seats, and they will feel as though they are right there with the characters they have come to know and love.
And there you have it. I wasn’t able to see every film in 2011, but of those I did see these are my favorites. Honorable mentions include ‘Super 8’, a classic Spielberg film reminiscent of a cross between ‘The Goonies’, ‘E.T’ , and Stephen King’s ‘IT”. ‘Scream 4’ is another honorable mention, which satirizes the changing conventions of the horror genre while maintaining the feel of the previous three films. That’s it for 2011, I hope you enjoyed my review, have a happy watching in 2012.