CineMarvellous' TOP 10 Horror Movies of 2014

CineMarvellous! presents: 

George Beremov's TOP 10 Horror Movies of 2014

(click on the title to read the quick review)

1. The Taking of Deborah Logan (8.00/10)
"...culminating in a final act that features one of the scariest film sequences ever shown."

2. Godzilla [3D] (7.75/10)
"...it turns into an eye-popping spectacle of mass destruction, monster fights, and sheer mayhem..."

3. Housebound (7.50/10)
"..a Kiwi 'haunted house' flick with a clever twist, that feels like a breath of fresh air..."

4. The Babadook (7.25/10)
"...even without the horror parts, the story is already disturbing in itself in a truly believable manner."

5. Afflicted (7.25/10)
"Delivering enough scares, shocks, and gross-out gore, it will keep you entertained and intrigued...:

6. The Maze Runner (7.25/10)
"...a well put together dystopian sci-fi horror, build upon a maze of dark mystery."

7. Dead Snow: Red vs. Dead (7.00/10)
"Featuring dozens of  beyond inventive death scenes, excessive gore, and guts galore..."

8. Honeymoon (7.00/10)
"...this micro-budget, yet highly atmospheric creeper will challenge your mind with its unpredictability..."

9. The Sacrament (6.75/10)
"...as shocking and disturbing as it can get, showing some images that are really hard to forget.

10. As Above, So Below (6.75/10)
"...it explores human fear, as well as theory of hell existence rather effectively..."


Honorable Mentions:
Deliver Us From Evil (6.75/10)
Annabelle (6.50/10)
Wolf Creek 2 (6.25/10)
Exists (6.25/10)

Dishonorable Mentions:
Septic Man (2.50/10)
Nymph (3.50/10)
Wrong Turn 6: Last Resort (3.50/10)
The Pyramid (3.50/10)

Also, check out our list of Best-Reviewed Movies of 2014 HERE

[8.00/10] Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015)

Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015)

Quick Review: Flaunting a superb cast, sharp cinematography, cutting edge camera work, its creator's epic skills, and the most inventively-shot action sequences since "The Raid", "Kingsman: The Secret Service" is a highly-stylized, cartoonishly violent, and fantastically cheeky spy action comedy you'll have a bloody great time with, especially watching Colin Firth kicking tons of butts with style and sophistication, in a way so cool, you can't even imagine.

[5.00/10] The Lovers (2015)

The Lovers (2015)

Quick Review: Part time travel sci- fi, part doomed romance, unevenly connected in one almost fairy tale- ish story of love, moral, honor, and bravery, "The Lovers" is undeniably gorgeous to look at due to stunning locations it is set in, plus, Bipasha Basu gives an alluring performance that makes the whole experience at least occasionally entertaining, but other than that, Roland Joffé's latest is a lifeless and often cheesy affair that doesn't possess the emotional impact it aims to deliver.

[6.00/10] I Am Here (2015)

I Am Here (2015)

Quick Review: It's rather grim, and deeply moody, therefore it certainly won't be to everyone's liking, but "I Am Here" deserves to be seen for Basanger's captivating 'comeback' performance alone. She owns every moment she's on screen, and luckily she is most of the time, portraying a wealthy, successful business woman desperate to become a mother. Her character will involve you sorely in her personal horror and take you on an obscure journey that will give you chills, if not nightmares.

CineMarvellous Preview: Stylish Fan-Made Poster by Antoine Collignon for Marvel's Upcoming "Deadpool" Movie

Stylishly-crafted fan-made poster for Marvel/Fox’s upcoming, highly anticipated "Deadpool" movie by digital artist Antoine Collignon. (click to enlarge)

[4.75/10] The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death (2015)

The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death (2015)

Quick Review: Pretty much like the original, "The Woman in Black 2" is undoubtedly atmospheric, taking full advantage of its eerie settings, and darkly foggy cinematography. Unlike the first movie, though, this neither great, nor horrible sequel is barely any creepy, let alone truly terrifying, due to its overused scare gimmicks. Too bad that not even Phoebe Fox's convincing and emotionally charged performance is able to intensify the somewhat familiar story.

[5.75/10] Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)

Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)

Quick Review: Director Sam Taylor Johnson's screen adaptation of the hit novel of the same name is by no means a terrible film -- it's smoothly-paced, effortlessly directed, fancy in style, and hardly ever tedious, plus, Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan both play their parts as convincingly as believably, but "Fifty Shades of Grey" has one major issue -- it's too candied, and not kinky enough, and that easily makes its other strengths seem, well, insignificant.

George Beremov's TOP 20 Best-Reviewed Movies of 2014 PART 2 [10 - 1]

 [click on the title to read the quick review]

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1. Guardians of the Galаxy [3D] (9.25/10)

Quote: "Having every right to be considered the "Star Wars" of all Marvel flicks, "Guardians of the Galaxy" is an endlessly spectacular, and excitingly action-packed visual splendor of a movie..."

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2. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes [3D] (9.00/10)

Quote: "Grimmer, gloomier, grittier, and more mature than the original reboot, but also technically superior, to the point of perfection..."

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3. Edge of Tomorrow (9.00/10)

Quote: "Clever, thrilling, conceptually-genius, and executed with mastery and panache, it" easily ranks as on of the most genuinely original sci-fi flicks in movie history'..."

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4. The Raid 2 (8.75/10)

Quote: "...a 150- minute thrill ride of hyper violence, stylishly-executed and remarkably-choreographed fight scenes, each more 
heart-poundingly intense then the next..."

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5. Captain America: The Winter Soldier [3D] (8.75/10)

Quote: "...“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” is not only far better than the original film, but also one of the very brightest jewels
in Marvel’s crown so far."

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6. Gone Girl (8.50/10)

Quote: "...delightfully sick in nature, and that along with its unpredictability, is exactly what keeps you so drawn in
from start to finish."

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7. Big Hero 6 (8.50/10)

Quote: "...Disney's manga-flavored "Big Hero 6" is a splendidly-animated, action-packed and truly humorous superhero flick,
executed with vivid imagination..."

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8. The Grand Budapest Hotel (8.25/10)

Quote: "...this is a near- masterpiece of limitless imagination and inventive ideas, only a master-mind is able to execute."

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9. X-Men: Days of Future Past [3D] (8.25/10)

Quote: "...shows director Singer in top form, who competently builds up a bridge between the prequel and the old entries, assembling all the
X-Men in a thrilling time-travel-ish plot..."

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10. How to Train Your Dragon 2 (8.25/10)

Quote: "... pretty much everything a successful sequel should be – it’s consistently engrossing, energetic, unpredictable,
and full of pleasant surprises..."
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George Beremov's TOP 20 Best-Reviewed Movies of 2014 PART 1 [20 - 11]

[click on the title to read the quick review]

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11. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies [3D] (8.25/10)

Quote: "It feels like director Jackson has made the previous two movies just to get to this one, where he can truly showcases us
what he's capable of..."

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12. The Imitation Game (8.00/10)

Quote: "Beautifully-filmed, cleverly-written, bursting with visual authenticity, and featuring arguably the best male 
performance of 2014..."

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13. The Taking of Deborah Logan (8.00/10)

Quote: "...as unpredictably shocking as it's utterly unsettling -- a rare hidden gem of a horror movie that defines 'cinematic scariness'..."

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14. Predestination (8.00/10)

Quote: "There's a lot to be impressed by here, from the sheer originality, and excellent direction, to Snook's superb 
performance in the lead."

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15. The Tale of Princess Kaguya (8.00/10)

Quote: "Portraying a story as enchanting as heartfelt, this film will not only feast your eyes, but also touch your heart and teach you lessons."

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16. The Fault in Our Stars (8.00/10)

Quote: "...a love story like no other, that develops as naturally as it can get, generating a romance that exudes so much purity,
it will bring tears to your eyes..."

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17. Nightcrawler (7.75/10)

Quote: "...this intense, steadily-paced and technically-slick thriller celebrates Jake Gyllenhaal's best performance yet..."

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18. Big Eyes (7.75/10)

Quote: "...letting the power of the story and the top-notch performances by Adams and Waltz to absorb the audience."

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19. Belle (7.75/10)

Quote: "Just as intelligently-written and powerfully-acted as its beautifully-filmed and aesthetic in a subtle, yet appealing way..."

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20. Godzilla [3D] (7.75/10)

Quote: "...an eye-popping spectacle of mass destruction, monster fights, and sheer mayhem, all provided for your pure entertainment."
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Honorable mentions:

[All Rated 7.50/10]

Boyhood | Whiplash | The Book of Life | Housebound

John Wick | The Equalizer | 300: Rise of an Empire [3D]

The Lego Movie [3D] | Get on Up | You're Not You

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[4.25/10] Accidental Love (2015)

Accidental Love (2015)

Quick Review: How did a bunch of good-to-great actors agree to star in this, or what was the director of such excellent films as "The Fighter" and "American Hustle" thinking while making this insanely absurd political romance is a mystery, but the truth is, "Accidental Love" doesn't contain a single clever line or any wit at all, even if that doesn't stop it for really trying to be laugh-out-loud hilarious. It's not. In fact, O. Russel's latest is so dumb, it should have never been released, or made at all.

[5.00/10] Grizzly (2015)

Grizzly (2015)

Quick Review: It certainly benefits from its excellent cast of well-known actors, and the marvellous mounting scenery is both awe-inspiring during day scenes, and eerie at night, but the terribly straightforward "Grizzly" provides exactly what its title implies, in an very predictable manner, and nothing beyond, even if it also deals with some family issues. In terms of horror, aside from some intense and often bloody bear attacks here and there, there is nothing much to be excited or thrilled about.

OSCAR post: My Reviews of the 8 Best Picture Nominees at Oscars 2015

My Quick Reviews of the 8 Best Picture Nominees at Oscars 2015

[click on the title to read the quick review]

[7.25/10] American Sniper
[5.25/10] Birdman
[7.50/10] Boyhood
[8.25/10] The Grand Budapest Hotel
[8.00/10] The Imitation Game
[6.25/10] Selma
[6.50/10] The Theory of Everything
[7.50/10] Whiplash

Should win: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Will win: Birdman

Could win: Boyhood

[8.00/10] The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2014)

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2014)

Quick Review: Wise, gentle, and beautiful in its simplicity "The Tale of the Princess Kaguya" is a breath of fresh air in the sea of CGI features, as its superbly-crafted hand-drawn animation is not only mesmerizing to look at and experience, but it also showcases the amount of talent and hard work involved in its execution. Portraying a story as enchanting as heartfelt, this film will not only feast your eyes, but also touch your heart and teach you lessons.

[7.50/10] Shaun the Sheep (2015)

Shaun the Sheep (2015)

Quick Review: Cute, vigorous, and utterly hilarious, "Shaun the Sheep" is yet another winner from Aardman, boasting an inventive, rich in detail, and superbly-executed stop-motion animation, energetic and delightfully un-cheesy characters, and a nearly epic story of courage and devotion. Being completely dialogue-free, the film relies entirely on physical humor and thankfully, its creators manage to pull off the comedy quite skillfully, as well as to manifest the heart and soul of their creations.

Guest Post: Godzilla's Back! Ten Movies that Made the Monster Famous!

Godzilla films emerged as Japan's answer to King Kong. Over 60 years and 30 films have been created featuring the giant lizard with an unnatural hatred of Tokyo. Over the course of the long line of films, three distinct eras branched from the original film, creating the Showa, Heisei, and Millennium series'. Doubly adored for their high cheese-factor, and nostalgia, Godzilla films are a staple among monster movie enthusiasts and cult film lovers.

These films are not Oscar winner fodder, box office blockbusters, or cinematic achievements that stand up to the test of time. They are often cheap, with laughably bad costumes, and insane plots. Many have been relegated to the back of VHS catalogs or forgotten altogether, but some can be seen on YouTube, or via online streaming here. With more Godzillas (nearly 30, and counting) than you can shake an Oxygen Destroyer at, you know you’re in for a radioactively good time! Here’s ten films to get you started.

10. Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991) 

Film Summary: Time travelers arrive on Present Day Earth under false pretenses warning of the destruction of their world in the future by Godzilla. The ruse culminates in the arrival of King Ghidorah, who seeks to conquer Japan. The only obstacle in his way is Godzilla!
Rating: 6.00/10

9. Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989) 
Film Summary: Godzilla is risen from the grave and has had his DNA spliced with a rosebush, creating monster plant that Godzilla must fight off before it destroys everything. Part of the Heisei Godzilla movie era, a series of films known for bizarre films, plots, and action, this one does not disappoint.
Rating: 6.50/10

8. Godzilla (2014) 
Film Summary: A modern day Godzilla emerges in the United States to battle other enormous creatures (M.U.T.O’s, or “Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organisms”) which pose a threat to humanity.
Rating: 7.00/10

7. Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964) 
Film Summary: Godzilla teams with Mothra and Rodan to destroy winged, three-headed creature, Ghidorah, who emerged from a meteorite. Faced with a monster even worse than he is, this is the first time Godzilla appears as a “hero”, protecting the people of Earth from an extraterrestrial threat.
Rating: 7.25/10

6. Destroy All Monsters (1968) 
Film Summary: Humankind at the mercy of the Kilaaks, a race of female extraterrestrials. Godzilla and a slew of giant monsters must fight off the shackles of mind control imposed on them by the lady alien overlords, leave their home on Monster Island, and join together to save humanity in this cult classic.
Rating: 7.50/10

5. Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (2003) 
Film Summary: Going toe to scaly toe and fist to robotic wing, the ultimate face-off between Mothra and Mechagodzilla takes place in Tokyo. The monsters have met before, but this battle is for keeps. Part of the “Millenium” series of Godzilla pictures.
Rating: 7.50/10

4. Godzilla vs. Destroyah (1995) 
Film Summary: A highly radioactive Godzilla fights to the death with a number of foes before he is, shockingly, killed off. The film also includes some hilarious scenes with Godzilla's offspring, Godzilla Jr.
Rating: 7.50/10

3. Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (2002) 
Film Summary: Godzilla battles a Japanese government issued robotic version of himself, codenamed “Kiriyu.” The film concludes with an incredible final battle, and plenty of great special effects.
Rating: 7.50/10

2. Godzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001) 
Film Summary: As the mouthful of a title implies, this film is an all-out war between gigantic foes, Godzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah. Godzilla is attempting to attack Japan once again, while his immortal enemies try, once again, to stop him before he can. This film is well known for its action sequences.
Rating: 8.00/10

1. Gojira (1954) 
Film Summary: The original Godzilla film introduced the world to the enormous, irradiated lizard with a bad attitude. 500 ft of radioactive fury, Godzilla crashes through Japanese villages in a blind rage. Can anyone stop him before it’s too late?
Rating: 8.50/10

This article is written by Beth Kelly -- a freelance blogger with a horror film addiction. Her primary interests include pulp cinema, analog photography and vintage film posters.
Follow her on Twitter @bkelly_88

[6.50/10] Jupiter Ascending [3D] (2015)

Jupiter Ascending [3D] (2015)

Quick Review: With the visionary Wachowskis behind the camera, you can expect nothing but eye-popping visuals, amazing CGIs, and stylishly executed action scenes, and whilst "Jupiter Ascending" possesses all of the above, it's vastly let down by yet another worn-out "the chosen one" concept, messy script full of cheesy lines, and a female lead that doesn't seem too involved in the project. It's still a guilty pleasure kind of silly fun, you may secretly enjoy.

[4.00/10] Home Sweet Hell (2015)

Home Sweet Hell (2015)

Quick Review: Although it flaunts Heigl's finest, and most challenging performance yet, as the shockingly pedantic, over-controlling, snobbish psycho wife, "Home Sweet Hell" fails on almost every level in its attempts to be the darkly clever, yet amusing black comedy it desperately tries to, because of its familiar blackmail-the- cheater premise, incapable direction and made-for-TV feel. With its many flaws and few highlights, the film can be enjoyed for what it is by the least demanding viewers only.