1. DEATHS OF IAN STONE (ADHF #2) : This film for me is on another level from the other ones. That's how much I enjoyed it. Director Dario Piana should be very proud of this one. Surprisingly got a lot of bad reviews during the festival run. I don't know how. Tremendously interesting premise and delivered with confidence by actors, effects people and all on board. I don't know how much the film cost. I'm going to assume he didn't have a lot of money to work with but this could have been released theatrically on its own and being put out in the right time could have made 15-20 million in the first week. I don't know if this film will ever be beat out. This is the bar where others will be compared to.
2. MULBERRY STREET (ADHF#2) : Low budget but makes up for it in pure adrenaline. Once it starts it never lets up. Who would have thought that people turning into people eating rats would be this good? I hope the director Jim Mickle has a budget someday so we can see what he can really do.
3. THE HAMILTONS (ADHF#1) : The surprise hit of the first fest. I didn't know what to expect when I sat down to watch this. Original, quirky, with a pretty modest budget but worked wonders. And I still think the second brother put an astounding performance in this film. Not the nerdy brother with the glasses and not the youngest brother but the other one. His name is Joseph McKelheer. Look for him in other movies.
4. THE BROKEN (ADHF#3) : Atmosphere, atmosphere, atmosphere. This is what this film is all about. The main actress is Lena Headey the actress who played Gerard Butlers's wife in 300. I warn you right now it is a slow boiler. If you're in the right frame of mind it could be a rewarding viewing. It relies on mood more than action at first but some really fine eerie scenes. I thought about this long and hard to put this film this high but I think it deserves it. I probably wouldn't have had I wrote this right after I saw it but thinking about it put it up there for me. Will it stay up there after a second viewing? Maybe not. Nobody knows for sure. But right now it's here.
5. GRAVEDANCERS (ADHF#1) : Finally a film with some scares. Mix that with some humor and you've got a pleasant viewing experience. The cgi ending is still pretty bad though. But these films will never be oscar winners will they?!
6. DARK RIDE (ADHF #1) : A strictly retro throwback to 80's horror films. A slasher film. Good effects but you'll know what's going on before the film ends. Still a fun ride!
7. NIGHTMARE MAN (ADHF #2) : If I remember right this was pretty good but the effects were extremely hokey. But putting that aside a film with a lot of energy and some uneasiness. Plus b-movie actress Tiffany Shepis being tough is always a plus. Maybe being too generous right now in the ranking but who knows.
8. VOICES (ADHF #3) : A nice surprise for me this year. I didn't expect much from this one but it was pretty good. Asian horror but just different enough although it still involves a curse.
9. BUTTERFLY EFFECT: REVOLUTION (ADHF #3) : I probably like this film a bit more than a lot of people because I like the premise so much. Main actor does a credible job in the role. And Rachel Minor makes it 3 fests in a row with an appearance as main character's sister. Pretty gory death scenes.
10. PENNY DREADFUL (ADHG #1) : Okay here's the top ten. This one has slipped a bit and it probably will some more if I see it again. I thought it was really good the first time.
11. FROM WITHIN (ADHG #3) : Interesting premise here but not super will thought out execution. Still held my interest.
12. SLAUGHTER (ADHG #3) : A film where the director actually tried to develop the two main characters who are women. They somewhat succeeded. Not too bad but that damn pervert/redneck theme pops its ugly head in here a little bit too. Strong female characters though.
13. DYING BREED (ADHG #3) : Great scenery but loses potential for better ranking due to the old backwoods/redneck theme. But great character in main actors best friend who brings humor to the movie. He's almost annoying but not quite.
14. UNREST (ADHF #1) : Not bad but another one that slips with repeated viewings.
15. BORDERLAND (ADHF #2) : Rating has definitely slipped on this one. Doesn't hold up well at all.
16. REINCARNATION (ADHF #1) : I'm getting tired of asian horror. This was okay at best. Rating has probably slipped a little.
17. ABANDONED (ADHF #1) : I remember this being great looking with potential but being bogged down with conversation between the two actors.
18. PERKINS 14 (ADHF #3) : Trying to be this year's Mulberry Street with low budget but adrenaline soaked mayhem but to no avail.
19. AUTOPSY (ADHG #3) : The opening had a Clutch song in it and it went downhill from there. I suppose if you had a lot of friends watching this and wanted a stupid movie to make fun of this could be a good time but to take it seriously ain't gonna happen. The worst one of the new batch.
20. LAKE DEAD (ADHF #2) : Another what if. If the filmmakers could have used their brains for a better story. I just hate redneck/incest/dumbshits killing people. It's so pedestrian. And what do they do? They kill the hottest chick in the movie first. She doesn't even get to the main story location. She would have kicked everybody's ass and it would have made it at least watchable.
21. WICKED LITTLE THINGS (ADHF #1) : Maybe I have to see this again but I remember it being very blah.
22. CRAZY EIGHTS (ADHF #2) : All these somewhat famous people and they couldn't put a good film together? Boring.
23. UNEARTHED (ADHF #2) : So much potential but due to horrible cgi effects and extremely dark camerawork where you couldn't even see what was going on ruined what potential it had. This could have been one of the best since the premise was different from all the others.
24. TOOTH AND NAIL (ADHF #2) : Simply a mess from start to finish. Laughable. If they were trying to be funny they succeeded.
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