This is a great film regardless of genre. Except for maybe my parents, I'd recommend this film to almost anyone. After a slow start to build atmosphere and develop characters, LTROI tells one of the more unique and compelling coming of age stories I've ever seen. The finish is perfect.

Over the top and ridiculously fun, Inside goes for shocks whenever it can, but with that sense of style that separates French horror from the rest of the pack. Typically great acting and direction, combined with buckets of blood and top notch gore effects, make Inside another keeper for my permanent collection.

I haven't read Barker's original tale, so may have this higher than those who have. The atmosphere was cool (maybe too heavy on the blue tones), and the scares and gore prevalent. This is one subway, I would try to avoid. Vinnie Jones is tremendous in a non-speaking role, projecting menace effortlessly.

Excellent thriller, another one on the list produced outside the US, Eden Lake succeeds by taking a traditional theme (couple terrorized in isolated wooded area) and escalating the brutality to another level. Although it made me mad at first, the ending rules. It shows that the film makers got under my skin.

Released on DVD very early in 2008, this is a fun little vampire flick that I like even better than the graphic novel it was based on. Sort of the opposite side of the spectrum as Let the Right One In as far as vampire films go, 30 Days of Night is a fun, relatively quick paced popcorn flick.

Since [REC] isn't out on DVD in the states yet, I'm going with Quarantine at #11. I found this fairly thrilling with mostly effective camera work. I'm still somewhat peeved that the trailers and TV ads gave away the shocking last shot.

If only they would have shown me more monster, Splinter would have easily cracked my top 10. The set up was great, the actors and dialogue captivating, but the edits during the action scenes were too jerky for me, and they never showed me enough of the creature.

I like horror that goes over the top, especially if it's done with any degree of cleverness. When the budget is low, expensive effects and action sequences take back seat to a smart script and decent actors. It's not every time that comedy and horror fit together like a Reese's peanut butter cup, but I tend to appreciate a film that doesn't take itself too seriously.

the best of the After Dark Horror Fest DVD's of '08, Borderland is nothing original, but the pacing is very good and there are some bloody satisfying moments along the way.

Yet another over-the-top horror film that is not American made. I'm sensing a change in the horror climate. The US no longer rules the roost (and probably hasn't for a few years now). The Cottage might think it's more clever than it actually is, but the fun is definitely there even with the tendancy to groan rather than chuckle.

Similar in some ways to the recent work of Romero, diminishing returns has to set in at some point when you are a horror master. Argento is fairly effective with Mother of Tears and it has its share of grisly moments, however I thought it wandered at times and is a mere shadow of the absolute classic that is Suspiria.

This is no Them (see above), but not a bad effort as somewhat of a remake. Certainly better than most remakes.

I think the Reeker is a pretty original villain and I thought the film looked good and was well paced. Not quite as good as the first Reeker, but I liked them both and would watch for Reeker is he pops up again in the future, hopefully with the same director/creator in charge.