Scare yourself to death with 10 great horror movies

Ah, 2017, it’s been a great year for jump scares and we’re not just talking about environmental collapse and neo-Nazis. Our collective sense of dread has fueled one of the best years for horror movies ever, especially in terms of box office blockbusters such as “Get Out” and “It.” As Halloween approaches and your thoughts turn to scary clowns, flesh-eating zombies and other beloved seasonal traditions, here is a breezy little list of the 10 best scary movies we (my esteemed fellow gore-hound Jim Harrington and I) have encountered this year. And to all a Fright Night.

This image released by Universal Pictures shows Daniel Kaluuya in a scene from, “Get Out.” (Universal Pictures via AP) 

“It” – Pennywise, Stephen King’s uber scary clown, returns to the sewers to terrorize the members of the Loser’s club once again in this surprisingly fresh and flavorful remake of the ’80s classic.

“Get Out” – Jordan Peele artfully fuses the politics of bigotry with the old Stepford trope in this bracing commentary on the insidious nature of white supremacy in our supposedly post-race age.

“Happy Death Day” – Who knew that a slasher update on the 1993 Bill Murray film “Groundhog Day” would be so fun? Yet, this film turned out to be an absolute gem, sparkling with clever dialogue, solid acting and plenty of satisfyingly scary moments.

“Split” – It’s amazing tour-de-force for James McAvoy, who plays a man with 23 personalities – and, trust us, not all of them are nice. Yup, director M. Night Shyamalan is back!

“It Comes at Night” – Director Trey Edward Shults does an excellent job in creating a tangible sense of menace in this dialogue-driven flick, detailing the struggle to stay alive in a world fraught with deadly disease.

“Wish Upon” – Why do people in these movies never realize that there will be consequences for their actions – until, really, it’s too late? Still, “Wish Upon” rises above (most of) the clichés with a imaginative story about a woman who – unfortunately for those around her – gets what she wishes for.

“47 Meters Down” – Sharks! Ahhhhh! Get out of the water! (Really, what else do you need to know?)

“Friend Request” – Most Internet-inspired horror films (like “Unfriended”) are duds. But not this one, which will have you thinking twice before you accept that next friend request from a person you don’t know all that well.

“Annabelle: Creation” – We didn’t have high hopes for this fourth installment of “The Conjuring” series. Yet, “Creation” surprised by delivering a gripping origin tale of that creepy Annabelle doll.

“Life” – Sure, it’s a lot like the original “Alien.” But it’s also way better than anything that franchise has produced in years – and, yes, that includes this year’s disappointing “Alien: Covenant.”

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http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/10/27/scare-yourself-to-death-with-10-great-horror-movies/