Horror Power Ranking - September 15, 2008
This week sees the return of some old favorites (Midnight Meat Train!) to the chart after last week's remake-a-palooza. Meanwhile, as the political scene becomes increasingly divisive, it's comforting to know that we can all come together in our shared hatred of Uwe Boll. Cast your vote for quality horror below.
| Horror Power Rankings | |||
| Rank | LW | Movie (or Comic, etc.) | |
| 1 | - |
 |
28 Months Later Danny Boyle returning to the director's chair for another outing is good news after the underwhelming 28 Weeks Later. Still, how many Rage outbreaks can there be? If 28 Years Later is next, count me out. |
| 2 | - |  |
Midnight Meat Train How did Clive Barker's cult hit rocket back to the top of the chart? Could it be the news of its on-demand debut in time for Halloween? Or Barker's hosting of the premiere? Either way, now's your chance to actually see it. |
| 3 | 1 |  |
Ghostbusters 3 Harold Ramis confirmed rumors that the original cast and Judd Apatow's crew will be involved. While we'd prefer a Jonah Hill-less sequel, the return of the original four keeps the 'busters high on the chart. |
| 4 | - |  |
Thirst The good news: It's a horror film from Oldboy director Chan-Woo Park. The bad: It's yet another vampire movie. But Park's track record, and news of a U.S. release, helps Thirst come in strong. |
| 5 | - |
 | Feast 2: Sloppy Seconds The new trailer suggests the second outing will be more of a straightforward gorefest. Still, we have to applaud John Gulagher, the only Project Greenlight contestant to make a movie that didn't make us leap for the remote. |
| 6 | 5 |  |
Child's Play The release of the 20th Anniversary Edition DVD led to an army of Chuckys invading Manhattan. Memo to Don Mancini: There's your plot for the next installment. |
| 7 | - |  |
Captive Jessica Alba The poster for Jessica Alba's new torture porn flick dropped this week and -- What's that? It's a political ad? Well, it's certainly creepier than anything in Alba's remake of The Eye. |
| 8 | - |  |
Ghost Town Is this really all we get until October? A throwback romantic fantasy even coked-up Robin Williams would've turned down in 1989? A remake of The Frighteners would be better than this dreck. Ricky Gervais fans deserve better. |
| 9 | 8 |  |
Poltergeist Original cast member JoBeth Williams doesn't think the remake is necessary. JoBeth's great on Dexter, so whatever she says goes. |
| 10 | - | 
| Seed How awful does a Uwe Boll film have to be to go directly to DVD? Even In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale got a theatrical release. How's that petition going? |
Seems like Ghost Town is getting great reviews. It's currently at 87% fresh on rotten tomatoes. I appears that you missed on that one...
Hmm, except that it debuted in 8th place at the box office this weekend, in exactly the same place I ranked it on the list.
http://www.imdb.com/chart/
Goodwill towards Gervais notwithstanding, any horror comedy that gets beaten by "The Women" deserves to be mocked.
Using box office numbers to judge the quality of a film? Sounds like quality reasoning to me! You stated the film was "dreck", and that "fans deserved better", except that the movie is getting exceptional reviews. My Best Friend's Girl and a Tyler Perry movie also outperformed it... does that mean they're better movies and the critics who gave those movies terrible reviews are just wrong? Odd... I think you can admit you went at least a little overboard with your statements about it.
You do a horror top-10, what on earth does that have to do with the box office top-10? Absolutely nothing, that argument made absolutely no sense. Hey, anything to make yourself feel better, I suppose.
Don't get me wrong, I wasn't originally trying to attack you here, it just seems like you put a movie into the list and bashed the concept without having a true idea of what the film really was, which isn't exactly fair when you're putting together what you call a "power" ranking. I understand a list like this is subjective and that everyone has different opinions. Hey, I read sports power rankings all the time, I'm not unfamiliar with the disagreements people have with them, all I was trying to say is that it seems that you were to quick to judge a book by its proverbial cover, so to speak. I had no personal stock in this movie, I didn't make it nor do I work for a studio of any kind, I'm just a scientist/doctor who loves horror and, like you, horror comedy. I just felt that your choice of words for the film were, shall we say, a little strong, and from what I can see, inconsistent with how professional film critics feel. Of course, critics are typically harsh on true horror, so I don't necessarily think they're the end-all-be-all of cinema judging, but the reviews are overwhelmingly positive.
Well, if it makes you feel better, Alex ranked it higher this week...
http://blogs.amctv.com/monsterfest/2008/09/horror-power-ranking-sept-22.php
See? People can have differing opinions, no two snowflakes are alike. I still stand by my statements that, cast notwithstanding, it's a derivative concept that's likely been sitting on the shelf for 15 years. But I'm also glad that some people like it. As a fan of horror comedies, who also believes they have a place on a horror ranking list, Ghost Town annoys me. There hasn't been a good horror comedy since The Frighteners. Prove me wrong kids, prove me wrong.
You make good points, and maybe it'll end up a cult hit and I'll be crying in my beer. I certainly like the cast, I just wish it wasn't such a reheated concept. Frankly, I blame the overrated David Koepp. When I think comedy, I don't think the dude who wrote Jurassic Park and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Which is why I'm excited for Ghostbusters 3, which will have actual comedy talent behind the camera.
But, again, if people are enjoying Ghost Town, that's a start.