This seems like a strange idea for a list, right? Let me explain.
I have noticed a pattern of similarity in the works of horror directors Ari Aster, Jordan Peele and Robert Eggers. For starters, each of the three filmmakers has directed exactly two feature films so far. With each one, the first film was somewhat of a massive cult hit, and the second one was larger in scale for a more mainstream audience. With each case, there is fierce debate among fans on which is better of the two films. Each of the three directors has such a unique style of creating horror that critics have praised them for "reinventing the genre". And, with all three, fans are dying to see what their third film will be.
I just had to do something with this information once I realized these similarities - and what better time to write about horror than October, with Halloween just a few weeks away (I'll be posting an even more Halloween-appropriate text on the actual Halloween week). So, here is my ranking of the six films that these vastly promising horror directors have made so far!
6. Hereditary (Ari Aster, 2018)
All of the six films on this list are very impressive - Hereditary just didn't sit as well with my subjective tastes as the rest. But while it wasn't the kind of film that I found myself invested in, I do recognize how well-built the horror in it was, and therefore it does deserve praise. In his debut film, Ari Aster reinvents the "haunted house" trope, as the central family experiences a seriously disturbing chain of supernatural occurrences in their house. The film's strongest suit is the unique quality of the way Aster builds horror, as the film really feels like no other.
Still, there simply wasn't much else to it in my opinion than the (again, extremely praiseworthy) way the film broke new ground within the genre style-wise. The story wasn't all that interesting, and as a whole the film isn't as memorable as the other five on this list. Still, a very impressive debut - I want to stress the fact that all of the films from these directors are among the best horror film of the 2010's, so being on last place definitely doesn't mean that I didn't like this film.
5. The VVitch: A New England Folktale (Robert Eggers, 2015)
Robert Eggers's debut feature film sure is an unusual one, as one may guess from the stylized title. The Vvitch (sometimes boringly marketed as "The Witch" despite the original title being infinitely cooler) follows a religious New England family in the 1630's, as the farm they live on becomes subject to strange and creepy occurrences.
The film gains a lot from its period-piece setting, as well as the religious themes. It is fascinating and unsettling to follow how the members of the family turn against each other, completely sure that one of them is being possessed by a witch and that they are doing this to the rest of their family. Definitely not a fun film to watch, but a very intriguing and atmospheric one.
4. Midsommar (Ari Aster, 2019)
Imagine if the Nicolas Cage remake of The Wicker Man (2006) retained its basic plot concept and sequence of events, but every possible aspect of filmmaking was done a thousand times better. That's Midsommar. We follow a fleshed-out protagonist (Florence Pugh) as she stumbles upon a strange community, up to the point that their creepy behavior escalates and she realizes that she's in the midst of a violent cult. Then, there's a whole lot of fire-related rituals.
The rural Swedish setting is very fascinating, and as a Scandinavian I found it interesting to see a film where ancient Midsummer traditions are turned into creepy cult rituals. I always love it when a film goes deep into the lore of some celebration with a horror twist - other great examples are the Finnish Christmas film Rare Exports (2010) using Finland's original Santa Claus (a monster-like figure in pagan folklore) as an unlikely villain, as well as some of the Halloween (1978) sequels going deep into the roots of the Celtic Samhain-tradition that Halloween was built on. The ritualistic cult horror works well in this film, and Ari Aster does a seriously impressive job building horror sequences that happen almost exclusively in bright daylight (just think about how much the horror genre relies on darkness and shadows in most cases).
3. Us (Jordan Peele, 2019)
Out of the three directors on this list, Peele is the only one whose second film is lower on my list than his first - but it's a close call, as both of his movies are quite fantastic. My minor problem with Us is that the blend of comedy and horror doesn't work quite as well as it did in his debut film (more on that later), as I felt that some of the comedic dialogue felt out of touch with the film's creepier side, making the stakes seem a bit lower. How come the film still is above hugely respected future-classics like Midsommar and The Vvitch, you ask? Well, everything else in this film is insanely fantastic.
The societal criticism is expertly done, as you can expect from Jordan Peele. The racial divide and modern classism of the United States are criticized in a brilliantly subtle manner that never feels too on-the-nose yet really gets to you in a powerful fashion. The acting performances are amazing, as all main actors play two different characters due to the story concept of everyone having a doppelgänger from a different kind of existence. Lupita Nyong'o especially kills it as the main heroine, as well as her "evil doppelgänger". The film also gains extra points for its phenomenal twist ending.
2. Get Out (Jordan Peele, 2017)
Strangely enough, Get Out is the only film on this list that can be found from my top 10 favorite horror movies of all time - obviously, the #1 movie from today's list would've also made it, but I excluded psychological horror from said list because the comparison was too hard to make. But yes, Get Out is one of the genre's best offerings. What really gets me is the absolutely seamless blend of sharp societal criticism, actually funny humor, and unique horror.
Those three elements are a tough sell to combine: if nearly any director tried to, at least one of them would fall flat (I can easily imagine a film with the premise of Get Out where either the themes and meanings come across as over-simplified and preachy, the comedy side doesn't work, or the horror just isn't scary). But Jordan Peele managed to make the film as it was meant to be: the themes of race and oppression are dealt with in a brilliantly subtle and layered yet powerful way, the humor brings vast levels of entertainment and fun into the film, and the horror sequences are very creepy. No wonder that this film won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay - what a feat for a horror film.
1. The Lighthouse (Robert Eggers, 2019)
The Lighthouse is an astonishing psychological thriller. Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson deliver absolutely mesmerizing performances as two lighthouse keepers on a remote island, as the film follows their descent into insanity due to the secluded nature of their work. As their minds fall further and further into chaos, they start to envision strange creatures while getting lost on the passage of time. Robert Eggers's decision to shoot the film in black-and-white (not to mention the 1.19:1 aspect ratio, creating a truly old-time feel) is only the tip of the iceberg on how well-directed the film is, as the director's greatest strength is his use of supernatural imagery such as mermaids and other creatures as symbols for how crazy the main characters are going.
The Lighthouse is a remarkable fantasy film. Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson deliver absolutely spectacular performances as two lighthouse keepers on a remote island, where things seem normal (apart from the director's brilliant style choices) until the area starts to reveal its true colors. While we never learn quite what is the root of the island's supernatural qualities, there is definitely something very off-world about the place: time doesn't pass in a normal manner, strange creatures and other elements of sea-related lore appear, and it all has something to do with the light in the titular lighthouse. As the main characters realize just how haunted the rock of theirs is, they find themselves struggling against powers greater than themselves in this wonderful fantasy-horror masterpiece.
Which one is true? No one will ever know, and I absolutely love that fact. Interpretational cinema is a great thing, and Robert Eggers really nails it with this ambiguous piece of art.
Thank you for reading! Tune in next week for my ranking of the episodes of BBC's Sherlock (2010-2017)!
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