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While it may not be the decade people immediately think of when discussing horror movies, the early 2000s were actually a very exciting time for the genre, with some of the best horror movies emerging in those ten years. This decade marked the beginning of iconic movie franchises like Saw and Final Destination, as well as offering plenty of unforgettable stories through films like Signs and The Mist. With new films popping up for every subset of the genre, the 2000s truly offered something for all types of horror lovers.

Of course, the impressive range of 2000s horror movies extends well beyond the fan favorites that fans of the genre are bound to be quite familiar with by now. Because of the overwhelming success of a handful of films, many exciting, well-made works of horror managed to fly under the radar. Just because they may not have received as much...

The 2000s were a great time for horror, including both box office hits and lesser-known films that were just as good. From brilliant and hilarious teen horror movies to supernatural tales like The Ring, there is a wide range of choices for any fan that might feel nostalgic. However, between widespread acclaimed blockbusters and great sequels of beloved movies, some of the decade's finest works have gone under the radar despite their exceptional narrative and blood-curdling plots.

While the mainstream horrors dominated the industry, some not-very well-known movies many probably haven't seen are not less deserving of attention and praise, as they often offered an innovative and unexplored perspective that challenged more traditional tropes. Whether through impressive visuals, disturbing and macabre twists, or even emotionally charged narratives, some underrated films deserve a spot among the great horrors of the 2000s.

Frailty Released In 2001

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End-of-the-world Sci-fi went mainstream with a heavy message about human extinction in John Paxton’s all-star adaptation of Nevil Shute’s best seller. Always controversial and often derided as ‘glamorous obliteration chic,’ Stanley Kramer’s film plays better than ever. The possibility of Nuke Doom could be ignored back then, but we’ve since gained a more apocalyptic outlook. It’s got fine work from Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner and Fred Astaire, and only real Australians wince at the iffy accents. It’s also Kramer’s best-judged, best-directed movie overall. [Imprint’s] special edition includes an entire separate documentary feature, Fallout.

On the Beach

Blu-ray

Plus the full feature Fallout

Viavision [Imprint] #147

1959 / B&w / 1:85 widescreen / 134 min. / Street Date August 30, 2022 / Available from [Imprint] / au 69.95

Starring Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire, Anthony Perkins, Donna Anderson, John Tate, Harp McQuire, Lola Brooks, Guy Doleman, John Meillon, Paddy Moran.

Cinematography Giuseppe Rotunno

Film Editor...

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“Hate Is A Loaded Gun”

By Raymond Benson

The years of the 1940s following World War II exhibited a striking change in Hollywood movies. The moods and world outlooks of post-war GIs and the people they had left behind and to whom they returned were more reflective and serious. Awareness of societal ills that had always been with us were now at the forefront… and Hollywood stepped up to address this new American angst in the form of a) what film historians call “social problem films” that tackled issues such as alcoholism, drug addiction, anti-Semitism, racism, government corruption, and other hitherto taboos of motion pictures, and b) film noir, the gritty crime dramas that never sugar-coated anything and portrayed both men and women—the femmes fatale—as hard-boiled, cynical, and paranoid.

Two pictures were released in 1947 that tackled anti-Semitism with frank, hard-hitting realism.

Hollywood learns to imbed a social message into a crime thriller. John Paxton’s adaptation of Richard Brooks’ neat murder tale is solid noir because it sheds light on the malaise of returning soldiers. No parades and confetti here: Robert Ryan is the hateful bigot but the other characters live amid equally shadowy values — laid-back Robert Mitchum, unhappy bar girl Gloria Grahame. Edward Dmytryk puts a polish on a fine screenplay with a fresh viewpoint, that avoids thriller clichés.

Crossfire

Blu-ray

Warner Archive Collection

1947 / B&w / 1:37 Academy / 86 min. / Street Date , 2021 / available through the WBshop / 21.99

Starring: Robert Young, Robert Mitchum, Robert Ryan, Gloria Grahame, Paul Kelly,

Sam Levene, George Cooper, Jacqueline White, Steve Brodie, William Phipps, Lex Barker, Marlo Dwyer.

Cinematography: J. Roy Hunt

Film Editor: Harry Gerstad

Art Direction: Albert S. D’Agostino, Alfred Herman

Original Music: Roy Webb

Written by John Paxton from the novel The Brick Foxhole by...

Comic book films are full of intricate storytelling. But sometimes, even Batman, Spider-Man & Iron Man need Basil Exposition's help...

This article contains spoilers for Avengers: Age Of Ultron and various other comic book movies - if you're not entirely up to date, then watch out as you read on...

As you know, we're enjoying a golden age of comic book movies and there are around 30 more of them pencilled in before the decade is out. Since Marvel Studios started experimenting with continuity between movies and whole franchises, there's been criticism of its use of MacGuffins and plot exposition - it provokes nightmares of long-winded recaps of already established stuff, starting with dreaded phrases like 'as you know'. And who'd start anything with those three words?

It's not that we're mistaking the use of exposition for poor storytelling - it's a super-broad term to describe something that's kind of essential to most stories.

Photograph from Rockin’ Steady: A Guide to Basketball & Cool. Perhaps no other athlete personified New York City and the 1970s quite like Walt “Clyde” Frazier, the Hall of Fame guard of the New York Knicks championship teams. An unflappable floor general with lightening quick reflexes, Clyde was a showstopper off the court, as well—a man-about-town who could often be found sporting a sealskin coat, “Clyde” hat with a four-inch brim, and platform shoes. So it’s no wonder, too, that his 1974 book, Rockin’ Steady: A Guide to Basketball & Cool, was a one-of-a-kind, time capsule classic. A generation of players, coaches and fans grew up with the book, co-written with New York Times sportswriter Ira Berkow and featuring photographs by Walter Ioose, Jr., and illustrations by John Lane. (President Obama has a copy in his presidential library.) Long out of print, Rockin’ Steady was recently reissued by Triumph Books, with...

Almost every superhero film has its share of cheesy lines – it comes with the comic book territory. However, sometimes you hear a line that is so grating that it pulls you out of the film. It can be the terrible writing or just poor delivery by the actor. Other times, it is so over-the-top that your eyes hurt from rolling back into your head. The following are ten pieces of superhero movie dialogue that I particularly dislike. Some of these are awful movies with awful writing, while others are good films marred by the occasional misstep. Feel free to comment if you agree or disagree, or have more lines to add!

10. “Deliver uuuussssssss!!” “Finish it! Finish It!” “From eeeeeevil!” (Aunt May and Green Goblin, Spider-Man)

This scene occurred when Green Goblin burst through the wall of Aunt May’s room and interrupted her prayer. This dialogue is despised by many...

CALIFORNIALa Jolla PlayhouseP.O. Box 12039La Jolla, CA 92039(858) 550-1070, fax (858) 550-1075information@ljp.orgwww.lajollaplayhouse.orgChristopher Ashley, artistic directorEquity Lort B contractNon-EquityCasting: Casts productions in-house and through independent casting directors by invitation only. Send pix and resumes to above address, attn: Casting. See website for more information. Internships availableSeason: June - September. Shows: "Surf Report" (June); "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder" (September); "Ruined" (November); "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (July); "Notes From the Underground" (September)Marin Shakespeare CompanyP.O. Box 4053San Rafael, CA 94913(415) 499-4485, fax (415) 499-1492management@marinshakespeare.orgwww.marinshakespeare.orgRobert S. Currier, artistic director; Lesley Currier, managing directorEquity Loa referenced to Lort contractNon-EquityCasting: Casts productions in-house. Send pix and resumes to Robert Currier. Please see website for specific audition dates and information.Internships and/or apprenticeships available.Season: July - September. Shows: "Travesties" (July 2-Aug. 15); "The Taming of the Shrew" (July 16-Sep. 26); "Antony and Cleopatra" (Aug. 20-Sep. 25)Pcpa Theaterfest800 S.