Summer of Blood: Horror Films of Summer 2011

With Summer 2011 finally here, it's time to take a look at and preview this summers horror releases. 

Super 8 (June 10th)

JJ Abrams, the creative mind behind Lost, brings us this Steven Spielberg produced sci-fi film that still remains shrouded in mystery. The story is about a group of friends making super 8 films (that's a type of camera, for those younger readers) when they witness a train crash. Soon, strange and unusual things begin happening all around them. 

Many will say that JJ Abrams' habit of keeping secrets from his viewers is getting gimmicky and stupid, but just think about it, do you know anyone that didn't want to know what that damn Cloverfield monster was? JJ Abrams knows that people want the truth more than anything, and by hiding from them, he pretty much guarantees that people will see his movies. Well played, JJ.

 

The Ward (July 8th)

John Carpenter's return to horror promises to be a super creepy paranormal film starring the painfully hot Amber Heard. John Carpenter has contributed some incredible films to the genre (Halloween, The Thing, Prince of Darkness) so there's no reason not to have faith that his newest movie will be a hit.

Fright Night (August 19th) 

This vampire remake of the 1985 classic looks, well, it actually looks pretty good. Colin Farrell looks great as the bad-ass vampire next door neighbor who's trying to steal away unsuspecting Charlie Brewster's (Anton Yelchin) whole life. Plus, who better to play the spazmatic Evil Ed than Christopher Mintz-Plasse?

Apollo 18 (August 26th)

This "found footage" horror film (the same style as Paranormal Activity and The Blair Witch Project) is about a secret mission to the moon and what terrible secrets it uncovered. 

Between this and Super 8, it looks like this will be the summer of Sci-Fi and aliens. I really like the concept of this film and think that if it's done right, it'll be a great horror movie for years to come.

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (August 26th)

Guillermo del Toror produces this ultra-creepy film about a small family who's move to a New England mansion will have them welcoming some unwanted guests.

Despite the fact that del Toro did not direct the film, it definitely has the same overall tone and feeling as Pan's Labrynth in the sense that it's almost mystical and fairy-tale-like in its story.   I'm very excited for this film and will certainly be seeing it opening night despite my excitement for Apollo 18.

Final Destination 5 (August 28th)

Hey! Remember back in 2009 when the released The FINAL Destination? And remember how a bunch of people went to see it? Well they decided to pull a Friday the 13th: The FINAL Chapter and just make another one anyway.

Much like every other Final Destination film, FD5 tells the story of a group of attractive young people who accidentally escape death and are then killed off in horrible, horrible ways.

The Final Destination films are just big compilations of death scenes that can be very over-done and very bad. Personally, I would skip Final Destination 5.



And there you have it folks, let the summer of blood commence!