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It’s happened. We knew it would. It’s the last week in December and 2010 is drawing its
final gasping breaths. As a result every website known to man is doing their own
version of the recap. The good, the bad, the mediocre; Dark Road Ratings is no
exception. We’ve been a little busy this year, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t been
lurking in the shadows. Following the horror trends of 2010 with creaking footsteps and
voyeuristic fantasies. We’re coming for you Barbara …
final gasping breaths. As a result every website known to man is doing their own
version of the recap. The good, the bad, the mediocre; Dark Road Ratings is no
exception. We’ve been a little busy this year, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t been
lurking in the shadows. Following the horror trends of 2010 with creaking footsteps and
voyeuristic fantasies. We’re coming for you Barbara …
Unquestionably the most horrifying thing to be released this
year has been anything featuring Ke$ha. But, auto-tuned,
glitter clad alcoholics aside, we did manage to pull together a
list of happenings in 2010 that we feel are intentionally
horrific and unlike songs about hot pants and Jesus, worth a
second look.
year has been anything featuring Ke$ha. But, auto-tuned,
glitter clad alcoholics aside, we did manage to pull together a
list of happenings in 2010 that we feel are intentionally
horrific and unlike songs about hot pants and Jesus, worth a
second look.
2010 has been The Year of the Zombie (we’re pretty
sure it’s on the Chinese calendar). Maybe it’s the fear
that the world will end in 2012 or maybe it’s just that
mainstream media is finally waking up to the idea that
eating your loved ones in a post apocalyptic free for
all is pretty fun to contemplate. Whatever the case,
zombies were prevalent this year. Unsurprisingly our
two favorites were the super fun and interactive video
game Red Dead Redemption’s Undead Nightmare and
the awesome “I can’t believe something this good was
made for TV” series The Walking Dead.
sure it’s on the Chinese calendar). Maybe it’s the fear
that the world will end in 2012 or maybe it’s just that
mainstream media is finally waking up to the idea that
eating your loved ones in a post apocalyptic free for
all is pretty fun to contemplate. Whatever the case,
zombies were prevalent this year. Unsurprisingly our
two favorites were the super fun and interactive video
game Red Dead Redemption’s Undead Nightmare and
the awesome “I can’t believe something this good was
made for TV” series The Walking Dead.
Red Dead Redemption took game playing fans of every genre on a gritty violent wild west ride and before
the game even hit shelves it was a record setting hit. The only thing this game was missing and in fact the
world of Red Dead was begging for was a bit more of the macabre! The signs were there, crazy grave
diggers, unknown strangers playing the role of death and haunted ghost towns that sent chills down the
spine of even the nastiest gunfighters. But we wanted more! Just in time for Halloween, Rock Star released
one of the most successful add-ons in history with the aptly titled Undead Nightmare! What could be better
in The Year of the Zombie than a full fledged add-on that injected all the nasty horror and potential dark
humor available to an undead apocalypse in the wild west. Rock Star gets it and we agree the wild west
could use a few more undead flesh eaters.
the game even hit shelves it was a record setting hit. The only thing this game was missing and in fact the
world of Red Dead was begging for was a bit more of the macabre! The signs were there, crazy grave
diggers, unknown strangers playing the role of death and haunted ghost towns that sent chills down the
spine of even the nastiest gunfighters. But we wanted more! Just in time for Halloween, Rock Star released
one of the most successful add-ons in history with the aptly titled Undead Nightmare! What could be better
in The Year of the Zombie than a full fledged add-on that injected all the nasty horror and potential dark
humor available to an undead apocalypse in the wild west. Rock Star gets it and we agree the wild west
could use a few more undead flesh eaters.
As for The Walking Dead we only have one problem with it. It’s too short.
One hour a week for six weeks was just not enough to satisfy our growing
hunger for this show. It’s gory, it’s violent, it’s brutal, it’s heart felt, it’s all
things you would expect from a great zombie movie, let alone a TV show,
and it does it’s graphic novel predecessor proud in terms of staying right
on target. What we didn’t expect was how well done it would be in terms of
production value. Let’s face it, the horror genre is often a bit sloppy in the
quality department. But with Frank Darabont at the helm and a cast with
both talent and depth, they created what could have been a cheesy time
filler watched only by die hard horror fans, and turned it into a major
television event with record breaking ratings across the board. Yes sir,
2010 was a good year for zombie lovers.
One hour a week for six weeks was just not enough to satisfy our growing
hunger for this show. It’s gory, it’s violent, it’s brutal, it’s heart felt, it’s all
things you would expect from a great zombie movie, let alone a TV show,
and it does it’s graphic novel predecessor proud in terms of staying right
on target. What we didn’t expect was how well done it would be in terms of
production value. Let’s face it, the horror genre is often a bit sloppy in the
quality department. But with Frank Darabont at the helm and a cast with
both talent and depth, they created what could have been a cheesy time
filler watched only by die hard horror fans, and turned it into a major
television event with record breaking ratings across the board. Yes sir,
2010 was a good year for zombie lovers.
Television in general has been disgustingly fun this year
with shows like Dexter and True Blood rounding out the
medium. Props to cable TV for giving us something to
watch that doesn’t involve C-list celebrities and dance
partners. Zombies and Vampires and Serial Killers, oh my!
with shows like Dexter and True Blood rounding out the
medium. Props to cable TV for giving us something to
watch that doesn’t involve C-list celebrities and dance
partners. Zombies and Vampires and Serial Killers, oh my!
This year also brought us a slew of 3D movie releases that
frankly we found unnecessary and kitschy. A few had their
place like the violent and gory remake of Valentines Day,
and the over the top Piranha, that both hearkened back to
the original days of the 3D scream fest, but it was clear
from the start someone saw dollar signs and they started
slapping 3D on anything. If you liked them and wish we’d
go deeper into the subject … go read another article.
frankly we found unnecessary and kitschy. A few had their
place like the violent and gory remake of Valentines Day,
and the over the top Piranha, that both hearkened back to
the original days of the 3D scream fest, but it was clear
from the start someone saw dollar signs and they started
slapping 3D on anything. If you liked them and wish we’d
go deeper into the subject … go read another article.
A film that thankfully was NOT filmed in 3D, The Human Centipede also
caught our attention. A story far more horrific in subject matter than
execution, it’s not for those who expect a lot to happen. It’s slow and a
little dull to watch. But the very idea … *shudder* The concept alone
got the horror community buzzing this year with nearly no equal.
As awesome as The Year of the Zombie has been, there is always a
downside. 2010’s downside is two fold. Firstly it was also the year of
the remake. A “re-imagining” of Nightmare on Elm Street may be a
nice idea, but we have trouble adjusting to a new Freddy. Robert
Englund, you are missed. Then there is Let Me In, a remake of a film
that just came out last year. We’re a little perplexed by this notion, but
it’s a great story and if you’re not inclined to read subtitles and find
bad dubbing distracting, maybe it’s worth a look. But we prefer our
remakes to be at least a few years after the fact. Just sayin’.
caught our attention. A story far more horrific in subject matter than
execution, it’s not for those who expect a lot to happen. It’s slow and a
little dull to watch. But the very idea … *shudder* The concept alone
got the horror community buzzing this year with nearly no equal.
As awesome as The Year of the Zombie has been, there is always a
downside. 2010’s downside is two fold. Firstly it was also the year of
the remake. A “re-imagining” of Nightmare on Elm Street may be a
nice idea, but we have trouble adjusting to a new Freddy. Robert
Englund, you are missed. Then there is Let Me In, a remake of a film
that just came out last year. We’re a little perplexed by this notion, but
it’s a great story and if you’re not inclined to read subtitles and find
bad dubbing distracting, maybe it’s worth a look. But we prefer our
remakes to be at least a few years after the fact. Just sayin’.
Secondly, 2010 brought us FAR too many tween focused
vampires. Twilight was everywhere and as a result the little
known 80’s book series The Vampire Diaries was re-vamped
(pardon the pun) and destroyed for prepubescent teen
audiences to sit and swoon over. If not for True Blood we would
seriously fear for the future of the modern vampire.
vampires. Twilight was everywhere and as a result the little
known 80’s book series The Vampire Diaries was re-vamped
(pardon the pun) and destroyed for prepubescent teen
audiences to sit and swoon over. If not for True Blood we would
seriously fear for the future of the modern vampire.
Talk of Vampires naturally leads to talk of werewolves. Benicio Del Torro
brought us this year’s major lycanthropic tale with yet another remake,
The Wolfman. We were so excited about this movie when we saw the
leaked trailers way back when. Sadly, it didn’t really live up to all our
expectations or the films’ potential. It wasn’t completely awful and kudos
to Hollywood for continuing to try to make a decent werewolf movie (you’ll
get it right one of these days guys) but when all is said and done we at
DRR were split on the matter; for some it was a flawed yet good time, for
others it just wasn’t very good.
brought us this year’s major lycanthropic tale with yet another remake,
The Wolfman. We were so excited about this movie when we saw the
leaked trailers way back when. Sadly, it didn’t really live up to all our
expectations or the films’ potential. It wasn’t completely awful and kudos
to Hollywood for continuing to try to make a decent werewolf movie (you’ll
get it right one of these days guys) but when all is said and done we at
DRR were split on the matter; for some it was a flawed yet good time, for
others it just wasn’t very good.
In music news, the Granddaddy of Shock Rock, Alice Cooper was FINALLY
inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame this year. Way to go Alice! With hits
like No More Mr. Nice Guy, Welcome To My Nightmare, Feed My Frankenstein,
House of Fire and The Ballad of Dwight Fry (to name but a few) you have certainly
earned the respect of horror and music fans alike. And despite the song, we don’t
think it could’ve happened to a nicer guy.
inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame this year. Way to go Alice! With hits
like No More Mr. Nice Guy, Welcome To My Nightmare, Feed My Frankenstein,
House of Fire and The Ballad of Dwight Fry (to name but a few) you have certainly
earned the respect of horror and music fans alike. And despite the song, we don’t
think it could’ve happened to a nicer guy.
There is a lot we could cover about 2010, but you were all there to bear witness to the event and now as it
draws to close it’s time to look to the future. Onwards and upwards as they say. Our first prediction for 2011
is that Kevin Smith is going to blow it up with Red State. If you haven’t seen the teaser trailer yet, what are
you waiting for? It’s Kevin Smith and it’s a horror movie. There is no downside here!
And if we somehow turn out to be wrong about Red State, there is one thing that remains certain. Ke$ha will
never stop releasing records.
draws to close it’s time to look to the future. Onwards and upwards as they say. Our first prediction for 2011
is that Kevin Smith is going to blow it up with Red State. If you haven’t seen the teaser trailer yet, what are
you waiting for? It’s Kevin Smith and it’s a horror movie. There is no downside here!
And if we somehow turn out to be wrong about Red State, there is one thing that remains certain. Ke$ha will
never stop releasing records.
