FILM GUTTER'S TOP TEN OF 2019 – PART 1

Well, that's another year down, and once again the better part of fifty extreme hororr movies watched and reviewed. And with December almost at a close, it's time for us to look back at some the best films we've seen this year! As always, we'll be breaking this up into two parts, with the usual caveat that we're referring to the best movies I've seen as part of Film Gutter this year – they might be new, old or something inbetween.

So, with all that said, let's get into it with number 10 through to number 6….

10) Frankenhooker (1990) – 8/10

This year probably sees more 'b-movies' than ever making their way into the top ten, despite it not always being my favourite form. I'm of the mind that I've probably watched some of the best of the milieu this year, beginning with Frank Henenlotter's riotous take on the Frankenstein myth, with lead Jeffrey attempting to recreate his dead girlfriend from the body parts of a host of dead prostitutes. It's ridiculous, but delivered with such energy and fun that it's hard not to warm to.

9) Pervert! (2005) – 8/10

There's nothing high-brow about Jonathan Yudis's homage to the word of Russ Meyer, but it is doubtless mighty entertaining. Featuring an absurd plotline about a young man's penis detaching from his body and going on a murderous rampage after a voodoo curse, this one is a pitch-perfect parody that warrants a watch, and is plenty more fun than many of the films I encounter at Film Gutter…

8) Excision (short) (2008) – 8/10

I've always been a huge fan of the feature-length version of this one, so it was a real pleasure to check out the short film that inspired it. While it maybe didn't quite achieve the heady heights of its extended version, there was plenty to like here in the dark, offbeat tale of a young girl's desperate attempt to help her younger sister – however she can...

7) Necrophilia (short) (1980) – 8.5/10

This obscure short from South Korea has a title that doesn't really fit with what it's all about, being more of a bizarre romantic offering about obsession, love and darkness. It’s visually fascinating, and a real puzzle that demands pulling apart. It might not be the easiest one to find, but it does weigh in as this year's leading short film for Film Gutter.

6) Society (1989) – 8.5/10
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Another one of those underground favourites that still has plenty to say today, and this story of the rich literally eating the poor is probably more apt than ever in 2019. While the majority of the movie is loaded with paranoia, it's particularly renowned for an absolutely outrageous finale, and even now the closing 20 minutes of this one need to be seen to be believed.

Be sure to tune in next week for part two of Film Gutters rundown of the top ten films