Top 10 Horror Movies of 2004

Welcome to my countdown of the best horror films of each year (and decade). I am starting with 2009 and working my way back all the way until 1970 or so. If all pans out the way I imagine, I will post one or two top 10 horror movie lists per week until I run out of years. A bit daunting, sure, but it should be fun in addition to my daily horror review.

You can find all of my top horror movie lists here.

2004: Let’s do this!

Honorable Mentions: Mansquito and Puppet Master vs. Demonic Toys (for the bad horror lovers) along with Calaviare for those with more refined tastes.

10. The Grudge

Everyone ever has seen this movie. Sarah Michelle Gellar came in at #2 on my list (right behind Alicia Silverstone) of girls that gave me boners in the late 90′s.

9. Dawn of the Dead

Surprisingly decent remake. Fantastic opening sequence and plenty of homages to the original film aimed at pleasing even the most discerning critics.

8. Cube: Zero

All the Cubes are good and will make your brain hurt. It’s like math and horror combined – a true nightmare.

7. Exorcist: The Beginning

Stellan Skarsgard as Father Merrin kicks ass. Making this one a prequel was a good idea. Outside of the original, I would recommend Exorcist III and this one.

6. Ginger Snaps: Unleashed

Follow up to one of the best werewolf movies ever made. Katherine Isabelle is a smoking hottie werewolf. The movie asks the question: Can rehab cure lycanthropsy? Note: The third movie also came out in 2004, but sucked something fierce.

5. Bubba Ho-Tep

C’mon! Bruce Campbell as Elvis, Ossie Davis as the black JFK and directed by Don Coscarelli (Phantasm). Almost too good to be true. A must watch!

4. Dead and Breakfast

With references to about every major horror movie ever made and fun sing-along-type songs, Dead and Breakfast is one of my all time favorite horror comedies.

3. Saw

All I could think of when watching this film the first time was, “So this is what happened to Westley after his marriage to Princess Buttercup fell apart.” Poor guy.

2. Malevolence

Minimalist horror at it’s best.

1. Shaun of the Dead

Edgar frickin’ Wright! Let the fan boys rejoice! The Brits have pretty much retained their stranglehold on the horror/comedy genre ever since this film (The Cottage, Severance, Lesbian Vampire Killers, etc).

Need another opinion? Check out this list of the best horror of 2004 from my friend over at Guts and Grogs.