We selected our 13 favorite films for the Dark Side of the Screen screening & discussion series: the best, most provocative, and most discussion-worthy (non-mainstream) horror, thriller, and noir films of the decade.

Co-authored by Julia Compton, Mike Dillon, and Daniel Love

Julia’s Picks:

#13. MANDY (2018)

#12. THE LOVED ONES (2009/2010)

#11. AMERICAN MARY (2012)

#10. TUCKER AND DALE VS EVIL (2010)

#9. THE BABADOOK (2014)

#8. NIGHTCRAWLER (2014)

#7. THE CABIN IN THE WOODS (2011)

#6. BETTER WATCH OUT (2016/2017)

#5. MOM AND DAD (2017)

#4. TRAIN TO BUSAN (2016)

#3. WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS (2015)

#2. RUBBER (2010/2011)

#1. THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER (2017)

Favorite Dark On-Screen Moments of the Decade:

• ATTACK THE BLOCK (2011): Sam and Moses’ conversation on the phone while preparing to trap the aliens
• BLACK SWAN (2010): Nina peels a cuticle
• FROZEN (2010): Dan jumps off the ski lift and… oh, snap
• GREEN ROOM (2015): Pat’s hand is hacked to stringy bits
• HAGAZUSSA: A HEATHEN’S CURSE (2017/2019): home-cooked baby stew
• HEREDITARY (2018): Annie’s guilt-fueled dream in which she confesses things to Peter
• THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE II (FULL SEQUENCE): the baby and the gas pedal
• THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER (2017): Martin eating spaghetti
• NIGHTCRAWLER (2014): Lou and Nina negotiating in the restaurant
• REVENGE (2017/2018): running in blood
• TIGERS ARE NOT AFRAID (2017/2018): Estrella’s moment of closure when she is reunited with her mother
• TUSK (2014): The isty-bitsy spider at the dinner table
• WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS (2015): the flat meeting

*****

Dillon’s Picks:

#13. DUDE BRO PARTY MASSACRE III (2015)

#12. KILLER JOE (2011)

#11. WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN (2011)

#10. PREDESTINATION (2014)

#9. I SAW THE DEVIL (2010)

#8. UNDER THE SHADOW (2016)

#7. CLIMAX (2018/2019)

#6. MOST BEAUTIFUL ISLAND (2017)

#5. WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS (2014)

#4. REVENGE (2017/2018)

#3. COMPLIANCE (2012)

#2. AFFLICTED (2014)

#1. GREEN ROOM (2015)

Favorite Dark On-Screen Moments of the Decade:

• ANNIHILATION (2018): the “Help Me” bear
• BRAWL IN CELL BLOCK 99 (2017): Bradley beats up a car
• CLIMAX (2018/2019): the opening dance sequence
• GAME NIGHT (2018): the bullet extraction scene
• THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER (2017): Martin eats spaghetti
• KNOCK KNOCK (2015): the “It was free pizza!” monologue
• MIDSOMMAR (2019): the prologue / murder-suicide
• PARASITE (2019): Ki-jung smokes a cigarette on the exploding toilet
• PROMETHEUS (2012): the film’s trailer
• SINISTER (2012): the lawnmower jump scare
• WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS (2014): the sandwich analogy
• THE WITCH (2015): the final scene / Black Phillip seduces Thomasin
• WILD TALES (2014): the opening scene / airplane crash

*****

Daniel’s Picks:

#13. BONE TOMAHAWK (2015)

#12. US (2019)

#11. THE TRAITOR (2019)

#10. CHRISTINE (2016)

#9. MANDY (2018)

#8. GOOD TIME (2017)

#7. INSIDIOUS (2010)

#6. GET OUT (2017)

#5. PARASITE (2019)

#4. BLADE RUNNER 2049 (2017)

#3. UNCUT GEMS (2019)

#2. RAW (2016/2017)

#1. DOGMAN (2018/2019)

13 Favorite Dark On-Screen Moments of the Decade:

• BEAST (2017/2018): Moll causes a scene at the country club
• BLADE RUNNER 2049 (2017): K visits the orphanage
• CREEP (2014): hiking for “healing waters”
• GET OUT (2017): Logan’s meltdown at the party
• GOOD TIME (2017): Connie and Ray arrive at Adventureland 
• HEREDITARY (2018): Annie’s eulogy
• HEREDITARY (2018): Annie meets with the support group
• THE LIGHTHOUSE (2019): Winslow finds the scrimshaw
• MANDY (2018): “Drink the juice!”
• MANIAC (2012): Frank sees himself as a mannequin
• MIDSOMMAR (2019): the group waits to start eating
• MIDSOMMAR (2019): the hammer ritual
• RAW (2016/2017): the hazing ritual

*****