As the year draws to a close, we in the business of flapping our yaps about horror are all scrambling to get out those much awaited Top Ten lists. I know I'm anxious to see what films my peers and I commonly proclaim the best in the crowd. Some of you are already sure what will make mine but you never know.  I could surprise you.  And as I'm feverishly pushing titles around on paper (some of us still use that stuff) like one of those plastic puzzle thingies with the squares, I realize that for the first time in many years I have fewer complaints than rejoices. In an unfamiliar turn of events my problem isn't trying to find ten movies that are worthy. Instead I have several that are vying for the top. And as a reviewer I gotta tell ya that's one happy problem to have. But somehow I still hear some out there yelling that we have no good fare. This has me scratching my head.

As usual the foreign market has hit us with some greats from the ferocious French fright flick Martyrs to the chilling brutality of The Children. In theaters we saw everything from Raimi's triumphant return to horror with the devilishly fun Drag Me to Hell and the fast-paced shoot-em-up that is Zombieland to Orphan and the creep-filled A Haunting in Connecticut. I came away happy after seeing full frontal nudity plus some much-missed Tom Freakin' Atkins coming right at me in 3D in the My Bloody Valentine redux. Sure I may have stormed out ticked off and confused by Friday the 13th but who will ever forget the infamous line about nipple placement? Even that struck a chord, albeit a negative one.

a limited release. The same can be said for Ti West's nostalgic The House of the Devil. Those are two films that were executed so perfectly that the only thing I was angry about was the fact that more people didn't get to see them on the big screen where they deserved to be seen. For originality we got films like Pontypool and Deadgirl. They brought in the shudders and managed to make us think at the same time. Man, I love when that happens.

There are also near hits but still misses like The Final Destination. It brought the kills to our faces but forgot to include minor things like characters and story. Jennifer's Body promised much and delivered very little more than a soaking wet Megan Fox and some of the worst dialog I have ever witnessed. But maybe I'm just “lime green Jell-O.” And there's Mirrors. Once again Aja almost gets it right but that filmed proved it looked better than it tasted as it suffered from a storyline that is so convoluted it would make David Lynch throw up his hands. And, oh! Did I say Lynch? Jennifer made Bill Pullman bring his best in Surveillance. That one was spotty to some but I had a fun ride. Who could refuse French Stewart's psycho cop routine?

I could go on as there are more but my brain is already cramping from wrestling with titles over the past couple of weeks. I'm torn apart as the top five battle it out almost as viciously as the characters in some of the aforementioned films, and, just like those films, I am loving every second of it. I know I'm not the only one with this dilemma. But still there are gumblings. I hear them like bumps in the night. Must be some sort of Paranormal Activity. The ghosts of horror films past are kicking up a fuss because no one can say that the genre is dead. For every year of this decade that I have complained about wanting to see something fresh, this year has brought a make-up movie bearing flowers and, in some cases, blood-soaked candy.

As usual the foreign market has hit us with some greats from the ferocious French fright flick Martyrs to the chilling brutality of The Children. In theaters we saw everything from Raimi's triumphant return to horror with the devilishly fun Drag Me to Hell and the fast-paced shoot-em-up that is Zombieland to Orphan and the creep-filled A Haunting in Connecticut. I came away happy after seeing full frontal nudity plus some much-missed Tom Freakin' Atkins coming right at me in 3D in the My Bloody Valentine redux. Sure I may have stormed out ticked off and confused by Friday the 13th but who will ever forget the infamous line about nipple placement? Even that struck a chord, albeit a negative one.

If straight to DVD is more your fare, Trick 'r' Treat brought back pleasant childhood memories and renewed my love of Halloween. Paul Solet's beautiful Grace graced the screen, but, sadly, only saw a limited release. The same can be said for Ti West's nostalgic The House of the Devil. Those are two films that were executed so perfectly that the only thing I was angry about was the fact that more people didn't get to see them on the big screen where they deserved to be seen. For originality we got films like Pontypool and Deadgirl. They brought in the shudders and managed to make us think at the same time. Man, I love when that happens.

Activity. The ghosts of horror films past are kicking up a fuss because no one can say that the genre is dead. For every year of this decade that I have complained about wanting to see something fresh, this year has brought a make-up movie bearing flowers and, in some cases, blood-soaked candy.

Now I turn to those grumblers and say “what more do you want?” Of course everything wasn't perfect but it never is. What we enjoyed as fans is a year of titles that show us the horror world is alive and kicking and no number of tired remakes can take that away. They can throw Saw sequels at us until the zombies come home but I still have my ticket stubs to some of the best movies I have seen in a long time. I'm sated. As we approach the end of the first decade of this century, I can now say “the oughts” ought to be proud (see what I did there?). Now I'm loosening my belt for the next course. Bring it!