There’s no doubt about it, 2016 has provided some of the best horror movies in recent years. But like every year, there have also been horror movies released in 2016 that you should avoid at all costs. There are the horror movies that are so bad that they’re good — Leprechaun 5: In the Hood comes to mind — but then there are the horror movies that are so bad you should avoid them at all costs. In addition, there are also a handful of horror movies from 2016 that land in the middle of the road; they aren’t necessarily bad, but they aren’t great either.

The Worst Horror Movies Of 2016

The Neon Demon

This film has some great visuals, but so do thousands of YouTube videos that don’t take two hours of your life away that you’ll never get back. There is plenty of gore at the end, for those that think gore makes a horror flick good, but you’ll have to wade through humdrum waters to get to it.

The Darkness

Remember when Kevin Bacon was in good horror movies, like Stir of Echoes, Tremors, and Flatliners? Well, you’ll long for those days if you can sit through this drivel.

The Disappointments Room

If you have ever wanted to see a film where the main character just walks around a house looking perplexed, then this is the film for you.

Incarnate

It’s very hard to make a possession film that’s very good these days, and this film proves that.

31

Many critics and genre fans described this as the horror version of The Running Man, and they are wrong. Because a horror version of The Running Man sounds very fun and entertaining, and this was not. On the bright side, 31 makes Rob Zombie’s The Lords of Salem look like a horror masterpiece.

The Other Side of the Door

After watching this you’ll wish you left this movie on the other side of the planet. Time Out describes why this is one of the worst horror movies of 2016.

“So tasteless and knee-jerk in its depiction of India that it makes ‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom’ look like a triumph of racial awareness, ‘The Other Side of the Door’ is packed with scowling beggars, scuttling cockroaches, dutiful housemaids and shady shamans. All of which might be almost forgivable if it wasn’t for the tedious plot and tiresome characters. Jeremy Sisto barely registers as the dutiful husband, while Callies shuffles through her scenes so lifelessly it becomes hard to tell which one’s the ghost.”

Horror Movies Of 2016 That Are Middle-Of-The-Road

Phantasm: Ravager

This reporter is an avid fan of the Phantasm movies, but this was probably the weakest addition to the franchise. It was nice seeing the legendary Angus Scrimm portray the Tall Man in his final role before he passed away, but that’s not enough to make this one of the best horror movies of 2016. This was tagged as the final Phantasm film, and if it truly is, then fans of the movies deserve more than an ambiguous ending.

The Forest

This wasn’t nearly as bad as most critics said it was, but it still isn’t great. It has a solid plot but it never gets as scary or creepy as one would expect.

The Purge: Election Year

Some horror movies don’t need to be a franchise. As evidence of that statement I present to you The Purge. At the very least you will be entertained, somewhat, but you will see everything coming a mile away.

Pet

The only reason this is in the middle of the road is because it is entertaining. But the payoff at the end, if that’s what you want to call it, will most likely leave viewers unsatisfied.

The Boy

For the first hour The Boy is pretty good, but during the second half—not so much. This film had so much potential but they played it safe, so it is just another middle-of-the-road horror flick.

The Conjuring 2

Many critics and genre fans thought this was one of the best horror movies of 2016, but I’m not buying it. Just like I’m not buying into the tagline of, “the next true story…” There is an overindulgence of special effects from the get-go; that makes it entertaining, but not very scary. There are moments of the film where it is more intense than the original, but overall this doesn’t live up to its predecessor.

The Best Horror Movies Of 2016

Ouija: Origin of Evil

Usually sequels aren’t as good as the original; this film is the exact opposite. What the stale original failed to do, this addition got right — entertain and scare people!

The Shallows

This is the best shark flick since Jaws, and it is edge-of-your-seat good! Rolling Stone describes why this is one of the best horror movies of 2016.

“It’s all patently ridiculous. But [director] Collet-Serra and [Blake] Lively show no mercy in hooking us with the B-movie tension. And we bite.”

Lights Out

This film is proof that you can take all of the ghost story cliches and tropes from other horror movies and still make a scary film. Lights Out is nothing new, but it tells an old tale really well.

Green Room

This is one of the most intelligent horror movies of 2016, and Patrick Stewart has never been so creepy.

I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House

Though many were disappointed with this Netflix original, most appreciated the slow-burn ghost story. If you are expecting jump-scares then you won’t enjoy it, but if you appreciate a well-told story then this is for you.

The Monster

This film did a great job of character building that when the monster finally comes into play, the audience genuinely cares about the characters surviving its wrath.

10 Cloverfield Lane

As tense and suspenseful as it is compelling, 10 Cloverfield Lane proves that John Goodman can be downright creepy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biG8R1yGouY

Friend Request

Fans of horror movies and of Facebook will find it hard to not enjoy this creepy tale.

Viral

This reporter was over the “virus” subgenre of horror movies, and then I saw Viral. Not only are there creepy and suspenseful moments, but the story itself is really good.

The Witch

When this was released at the beginning of 2016, people knew it was going to be a good year for horror movies. This is one of the most unnerving movies of all time, and it is every bit as creepy as the trailer.

Blair Witch

No, I didn’t mean to put this on the list of worst “horror movies of 2016;” this film got a bum rap. They put enough new stuff into this that it stands on its own, and it is way creepier than the original. The original was more — well — original. The “found footage” subgenre of horror movies was put on the map thanks to The Blair Witch Project, but it’s not as scary when revisiting it. The second addition to the franchise was just horrible, but this third film was pretty solid and scary.

Don’t Breath

I would prefer movies not open with the closing scene, but with that being said, this is still a good story. If you enjoy constant suspense with your horror movies, then this is the film for you.

Hush

Hush isn’t just one of the best horror movies of 2016; it is considered by many to be the best horror movie of 2016. Original, suspenseful, and downright scary, Hush continues to put audiences on the edge of their seat. For those that have not yet seen this film, it is exclusively available on Netflix.

OTHER HORROR MOVIES OF 2016 ARTICLES FROM THE INQUISITR

Horror Movies 2016: The Best Horror Movies That Are Overlooked—’The Monster,’ And More

Best Horror Movies Of 2016 Still To Come, Plus Horror Movies For A Killer Christmas

The Best Horror Movies Of 2016 Available To Stream

The Best Horror Movies Of 2016 On Demand

From The Other Side of the Door to Hush, some of the worst and best horror movies have been made in 2016.

[Featured Image by Saban Films and Netflix]