The ReelzChannel 100 began when we asked Leonard Maltin for his favorite Hidden Gems of the decade. His list led the web team into a general discussion about the best movies of the decade and — after no small amount of debate, arguing, and (we're not proud to say) some petty name-calling — we decided we'd better bring it to an end with a company-wide vote. Then it was just a matter of tallying up the votes and hoping for the best. Lucky for us, ReelzChannel is filled with a staff ranging from movie lovers to movie fanatics. What turned out isn't what you'll find on a critic's best of list — instead it's what movie fans really enjoyed.
This was the best zombie movie of the decade, hands down. From bird flu to H1N1, the pertinence of viral infections and global pandemics is always scaring us. It was terrifying and stellar to have a zombie movie plug into that insecurity.
Amy Upah, Media Librarian
This intense, dark, and often comedic horror flick is a well-crafted tale of violence, excess, and moral depravity. Christian Bale is fantastic as investment-banker-by-day/serial-killer-by-night Patrick Bateman. It's classic, purely indulgent horror at its best.
Mark Jackson-Weaver, Web Designer & HTML Coder
Fast zombies go mainstream and take back the mall in Zack Snyder's 2004 remake of the 1968 George Romero classic. Unlike most remakes, this zombie apocalypse really brings the genre back to life.
Bill Stouffer, Contributing Writer
One part Korean horror flick, one part Little Miss Sunshine, The Host is what you wished Cloverfield could have been. It's just as funny as it is terrifying.
Adam Galanter, Producer/Editor
This series may have started to get flushed down the toilet when Saw III came out, but you shouldn’t forget how great it started. This low-budget horror movie managed to raise some really interesting social questions while keeping the core of the story confined to two people trapped in a single room.
Blake Foley, Database Coordinator
There were a lot of subtle things in Paranormal Activity that scared the bejesus out of me. The movie's vivid and realistic images continued to haunt me even after I left the theater ... and stuck around for several days following.
Heejin Han, Web Video Content Coordinator
Aside from its frights, Pan’s Labyrinth is also a beautiful film. Guillermo del Toro is an outstanding filmmaker whose visions for the screen always inspire me. I love this movie for the cinematography, the music, and the very dark fantasy aspect. You don’t see very many fairy tales these days, much less adult ones. The movie was very well-executed and the story was great.
Dave Ferry, Producer/Editor
The great thing about Shaun of the Dead is that it has a great zombie movie beneath all the comedy. As a result, it's the horror movie that's accessible, and enjoyable, to just about everyone.
Blake Foley, Database Coordinator
For being a PG-13 horror movie, The Ring had it all: cat-scares, supernatural phenomena, gore, etc. — all of this instead of relying on comedy to engage its audience. The Ring, though a remake, had enough to make you scream for more. Unfortunately, the innovative style and story that was such an appeal to American audiences brought along with it several poorly executed copy-cat movies.
Dan Gutierrez, Producer for Movie Mob and Saturday Morning @ Reelz
Not technically a "zombie" movie, or so my die-hard zombie fanatic friends tell me, but really compelling nonetheless. Many horror movies go for cheap thrills or throwaway surprise gags that don’t stand up to repeated viewings. Not this one. I may never look at Christopher Eccleston the same way again.
John Coffman, Production Assistant