Summary
The2000swas a decade of change, moving from the relative calm and prosperity of the 90s into a chaotic decade of recession, terrorism, and uncertainty. Movies can often reflect the changes happening in society, and none more so than in horror cinema.
Britainhas always been a major producer of horror films, going back to the classic era when Hammer Horror dominated the genre and stars such as Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing terrified audiences worldwide. The 2000s would introduce some of the best horror films Britain had produced to date, and would also act as a training ground fora generation of starsthat would go on to become the Hollywood elite.
10Colin
IMDB Rating: 4.7
Colinrepresents ultra-low-budget filmmaking at its best. It shows that a talented filmmaker only needs a camera and a great idea to make an interesting film.Colin’sproduction cost was only £45 and was filmed solely by actor, director, and comedian Marc Price. It would go on to be shown at the Cannes Film Festival.
Colinfollows the title character as he explores the streets of London after he has been turned into a walking undead. The premise is a fresh take on the zombie film and is an engaging watch. Viewers shouldn’t go into this expecting high-quality work though, as it certainly suffers from its lack of budget.
9Evil Aliens
IMDB Rating: 5.2
This gory comedy-horror film from director Jake West is a ridiculous, over-the-top splatter movie that is a lot of fun. The film follows a TV crew investigating strange UFO incidents on a remote farm in Wales. They soon discover that the aliens haven’t left, and are forced to fight for their lives.
Evil Aliensfollows in the grand tradition of movies such as Peter Jackson’sBraindeadandEvil Dead 2, pushing the gore to absurd levels, where no actor escapes without being covered in a bucket of blood. The film features cult British scream queen Emily Booth andRed Dwarfactor Norman Lovett.
8Wake Wood
IMDB Rating: 5.5
Wake Woodfollows the story of a grieving couple who are offered the chance to spend three days with their deceased daughter, brought about by a bloody ritual carried out by the locals. The film follows in thetradition of folk-horrorfilms such asThe Wicker ManandBlood On Satan’s Claw.
Itfeatures great performances from Timothy Spall and Aidan Gillian, who would find worldwide fame playing Littlefinger inGame of Thrones.Wake Woodis an Irish and UK co-production and is notable as one of the films that reintroduced theHammer Horrorbrand back to the public.
7Creep
IMDB Rating: 5.6
For anyone who’s stood alone in an empty London tube station, this film will give them the shivers.Creeptells the story of a woman who gets trapped in the underground late at night and ishunted by an unknown assailant. Forced into the maze of tunnels that stretches around London, she must survive the darkness that lives below the UK’s capital.
Creepis a traditional gory horror movie that is reminiscent of films such asThe Hills Have Eyes,Wrong Turn, andThe Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The film takes the idea of a deformed maniac who hunts people and moves the setting from the wilderness into the London Underground.
6Eden Lake
IMDB Rating: 6.7
Many horror films are reflections of the times in which they are made, andEden Lakeis no different. The film deals with the increase in violent youth crime and the idea of a broken Britain and features great performances from its cast. However, the film was also criticized for its class prejudice and depiction of working-class people as thugs.
The film follows a coupleon a romantic retreat, only for them to be hounded by a group of loutish youths who take things too far.Eden Lakeis a brutal and unrelenting horror film that features Jack O’Connell and Michael Fassbender, who would go on to be one of Hollywood’s top actors.
5Severance
IMDB Rating: 6.4
This underrated comedy-horror film delivers a perfect combination of laughs and scares that always stays true to its characters and story. The film includes some fantastic performances from its cast and features some truly creepy moments when the inevitable horror starts.
Severancefollows a group of office workers on a team-building retreat in the woods who are slowly being hunted by a group of unknown men. The story is simple and effective and draws the audience in more than expected. The characters feel both real and absurd, yet are all unique from each other.Severanceis a comedy-horror gem that punches far above its weight and entertains from start to finish.
4Dog Soldiers
IMDB Rating: 6.8
Neil Marshall’s feature debut is a classic of British horror.Dog Soildierspits a pack of werewolves against a squad of British soldiers in the Scottish wilderness. The film is simple and to the point, with guns against claws, and is all the better for it. It features all the gore, action, and banter one would expect from a film like this, with great performances from the cast.
Dog Soldiershas become a cult horror classic, with its director Neil Marshall going on to become one of Britain’s most accomplished genre film and TV directors. His credits include two of thehighest-rated episodesofGame of Thrones.
3Shaun Of The Dead
IMDB Rating: 7.9
Shaun Of The Deadis the first film in Edgar Wright’s legendaryCornetto Trilogy. One of the best British comedy-horror films ever made, it blends the perfect amount of laughs, drama, and gory zombie action. It made Simon Pegg and Nick Frost household names and features great performances from its entire cast.
The film follows Shaun, as his life is going nowhere except to the pub. A zombie outbreak forces him to take charge and push himself more than he ever has before.Shaun Of The Deadis a bonafide classic and a must-watch for fans of the genre.
2The Descent
IMDB Rating: 7.2
Neil Marshall’s horror classic remains one of the best horror movies Britain has produced and never fails to terrify new audiences. It tells the tale of a group of women on a caving expedition who become the prey of a group ofcave-dwelling creatures.
Not just another monster movie, the film has a heartbreaking story at its core. The relationship between the women is tense and complicated and helps to elevate the drama of their situation. The characters are pushed to their limit, not only by the creatures hunting them but by each other as well.The Descentis a must-watch for any horror fan.
128 Days Later
IMDB Rating: 7.5
28 Days Laterwas a groundbreaking horror movie by one of the most talented directors Britain has ever produced. Danny Boyle’s film redefined the zombie movie, turning the infected from slow-lumbering creatures to fast-running enemies. It kick-started a zombie movie craze that would dominate the genre for many years and introduced the world to star Cillian Murphy.
The film follows a man who wakes up from a coma to find everyone in London has seemingly disappeared. He soon discovers the terrible truth: that a virus has turned most of the population into rabid rage-fuelled monsters.
