HND votes for the Cyber Horror Awards.

As mentioned once before, B-Sol of the The Vault of Horror is orchestrating the first ever “Cyber Horror Awards”.  I went over his selected list of nominees earlier and now I’m posting my actual ballot.  On the day it’s due, mind you.  I think the official CHA nominees lacked in a few categories, so some of my selections include the encouraged write-ins.

And no, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN did not sweep.  Anyone who reads this site regularly should be able to guess what I threw the majority of my love at.  In fact, I’m going to go pop in the Blu-ray disc for my personal favorite ’08 horror flick right after I hit publish.

Enjoy:

Val Lewton Award for Best Film

EDEN LAKE, Rollercoaster Films

LET THE RIGHT ONE IN, EFTI

THE MIDNIGHT MEAT TRAIN, Lions Gate
THE STRANGERS, Rogue Pictures
TOKYO GORE POLICE, Fever Dreams/Nikkatsu

When the CHA ballots were sent out there was a bit of an exchange regarding the futility of it all as LET THE RIGHT ONE IN was bound to sweep the awards.  I was not of this stance.   As you’ll see from this list there are a fair share of films that surmounted the adolescent vampire giant, but nothing can top the culmination of all of LET THE RIGHT ONE IN’s ingredients.  It is a haunting beauty with an ending that does my heart in.

David Cronenberg Award for Best Director

Tomas Alfredson, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN
Bryan Bertino, THE STRANGERS
Ryuhei Kitamura, THE MIDNIGHT MEAT TRAIN
Matt Reeves, CLOVERFIELD

James Watkins, EDEN LAKE

What have we here?  A surprise, that’s what.  As I commented on Kindertrauma’s review (a recommended read, by the way) of the British pulverizer, EDEN LAKE remains for me as 2008′s sneak attack.  And this award is no pity throw because I want to see it win something.  James Watkins elevated EDEN LAKE above the throngs of films with identical plots and devices.  It’s an empathy driven spiral into violence and survival balanced upon the fragile ice that divides genuine fears and mean spirited imagery.

Just thinking about EDEN LAKE makes me want to do away with the youth of the world curl into a fetal ball.

Jamie Lee Curtis Award for Best Actress

Jennifer Carpenter, QUARANTINE
Mylene Jampanoi, MARTYRS
Lina Leandersson, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN
Kelly Reilly, EDEN LAKE
Liv Tyler, THE STRANGERS

Naomi Watts, FUNNY GAMES U.S.

FUNNY GAMES U.S. may not be my favorite movie of 2008, but there is no denying that Naomi Watts is phenomenal in it.  Again she proves why she’s one of the greatest of her craft.

Vincent Price Award for Best Actor

Simon Callow, CHEMICAL WEDDING
Kare Hedebrant, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN
Andy Serkis, THE COTTAGE
Keifer Sutherland, MIRRORS

Jonathan Tucker, THE RUINS

Before THE RUINS I could barely stand the guy, now I can’t imagine anyone other than Tucker as Jeff, doomed captain of a slowly devoured ship.

Dwight Frye Award for Best Supporting Actor

Anthony Head, REPO! THE GENETIC OPERA

Vinnie Jones, THE MIDNIGHT MEAT TRAIN
Jack OʼConnell, EDEN LAKE

Anthony Stewart Head does no wrong.  No further explanation necessary.

Linnea Quigley Award for Best Supporting Actress

Morjana Alaoui, MARTYRS
Julie Benz, SAW V
Lizzy Caplan, CLOVERFIELD

Laura Ramsey, THE RUINS

Give it up for the gal who came out of nowhere to deliver one of the most memorable sequences from 2008 horror; cringe inducing, skin crawling, eye flinching surgery that goes farther than any of us wished it would.

Curt Siodmak Award for Best Screenplay

Jeff Buhler, THE MIDNIGHT MEAT TRAIN
Pascal Laugier, MARTYRS

John Ajvide Lindqvist, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN

Scott B. Smith, THE RUINS
James Watkins, EDEN LAKE

How can something be so uplifting and yet so bleak?  Masterful.

Karl Freund Award for Best Cinematography

Maxime Alexandre, MIRRORS
David A. Armstrong, SAW V
Michael Bonvillain, CLOVERFIELD
Hoyte van Hoytema, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN
Peter Sova, THE STRANGERS

Darius Khondji, THE RUINS

My love affair with THE RUINS continues, though to be honest this was a coin toss between the engulfing blues and greens of South American pyramid vines and the sterile perfection of FUNNY GAMES U.S., which was also shot by Darius Khondji.

Bernard Hermann Award for Best Score

Charlie Clouser, SAW V
Johan Soderqvist, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN
Darren Smith & Terrance Zdunich, REPO! THE GENETIC OPERA

Michael Giacchino, CLOVERFIELD

Though it may be invalidated as a score considering Giachhino’s contribution to CLOVERFIELD is a single piece of music that doesn’t appear in the film proper, I can’t deny the power of this track.  Click on that link above to hear it and then head onto iTunes to plunk down ninety-nine cents for it.

Tom Savini Award for Best Makeup

Paul Hyett, EDEN LAKE
Greg Nicotero, DIARY OF THE DEAD & MIRRORS
Yoshihiro Nishimura, TOKYO GORE POLICE

Allan Cooke, JACK BROOKS: MONSTER SLAYER

JACK BROOKS could have been a better film, but the legitimately old school make-up design could not have been more smile inducing.

Albert S. D’Agostino Award for Best Production Design

David Hackl, REPO! THE GENETIC OPERA
Tony Ianni, SAW V

Grant Major, THE RUINS

On the budget Grant Major had to work with, creating a pyramid above the tree line for THE RUINS must have been a logistical nightmare.  It’s seamless on screen while watching the behind the scenes work on the movie magic is fascinating.

Ray Harryhausen Award for Best Visual Effects

MIRRORS

THE RUINS

SHUTTER

Plants have never been scary.  The plants in THE RUINS are terrifying.  Checkmate.

Tags: CLOVERFIELD, Cyber Horror Awards, EDEN LAKE, FUNNY GAMES U.S., JACK BROOKS: MONSTER SLAYER, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN, REPO! THE GENETIC OPERA, The Ruins