The Best Horror Movies Of 2016 On Demand: Review Of ‘Lights Out’ And ‘Viral’

Some of the best horror movies of the last few years have come out in 2016: The Witch, Green Room, Hush, Don’t Breathe, and many more. Some of the best horror movies of 2016 are currently available On Demand (pay-per-view), including Lights Out and Viral. Though these two movies don’t offer anything new when it comes to the overall plot, they add enough unique ingredients that horror fans will enjoy watching them.

Best Horror Movies of 2016: Viral — Review

The “virus” subgenre of horror is nothing new. Movies like Cabin Fever, Quarantine, and every zombie flick have covered the genre to exhaustion. But Viral found a way to breathe new life into the stale subject. The movie received a “fresh” rating of 60 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, and the site provides the premise for one of the best horror movies of 2016.

“Teenaged sisters Emma (Sofia Black-D’Elia) and Stacey (Analeigh Tipton) live a normal life, until their small suburban neighborhood is stricken with a mysterious parasitic virus. As the disease rapidly spreads throughout the town, the two band together to barricade themselves from infection. But it may already be too late – when the virus enters their home, the sisters are faced with an impossible choice: protect each other, or survive the virus.”

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

Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman direct this film that has a run time of just 89 minutes, which makes for a nice, quick view. Horror movies will often just throw the audience quickly into the action, and they don’t have enough time to care about the characters. Viral does a great job of building character depth while providing enough progression to the story line, keeping the audience engaged.

Although it focuses on the teenage characters, this is not just another teenage-horror movie. Fans of the genre of all ages will appreciate this film. Starring Analeigh Tipton (Crazy, Stupid, Love, Lucy), Sofia Black-D’Elia (The Messengers), and Michael Kelly (House of Cards), the cast has great chemistry together as the dialogue is natural and very convincing.

Between the cast, the script, and the suspenseful story (which masterfully builds through the movie), horror fans will enjoy this addition to the genre.

Best Horror Movies of 2016: Lights Out— Review

Every year, it seems the majority of horror movies to be released are ghost stories, or that of the supernatural. Although there are a few gems, most of them tend to disappoint audiences — this is one of those gems! Based on his short film (under three minutes) of the same name, director David F. Sandberg also directs this full-length feature. IMDb provides the synopsis for Lights Out.

“When Rebecca left home, she thought she left her childhood fears behind. Growing up, she was never really sure of what was and wasn’t real when the lights went out…and now her little brother, Martin, is experiencing the same unexplained terrifying events…As Rebecca gets closer to unlocking the truth, there is no denying that all their lives are in danger…once the lights go out.”

This ghost story offers absolutely nothing new to the genre, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad. Like a roller coaster, sometimes all an audience wants is a cheap thrill. It’s a classic ghost story, but it’s done very well. Like Viral, this film is also made for quick viewing as it is only 81 minutes long, which makes it perfect for a fun thrill ride of horror. This is a great movie for horror fans that just want edge-of-your-seat fear. It may not tell an original story, but it tells a classic one very well.

OTHER HORROR MOVIE ARTICLES FROM THE INQUISITR

The Best Horror Movies Of 2016 Still To Come: Plus New ‘Ring’ And ‘Saw’ Movies

The Best Horror Movies Of 2016 Available On Demand Or To Stream

Best Horror Movies 2016: Final “Phantasm” Movie

The Best Horror Movies Of 2016 At RedBox

Viral and Lights Out are currently available On Demand, and they are well worth the watch for those looking for some solid horror movies.

[Featured Image by Dimension Films & Warner Bros.]