Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale

Rent-it - It is Black Christmas meets Bad Santa, a horror comedy that takes place on the eve of Christmas in northern Finland, where an 'archeological' dig has just unearthed the real Santa Claus.

[Rec] 2

Rent-it - A jolting horror film sequel blurring the lines between theatrical release, DVD-release, and video-on-demand release, that you can rent from $10+ right now on your home TV, or go see in theaters for likely less than that (unless you live in NY).

Wrong Turn 4: Bloody Beginnings

Skip-it - If you can resist not watching this mindless horror movie please do -- otherwise you might actually enjoy this ridiculous fourth film.

Paranormal Activity 3

See-it - This haunted-house-slash-demonic-possession prequel is the best scary movie of the year, and the directing duo from Catfish brings a fresh, sharp, much-needed jolt to PA3 that makes it worth seeing whether you're a PA-virgin or not.

Darkness Falls

Skip-it - You'll hope darkness falls on your TV screen 5 minutes into this 70-minute horror-ible film.

Texas Killing Fields

Skip-it - This mysterama about two cops and a serial killer in a small Texan town would be a fantastic made-for-TV film but it's missing a feature-film story.

Dream House

Skip-it - Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz, and Naomi Watts "star" in the same ole horror story -- a family leaves the busy city only to find their new small-town home isn't what they thought it would be.

Tucker & Dale vs Evil

See-it if you can - If you enjoy hor-coms like Shaun of the Dead and Hobo with a Shotgun you'll love this funny, scary, and smart -- yes smart -- film about killer rednecks. And the best part (unlike Shark Night) is that it's rated R!

Straw Dogs

Skip-it - If you want to see a gruesomely violent analogy for our bipartisan beliefs go rent Dustin Hoffman's 1971 version of this film about a screenwriter's bloody conflict with his new neighbors.

Straw Dogs

Rent-it - Dustin Hoffman starred in the original Straw Dogs in 1971, a film about a family moving to a small town and one of the most controversial, gory and provocative films of all time.

Apollo 18

Wait-for-it - Since I don't believe we ever actually landed on the moon it's hard to believe this "true" story but it is semi-scary.

Shark Night 3D

Skip-it - This is not Pirahna 3D! This truly is "a dumb shark movie." This is a neutered PG-13 "horror" film with no gore and zero nudity - in other words, one of the worst films of the year.

Final Destination 5

See-it - If you loved the first two films in this gory franchise, you will be pleasantly surprised at this return to form. The creatively complex deaths in 3-D are reason enough to see-it in theaters, if you wait-for-it at home the lacking story between deaths might leave you wishing you were one of the ill-fated characters from the first act.

Wake Wood

Rent-it - This horror thriller about a child's gruesome death and her grieving parents is one of those rare straight-to-DVD films that is actually worth renting. It's dark, clever, and chilling but low expectations make it even more impressive.

Insidious

Rent-it - The first 80 minutes will have you slumped in your seat until you jump up screaming, but this film about a family's haunted house/son will disappoint in the final 20, and then fail to stick with you the moment it's ejected.

The Ward

Skip-it - John Carpenter's return to horror will have you wondering if he himself was institutionalized these past 9 years. Skip this pysch-ward ghost thriller.

Catfish

Wait-for-it - Well actually, first go watch the trailer, because half of the intrigue begins with, well, the intrigue, then wait patiently until this "true" story makes its way to Netflix or HBO.

Case 39

Skip-it - Of the two scary movies hitting theaters this week, this is hands down the worst! In fact, it is completely repulsive, illogical and just plain silly - despite stars like Bradley Cooper and Renee Zellweger.

Born

Skip-it - A 20-something virgin goes to bed and wakes up pregnant -- rent Rosemary's Baby instead.  

Catfish

Wait-for-it - Well actually, first make sure you see the trailer, because half of the intrigue begins with the intrigue, then wait patiently until this "true" story is in a theater close enough to completely "shock" you."