Tyler Gillett is one of the founding members of Radio Silence, the collective that has made quite a few of the movies I have been obsessed with these last few years. If you are on Earth, then odds are you have heard me yelling about Ready Or Not or Abigail. Or you may be familiar with me explaining in great detail why the final girls found in Radio Silence’s current era are the kind of baddies we deserve. This is all great news for me but bad for Tyler because it is why I am making this column his problem this week.
Because Tyler co-directed so many titles that have sparked joy, I decided to pay him back by asking him the cruelest question known to horror fans. Luckily, his five favorite horror movies are pretty great. We have another favorite who understood the assignment way too well, and I cannot wait to dig into these. There is also a lot of action, comedy, and women you do not want to get on the wrong side of found in these picks. Every title on the list was a surprise, but they all make complete sense when looking at his filmography. Check it out for yourself below!
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Where You Can Watch: Paramount+ and Pluto TV
A Cyborg identical to the one who tried to kill Sarah Connon years ago is now the only thing standing in the way of an advanced cyborg sent to kill her son. As much as I loved the original Terminator as a kid, even I know the second one is way more fun. It also highlighted that action stars do not all look like Arnold Schwarzenegger. Some of them can look like Linda Hamilton playing a mom who is tired of future shit becoming present-day problems. This is one of two James Cameron movies on Tyler’s list. I think that is a first for this column, and I especially love it because both movies he picked are in the badass ladies subgenre.
Aliens (1986)
Where You Can Watch: Hulu and Max
Ripley is sent back into space and must fight the Alien Queen and her spawn. I love that this is a shared favorite over at Radio Silence HQ. Between Ripley, Vasquez, and the Alien Queen, this epic horror action film belonged to the women. So, it makes sense that this movie would be in the fabric of the company churning out horror films where women get to throw hands and change lives. It makes more sense the more I think about it because from Ready Or Not to Abigail, the girls are armed and dangerous. The stuntwomen are working full days on these sets because the girls are fighting, getting thrown around, and sliding through trucks of blood. I support that message from my couch and comfy PJs. Pairing Terminator 2 with Aliens is the James Cameron double feature we didn’t know we needed.
Dead Alive (1992)
Where You Can Watch: VOD
A woman dies after being bitten by a rat-monkey. However, she does not stay down for long and has an unusual appetite when she reanimates. Is this a safe enough space to admit that I have never seen this Peter Jackson movie? I liked Heavenly Creatures and The Frighteners in my youth, so I am surprised no one told me Jackson also had a zombie horror comedy until five years ago. This is another reason I have to question my mother’s parenting choices. I am glad Tyler Gillett reminded me I should fix this glaring oversight soon.
Tremors (1990)
Where You Can Watch: VOD
A small town is attacked by underground critters who cause mayhem. Kevin Bacon’s horror resume is ridiculous, but this is always one of the first movies I think of when he comes up. Even before Friday the 13th and Stir of Echoes. I blame it on how often this movie aired on basic cable in the 90s. Tremors was peak cinema and might also be at the root of my aversion to worms, the desert, and the outdoors. I am happy it is on Tyler’s list because it is a horror comedy with an unforgettable ensemble and Radio Silence’s unofficial mission statement seems centered on lovable ensembles full of misfits. I was not expecting this title, but it feels right at home on this list.
The Evil Dead (1981)
Where You Can Watch: AMC+
Friends travel to a cabin and accidentally release flesh-possessing demons. If you somehow missed it, Tyler Gillett knows his genre and he has taste. The Evil Dead is the movie that introduced most of the world to the twisted (complimentary) mind of Sam Raimi. It is my favorite from the original trilogy and made Bruce Campbell a star. As one of the people who walks out of Radio Silence movies giddy about the blood and the fun, it makes sense The Evil Dead is on Tyler’s list.
Tyler Gillett continues my streak of favorite filmmakers who insist on knocking this assignment out of the park. I love to see it! It seems like when you ask cool people about movies, you get cool titles. Who knew? I am also really here for all the intersections of horror, sci-fi, comedy, and action because so many people forget how huge the genre umbrella is. They also forget that “scary movies” are usually at their best when they are a mashup of subgenres complimenting each other.
You can follow Tyler on Instagram and Twitter. You should also check out Radio Silence Productions to stay in the loop about their upcoming projects. In the meantime, you should know that their latest movie, Abigail, is available on Blu-ray, DVD, and VOD. If you are still waiting on your physical copy in the mail, you can also watch her work her magic on Peacock starting Friday, July 19th. So, I hope you do not need me starting tomorrow because I have plans to spend this weekend with our new reigning queen.
