And not only that - lol...
I think Cloverfield had some interesting monster creatures in it. Sure, the main beast looked like Godzilla, but the parasites were hippo sized spider-like critters that were very aggressive and fast at targeting humans. And remember their bite was infectious, causing those who lived to literally explode, which was pulled off very well with fake blood shot at translucent plastic barrier wrap and some cool sound effects - no CGI needed on the exploding people, just $20 worth of material and the effect worked.
Which leads back to Quarantine with Jennifer Carpenter. I saw this again a few days ago and have to say there wasn't a single CGI moment, it was filmed in shaky-cam which tricks the mind enough to think it to be somewhat documous. Like Blair Witch, nothing CGI and that says something for film making.
We've had Blair Witch, Cloverfield and Quarantine all giving us second person prospective, with Quarantine being the only one showing the story as it happens. The others were from "found footage". The difference is remarkable in that Quarantine had a semi "live" feel about it, so although you didn't know where it was going, you found out everything as the characters did - the others films you already knew in all likelihood no one survived. Not to forget the Creature in Quarantine was the CDC, not a 20 story high creature or a bunch of hill folk keeping a legend alive.
Of course, there are creatures from space, from viruses to advanced beings and anything in between. I can't help but say I enjoyed Mars Attacks as silly as it was, it was that campy horror that is a very special category. The Independence day and War of the Worlds remake used massive CGI, I think it is fair to say neither film would have been made without CGI. Not to forget the BEST CGI creatures I have ever seen in District 9, a film you need to see in hi-def to really appreciate. To think every "Prawn" as they called the aliens were 100% CGI is amazing, I don't think I've seen CGI that matched that.
It's amazing what can be a creature, a shark, an anaconda, spiders, bats, giant ants and beetles (again try to see Infestation) and rats, and gators and anything people fear or shy away from.
I've always said LOCK me into any haunted house on Earth, tie me to the floor and pour ectoplasm on me, I'll do it - BUT... You'll never get me to walk through a Halloween haunted spook house: I don't like real people jumping at me with fake chainsaws and such. I'm very comfortable looking for the lingering departed, not the idiot kid getting $7 an hour to yell at me under strobe lights and black lights, that's just to weird for me. I have enough anxiety issues and the Halloween houses raise me beyond my comfort zone. But I'd give anything to experience a haunted house. I have the post "A ghost touched me" somewhere in the Darkside Forum, check that out - it was my only paranormal experience.
I like how George Romero has added the thought that zombies can learn or relearn basic skills, but I want a zombie that still has their brain functioning for the 4 or 5 minutes that it still functions AFTER oxygen is cut off. I mean bad-assed zombies who have 5 minutes of smarts to drive, shoot guns, do whatever someone would do to go jiggy on someone they desperately need to eat the flesh from. I think that's coming someday, I think you need a Romero or Sam Raimi to do it justice.
Wondering if anyone read Zombie Wars - a diary-like account of many people AFTER the zombies took control of everything, a billion zombies in India alone, and man's nearly futile fight to regain control of the world. Interesting book, good audiobook read by celebrities like Alan Alda.
That's it, just had a few more thoughts to share :)