We here at MTV News are a pretty diverse bunch, so the views expressed by some in our more official-type year-end lists (like James Montgomery’s Top 25 Albums and Best Songs, and the Mixtape Monday Awards) are not necessarily shared by the rest of the newsroom. So, this week we gave everyone else a chance to chime in with their own lists and explain (or defend) their choices. You’ll find the staff faves of 2008 all together here.

By Daniela Capistrano, Digital Producer

I am addicted to movies, particularly the kind that make me jump, cry and think — and the best make me do all of those things in that order.

“Let the Right One In,” a Swedish horror film directed by Tomas Alfredson, was a rare gem that slipped by many this year (particularly those already distracted by another teen vampire movie) — but not me. It was my favorite film of 2008.

Like “Twilight,” “Let the Right One In” took a different angle on the vampire genre. Both films were based on a book. Both starred young, and (at the time) fairly unknown actors. Both films dealt with topics such as social isolation and your not-so-typical young romance, but, for me, “Let the Right One In” is the superior film. Why?

(Find out why Daniela prefers “Let the Right One In” over “Twilight” and check out her top 10 horror/gore/thriller movies list, after the jump!)

Even on your most basic aesthetic level, the film is of a higher quality. The cinematography, capturing the dreary landscape of young Oscar’s world, is framed like a nightmarish fairytale onscreen — the visuals convey subversive details in a way that is simple, classic and haunting. If you knew nothing about the “Twilight” book and went to see the movie because you wanted to see an unusual story about young vampires, you would note that “Twilight”’s composition is completely subpar in contrast to “Let the Right One In.” “Twilight” looks like it was shot for Lifetime — tacky and clichéd scene-framing abounds — all it was missing was a slow pan past a curtain fluttering in the breeze. I don’t go to the theater to watch TV-looking content. To put it plainly, “Let the Right One In” looks like a film; “Twilight” does not.

In terms of plot, I judge vampire films (again, I recognize “Twilight” isn’t just a “vampire” film, but without the context and community around the book, it still is) by how they connect with a universal audience in the immediate sense — you don’t need to be a part of some established community to “get” what is going on, because the film is lacking what the book provided. “Twilight” the film was an extension and outlet of all the romantic and sexual frustration female readers were left with. The studio was counting on all these salivating teens to rush and catch glimpses of the book characters personified onscreen in the flesh. Even many “Twilight” readers had to admit that they weren’t really paying attention to the mediocre plot — they just wanted to catch a glimpse of RPattz.

“Twilight” the film was not a real movie — it was a promotional vehicle that will continue to debase the vampire film genre as more books are made and subsequent films are financed. The “Twilight” series is a great read — I’m not discounting that — but the first film was a whopper of a “meh.” “Let the Right One In” provides you with a coherent and engaging plot, not muddled with a bunch of sappy love clichés, but it still manages to be romantic, on more than one level, in its own bizarre and intriguing way. It is also more than a little scary, with enough shocking violence to appease even the most extreme gore fans. The ending is both touching and extremely violent and left me confused about whether to shed a tear or leave the light on — THAT is what a great vampire film should do. “Let the Right One In” is made of awesome and somehow manages to be even better than the book. “Twilight” is made of the diluted dregs of Stephanie Meyer’s real masterpiece and should not even be called a movie, despite some of the talented cast’s best efforts.

So, after championing “Let the Right One In” and being removed from Twimom’s Christmas-card list (although I did pitch creating the post that let you react to the “Twilight” cast on the VMAs — you’re welcome), here is my complete personal list of the Top Horror/Gore/Thriller Films of 2008.

10. “The Ruins”
9. “Cloverfield”
8. “Funny Games”
7. “Tokyo Gore Police”
6. “Inside”
5. “Tamami: The Baby’s Curse”
4. “Quarantine”
3. “The Strangers”
2. “Teeth”
1. “Let The Right One In”

“Saw V” and “The Eye” were intentionally left off this list because they were GARBAGE. I didn’t see “Midnight Meat Train” so I couldn’t put it on my list, but I heard it was great.

Agree/disagree with this list? What great films did I miss? Hit up the comments and let me know.