Horror maestro Robert Eggers returns with this epic, updated take on the classic silent German film, Nosferatu, from 1922. Led by Lily-Rose Depp in a stunning turn as Ellen Hutter, a woman who finds herself plagued by nightly visions of a dark stranger who desires her body and soul. The supporting cast is terrific, and includes Nicholas Hoult, Willem Dafoe and Bill Skarsgård as the titular nosferatu.
Young English clerk Thomas Hutter (Hoult) is summoned to the Carpathians in Transylvania from his home in Germany to close a deal with a man named Count Orlock, who wishes to buy the decrepit Grünewald Manor. But Orlock’s desires in the business of real estate bear more nefarious ends — he has a psychic connection with Hutter’s wife, Ellen (Depp), and he needs her to reciprocate his love — or else.
Directed by Midnight Mass’ Mike Flanagan, Oculus stars Karen Gillan (Guardians of the Galaxy) as a woman attempting to rebuild the fractured relationship with her brother, a task that goes awry when she suspects an antique mirror is behind a tragedy they experienced. The film received positive reviews upon release, with critics praising it for its intense atmosphere of dread, exceptional pacing, and impressive cinematography.
Kaylie (Gillan) and her brother Tim (Brenton Thwaites) are still haunted by the deaths of their parents from a decade prior. However, Kaylie begins to suspect that their demise was somehow caused by an antique mirror in their childhood home, which seems to hold a supernatural force that looks malevolently back at those who gaze into its reflection.
This prequel to the iconic horror franchise takes place immediately before the events in 1976’s The Omen. Set in Italy, the film follows a novice nun named Margaret Daino (Nell Tiger Free), who leaves her home in America for the Vizzardeli Orphanage. But the devout young woman quickly finds herself questioning her faith when she suspects that a plot is unfolding to bring about the Antichrist.
While some may have bristled at the idea of yet another film in The Omen franchise (one which has more than a thirty-year gap between the previous installment), The First Omen proved itself to be above and beyond a worthy addition. Blending surprising social commentary with its themes of women’s autonomy and religion, The First Omen is surprisingly artistic. It boasts distinct, memorable aesthetics on top of its genuinely shocking scares, elevating it from “franchise film” to something truly its own.
A string of brutal killings connected to a bizarre disease begins to ravage a South Korean village, all seemingly connected to the arrival of a strange Japanese man. The investigating police officer, Jong-goo (Kwak Do-won), soon realizes something horrifying: his daughter has caught the disease, which turns ordinary citizens into bloodthirsty killing machines.
Desperate to cure her from an illness that seems born from the supernatural, the police officer turns to a shaman to free his daughter from what might actually be a malignant possession. The Wailing is not just an excellent and gruesome horror film — it also delivers a hooky mystery full of twists and misdirection. While a lengthy film at over two and a half hours, the absorbing nature of the narrative and skillful pacing will never have you checking your watch.
A disgraced puppeteer (Sean Harris) returns to his childhood home, where he is forced to contend with his horrific stepfather. He carries with him a disturbing puppet named “Possum,” which features an array of spider legs underneath a replica of a man’s head. As the puppeteer must confront trauma that has followed him since childhood, he also experiences visions in which Possum is coming terrifyingly to life.
Possum was directed and written by Matthew Holness, who created and starred in the cult classic horror parody series, Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace. Here, Holness trades horror comedy for something far more grave, flexing his arthouse chops in this steely, minimalist take on a psychological horror film. The film received positive reviews from critics, who praised in particular the unnerving performance by Harris, the chilling atmosphere and striking cinematography.
The iconic Universal horror film received an update from director Leigh Whannell, who delivered a fantastic reworking of The Invisible Man back in 2020. Here, he brings Wolf Man to the present day, starring Julia Garner and Christopher Abbott as a married couple who experience the worst night of their lives. When husband Blake is attacked by a werewolf and slowly begins turning into one, Charlotte must protect the lives of her and their daughter.
The film adds more of a complex, psychological bent to an originally more simplistic story, but it is by no means at the expense of the film. Rather, it adds some necessary depth in addition to being an extremely freaky and entertaining bit of body horror. Additionally, Garner and Abbott display excellent chemistry in a film that also shines in its kinetic pacing and claustrophobic set pieces.
Before you ask, no — you really don’t need to watch Terrifier before you watch Terrifier 2. All you have to know is that Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton) has come back to life and is intent on continuing the blood-soaked Halloween night killing spree that he started. With an all-new set of victims for Art to terrorize, Terrifier 2 more or less stands on its own as a rollicking good and gory time. The film was a surprise hit back in 2022, taking in over $10 million against a budget of only $250,000.
One year following Art The Clown’s Miles County Massacre, the face-painted villain has been mysteriously resurrected and arrives on the doorstep of All Hallow’s Eve, trailing another group of unsuspecting victims. Unfortunately for him, one of his targets, teenager Sienna Shaw (Lauren LaVera, isn’t going to go down without a proper fight.