1When Evil Lurks
One of the goriest, grisliest films of the year comes via Demián Rugna, an Argentinian filmmaker. When Evil Lurks tells the story of two brothers, Pedro and Jimmy, who face a demonic entity that is possessing their neighbors. This demon is nearly impossibly to exorcise—and no amount of crucifixes or holy water can get rid of it. The demonic infection spreads rapidly throughout the area, causing people to become violent and soulless. We don't want to spoil much more, but take our word for it: you won't forget this one.
2The Last Voyage of the Demeter
If you're a horror fan, can you ever get enough of Dracula? Well, if you're a lover of vampire stories, there's a brand-new feature for us, The Last Voyage of the Demeter. Based on the classic Bram Stoker novel, Demeter tells the story of Dracula's journey on the ship that took him to England. Obviously, some shenanigans go down that boat. Dracula has to ea— and when you're trapped on a boat in the middle of the ocean with him, things are going to get ugly—but surprisingly fun.
3Influencer
Sometimes, there's nothing more terrifying than logging into social media. Influencer follows a popular travel influencer named Madison, who is touring Thailand—but having a lonely and boring time behind the camera. Madison meets a new friend, CW, who seems like a warm addition to Madison's trip... but she's hiding cruel intentions. Turns out, there's a lot more to fear on social media than trolls and targeted ads.
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4Thanksgiving
This year, Eli Roth returned to the horror genre—and we couldn't be more grateful for it. His newest entry, Thanksgiving, proves his prowess in serving up scares. Set on the food-and-football holiday, Thanksgiving may have the makings of a typical formulaic slasher— with its masked killer, small-town slayings, and use of a wildly impractical murder weapon. (In this case—an axe!) But Roth shows us that—even within genre conventions—slashers can still be fresh and fun.
5Perpetrator
Jennifer Reeder's mind-bending horror effort, Perpetrator, is a killer-on-the-loose, body-horror, and coming-of-age story all in one. Perpetrator centers on a young teen, Jonny Baptiste, as she navigates a new school where a mysterious killer is picking off young girls. If that wasn't enough, Jonny discovers that she inherited a family trait: shape-shifting. Add Alicia Silverstone's top-tier campy performance, and Perpetrator is a romp you won't soon forget.
6No One Will Save You
More horror movies should invite aliens to the party! Enough with possessions and creepy dolls. Thankfully, one film heard my message: No One Will Save You, which dives into the age-old horrors of a monster from another world landing on our planet... and terrorizing us.
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7Saw X
Taking place between Saw and Saw II, Saw X brings surprisingly tender context to the Saw timeline, giving us fan favorites, Jigsaw and Amanda back at their best. They're just a normal mentor-mentee pair, torturing a brand new set of victims under the guise of salvation, and somehow getting you to root for them in the process. The franchise's latest entry doesn't shy away from what Saw does best: traps. You better settle your stomach for this one.
8In My Mother's Skin
In My Mother's Skin follows a young girl who is stranded in the Philippines during World War II. She tries to protect her dying mother while a flesh-eating fairy tricks them with the false offering of hope. (Think: Guillermo Del Toro meets The Conjuring.)
9Talk To Me
Talk To Me is A24's latest (and certainly one of its greatest) horror flick, starring Sophie Wilde, Zoe Terakes, Miranda Otto, and Jett Gazley. The film follows a group of friends that finds an embalmed hand–and uses it to connect with the dead. At first, of course, their findings are exhilarating—but they quickly learn that contacting the dead comes with grave consequences.
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10Huesera: The Bone Woman
Huesera: The Bone Woman follows Valeria, a first-time mother. Life with her new baby quickly becomes a dangerous fight for survival when a malevolent spirit curses Valeria. In order to protect her child, she utilizes the power of dark magic. Don't miss it—Huesera even made Esquire's Best Movies of 2023 (So Far) lineup.
11The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster
This Frankenstein-like film follows Vicaria (Laya Delon Hayes), a teenage girl who's obsessed with death. When her brother is violently murdered, she sets out on a quest to bring him back to life. Her efforts, however, set off a terrifying chain of events that only she can stop.
12Skinamarink
Skinamarink follows two young children who wake up and discover their father is missing. But that's not all—their home's windows and front door are gone, too. As more aspects of their life begin to vanish, the siblings realize they are dealing with a sinister force that has trapped them inside.
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13Clock
Dianna Agron stars in Clock as Ella Patel, a successful interior designer in her mid-thirties. When all of her friends begin having children, Ella and her husband, Aiden, feel pressured to keep up with societal norms. The only problem is that Ella doesn’t want to be a mother. Eventually, she’s introduced to Dr. Simmons, a physician working on an experimental therapy to “fix” childless women. Ella eventually agrees to participate, in hopes that it will change her mind about motherhood—but the treatment, of course, is not as safe as it seems.
14Infinity Pool
A couple's romantic vacation is upended when they venture off their resort with a mysterious woman. During their day trip, they get into a tragic accident—and learn the town they're visiting has a zero-tolerance crime policy. To atone for their mistake, they can choose to be executed, or pay to watch themselves die instead.
15Malum
Malum follows Jessica Loren, a rookie police officer with a dark past. When Jessica takes the last shift at her new station, she uses the time to investigate her father's mysterious death, which she believes is connected to a violent cult. As the night progresses, Jessica discovers her father's past is even more twisted than it seems.
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16Evil Dead Rise
Evil Dead Rise follows two estranged sisters who try to reconnect. Their reunion takes a turn when a group of demons try to possess them. In order to survive the attack, they have to depend on each other and fight the battle of a lifetime.
17M3GAN
We already can’t wait to see this dancing robot doll in action when the sequel hits theaters. M3GAN destroyed Twitter this year when the film dropped and immediately launched a million memes. M3GAN feels like a girl boss Chucky, who has such a distinct personality that we can already smell the M3GAN Halloween costumes coming from months away.
18Knock At the Cabin
M. Night Shyamalan is a horror auteur, bringing us unforgettable stories such as The Sixth Sense, Signs, and Split. But he's not one to rest on his laurels. The director kicked 2023 off with another scary story. This time, he followed a family who is taken hostage at their cabin. It's a familiar, but terrifying premise that absolutely got a Shyamalan-esque twist.
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19Scream VI
If 2022’s Scream sequel showed us anything, it's that this franchise can be reimagined over and over again and still find new ways to thrill us. Some familiar faces returned for the sixth entry of the series, including Courteney Cox and Hayden Panettiere. With buckets of blood and new killers on the loose, Scream VI is certainly a must-watch.
20The Boogeyman
The Boogeyman follows two sisters, Sadie and Sawyer, who are processing the death of their mother. In the midst of their grief, their life changes yet again when one of their father's therapy clients shows up at their house unexpectedly—and brings along a haunting entity.
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