Between the supermassive franchise hits such as Evil Dead: Burn and Insidious: Out of the Further and the huge influx of breakout independent movies (Backrooms, Iron Lung, Obsession), there has really been something for everyone this year. As many great movies obtained mass success, however, just as many great horror movies managed to slip under the radar. To kick off the start of Spooky Season, here are 5 new horror movies to get into the Halloween mood!
Send Help
Released in January, Send Help is a survival horror film directed by horror legend, Sam Raimi (director of the Evil Dead and Spider-Man trilogies). The film follows an overworked employee and her nepo-baby boss who, upon becoming stranded on a deserted island, reverse roles.
The movie shines in both its subtle and extreme character moments and changing dynamics. Both of the lead actors (Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien) give killer performances; particularly McAdams’s transformation from a meek pencil pusher to a ruthless threat is as cathartic as it is chilling. Instantly cementing itself as one of the great survival horror movies, Raimi’s latest film is absolutely worth a watch. (Stream on Hulu)
Hokum
Written and directed by Damian McCarthy, Hokum is a supernatural/psychological horror film that follows a horror writer who travels to an inn unaware of the rumors it is haunted by a witch. The film was released in March to moderate success and good reviews.
Hokum shines brightest in its use of atmosphere and its weaponization of location for scares. There are so many great, eerie sequences that utilize the space of the hotel and the objects inside to effectively build tension; the claustrophobia of the dumbwaiter is a personal favorite. If you enjoy more traditional horror with some fantastic scares, Hokum is for you. (Available on VOD/Digital)
undertone
Serving as his directorial debut, undertone is a psychological horror written and directed by Ian Tuason. The film, released in March, follows a skeptical paranormal podcaster who, whilst caring for her comatose mother, receives a string of ominous recordings she is unable to explain.
The movie, while overall good, has some of the best audio design and sound-based scares of all time. Opting for a more slow-burn approach to horror, the scariest moments aren’t ones where you don’t understand; it’s the moments you do. By the end, the creeping dread has enveloped every inch of the film, leaving the immersed audience stranded in terror. (Stream on HBO Max)
Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma
Released this August, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasmas is a darky comedic joint slasher horror and romantic comedy. Written and directed by Jane Schoenbrun (of I Saw the TV Glow fame), the film follows a movie director who, in casting for the sequel to a run-down horror franchise, becomes obsessed with casting the reclusive actress who was Final Girl of the series.
The movie, despite the premise, decides to steer away from meta tropey-ness to instead tell a really sincere and honest story about love and sex. The film is seeped in sapphic imagery and yearning and uses the medium of old media to convey a power metaphor for desire and fantasy. If you enjoy campy horror and/or steamy romance, Camp Miasma is for you. (Stream on MUBI)
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
Written by Alex Garland and directed by Nia Decosta (Candyman), 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is a dystopian zombie movie released in January as the fourth installment to the 28 Days Later franchise. Continuing the story of the previous installment, the movie follows both a satanic raider cult and a doctor’s connection with a zombie.
Both 28 Years Later movies have been some of the most unique and innovative movies we have gotten in the past decade, weaving experimental editing, unique camera rigs, and advanced choreography into a narrative about zombies. While many shy away from the films for their sometimes jarring plotlines and imagery, they are moving both the zombie genre and even film as a medium forward. We don’t want to spoil too much, but Bone Temple ends with one of the best song/dance sequences we have ever seen. If you are interested in weird but innovative movies, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is absolutely worth checking out. (Stream on Netflix)
