2023 looks like a solid year for horror movies after a very packed 2022! In addition to re-emerging horror franchises like Scream, Evil Dead, and Insidious, there are plenty of new and original horror movies coming to theaters as well. While there are sure to be a few stinkers along the way, Hollywood is lining its pockets with our love of horror and we are in for a wild ride.
Here are some horror movies we can’t wait to see in 2023. Which ones made your list?
10. Bird Box Barcelona (July 14)
The boxes and the birds and the blindfolds return for Bird Box Barcelona. Instead of a direct sequel to Bird Box we’re getting a spinoff set in a different country. The plot is almost the same as the first film but just in a city setting. Changing the scenery and exploring a new set of characters should make the world of Bird Box feel fresh. Not to mention Georgina Campbell (Black Mirror and Barbarian) is part of the cast and she’s always great.
9. Cobweb (July 21)
The idea of a little boy hearing voices in the walls that want to cause mayhem for his abusive parents is fascinating. Revenge horror with a supernatural element? Cobweb sounds delightful for the most part! Produced by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, the upcoming horror flick stars Antony Starr (The Boys), Cleopatra Coleman (The Last Man on Earth), and Lizzy Caplan, and is directed by Samuel Bodin, the creator of the short-lived Netflix horror series Marianne.
8. Sympathy for the Devil (July 28)
Sympathy for the Devil stars Joel Kinnaman as a driver whose passenger—played by Nicolas Cage—forces him to participate in a terrifying game of cat-and-mouse. Only there’s more to the whole ordeal than anyone could imagine. Nicolas Cage is a scream king and he seems to be interested in starring in as many genre projects as possible. Fingers crossed that Sympathy for the Devil (which must be a nod to the Rolling Stones song) is one of his better movies.
7. Talk to Me (July 29)
People do hype up A24 horror films quite a bit and often for good reason. Talk to Me is already guaranteed to be top-notch. The film follows a group of friends that conjure spirits and get more than they bargained for. Not much about the initial premise is original, however Talk to Me looks genuinely scary if the trailer says anything. Also the lead character is a Black woman and that’s not remotely common for supernatural horror.
6. The Last Voyage of the Demeter (August 11)
It seems we’re seeing another rise in vampire horror, and naturally, Dracula is part of the surge. And not just in a campy horror way (Renfield is taking care of that), but in a way that’s actually terrifying. The Last Voyage of the Demeter will follow the crew of a merchant ship that winds up being stalked by Dracula. If you’ve read “The Captain’s Log” from Bram Stoker’s Dracula, then you’ve got the gist of what to expect from this film directed by André Øvredal (The Autopsy of Jane Doe, Scary Stories To Tell in the Dark). It’s almost guaranteed to be very unsettling given the setting.
5. The Nun 2 (September 8)
The Conjuring universe has a little something for (almost) everyone and now it’s back with The Nun 2. The sequel will fast forward four years after 2018’s The Nun and will focus on Sister Irene (Taissa Farmiga) dealing with the demon Valak, a.k.a. the Nun (Bonnie Aarons). As if the first time wasn’t enough. The Nun 2 was co-written by Akela Cooper, the screenwriter behind M3GAN and Malignant, so maybe this one will be a little more fun. And maybe a little less corny than the first film.
4. The Exorcist: Believer (October 13)
David Gordon Green’s Halloween trilogy is divisive among Halloween fans, and this year he is directing a sequel to 1973’s The Exorcist. The original is very iconic and is still being referenced in horror to this day. Ellen Burstyn is reprising her role from the original film alongside a cast that includes Leslie Odom Jr. and Ann Dowd. There’s no doubt in my mind that it will be frightening and violent.
3. Saw X (October 27)
After the reception to the standalone sequel Spiral (2021), we’re officially circling back to the mother series. Cue the “Hello Zepp” score and a whole lot of screaming because we’re getting Saw X. It’s unlikely Tobin Bell will be involved (unless we’re getting flashbacks like with previous entries), so it’s wise to curb your expectations and try not to let disappointment dull your excitement. It’s still fun to see franchises resurface to entertain us!
2. Five Nights at Freddy’s (October 27)
Fans are likely jumping out of their seats now that Blumhouse has announced this film adaptation of Five Nights at Freddy’s! The plot focuses on a security guard who watches over Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, but he isn’t alone because the animatronic animals are coming to life—with help from Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, no less. Much like the game, we’re bound to deal with the terror of being hunted. Horror icon Matthew Lillard has been confirmed as a cast member along with Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail, and more.
1. Cuckoo (TBD)
Yes, Gen Z icon Hunter Schafer is entering the horror realm. Cuckoo has been teased for a while, and while it doesn’t have an official release date, it’s set to hit theaters sometime this year. Schafer plays the lead in the film, while Dan Stevens (The Guest, Apostle) has an unknown role, and Tilman Singer is writer and director. Both Hunter Schafer and Dan Stevens are good at what they do, and I’ve got no doubt this horror flick is going to be a little weird and definitely worth watching.
Other 2023 horror films to be excited about include, The Elevator Game (August 11), The Strangers (TBD), and The First Omen (October 31).
(featured image: A24)
