From long-running franchise blockbusters to fresh, independent ideas that kept people up at night, 2023 was a thrilling year for horror. Skinamarink, a microbudget analog horror film directed by Kyle Edward Ball, was one of several innovative works by first-time directors that debuted this year. Also, we saw some hidden treasures like Beau Is Afraid by Ari Aster, which had a unique spin on mother horror, and Australia’s Talk to Me, which was fearless with the monkey’s paw cliché. With the Mexican horror film Huesera: The Bone Woman adding body horror, coming-of-age themes, and magic realist sensibilities to the mix, 2023 was a fantastic year for horror.
In 2023, there were 17 excellent horror films.
Scream VI
Stream Now at Hulu, Prime Video, AppleTV
Run Time: 2h 2m
Four survivors from last year’s “requel” continue their journeys and settle into new homes in Scream VI. Mindy Meeks-Martin and Chad, for example, have moved to New York City to attend Blackmore College. It was quickly discovered, though, that Ghostface’s reign of terror had continued with their previous encounter.
Featuring an A-list cast and several franchise high points, this film is a must-see. You can’t deny the sibling dynamic between Ortega and Barrera; in fact, their chemistry is strong enough to carry the show without Neve Campbell. Not only that, but it manages to uncover hilariously startling moments among its numerous gags.
Thanksgiving
Stream Now at Vudu
Run Time: 1h 46m
An inspired killer terrorizes Plymouth, Massachusetts, the cradle of America’s most cherished holiday, after a tragic Black Friday riot. Murders start happening to locals, starting what seems like a vengeful killing rampage but quickly turns into something far more nefarious.
This hilarious and gross film marks director Eli Roth’s return to his trademark genre. Roth is great at brutal action sequences that discreetly acknowledge their ridiculousness and at developing characters that can go beyond what is typical in films like these.
Saw X
Stream Now at Prime Video
Run Time: 1h 58m
The tenth installment in the Saw franchise, directed by Kevin Greutert and written by Peter Goldfinger and Josh Stolberg, was released in September 2023. In it, Tobin Bell reprised his iconic role as the Jigsaw killer. This role has stood the test of time due to its combination of savagery and an enigmatic sense of justice.
Fans were nonetheless satisfied by the gore and suspense in this edition, even though it fell short of the standards set by other installments. In addition, it delves more into Jigsaw’s twisted sense of justice, the driving force behind his lethal traps; it also features creative and terrifying kill scenes that fans will beg for more of!
A Haunting in Venice
Stream Now at Disney+, Hulu, AppleTv
Run Time: 1h 43m
In A Haunting in Venice, Belgian detective Hercule Poirot has retired to focus on family life; however, when mystery writer Ariadne Oliver visits Venice in 1947, Hercule becomes drawn into solving her murder case. Poirot investigates with help from his friend and bodyguard, Vitale Portfoglio, but things do not add up as expected.
Overall, A Haunting in Venice seems to be the work of an individual energized by cinema and motivated to experiment with his genre template. Director Martin Campbell relies on striking cinematography and haunting sound design for an impressive gothic film with subtle supernatural horror elements. Low-light interior shots feature no attempt to replicate traditional film looks but instead present captivating blends of mesmerizing hyperclarity and otherworldly luminosity, especially during closeup shots.
Sick
Stream Now at PeacockTv, Prime Video
Run Time: 1h 23m
Sick is a fast-paced slasher film anchored by solid performances from its two leads. This is an entertaining Williamson-centric slasher film focused that fans of Williamson’s work will enjoy, even though it fails to comment on the American response to national crises adequately. Its attempts to indulge our fantasies about coronaviruses are predictable.
Using lighting to heighten suspense and create a sense of foreboding, director John Hyams extracts every ounce of terror from the film’s eerie lake house setting. While the film’s climax isn’t exactly brilliant, it’s undeniably riveting and suspenseful, with graphic murders and plenty of “who-dunnit?” mystery—the hallmarks of a good slasher film.
Influencer
Stream Now at Prime Video, Plex
Run Time: 1h 32m
After her boyfriend suddenly drops out, Madison, a prominent travel blogger, finds herself on a solo trip to Thailand. She meets CW, a local, at a pub, and they hit it off right away; as they get to know each other, CW promises to show Madison some off-the-beaten-path areas in Bangkok that aren’t on tourist roadmaps.
Kurtis Davis Influencer is brilliantly helmed by Harder, who expertly switches between characters without sacrificing the story’s overarching objective. The environment of Influencer is memorable as well, conjuring an eerily gorgeous ambiance that adds to the suspense. While most social media thrillers make the mistake of painting tech as the bad guy, Influencer avoids this pitfall by providing a thoughtful critique without going overboard. The film also benefits from CW’s outstanding performance from Naud, who gives simple characters nuanced emotions.
Infinity Pool
Stream Now at Prime Video, Hulu
Run Time: 1h 57m
Stunning, disturbing, and terrifying horror-thriller Infinity Pool was helmed by the son of renowned director David Cronenberg, Brandon Cronenberg. Infinity Pool continues his trend of building upon his earlier work by delving into a broader range of genres and topics. His earlier works included an assassin film and an examination of identity with science fiction themes. But there are some disturbingly original images in Infinity Pool that you won’t see anywhere else this year.
While on vacation at Lotoka, James Foster, an author battling writer’s block, and his wife Em meet Gabi and Alban, two locals who expose them to the resort’s violent, hedonistic, and horrific culture.
Evil Dead Rise
Stream Now at Prime Video, Hulu
Run Time: 1h 36m
This new installment continues Sam Raimi’s iconic trilogy. Despite losing some of the comedic and bizarre elements of the original, the sequel successfully maintains its gloomy essence while introducing new demons. Lee Cronin has a firm grasp of the subject matter and skillfully crafts an atmospheric horror film that manages to be both gory and familiar.
Despite using a lot of homage, Cronin stays away from the apparent exploitation that plagued earlier in the series. Without relying on tired cliches like its sequels did, he creatively employs the same dramatic dynamics and camera moves from earlier films to dispatch victims in the same way as before.
No One Will Save You
Run Time: 1h 33m
No One Will Save You is a low-budget alien invasion horror film that stars and was written by Kaitlyn Dever. The film makes good use of streaming technologies to provide viewers with an unassuming yet satisfying presentation. If you can get over the film’s cramped quarters and merciless thrills, No One Will Save You is well worth watching, even though its low-key debut on Hulu may be a letdown compared to the year’s science fiction blockbusters.
Skillfully, Duffield delves into the life of Brynn, a lady who lives alone in a tiny rural town after being rejected by her community due to her role in a terrible incident that occurred in her past. In her novel that deftly weaves themes of redemption and solitude, Duffield deftly examines its social and psychological effects.
M3GAN
Stream Now at AppleTV, Netflix
Run Time: 1h 42m
In their intentionally campy horror film “M3GAN,” Gerard Johnstone and Akela Cooper use puppets, animatronics, and special effects to bring to life a monstrous hybrid of Teddy Ruxpin. Gemma, played by Allison Williams, is a roboticist for a toy manufacturer who suddenly finds herself in the role of guardian for her niece after her untimely death in a car accident. Gemma finds solace in M3GAN, a charming little robot created to be her closest friend, as she deals with her grief and tries to console Cady’s grieving parents.
M3GAN embarks on her objective to safeguard her owner by gathering an extensive arsenal of weapons. She acquired the skills to operate power equipment, operate a motor vehicle, breach computer systems, and identify faces. Bullies, neighbor pets, and school psychologists are all on M3GAN’s hit list of people to eliminate if they dare to stand in her way.
Enys Men
Run Time: 1h 36m
A Cornish folk horror film called Enys Men is inaccessible. Mark Jenkin, the writer and director, employs 16mm film with a worn style that harkens back to classic British horror films, namely the grainy, rusted magic hour look of those films. Although not strictly a found-footage movie, Enys Men gives the impression that the footage was intentionally shot at an older age to heighten the unsettling effect.
The storyline of Jenkin jumps around between dream worlds and our own reality, which could confuse and annoy some viewers. The powerful feeling of solitude will relate to anybody who has ever felt their sanity slipping away, but patience will pay off. The film’s meaning develops gently but steadily over its running time, from a seemingly innocent scene of a woman on an island to a disturbing reminder of how vulnerable our mental stability is.
Knock at the Cabin
Stream Now at Prime Video, Netflix, AppleTv
Run Time: 1h 40m
In this movie, we tag along as a family enjoying a cabin getaway in the woods, far from civilization and cell phone service. Andrew, a lawyer specializing in human rights cases, Eric, who doesn’t quite understand his job description, and Wen, their adopted daughter, are among their guests. However, suddenly, a mysterious figure posing as “The Stranger” and wearing ominous shirt sleeves appears at their door and demands admission.
Set in a desolate hut, what follows is a horrific story of the humanity’s demise. Despite the high levels of suspense and tension, the film falls short of tackling the weighty themes it set out to examine. The innovative plot of this film from M. Night Shyamalan, known for smash hits like Split and The Sixth Sense, has spectators on the edge of their seats as they watch each piece fall into place.
Deliver Us
Stream Now at Prime Video, Vudu
Run Time: 1h 43m
A fresh spin on the religious horror-thriller genre is presented in Deliver Us, a film by filmmaker Lee Roy Kunz and writer Cru Ennis. This film brings an old prophecy conflict between good and evil to life on screen, set against the backdrop of a monastery. Dimly lit halls and shadowy corners enhance the discomfort and creepiness of Deliver Us through its superb cinematography.
While Deliver Us shares certain similarities with other nun-themed horror films, it differentiates itself through the use of spiritual references, a somber and unsettling mood, and top-notch practical gore effects. Instead of using jump scares, Deliver Us uses spooky backgrounds and deliberate character development to make the audience mistrust and worry.
When Evil Lurks
Stream Now at Prime Video, AppleTv
Run Time: 1h 39m
A little town in Argentina is the setting for this dark and twisted horror flick. During a visit to their family, two brothers named Pedro and Jimmy find out that one of their older brothers has been transformed into a Rotten. It is imperative that Pedro and Jimmy take all necessary measures to prevent the invasion of their home by this evil force.
When Evil Lurks does have some scary and bloody scenes, but it stays on the safe side and never becomes too graphic or unsettling. Even though some viewers may find the picture tedious and uninteresting because of the excessive violence, it is still a fantastic horror film that no horror enthusiast should miss.
Huesera: The Bone Woman
Stream Now at Prime Video, AppleTv
Run Time: 1h 37m
Valeria is overjoyed to hear the news that she is pregnant since she is a driven mother who dreams of being a mother. But as terrifying events start happening to Valeria, like bones fracturing and splitting, she quickly understands that this pregnancy might not be typical. Valeria turns to her witchy friends for solace when her body starts acting strangely and terrified by unseen spirits.
The pregnant horror film Huesera: The Bone Woman, made in Mexico, earned two prizes at the Tribeca Film Festival: one for Best New Narrative Director and another for Nora Ephron. It is incredibly intellectual. In addition, the timing is spot on; the film moves at a leisurely pace at times but then ramps up the tension dramatically in sequences like the one involving the horrific faceless spider contortionist, whose CGI creation is so realistic that she looks terrifying.
Skinamarink
Stream Now at Hulu, Prime Video
Run Time: 1h 40m
Beautifully disturbing, Skinamarink tells the story of two kids who wake up to find their father absent, and all the doors and windows have inexplicably disappeared. The dreamy combination of fascination and anxiety takes hold as the creepy, surreal tone comes across clearly through its focus on commonplace routines like eating cereal or watching cartoons.
The prolonged, moody shots of grainy blackness beyond open doors and flickering TV lights behind couches are the movie’s defining feature; these shots imply that something is amiss without explaining what or why. The success of this anxious visual language depends on the audience’s ability to put their faith in the filmmaker.
Talk to Me
Stream Now at Netflix, Prime Video, AppleTv
Run Time: 1h 35m
There will be terrifying moments due to the film’s touching plot and Mia’s riveting acting, which includes a nightmare vision of zombies tormenting her brother as he lies comatose. Talk to Me goes beyond the usual horror fare to craft an affecting story of loss, isolation, and helplessness through its use of gory gore, non-jump scare score, and progressively horrifying possession sequences. The most terrifying part is watching the characters’ hidden wounds develop and eventually destroy them.
The youthful cast’s heartfelt performances and Philippous’s readiness to up the ante on her ill-advised possession experiments make Talk to Me a successful film despite its adherence to known conventions. Talk to Me goes beyond the usual horror fare to craft an affecting story of loss, isolation, and helplessness through its use of gory gore, non-jump scare score, and progressively horrifying possession sequences.
