The horror genre has never lost steam, but 2021 was all about delayed projects finally seeing the dark of multiplexes. We'll continue that trend this year with a few stragglers, in addition to the host of new releases slated to fight for horror box office supremacy throughout 2022.
Last year saw the reinvention of Candyman and Michael Myers lurked again. This year will similarly have its share of icons returning to the big (and small) screens, whether theatrical premieres or streaming. You'll also find some rock stars squaring off with the underworld and a whole lot of Jenna Ortega in addition to 2022's first horror hit of the year already, January's Scream. There's plenty of familiarity for reboot and remake fans plus some fresh concepts, even within predatorial sci-fi franchises with their reputation for getting to choppas. Let's take a closer look at what 2022 holds for scream-seekers.
If you’re not ready to dive into 2022 just yet, check out our list of the Best Horror Movies of 2021.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre will stream on Netflix.
The newest Texas Chainsaw installment finds a home on Netflix this February. Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a direct sequel to Tobe Hooper’s original that focuses on a much older Leatherface who stalks young business trippers after they “disrupt” his home. Olwen Fouéré stars as Sally Hardesty, the only survivor from 1973’s massacre in a decision that aligns with David Gordon Green’s Halloween and Jaime Lee Curtis’ involvement. Fede Álvarez and Rodo Sayagues serve as producers on the sequel, inspiring confidence after they crushed 2013’s stealth Evil Dead reboot. All eyes are on director David Blue Garcia to see what they bring to the Texas Chainsaw franchise.
The Studio 666 release is currently theatrical only.
The Foo Fighters made a horror movie! Legendary frontman Dave Grohl hatched the initial satanic story, to be directed by Hatchet III helmer BJ McDonnell (someone who appreciates practical gore effects). As we can tell from trailers so far, the band goes to a remote recording location where Grohl becomes possessed and starts offing the other Foo Fighters. Additional cast includes Jenna Ortega, Will Forte, Whitney Cummings, and more — like the idea of a Foo Fighters horror-comedy wasn’t enticing enough.
The X release is currently theatrical only.
Ti West hasn’t directed a horror film since 2013’s The Sacrament, which makes X such a huge deal. A stacked cast including Jenna Ortega and Kid Cudi tells a tale of adult entertainers who seemingly select the wrong shooting location. The first trailer alludes to a sense of sleaze as elderly landowners allow the production to use their secluded farmhouse — but they aren’t who they seem. It feels very The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) in terms of sun-blasted folksy horror, but with hints of M. Night Shyamalan’s The Visit once night falls and old ladies ominously wander. We’re intrigued, and welcome back Mr. West!
The Morbius release is currently theatrical only.
We’ll finally get to see what Jared Leto brings to the role of Marvel’s Dr. Michael Morbius, the living vampire. Michael Keaton reprises his role as Adrian Toomes, aka Vulture, as a connection to other Marvel Spider-Man properties — which would have felt a bit more monumental given the film’s original release date before other since-released Sony and Disney properties brought their own crossovers. Nonetheless, Morbius generates interest as a more horror-driven superhero film, even if it’ll probably focus more on heroes and villains over nightmarish scares.
The Black Phone release is currently theatrical only.
IGN has already been doing lord Buhguul's work by getting you excited about The Black Phone (which shifted from February to June). Amelia Emberwing's near-perfect review says, "C. Robert Cargill and Scott Derrickson put personal traumas on full display while expertly showcasing the complications of childhood in the '70s and the very real monsters of our world." It's a film as effective as the duo's previous terror tale Sinister for wholly different reasons, which has the benefit of coming with a full recommendation since the Joe Hill adaptation already played multiple horror film festivals last year. Trust us. You'll want to mark your calendar for when The Black Phone releases Ethan Hawke's kiddie kidnapping villain in an idyllic 70s suburb this summer.
The Nope release is currently theatrical only.
Do we know much about Jordan Peele’s next horror release? Nope. Do we know what it’s called, at least? Nope. Not that we don’t know — that’s the title. Keke Palmer, Steven Yeun, and Daniel Kaluuya star in a plot of unknown origin, but given Get Out and Us, we can expect Peele will once again bring stinging social commentary. The poster shows a cloud with a kite tail hovering over a small town after nightfall. Let minds wander because your guess is as good as anyone’s right now.
The Salem's Lot release is currently theatrical only.
What’re spooky seasons without another Stephen King adaptation? Gary Dauberman’s successes working on James Wan’s Conjuring universe — Annabelle Comes Home is Dauberman’s directorial debut — undoubtedly led to his opportunity to write and direct this year’s Salem’s Lot adaptation, given that Wan is serving as producer. It’s a story about Maine (of course), homecomings, and vampire plagues that’s already had a late 70s miniseries, but as the recent It and Pet Semetary prove, there’s plenty of room for new iterations. It’s weird to say King’s hotter than ever, given his steady popularity for decades. With so many of his works being adapted or re-adapted of late, Salem's Lot adds to a rapidly growing list (Firestarter as well if it’s released this year).
The Dark Harvest release is currently theatrical only.
An adaptation of the Bram Stoker Award-winning novel Dark Harvest is coming this fall after its COVID delay. David Slade of 30 Days Of Night fame directs this midwestern tale of kill or be killed. Every Halloween, a murderer known as Sawtooth Jack (among other nicknames) is hunted by local teenagers in "an annual rite of life and death." Whoever defeats the pumpkin-headed beast is granted freedom from small-town confines, but as Richie Shepard and Kelly Haines are about to find out, their hometown harbors darker secrets than the yearly competition. I cannot wait to see how Slade tells this gruesome coming-of-age story about a harvest slasher and an almost "real" game of Dead By Daylight.
The Halloween Ends release is currently theatrical only.
David Gordon Green’s Halloween trilogy culminates with the final chapter Halloween Ends this October. Michael Myers has returned to Haddonfield once more, he’s massacred an entire mob, and now Laurie Strode’s saga comes to a finish. Green revealed the continuation would take place four years after the events of Halloween Kills, focusing on Andi Matichak’s Allyson and Jamie Lee Curtis’ Laurie as they confront the trauma and bloodshed left in Myers’ wake. The time has come to bury the carving knife once and for all, granting Laurie Strode the peace she deserves. But one question remains: will evil truly end on the night of Halloween Ends’ premiere?
Hocus Pocus 2 will stream on Disney+.
The Sanderson sisters are bringing their witchy wilds to Disney+ for the much-anticipated sequel, Hocus Pocus 2. Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy are all reprising their roles as magic maidens from 27 Dresses and The Proposal director Anne Fletcher. There's no set date yet for the film's premiere, but we know it'll be sometime this autumn. Other notable cast additions include Sam Richardson, Tony Hale, and Hannah Waddingham, with the return of Doug Jones as moth-mouthed Billy Butcherson for a bit more Hocus Pocus familiarity.
Evil Dead Rise will stream on HBO Max.
Lee Cronin’s debut The Hole In The Ground was all Evil Dead producers Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert, and Bruce Campbell needed to sign him for Evil Dead Rise. It’s the fifth installment in Raimi’s Evil Dead franchise, as two sisters fight Deadites in a “cramped LA apartment.” It’s only the second film to abandon the iconic cabin setting (Army of Darkness went medieval on undead asses) and carries intrigue as the Necronomicon ends up in a metropolitan area. We’ll see if Cronin adopts Raimi’s zanier sensibilities or goes a different route like Fede Alvarez’s vicious rebootquel. Let the blood rain (sometime this year on HBO Max)!
Hellraiser will stream on Hulu.
Hellraiser might be my most anticipated horror title of 2022, purely based on the creative team. Director David Bruckner boasts The Ritual and The Night House, while writers Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski destroyed us with Super Dark Times as well as The Night House. This new Hellraiser will reboot the franchise on Hulu as its eleventh entry into a dicey but storied legacy. It’s reportedly using Clive Barker’s novella The Hellbound Heart as its source, the same story that served as the foundation for Barker’s 1987 Hellraiser. It’s back to basics, but with Bruckner, Collins, and Piotrowski involved, it’ll be anything but expected.
Prey will stream on Hulu.
Another Hulu horror exclusive this year is Dan Trachtenberg's Prey, a Predator film that will serve as a period-set prequel. The story will follow a Predator's first trip to Earth, who encounters "a Comanche woman who goes against gender norms and traditions to become a warrior." Native American actress Amber Midthunder has been cast in the lead, presumably warring with the intergalactic combatant. Keep your eyes peeled for an official streaming premiere this summer, and can we get a trailer already?!
The Firestarter release is currently theatrical only.
If you read the list of the best horror movies of 2021, you’d recognize director Keith Thomas’ name as the man behind last year’s The Vigil. Blumhouse is rebooting the Stephen King story about a little girl’s pyrokinesis and the secret agency who want to control her, with hunky Zac Efron the leading role as father and protector. All signs are pointing towards a faithful adaptation, so King fans and appreciators of 1984’s original film have plenty to look forward to. Principle photography wrapped in July of 2021, so the assumption is we’ll see Firestarter sometime this year as long as delays don’t become a recurring issue once more.
The Munsters will have a hybrid release in theaters and on Peacock.
Zombie may position himself as a lurid master of go-go-gore and sleazy theatrics, but he’s a diehard The Munsters fan (“Dragula” is named after Grandpa Munster’s whip). He’s apparently been chasing this monstrous dream project for twenty years. The first costume glimpses reveal regulars Sheri Moon Zombie as Lily Munster, Jeff Daniel Phillips as Herman Munster, and Daniel Roebuck as Grandpa in front of the recreated Mockingbird Lane mansion (in black-and-white). The Munsters will simultaneously hit theaters and stream on Peacock later this year if all goes to plan.
Something in the Dirt premiered at Sundance. Wide release details are currently pending.
If Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead have an upcoming project, it belongs on every “most anticipated” list that year. Resolution, Spring, The Endless, and Synchronic present too stacked a resume. Something in the Dirt is the duo at their most punk-rock, to say they write, direct, produce, edit, act as leads, and deliver the most unfiltered Benson and Moorhead experience we’ve yet seen. It was filmed entirely during lockdown in Los Angeles and ponders the rabbit holes our minds indulge when life as we know it seems to lose regularity and meaning — without ever being an outright pandemic movie. Objects levitate, Pythagorean conspiracies taint Californian history, and two lost souls find comfort in barren bachelor apartments. Something in the Dirt ponders gargantuan questions on a micro budget, as only these two inquisitive and rule-breaking filmmakers dare to explore. Look out for distribution from XYZ Films after its Sundance premiere.
Read more about Something in the Dirt in our Sundance 2022 review.
Continue reading...
Last year saw the reinvention of Candyman and Michael Myers lurked again. This year will similarly have its share of icons returning to the big (and small) screens, whether theatrical premieres or streaming. You'll also find some rock stars squaring off with the underworld and a whole lot of Jenna Ortega in addition to 2022's first horror hit of the year already, January's Scream. There's plenty of familiarity for reboot and remake fans plus some fresh concepts, even within predatorial sci-fi franchises with their reputation for getting to choppas. Let's take a closer look at what 2022 holds for scream-seekers.
If you’re not ready to dive into 2022 just yet, check out our list of the Best Horror Movies of 2021.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (February 18, 2022)
Texas Chainsaw Massacre will stream on Netflix.
The newest Texas Chainsaw installment finds a home on Netflix this February. Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a direct sequel to Tobe Hooper’s original that focuses on a much older Leatherface who stalks young business trippers after they “disrupt” his home. Olwen Fouéré stars as Sally Hardesty, the only survivor from 1973’s massacre in a decision that aligns with David Gordon Green’s Halloween and Jaime Lee Curtis’ involvement. Fede Álvarez and Rodo Sayagues serve as producers on the sequel, inspiring confidence after they crushed 2013’s stealth Evil Dead reboot. All eyes are on director David Blue Garcia to see what they bring to the Texas Chainsaw franchise.
Studio 666 (February 25, 2022)
The Studio 666 release is currently theatrical only.
The Foo Fighters made a horror movie! Legendary frontman Dave Grohl hatched the initial satanic story, to be directed by Hatchet III helmer BJ McDonnell (someone who appreciates practical gore effects). As we can tell from trailers so far, the band goes to a remote recording location where Grohl becomes possessed and starts offing the other Foo Fighters. Additional cast includes Jenna Ortega, Will Forte, Whitney Cummings, and more — like the idea of a Foo Fighters horror-comedy wasn’t enticing enough.
X (March 18, 2022)
The X release is currently theatrical only.
Ti West hasn’t directed a horror film since 2013’s The Sacrament, which makes X such a huge deal. A stacked cast including Jenna Ortega and Kid Cudi tells a tale of adult entertainers who seemingly select the wrong shooting location. The first trailer alludes to a sense of sleaze as elderly landowners allow the production to use their secluded farmhouse — but they aren’t who they seem. It feels very The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) in terms of sun-blasted folksy horror, but with hints of M. Night Shyamalan’s The Visit once night falls and old ladies ominously wander. We’re intrigued, and welcome back Mr. West!
Morbius (April 1st, 2022)
The Morbius release is currently theatrical only.
We’ll finally get to see what Jared Leto brings to the role of Marvel’s Dr. Michael Morbius, the living vampire. Michael Keaton reprises his role as Adrian Toomes, aka Vulture, as a connection to other Marvel Spider-Man properties — which would have felt a bit more monumental given the film’s original release date before other since-released Sony and Disney properties brought their own crossovers. Nonetheless, Morbius generates interest as a more horror-driven superhero film, even if it’ll probably focus more on heroes and villains over nightmarish scares.
The Black Phone (June 24, 2022)
The Black Phone release is currently theatrical only.
IGN has already been doing lord Buhguul's work by getting you excited about The Black Phone (which shifted from February to June). Amelia Emberwing's near-perfect review says, "C. Robert Cargill and Scott Derrickson put personal traumas on full display while expertly showcasing the complications of childhood in the '70s and the very real monsters of our world." It's a film as effective as the duo's previous terror tale Sinister for wholly different reasons, which has the benefit of coming with a full recommendation since the Joe Hill adaptation already played multiple horror film festivals last year. Trust us. You'll want to mark your calendar for when The Black Phone releases Ethan Hawke's kiddie kidnapping villain in an idyllic 70s suburb this summer.
Nope (July 22, 2022)
The Nope release is currently theatrical only.
Do we know much about Jordan Peele’s next horror release? Nope. Do we know what it’s called, at least? Nope. Not that we don’t know — that’s the title. Keke Palmer, Steven Yeun, and Daniel Kaluuya star in a plot of unknown origin, but given Get Out and Us, we can expect Peele will once again bring stinging social commentary. The poster shows a cloud with a kite tail hovering over a small town after nightfall. Let minds wander because your guess is as good as anyone’s right now.
Salem’s Lot (September 9, 2022)
The Salem's Lot release is currently theatrical only.
What’re spooky seasons without another Stephen King adaptation? Gary Dauberman’s successes working on James Wan’s Conjuring universe — Annabelle Comes Home is Dauberman’s directorial debut — undoubtedly led to his opportunity to write and direct this year’s Salem’s Lot adaptation, given that Wan is serving as producer. It’s a story about Maine (of course), homecomings, and vampire plagues that’s already had a late 70s miniseries, but as the recent It and Pet Semetary prove, there’s plenty of room for new iterations. It’s weird to say King’s hotter than ever, given his steady popularity for decades. With so many of his works being adapted or re-adapted of late, Salem's Lot adds to a rapidly growing list (Firestarter as well if it’s released this year).
Dark Harvest (September 23, 2022)
The Dark Harvest release is currently theatrical only.
An adaptation of the Bram Stoker Award-winning novel Dark Harvest is coming this fall after its COVID delay. David Slade of 30 Days Of Night fame directs this midwestern tale of kill or be killed. Every Halloween, a murderer known as Sawtooth Jack (among other nicknames) is hunted by local teenagers in "an annual rite of life and death." Whoever defeats the pumpkin-headed beast is granted freedom from small-town confines, but as Richie Shepard and Kelly Haines are about to find out, their hometown harbors darker secrets than the yearly competition. I cannot wait to see how Slade tells this gruesome coming-of-age story about a harvest slasher and an almost "real" game of Dead By Daylight.
Halloween Ends (October 14, 2022)
The Halloween Ends release is currently theatrical only.
David Gordon Green’s Halloween trilogy culminates with the final chapter Halloween Ends this October. Michael Myers has returned to Haddonfield once more, he’s massacred an entire mob, and now Laurie Strode’s saga comes to a finish. Green revealed the continuation would take place four years after the events of Halloween Kills, focusing on Andi Matichak’s Allyson and Jamie Lee Curtis’ Laurie as they confront the trauma and bloodshed left in Myers’ wake. The time has come to bury the carving knife once and for all, granting Laurie Strode the peace she deserves. But one question remains: will evil truly end on the night of Halloween Ends’ premiere?
Hocus Pocus 2 (Autumn 2022)
Hocus Pocus 2 will stream on Disney+.
The Sanderson sisters are bringing their witchy wilds to Disney+ for the much-anticipated sequel, Hocus Pocus 2. Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy are all reprising their roles as magic maidens from 27 Dresses and The Proposal director Anne Fletcher. There's no set date yet for the film's premiere, but we know it'll be sometime this autumn. Other notable cast additions include Sam Richardson, Tony Hale, and Hannah Waddingham, with the return of Doug Jones as moth-mouthed Billy Butcherson for a bit more Hocus Pocus familiarity.
Evil Dead Rise (Unannounced 2022)
Evil Dead Rise will stream on HBO Max.
Lee Cronin’s debut The Hole In The Ground was all Evil Dead producers Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert, and Bruce Campbell needed to sign him for Evil Dead Rise. It’s the fifth installment in Raimi’s Evil Dead franchise, as two sisters fight Deadites in a “cramped LA apartment.” It’s only the second film to abandon the iconic cabin setting (Army of Darkness went medieval on undead asses) and carries intrigue as the Necronomicon ends up in a metropolitan area. We’ll see if Cronin adopts Raimi’s zanier sensibilities or goes a different route like Fede Alvarez’s vicious rebootquel. Let the blood rain (sometime this year on HBO Max)!
Hellraiser (Unannounced 2022)
Hellraiser will stream on Hulu.
Hellraiser might be my most anticipated horror title of 2022, purely based on the creative team. Director David Bruckner boasts The Ritual and The Night House, while writers Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski destroyed us with Super Dark Times as well as The Night House. This new Hellraiser will reboot the franchise on Hulu as its eleventh entry into a dicey but storied legacy. It’s reportedly using Clive Barker’s novella The Hellbound Heart as its source, the same story that served as the foundation for Barker’s 1987 Hellraiser. It’s back to basics, but with Bruckner, Collins, and Piotrowski involved, it’ll be anything but expected.
Prey (Summer 2022)
Prey will stream on Hulu.
Another Hulu horror exclusive this year is Dan Trachtenberg's Prey, a Predator film that will serve as a period-set prequel. The story will follow a Predator's first trip to Earth, who encounters "a Comanche woman who goes against gender norms and traditions to become a warrior." Native American actress Amber Midthunder has been cast in the lead, presumably warring with the intergalactic combatant. Keep your eyes peeled for an official streaming premiere this summer, and can we get a trailer already?!
Firestarter (Unannounced 2022)
The Firestarter release is currently theatrical only.
If you read the list of the best horror movies of 2021, you’d recognize director Keith Thomas’ name as the man behind last year’s The Vigil. Blumhouse is rebooting the Stephen King story about a little girl’s pyrokinesis and the secret agency who want to control her, with hunky Zac Efron the leading role as father and protector. All signs are pointing towards a faithful adaptation, so King fans and appreciators of 1984’s original film have plenty to look forward to. Principle photography wrapped in July of 2021, so the assumption is we’ll see Firestarter sometime this year as long as delays don’t become a recurring issue once more.
The Munsters (Unannounced 2022)
The Munsters will have a hybrid release in theaters and on Peacock.
Zombie may position himself as a lurid master of go-go-gore and sleazy theatrics, but he’s a diehard The Munsters fan (“Dragula” is named after Grandpa Munster’s whip). He’s apparently been chasing this monstrous dream project for twenty years. The first costume glimpses reveal regulars Sheri Moon Zombie as Lily Munster, Jeff Daniel Phillips as Herman Munster, and Daniel Roebuck as Grandpa in front of the recreated Mockingbird Lane mansion (in black-and-white). The Munsters will simultaneously hit theaters and stream on Peacock later this year if all goes to plan.
Something in the Dirt (TBD)
Something in the Dirt premiered at Sundance. Wide release details are currently pending.
If Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead have an upcoming project, it belongs on every “most anticipated” list that year. Resolution, Spring, The Endless, and Synchronic present too stacked a resume. Something in the Dirt is the duo at their most punk-rock, to say they write, direct, produce, edit, act as leads, and deliver the most unfiltered Benson and Moorhead experience we’ve yet seen. It was filmed entirely during lockdown in Los Angeles and ponders the rabbit holes our minds indulge when life as we know it seems to lose regularity and meaning — without ever being an outright pandemic movie. Objects levitate, Pythagorean conspiracies taint Californian history, and two lost souls find comfort in barren bachelor apartments. Something in the Dirt ponders gargantuan questions on a micro budget, as only these two inquisitive and rule-breaking filmmakers dare to explore. Look out for distribution from XYZ Films after its Sundance premiere.
Read more about Something in the Dirt in our Sundance 2022 review.
Continue reading...