Greg Jardin’s debut feature is a neon-lit, hilarious, and oftentimes baffling horror that has you constantly guessing who’s who. Combining the buzzy energy of Bodies Bodies Bodies and the disturbing risk-taking at the heart of Talk To Me, this film demonstrates what it truly means to be uncomfortable in your own skin.
Apartment 7A
Paramount+/Binge
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This has certainly been the year for pregnancy horror, with unsettling tales such as Immaculate, The First Omen and Alien: Romulus leaving any viewer with a uterus queasy. Natalie Erika James’ film examines similar anxieties around motherhood, a topic that for some may hit too close to home following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022.
Intended as a prequel to Ira Levin’s book and Roman Polanski’s film, Rosemary’s Baby, it follows a stage actor (Julia Garner) who, upon injuring herself, is invited to live with a wealthy couple in their New York apartment. As her stay becomes increasingly peculiar, viewers are tormented with new and familiar beastly entities.
House of Spoils
Amazon Prime Video
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If you love The Bear, but want to lean into the spooky spirit, look no further. A chef (played by Oscar-winner Ariana DeBose) opens her own restaurant in a remote location after leaving her job at a high-end city venue. However, something evil haunts her new digs, and it won’t stop until her dream is shattered.
It’s essentially a foodie show sprinkled with jump scares and several decently funny gags (about “chef-y” things like prosciutto), while also interrogating the impact of crushing workplace pressures.
Salem’s Lot
Binge
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Stephen King, the king of horror, has inspired yet another film adaptation, one that satisfies bloodthirsty vampire lovers. Based on King’s 1975 novel and directed by Gary Dauberman (Annabelle, The Nun), it follows a writer who returns to his small hometown only to realise most of its residents are mysteriously transforming into deadly fanged creatures.
Though not quite as visually brilliant as It or as terrifying as Misery, this film is still classic eerie Halloween fodder.
Carved
Disney+
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Psychotic killer pumpkin. Need I say more? Sometimes, a good horror will make you laugh as much as it makes you jump. Carved sees a group of teens battle a sentient pumpkin, which is slashing its way through a historical reenactment village on Halloween. Think Gremlins with a hint of Zombeavers. Actually, when it comes to this movie, it’s probably best not to think at all.
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Daddy’s Head
Shudder
Grief has long been a mainstay of horror – remember The Babadook and Pet Sematary? Benjamin Barfoot’s living nightmare is a worthy addition, following a young boy and his stepmother who are tormented by a creature that appears disturbingly similar to the boy’s recently deceased father.
Combining genuinely grotesque creatures, science fiction, and themes like undesired motherhood, Daddy’s Head is a nuanced horror that has you continuously peeling back the layers to reveal newfound terrors.
