Several 2022 horror movies hit that sweet spot of being loved by critics and also horror fans. From The Black Phone to Pearl, there have been films with positive reviews all around. It's always fun to see how films are ranked on Rotten Tomatoes and there are many from the past 12 months that are rated very highly thanks to plots that live up to the premise and original characters who haven't been seen before.
From Barbarian, which is one of the biggest fall 2022 hits, to a lesser-known film called Sissy, there are some scary movies from the past year that have gotten over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes. If horror fans haven't seen a few of them, it's the perfect time for an end-of-year binge-watch.
Barbarian (92%)
The 2022 horror movie Barbarian is critically acclaimed and has a 92% rating on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer based on 189 reviews. The film also has a 71% Audience Score. Renting goes wrong in Barbarian when Tess Marshall (Georgina Campbell) enters a house she has rented and finds Keith Toshko (Bill Skarsgård) already there. With one of the best movie plot twists and a total change in tone halfway through, Barbarian really couldn't be more impressive. Horror fans are so happy about it because there are so many films released every year that feel like everything that has come before them and this one sticks out.
Everything about the movie works from the pacing and tension to the performances and setting. The monster, a creepy older woman named The Mother, is distinct and stands out from the other killers in 2022 horror movies. Campbell's performance is relatable and exciting.
Prey (93%)
Fans think that Prey deserved a theatrical release as it's excellent and it has the high Rotten Tomatoes rating to prove it. The film scored a 93% on the Tomatometer based on 269 reviews and a 73% Audience Score. The Predator prequel Prey got rave reviews and fans have been happy with it as well.
The main character, Naru (Amber Midthunder), wants to be a hunter, and when a humanoid alien shows up, she knows that she will be the one to stop it and make sure that her tribe is safe. Audiences loved picking apart all the elements of the film, including the pistol Naru uses in Prey, and it's a favorite from this past year that has a fast pace and good characters.
You Won't Be Alone (93%)
With a script by Goran Stolevski, who also directed the movie (which is his first), You Won't Be Alone is another highly rated 2022 horror film. The movie has a high rating of 93% on the Tomatomer, which is based on 134 reviews.
Nevena (Sara Klimoska) is transformed into a witch and changes into a few different people and animals throughout the movie. There is often a debate about when elevated horror becomes too elevated, like with Men, but those looking for an intelligent and artistic horror movie need to look no further than You Won't Be Alone. It makes sense that it's ranked so highly as the movie doesn't shy away from being shocking and it's hard to predict anything about it, which is a nice change of pace when many movies are so predictable.
X (94%)
After watching the brilliant X in the spring of 2022, horror fans anticipated Pearl, which is a perfect prequel. Both movies star Mia Goth as elderly villain Pearl. X is one of the highest ranked 2022 horror movies on Rotten Tomatoes with a 94% rating on the Tomatomer based on 214 reviews. It also has a 75% Audience Score.
2022 was a great year for horror fans and X is one big and important reason. It's a fantastic slasher with characters who are very different from each other and who hope to film a popular adult film that will make them stars. Things don't end up that way as Pearl and her husband Howard (Stephen Ure) go after them instead.
Sissy (96%)
While Sissy might not be as well-known as other 2022 horror movies, it has a 96% rating on the Tomatomer and a and a 62% Audience Score. The movie is about Cecilia (Aisha Dee of The Bold Type fame), an influencer who talks about mental health and who attends her old best friend Emma's (Hannah Barlow) bachelorette weekend. The friends have some shared tragedy between them and a lot of bad blood.
When asking if character or kills are more important in a slasher, Sissy is a good example of how character reigns supreme. Sissy is a smart look at influencer culture and the pain of female friendship. It may be underrated but it's a solid film.