2021 brought in some excellent horror movies, including Werewolves Within, Last Night in Soho, and the re-make of Candyman. While there was plenty to like about this year's horror offerings, 2022 promises to be another fruitful year, with several highly anticipated releases finally hitting the screens.
Long-awaited franchise sequels, exciting additions to the MCU, promising adaptations, and new chilling standalone titles promise to make the upcoming year a big one for fans of the genre. There seem to be a lot of exciting stories waiting to send chills down the spines of audiences all over the world, and these are just some of the most exciting new entries into the realm of horror.
Scream - January 14, 2022
While officially titled simply Scream, this long-awaited slasher is technically Scream 5, the latest installment in the iconic franchise. To much delight of the fans, it will see the return of the original cast members Neve Campbell as the long-suffering Sidney Prescott, Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers, and David Arquette as Dewey Riley. The story will follow the new generation of the Ghostface victims who seek out the original trio for advice on surviving his attacks.
Some of the revealed posters feature the franchise veterans, each holding the Ghostface mask, which led to a wave of speculations about whether or not one of the original victims will assume the killer's identity. In addition to that, there have been rumors of the return of another original Scream character, Stu Macher (Matthew Lillard), who died in the first film. If so, the latest installment might attempt to bring the franchise back full circle and provide a twisted and surprising end to the Woodsboro story. Even though it will be the first Scream movie not directed by Wes Craven, many fans are excited to see Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett take up the torch as directors and hope they will enrich the franchise with just the right combination of gore and humor, as seen in their recent wedding party slasher Ready or Not.
Morbius - January 28, 2022
The Marvel fans have long waited to see this Spider-Man villain on screen. The movie's release was delayed due to the pandemic, but it's finally due to hit the theatres at the end of January. Based on Marvel's comics Morbius the Living Vampire, the movie follows the story of Dr. Michael Morbius, played by Jared Leto, who, in search of a cure for his rare blood disease, accidentally inflicts himself with a form of vampirism. The released trailers suggest the character will be more than a straight-on villain, showing his moral deliberations about using his newly gained powers. On top of that, Morbius promises a much more horror-oriented experience, and the fans can't wait to see this villain/anti-hero in action.
The Sony Pictures' movie is meant to be the third installment in the Spider-Man Universe, with the teased links to Spider-Man: No Way Home, as well as Venom: Let There Be Carnage. While there has been some confusion over whether the project will be part of the MCU, many fans are hoping the Marvel and Spider-Man universes will at the very least intercept in some way.
The Black Phone - February 4, 2022
Based on Joe Hill's short story of the same name, The Black Phone is directed by Scott Derrickson, the mind behind The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Sinister, Deliver Us from Evil, and Marvel's Doctor Strange. This highly anticipated Blumhouse movie follows a thirteen-year-old boy (Mason Thames), trying to escape his kidnapper (Ethan Hawke) with the supernatural help of the killer's previous victims.
The released trailer, as well as the raving reviews from its early premiere at Fantastic Fest, suggest a suspenseful, terrifying, and nail-biting experience, backed up by Hawkes' stellar performance and Derrickson's horror talent. The newcomer Thames is also widely praised for his role as the lead abductee, Finney Shaw.
Nope - July 22, 2022
The upcoming movie from Jordan Peele, the creator of the socially conscious Get Out and Us, is shrouded in mystery. In July, the director shared an ominous tweet containing a single cloud emoji and the movie's minimalistic new poster featuring a storm cloud with what looks like a kite tail. The tagline describes Nope as "a new terror from the mind of Academy Award winner Jordan Peele," assuring the audience of another suspenseful and mind-bending experience ahead.
The revealed cast includes Get Out's star Daniel Kaluuya, The Walking Dead's Steven Yeun, as well as Keke Palmer, Brandon Perea, Michael Wincott, and Barbie Ferreira. While it's a long wait till July, many Peele's fans can't wait for what promises to be another excellent, socially aware, and relevant horror.
Halloween Ends - October 14, 2022
That's it — the end of an era. The new and final installment in David Gordon's rebooted Halloween trilogy is due to hit the screens next autumn, and the fans can't wait to see the conclusion to Michael Myers' story. Following the events of Halloween and Halloween Kills that directly continued the original 1978 story and effectively retconned all previous sequels, Halloween Ends will take place four years after the events of the previous installment and will once more feature the ultimate horror final girl, Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis), in (hopefully) her final confrontation with her nemesis, the seemingly unkillable Michael Myers.
In an interview, Curtis teased that the final chapter would be mind-blowing, shocking, and anger many fans. Whether or not that means the movie will feature the death of Laurie's character remains to be seen, but Curtis implied it would be her last Halloween story. It doesn't help that Green promised the final chapter to be highly emotional, personal, and ask difficult questions. Regardless, Halloween Ends will be a must-see 2022 horror movie for any franchise and slasher fan.