It's no surprise that 2022 was a great year for horror, there were plenty of films that kept viewers at the edge of their seats. Audiences were terrified watching Dr. Rose Cotter fight to escape a chilling curse in Smile. Nope, was a spectacle all on its own, drawing 100 million at the box office, making that the third film in a row to hit that 100 million mark for Peele. Ethan Hawke made a rememberable performance when he transformed into a terrifying serial killer in Black Phone.
Horror has really been upping the standards lately and these up-and-coming horror films are defiantly trying to be as relatable as possible. While the classics never seem to fail, it looks like even the slasher films are starting to have less secluded backgrounds and moving into bustling cities, making it seem impossible to escape serial killers, demons and killer dolls.
M3gan
The Blumhouse film has audiences seriously disturbed by the AI doll named M3gan. Screenwriter Akela Cooper even tapped into her own fear of dolls to really bring on the scares. Horror fans have seen similar cautionary tales to this from films like Chucky, Annabelle and The Boy, however there seems to be a close relation to our reality today. With the rise of AI technology today maybe James Wan isn't too far off from reality.
Gemma is a robotics engineer at a toy factory, her life changes in an instant when she becomes the guardian of her recently orphaned 8-year-old niece, Cady. Gemma isn't sure how to care for Cady, but she also knows that Cady is lonely and still processing the death of her parents. She decides to create M3gan a life-size and life-like AI doll that is programmed to learn everything about Cady. While Gemma created M3gan with good intentions, M3gan begins to take a life of her own as she also begins to learn more about the world she was just created into.
Scream 6
Scream became a hit slasher film in 1996, with the rise of reboots of course the popular film franchise had to get on it. The 2022 version of Scream found it's new star Jenna Ortega, who is rapidly becoming a horror icon herself. Luckily for fans of the cult classic, Scream has yet again become a horror staple.
While there isn't all that much information surrounding the highly anticipated Scream 6 other than a couple of new cast additions including Hayden Panettiere. However, fans do know is that the film will follow the remaining survivors as they try to leave their traumas behind in Woodsboro, and get a fresh start in New York City. Stars such as Jenna Ortega and Tony Revolori have been dropping hints and teasing that the new film will be even bloodier and contain more action leaving fans to their inner slasher imaginations.
MaXXXine
Indie filmmaker Ti West was hard at work during the pandemic, West created his own slasher trilogy surrounding Mia Goth's character Maxine while also making it a successful low-budget film. A24 has been known to really crank up the uncomfortable meter when it comes to horror films. With some notable horror titles under their belt like The Witch, Hereditary and Midsommar, it's safe to say A24 knows how to make audiences' skin crawl.
Ti West really spoiled horror fans this year by keeping these two films a secret, creating excitement for the conclusion to this gorey journey. The trilogy is set to conclude with MaXXXine. Audiences will follow Maxine after the events of X as a sole survivor who continues her journey towards fame setting out to make it as an actress in Los Angeles. What could possibly go wrong?
The Exorcist
The 1973 Exorcist is finally getting a sequel, and it has been a long time in the making. Of course, Warner Brothers have tried to keep fans satisfied with prequels and television series, but viewers want to know what happened after the exorcism. After Warner Brothers made Ellen Burstyn an offer she couldn't refuse it seems like audiences will be getting the answers they deserve.
Things are being kept pretty hush, hush at the moment even the plot line for the upcoming film hasn't been released yet. All audiences know so far is the remarkable Leslie Odom Jr. will be a part of the film along with Handmaid's Tale's very own Ann Dowd, and as mentioned earlier Ellen Burstyn will also be starring in the sequel. While fans desperately wait for so much as a teaser trailer it's no doubt that the cast is being very carefully thought out.
Evil Dead Rise
Finally, the film that has the horror community most excited for is Evil Dead Rise. Since its remake back in 2013 fans have been waiting for more blood and more guts. Initially, Evil Dead Rise was meant to release on HBO Max however with raving screening results, producers decided it should be shown in theaters.
Evil Dead Rise will have a brand-new cast, and it will not be taking place in a cabin in the woods. Instead, the story will take place in Los Angeles and follow two estranged sisters whose reunion is cut short by flesh-possessing demons, forcing them to fight for survival. Just like most of the films listed, Evil Dead Rise is also being kept under wraps but Director Lee Cornin proudly announced via Twitter that 6,500 liters of blood was used to make this film, while it's no record-breaking bloodbath it's still exciting for those who want all the gore.
Post-pandemic films have been having a moment with added pressure to entice audiences to get back into theaters, however, it seems as if the horror genre has been taking audiences to even more sinister places, creating worlds that seem like they could possibly be just around the corner. Well bring it on 2023, the Horror fans are ready.