Entertainment The Best Horror Movies of 2018

Hereditary | A24 Hereditary | A24

Last year, we named the best horror movies of 2017, and in true horror movie franchise fashion, we decided to go ahead with the sequel. Now that 2018 is officially in the books and the 2019 horror releases have started to arrive, we present you with the absolute best of the best horror had to offer last year. For your viewing pleasure, enjoy the best horror movies of 2018. (And if you saw a 2018 horror film you really liked but isn't on this list, let me know on Twitter @scottEweinberg)

CBS Films

55. Hell Fest Release date: September 28

Cast: Amy Forsyth, Reign Edwards, Tony Todd

Director: Gregory Plotkin (Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension)

Why it's great: It's an old-fashioned slasher flick throwback set in a horror-themed carnival. There's nothing here you haven't seen before, but this one still makes for a serviceable scare flick if you're having a sleepover party or something like that. Plus it's got Tony "Candyman" Todd, and that's never a bad thing.

Where to watch it: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, VOD, etc.

Rooster Teeth

54. Blood Fest Release date: August 31

Cast: Robbie Kay, Tate Donovan, Seychelle Gabriel

Director: Owen Egerton (Follow)

Why it's great: Sometimes these crazy movie coincidences just happen. Hell Fest is a straight horror flick about murders at a giant horror-themed carnival, whereas the indie Blood Fest is a comedic horror flick about murders at a giant horror convention. Suffice to say that these two might make for an amusing double feature.

Where to watch it: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, VOD, etc.

Universal Pictures

53. Insidious: The Last Key Release date: January 5

Cast: Lin Shaye, Leigh Whannell, Angus Sampson

Director: Adam Robitel (The Taking of Deborah Logan)

Why it's great: Not every horror franchise can squeeze legitimate jolts from its audience on a fourth movie, but there's always been a low-key sense of quality to the Insidious series. This chapter kicks off with a creepy flashback and then settles in with a basic-yet-engaging ghost story that centers around franchise MVP Lin Shaye (as paranormal investigator Elise Rainier) and how her character became so dang interested in supernatural stuff in the first place.

Where to watch it: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, VOD, etc.

CBS Films

52. Winchester Release date: February 2

Cast: Helen Mirren, Jason Clarke, Sarah Snook

Director: Michael & Peter Spierig (Daywalkers)

Why it's great: Yes, you've certainly seen this sort of "skeptic in a haunted house" premise before, but when the house is this creepy -- and the cast is this impressive -- there's nothing wrong with curling up with a very familiar ghost story, even if you mostly know where it's headed. And the twisted house (based on Sarah Winchester's real San Jose mansion) is pretty darn impressive.

Where to watch it: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, VOD, etc.

Warner Bros. Pictures

51. Rampage Release date: April 13

Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Naomie Harris, Malin Akerman

Director: Brad Peyton (Incarnate)

Why it's great: OK, this one's more of an action flick than a horror movie, but come on. It's about three gigantic monsters who attack cities and eat/stomp a whole lot of people. And some of those monster moments are actually pretty cool!

Where to watch it: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, VOD, etc.

Warner Bros. Pictures

50. The Meg Release date: August 10

Cast: Jason Statham, Bingbing Li, Ruby Rose

Director: Jon Turtletaub (National Treasure)

Why it's great: It's not nearly as nasty as horror fans wanted, but heck, a giant shark flick is still a giant shark flick. It's also got a colorful cast, with Jason Statham having some fun amid his tough-guy heroics, and a few wacky set pieces that are plain old fun. It's barely even a horror movie, but hey -- it's my list! Plus, as far as giant animal movies go, it's slightly better than Rampage.

Where to watch it: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, VOD, etc.

20th Century Fox

49. The Predator Release date: September 14

Cast: Boyd Holbrook, Trevante Rhodes, Olivia Munn

Director: Shane Black

Why it's great: For my money, there's no Predator flick that can touch John McTiernan's original, but this one sure comes close to recapturing some of the broadly enjoyable bombast that was prevalent in just about every 1980s action flick. It's just a bunch of colorful characters chasing down -- and frequently getting killed by -- everyone's favorite interstellar big game hunter.

Where to watch it: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, VOD, etc.

Shudder

48. Sequence Break Release date: May 24

Cast: Chase Williamson, Fabianne Therese, John Dinan

Director: Graham Skipper

Why it's great: It's a low-budget effort from a first-time director, so you can expect a few glitches here and there, but it's also a quietly disturbing techno-thriller about love and obsession that's definitely aiming for that early David Cronenberg vibe, and actually manages to nail the target a few times. Also it deals with video games, and that's always fun.

Where to watch it:Shudder

Magnet Releasing

47. Bullet Head Release date: January 9

Cast: John Malkovich, Adrien Brody, Antonio Banderas

Director: Paul Solet (Grace)

Why it's great: Remember the badass 1992 action flick Trespass? Ice Cube, Ice-T, Bill Paxton, and Bill Sadler. It's about a bunch of crooks hiding out in a warehouse while their recent heist falls apart. How about the 1993 sci-fi/horror movie Man's Best Friend, in which a killer dog makes trouble for Ally Sheedy and Lance Henriksen? Bullet Head is virtually the offspring of those two movies. A bunch of crooks find themselves trapped in a warehouse with a killer pitbull. It's that simple. While much of the film is darkly entertaining, it does (fair warning) contain some simulated dog violence that may upset some viewers, so beware.

Where to watch it: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, Netflix, VOD, etc.

Cranked Up Films

46. Don't Leave Home Release date: September 14

Cast: Mark Lawrence, Anna Margaret Hollyman, Karrie Cox

Director: Michael Tully (Septien)

Why it's great: This is most assuredly a full-bore. slow-burn "arthouse" type of horror story, but it also offers some strong acting and a very ominous Irish setting for a young artist who travels to the country -- and we all know how creepy 400-year-old estates can be. If you want something weird and atmospheric, give it a shot.

Where to watch it: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, VOD, etc.

Shudder

45. Downrange Release date: April 26

Cast: Kelly Connaire, Anthony Kirlew, Stephanie Pearson

Director: Ryuhei Kitamura (The Midnight Meat Train)

Why it's great: It's a fairly simple set-up: a bunch of young people are on their way to somewhere fun when a flat tire derails the road trip. That's when they start getting picked off, one by one. In this case, the slasher antagonist is a hidden sniper with wildly impressive aim, which gives this intense, brutal thriller ample opportunity to show what a high-powered rifle can do. It's not pretty, and the violence should resonate even more in our current climate.

Where to watch it: Shudder

Blumhouse Pictures

44. Unfriended: Dark Web Release date: July 20

Cast: Colin Woodell, Rebecca Rittenhouse, Betty Gabriel

Director: Stephen Susco

Why it's great: The writer of the American version of The Grudge moves into the director's chair with this unrelated sequel to one of Blumhouse's unexpected hits from 2015. The format is the same as the first Unfriended -- the story takes place entirely through one guy's computer monitor -- but that's the only connection. This time around we're privy to an online "game night" between six old friends... only problems arise once we learn that one of the players is working from a stolen computer. And this computer has some very "dark" passageways on it.

Where to watch it: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, VOD, etc.

Telecinco Cinema

43. Marrowbone Release date: April 13

Cast: George MacKay, Anna Taylor-Joy, Kyle Soller

Director: Sergio G. Sanchez

Why it's great: The writer of the fantastic 2007 chiller The Orphanage makes his directorial debut with this half-conventional, half-twisted tale of four young siblings who live in their horrific mansion by themselves long after their mother passes away. Also there's some sort of creature in the basement, and a snooty banker who keeps sniffing around.

Where to watch it: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, VOD, etc.

M3 Alliance Limited

42. Dead Night Release date: July 27

Cast: Barbara Crampton, Daniel Roebuck, Brea Grant, AJ Bowen

Director: Brad Baruh

Why it's great: We've all seen countless "cabin in the woods" stories by now. Hell there's even been a (rather brilliant) horror parody that's called The Cabin in the Woods. But it's always cool when a scrappy little indie finds a way to make this exceedingly familiar setting feel fresh. This one starts out in fairly standard fashion, but once the loving matriarch seemingly loses her mind, the narrative branches out to include a bizarre but amusing B-story about the "true crime show" version of the events. It all makes sense in the end. Sort of.

Where to watch it: Showtime Anytime; rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, VOD, etc.

Apache Films

41. Veronica Release date: February 25

Cast: Sandra Escacena, Bruna Gonzalez, Claudia Placer

Director: Paco Plaza

Why it's great: The co-director of the exceptional [REC] movies tries his hand at a slightly more familiar sort of occult film. It's easy to see where this Ouija board thriller, based on a true story, is headed early on, but it's still packed with numerous scary ideas, well-earned tension, and simple jolts.

Where to watch it: Netflix

Netflix

40. Cargo Release date: May 18

Cast: Martin Freeman, Anthony Hayes, Susie Porter

Director: Ben Howling & Yolanda Ramke

Why it's great: A desperate father searches for a safe place to raise his baby in a world that's been ravaged by a zombie apocalypse. Along the way he meets all sorts of colorful characters -- none of whom are all that trustworthy. This one earns points for being a lot more contemplative than most zombie flicks, which means it's more about the ideas than the carnage. Although there certainly is some of the latter.

Where to watch it:Netflix

IFC Films

39. Pyewacket Release date: March 23

Cast: Nicole Munoz, Laurie Holden, Chloe Rose

Director: Adam MacDonald (Backcountry)

Why it's great: A troubled young woman is having problems with her mother, so she summons a demon to help her out... then quickly comes to regret her horrible mistake. This is one of those low-key, character-based, slow-burner horror stories, but it leads to some very creepy places. Doesn't hurt that the three leads are all great.

Where to watch it: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, VOD, etc.

IFC Midnight

38. Wildling Release date: April 13

Cast: Liv Tyler, Brad Dourif, Bel Powley

Director: Fritz Bohm

Why it's great: A low-key but engaging horror story about a young woman who was raised under bizarre circumstances, only to deal with all sorts of problems when she's introduced to the normal world. "Problems" as in "she may actually be a supernatural monster"... or it could all be in her head. Either way, things get pretty nasty.

Where to watch it: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, VOD, etc.

Aura Films

37. Terrified Release date: October 11

Cast: Norberto Gonzalo, Maxi Ghione, Elvira Onetta

Director: Demian Rugna

Why it's great: Haunted houses are fairly common in horror cinema, but haunted neighborhoods? That's kind of a new twist. This eerie Argentine import owes more than a little to the atmosphere (and the jump scares) of the best Japanese horror films, but it also moves well and keeps the jolts coming.

Where to watch it:Shudder

Gravitas Ventures

36. The Appearance Release date: December 8

Cast: Jake Stormoen, Kristian Nairn, Adam Johnson

Director: Kurt Knight (We All Fall Down)

Why it's great: There's something irresistible about the idea of a horror story set in a medieval-ish setting -- provided the filmmakers have the talent to deliver a compelling story -- and that's certainly the case with this dark and gruesome tale of murder and inquisition inside a grim and uninviting monastery. It takes a little while to warm up but pays off rather creepily.

Where to watch it: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, VOD, etc.

Hood River Entertainment

35. The Ranger Release date: TBD

Cast: Chloe Levine, Jeremy Holm, Larry Fessenden

Director: Jenn Wexler

Why it's great: Wexler, the indie horror producer of such titles as ABCs of Death 2 and Psychopaths, tries her hand at directing with this comfortably familiar and frequently gruesome slasher throwback about a weird park ranger who butts heads with a gang of troublemaking punks. Turns out someone in the group is a raving psycho. While scrappy and simple, The Ranger earns points for being an affectionate homage to slasher classics that maintains a sense of humor without becoming goofy. Also it has some kick-ass punk rock on the soundtrack.

Where to watch it: Rent on iTunes, Redbox; coming to Shudder in 2019

Momentum Pictures

34. Mom & Dad Release date: January 19

Cast: Nicolas Cage, Selma Blair, Anne Winters

Director: Brian Taylor (Crank)

Why it's great: We've all see horror movies in which kids lose their minds and start attacking their parents. Now we have the reverse. In Mom and Dad, a mysterious ailment makes caregivers want to kill their own children. It's a gruesome joke, and fortunately Cage and Blair are in on it. Whether or not the film goes too far with this premise, or plays it a little too safe, is up to the viewer, but it's certainly an entertaining dark comedy-horror combo.

Where to watch it: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, VOD, etc.

Gunpowder & Sky

33. Summer of '84 Release date: August 10

Cast: Graham Verchere, Judah Lewis, Caleb Emery

Director: François Simard, Anouk Whissell. Yoann-Karl Whissell

Why it's great: If you're waiting on pins and needles for IT: Chapter 2 or the third season of Stranger Things, and you're looking for something in the same vein of 1980s nostalgia, here's a well-crafted indie thriller worth seeing. What it lacks in a supernatural element (it's about a group of kids who become convinced that their neighbor is a killer) it more than makes up for in mood, tone, and suspense. Plus the young cast can hold its own against the higher profile stars of the aforementioned hits.

Where to watch it:Shudder

Aviron Pictures

32. The Strangers: Prey at Night Release date: March 9

Cast: Bailee Madison, Christina Hendricks, Martin Henderson

Director: Joannes Roberts (47 Meters Down)

Why it's great: At first, this long-awaited sequel feels like a downbeat and fairly pedestrian remake of the first movie. It certainly has the same plot, only this time the residence being invaded is a trailer instead of a house. But once the scary stuff hits the screen, this unrelated follow-up not only manages to find its own feet, it delivers a third-act roller coaster that will exhaust mild-mannered viewers. Buckle up.

Where to watch it: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, VOD, etc.

Rapi Films

31. Satan's Slaves Release date: October 4

Cast: Bront Palarae, Tara Basro, Endy Arfian

Director: Joko Anwar (Ritual)

Why it's great: A remake of the 1982 Indonesian cult classic of the same name, this creep-fest deals with possession, resurrection, long-forgotten family secrets, and frequent doses of really effective jolts, scares, and gore. It's also shot really well and boasts a solid sense of humor. Give something outside your comfort zone a shot!

Where to watch it:Shudder

Warner Bros. Pictures

30. The Nun Release date: September 7

Cast: Taissa Farmiga, Demian Bichir, Bonnie Aarons

Director: Corin Hardy (The Hallow)

Why it's great: You don't really expect all that much from a spinoff of a sequel, but you can always expect some degree of quality when James Wan's name is on the poster. This is a pretty old-fashioned tale of a suspicious suicide and an allegedly haunted convent, but it's crafted with obvious care, not to mention affection for the horror matinee classics of the 1940s.

Where to watch it: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, VOD, etc.

Samuel Goldwyn Films

29. Cold Skin Release date: September 7

Cast: Ray Stevenson, David Oakes, Aura Garrido

Director: Xavier Gens (Frontiere(s))

Why it's great: Fans of The Shape of Water may want to keep an eye out for this tale of a meteorologist who travels to an isolated, deserted island for research, only to discover a Lovecraftian creature who's not quite as dangerous as she looks. Gens, known for some brutal genre fare of the past, delivers his best film in years.

Where to watch it: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, VOD, etc.

Orion Classics

28. The Domestics Release date: July 29

Cast: Tyler Hoechlin, Kate Bosworth, Lance Reddick

Director: Mike P. Nelson

Why it's great: Take a good section of The Purge, place it in a post-apocalyptic landscape with a bunch of brutal gangs clearly inspired by Walter Hill's The Warriors, set the whole thing up as an ultra-violent cross-country road trip, and toss in a legitimately worthwhile dash of romance. Oh, also it's a dark comedy. For a movie composed of so many familiar parts, The Domestics comes off as a surprisingly novel approach to full-bore mayhem.

Where to watch it: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, VOD, etc.

Blue Fox Entertainment

27. The Night Eats the World Release date: July 13

Cast: Anders Danielsen Lie, Golshifteh Farahani, Denis Lavant

Director: Dominique Rocher

Why it's great: Have you ever played one of those games in which you awaken after a zombie apocalypse and have to find all the essential components to stay alive? That's what this low-key French import is like. Not huge waves of zombies coming up against machine gun fire; just one guy, trying to deal with the end of civilization, and doing everything he can to stay one step ahead of the damned freaks. It's a sparse, calm, and deliberate piece of zombie horror, but it's also rather unexpectedly fascinating.

Where to watch it: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, VOD, etc.

Dark Sky Films

26. Mohawk Release date: March 2

Cast: Kaniehtiio Horn, Ezra Buzzington, Eamon Farran

Director: Ted Geoghegan (We Are Still Here)

Why it's great: A brutal chase thriller told from a perspective we rarely see, this impressive indie is about a young Mohawk woman and her two lovers (one also a Native American, the other a British settler) who are being hunted by a ruthless pack of American army deserters. Smartly written and appreciably intense, Mohawk also benefits greatly from its three lead performances.

Where to watch it: Stream on Netflix; rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, etc.

Epic Pictures Group

25. The Lodgers Release date: February 23

Cast: Charlotte Vega, David Bradley, Bill Milner

Director: Brian O'Malley (Let Us Prey)

Why it's great: It should be noted that I am a sucker for virtually any scary movie that hails from the Emerald Isle, which partially explains why I had a good time with the gothic drama. Old-school and eerie, The Lodgers is about a pair of twins in 1920s Ireland who come to accept that their home is haunted. Things get a lot scarier when one of them starts pondering a new life elsewhere. Hardcore horror this is not, but if you're a fan of period pieces, haunted mansions, and things that go bump in the night, throw this one on your list. It's not quite as good as The Others (2001) but it's right in that wheelhouse.

Where to watch it: Stream on Netflix; rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, etc.

Uncork'd Entertainment

24. The Witch in the Window Release date: October 18

Cast: Alex Draper, Charlie Tracker, Arija Bareikis

Director: Andy Mitton (yellowbrickroad)

Why it's great: Proof that not every effective horror movie must be loaded with harsh violence or excessive nastiness, this classy Canadian import is about a dad and his estranged son who stumble across a witch's legend that may actually be true! If the goal was to create a cool, creepy, family-friendly horror story in the vein of 1987s The Lady in White, then mission accomplished.

Where to watch it: Shudder

Netflix

23. May the Devil Take You Release date: September 28

Director: Timo Tjahjanto (The Night Comes for Us)

Why it's great: Between this sprawling and super-gory love letter to The Evil Dead and the equally creepy Satan's Slaves, it's been a pretty strong year for Indonesian horror flicks! (And if you love action, check out The Night Comes for Us. Holy crap.) This one starts out as a "greedy relatives arguing about daddy's money" and quickly transforms into a collection of demonic possession insanity.

Where to watch it:Netflix

IFC Midnight

22. The Clovehitch Killer Release date: November 16

Cast: Charlie Plummer, Dylan McDermott, Samantha Mathis

Director: Duncan Skiles

Why it's great: Between Stranger Things, Summer of '84, IT, and the latter's highly anticipated sequel, we've seen a solid handful of dark adventures in which kids and teens are the ones left to confront something horrible. Here's another rock-solid indie chiller to throw on the list. It's about a kid who slowly becomes convinced that his father is an infamous serial killer who escaped justice years earlier. Strong performances and a smart screenplay keep this potentially familiar tale from ever becoming obvious or redundant.

Where to watch it: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, VOD, etc.

Dark Sky Films

21. Possum Release date: June 25

Cast: Sean Harris, Alun Armstrong, Simon Bubb

Director: Matthew Holness (Garth Marenghi's Darkplace)

Why it's great: Shades of David Lynch and David Cronenberg abound in this powerfully freaky indie horror flick from the UK. It's about a former puppeteer who returns home to a dank little town (and it's not pretty) as his past starts to unravel all around him. The two leads are stellar, there's a consistent sense of gloom throughout, and we get a handful of unexpected visual jolts that are highly creepy. Bonus points for the superlative musical score, which is frequently the secret weapon of many a clever indie filmmaker.

Where to watch it: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, VOD, etc.

Netflix

20. Before I Wake Release date: January 5

Cast: Kate Bosworth, Thomas Jane, Jacob Tremblay

Director: Mike Flanagan (Gerald's Game)

Why it's great: Though debated by genre purists, this one definitely qualifies as a horror flick in my book; it just happens to be a "soft" horror film with an actual heart that parents could probably watch with their kids. It's about a couple who adopts a kid whose dreams become physically real while he sleeps. If you're looking for shocks and kills you may want to skip this one for now, but it's actually a very impressive piece of work from a very consistent horror filmmaker.

Where to watch it: Stream on Netflix

Obscured Lens Productions

19. The Devil's Doorway Release date: July 13

Cast: Lalor Roddy, Ciaran Flynn, Helena Bereen

Director: Aislinn Clarke

Why it's great: If you like (or simply tolerate) found-footage horror films, odds are you'll appreciate this clever, creepy period piece from our friends in Ireland. It's about a pair of priests who travel to a distant "women's home" and discover all sorts of highly unpleasant things. If you don't like found-footage horror films, maybe give it a shot anyway.

Where to watch it: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, VOD, etc.

Netflix

18. Cam Release date: November 16

Cast: Madeline Brewer, Patch Darragh, Melora Walters

Director: Daniel Goldhaber

Why it's great: At first it feels like an exploitation thriller about a young "cam girl" sex worker being victimized by a stalker, but then it gradually turns into something quite a bit smarter than your basic B-movie fare. The script has a lot to say about the fear of being alone, the act of voyeurism, and the loss of identity, but it also works as a twisty mind-bender of a thriller -- thanks in large part to the stellar performance(s) by Madeline Brewer.

Where to watch it: Stream on Netflix

Fingerprint Releasing

17. Unsane Release date: March 23

Cast: Claire Foy, Joshua Leonard, Juno Temple

Director: Steven Soderbergh (Contagion)

Why it's great: The set-up alone is interesting: the impressively eclectic Steven Soderbergh tackles full-bore horror with a movie shot entirely with an iPhone camera. But is the movie any good? Heck yes. It's a noir-style paranoia thriller about a troubled woman who unwittingly signs herself up to be remanded to an asylum, and things get even twistier from there.

Where to watch it: Stream on Amazon Prime, rent on iTunes, Vudu, VOD, etc.

Well Go USA Entertainment

16. The Endless Release date: April 6

Cast: Justin Benson, Aaron Moorhead, Callie Hernandez

Director: Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead (Spring)

Why it's great: A pair of unhappy brothers decide to return to the creepy cult in which they were raised... and things do not go well. As they proved with their first two films, Benson and Moorhead are much more interested in cerebral horror than in jump scares and bloodbaths, but there are a ton of fascinating ideas to be found in this refined and highly intelligent chiller.

Where to watch it: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, VOD, etc.

Paramount Pictures

15. Overlord Release date: November 9

Cast: Jovan Adepo, Wyatt Russell, Mathilde Ollivier

Director: Julius Avery (Son of a Gun)

Why it's great: While it's true that many films based on video games turn out to be... let's say underwhelming, there is a solid handful of fun flicks that actually manage to evoke some of the most memorable games. Overlord, for example, feels like it could be called Castle Wolfenstein: The Movie. In other words: It's about a platoon of American soldiers who are dropped behind enemy lines and ordered to destroy an important communications tower. That's inside a horrific fortress. In which horrible experiments have taken place. And now there are monsters.

Where to watch it: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, VOD, etc.

IFC Films

14. Ghost Stories Release date: April 20

Cast: Andy Nyman, Martin Freeman, Paul Whitehouse

Director: Andy Nyman & Jeremy Dyson

Why it's great: There are lots of entertaining horror anthologies out there but very few manage to thread their stories through a larger framework like this resoundingly clever British import. Nyman and Dyson adapt their long-running stage play into a horror collection that's not only funny, surprising, and literate, but also pretty darn creepy. Nyman plays a professional skeptic tasked with debunking three spooky mysteries, and of course he's due for a very rude awakening.

Where to watch it: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, VOD, etc.

Orion Pictures

13. Anna and the Apocalypse Release date: November 30

Cast: Ella Hunt, Malcolm Cumming, Sarah Swire

Director: John McPhail (Where Do We Go From Here?)

Why it's great: Although clearly (partially) inspired by the success (and awesomeness) of Edgar Wright's Shaun of the Dead, this fantastic Scottish import based on a play has a lot more in its corner than just "comedy + zombies." It also has big, elaborate musical numbers! And this is not some sort of ironic swipe at zombie flicks or musicals. It's an adorably earnest, occasionally gruesome, frequently funny and entirely good time. Oh, and it's also a Christmas movie.

Where to watch it: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, VOD, etc.

Universal Pictures

12. Halloween Release date: October 19

Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, Andi Matichak

Director: David Gordon Green (Undertow)

Why it's great: We've been told to ignore all the previous sequels before walking into this latest chapter, and that's fine by me. Aside from the underappreciated Halloween 2 and the bizarrely awesome yet unrelated Part 3 (Season of the Witch), none of the other franchise entries are all that memorable. In many ways, this long-awaited follow-up sticks to the same formula as Halloweens 4 through 8, but this flick has the added bonus of Jamie Lee Curtis, front and center, anchoring not only a defense against the seemingly unstoppable Michael Myers, but also a surprisingly effective tale of three women coming to terms with some very old fears. Plus it's one of the most beautifully shot slasher movies you'll ever see, and that's not something I ever thought I'd say.

Where to watch it: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, VOD, etc.

IFC Midnight

11. What Keeps You Alive Release date: August 24

Cast: Hannah Emily Anderson, Brittany Allen, Martha MacIsaac

Director: Colin Minihan (Grave Encounters)

Why it's great: A happy young couple ventures into the woods to celebrate their anniversary, only to stumble across something truly terrifying, and... oh, you've seen this movie before? Every horror fan has. But I'm being intentionally vague for a reason. Suffice to say that this is a very intense, frequently surprising, and entirely satisfying series of cat-and-mouse chases in which the hunter sometimes becomes the hunted. (Note: This one would make an excellent double feature with Revenge, which we'll get to soon.)

Where to watch it: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, etc.

Blumhouse Pictures

10. Upgrade Release date: June 1

Cast: Logan Marshall-Green, Betty Gabriel, Simon Maiden

Director: Leigh Whannell (Insidious 3)

Why it's great: It's not easy to combine action, horror, and sci-fi into one nifty little 95-minute package that actually works in all three departments, but this movie gets it right. The story focuses on a guy who's been implanted with the fancy new "Stem" chip, a bio-computer that quickly attains a mind of its own. Genre fans will notice DNA from all sorts of fun movies in Upgrade, although it borrows mostly amusingly from Robocop, both in tone and in graphic violence.

Where to watch it: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, VOD, etc.

Paramount Pictures

9. A Quiet Place Release date: April 6

Cast: Emily Blunt, Jon Krasinski, Millicent Simmonds

Director: Jon Krasinski (The Hollars)

Why it's great: The world has been overrun by creatures who are completely blind, but have uncanny hearing and will kill anything they sense nearby. So how does a family with small children survive in a forcibly silent world? Find out in this unexpectedly excellent chiller that doesn't need a whole lot of dialogue to deliver tons of suspense, tension, and plain old scariness. See this one with a bunch of friends, and make sure they all stay completely quiet. It's part of the fun.

Where to watch it: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, VOD, etc.

Netflix

8. Bird Box Release date: December 21

Cast: Sandra Bullock, Trevante Rhodes, John Malkovich

Director: Susanne Bier (Open Hearts)

Why it's great: It's a creepy post-apocalyptic adventure story that balances a freaky back-story with a fascinating journey in which three blindfolded people paddle down a river. It all makes sense in the end, but along the way we get several great performances, a bunch of solid scares, and some challenging ideas.

Where to watch it:Netflix

Netflix

7. The Ritual Release date: February 9

Cast: Rafe Spall, Arsher Ali, Robert James-Collier

Director: David Bruckner (The Signal)

Why it's great: Four old friends travel into a foreboding forest and... I know, I know. You've heard this one before. So have I. Only this time it's interesting. Suffice to say that these guys stumble across a freaky shack, unwisely opt to sleep in said shack, and then find themselves hopelessly lost. Also there may or may not be a monster on their trail. This one doesn't reinvent any wheels, plot-wise, but it's a very well-shot, well-acted, and well-conceived piece of horror filmmaking.

Where to watch it: Netflix

Paramount Pictures

6. Annihilation Release date: February 23

Cast: Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson

Director: Alex Garland (Ex Machina)

Why it's great: A group of scientists travel beyond a mysterious field of "shimmer" that has appeared on Earth, only to discover all sorts of ominous things that don't make a whole lot of sense. Not at first, anyway. Most would place this fascinating film firmly in the sci-fi box, as would I, but it most certainly has some horror themes, moments, and influences throughout. And it's that scary stuff that makes it such a compelling sci-fi story.

Where to watch it: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, VOD, etc.



Netflix

5. Apostle Release date: October 12

Cast: Dan Stevens, Lucy Boynton, Michael Sheen

Director: Gareth Evans (The Raid)

Why it's great: In the vein of the classic chiller The Wicker Man (the original, not the remake) and the more recent (and very underrated) Black Death comes this tale of estranged siblings, isolated religious sects, and horrifying secrets that may extend well beyond issues of simple faith. It's also super creepy and sometimes extremely gory. Basically, it's about a damaged man who goes on an ill-fated hunt for his lost sister, but the less you know going in, the better. It's easily one of the most fascinating, disturbing, and oddly beautiful horror films of the year.

Where to watch it:Netflix

Amazon Studios

4. Suspiria Release date: October 26

Cast: Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton, Mia Goth

Director: Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name)

Why it's great: It takes a lot of bravery to remake what is arguably the finest horror film of Dario Argento's career -- and fans of the original film should be deeply grateful that a new rendition was handed to someone who clearly knows and loves the film. (Imagine a lazy 88-minute American version. Ugh.) What we have here is an epic (2 1/2-hour!) horror film that follows the quiet but very ominous activities of an elite Berlin dance school faculty, and the unfortunate young women who begin to suspect the truth about the school. Even given the original movie's place in the horror film hall of fame, there's something truly, wildly, indelibly ambitious about this beautifully scary film. And that score!

Where to watch it: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, VOD, etc.

RLJE Films

3. Mandy Release date: September 14

Cast: Nicolas Cage, Andrea Riseborough, Linus Roache

Director: Panos Cosmatos (Beyond the Black Rainbow)

Why it's great: There are countless movies out there about the cyclical nature of violence and revenge -- just this year alone we got a Death Wish remake and a virtual remake called Peppermint -- but it's safe to say you've never seen one quite like Mandy. Of course we get to see the always-intense Cage lose his mind more than once as he sets out to avenge the horrific misdeeds, but we also get a surprisingly touching love story, a whole lot of insane carnage, and a freaky visual sensibility that we've simply never seen before. Outside of certain 1970s rock music album covers, that is.

Where to watch it: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, VOD, etc.

Neon

2. Revenge Release date: May 11

Cast: Matilda Lutz, Kevin Janssens, Vincent Colombe

Director: Coralie Fargeat

Why it's great: Most horror fans have seen a few of those "rape/revenge" thrillers in their time, and it's safe to say that most of them are sleazy, slimy, and poorly constructed. There are, of course, a few exceptions to this rule, and this wildly ferocious French import is most assuredly one of them. Perhaps it's the welcome change in perspective (Revenge was written and directed by a woman), but this film has more intelligence, intensity, and energy than all four I Spit On Your Grave movies combined.

Where to watch it: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, VOD, etc.

Reid Chavis/A24

1. Hereditary Release date: June 8

Cast: Toni Collette, Gabriel Byrne, Milly Shapiro

Director: Ari Aster

Why it's great: You've probably heard the buzz on this out-of-nowhere indie by now, and while I never want to contribute to "overhype," the simple truth is that this is one of the iciest, creepiest supernatural thrillers in quite some time. It's about a family that discovers some distasteful things after their estranged matriarch passes away, and those old secrets quickly blossom into all-new horrors that you simply won't see coming. This is fantastic piece of horror, especially considering it comes from a first-time feature director.

Where to watch it: Rent on Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, VOD, etc.

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