HORROR FILMS WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2022

SCREAM

January 14th Director: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett

Twenty-five years after the original series of murders in Woodsboro, a new killer emerges, and Sidney Prescott must return to uncover the truth.

Ghostface returns! It's been ten years since the release of Scream 4, a film that was not particularly well received at the time but which has since gone on to be viewed in a more positive light. This time round we sadly don't have Wes Craven at the helm but it will be interesting to see in what direction Ready or Not directors Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett take the slasher franchise. The trailers indicate we might get a bit more horror and a bit less comedy, which would be cool. Courtney Cox, Neve Campbell and David Arquette all reprise their roles.

MORBIUS

January 28th Director: Daniel Espinosa

Biochemist Michael Morbius tries to cure himself of a rare blood disease, but he inadvertently infects himself with a form of vampirism instead.

Ok so this may be more in the realms of comic book action as it's technically the third film in Sony's Spider-Man Universe. However any film that's about a vampire trying to cure himself of a rare blood disease is stumbling dangerously close to horror territory so we've included it. The success of Venom proved that darker Marvel material was potentially extremely profitable and so Morbius was finally given the green light. Oscar winner Jared Leto will be playing enigmatic anti-hero Eric Morbius and has promised to bring the same intensity he showed in Suicide Squad. Is that a good thing? Who knows...

ORPHAN: FIRST KILL

January 28th Director: William Brent Bell

A prequel to the 2009 movie Orphan.

2009's Orphan is something of a horror gem. Jaume Collet-Serra's creepy horror-thriller doesn't quite get the love that it deserves in our opinion. The film was nicely wrapped up by the end so another Orphan movie seemed unlikely. However, here we are and with Isabelle Fuhrman reprising her role from the original, it's going to be intriguing to see what kind of backstory they develop for her character in this prequel. If it's half as good as it's predecessor, it'll be worth a watch.

TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE

February 28th Director: David Blue Garcia

After nearly 50 years of hiding, Leatherface returns to terrorize a group of idealistic young friends who accidentally disrupt his carefully shielded world in a remote Texas town.

Let's be honest, since Tobe Hooper's original in 74, the Chainsaw franchise has been a bit of a bumpy ride with both recent iterations (Leatherface and Texas Chainsaw) failing to hit the mark. But like Ghostface, Leatherface is too iconic to lay dormant for too long and we're desperate for there to be a movie that does justice to one of the genre's greatest villains. Fede Alvarez and Rodo Sayagues, the creative team behind the 2013 Evil Dead reboot have written the script so there's at least a chance that it won't be a total flop.

JURASSIC WORLD: DOMINION

June 10th Director: Colin Trevorrow

A sequel to Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Yes, yes, we know that the Jurassic Park movies aren't strictly genre but they invariably involve people being gobbled up by big reptilian creatures so it's in the list, ok?! The last entry in the Jurassic franchise (Fallen Kingdom) was actually as close as we've come to a horror version of these films and even though Trevorrow's return probably marks a return to a slightly lighter tone, there's still going to be enough here to please those looking for some dino action. Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard return but it's the inclusion of Goldblum, Dern and Neill that's got us especially excited.

THE BLACK PHONE

June 28th Director: Scott Derrickson

After being abducted by a child killer and locked in a soundproof basement, a 13-year-old boy starts receiving calls on a disconnected phone from the killer's previous victims.

The last time Director Scott Derrickson, writer C. Robert Cargill and Ethan Hawke all got together we ended up with Sinister, so forgive us if this is right up there for films we can't wait to see this year. It's based on a novel by Joe Hill (Stephen King's son) so there's that for added interest too. The early reviews from film festivals have been really positive as well so consider our appetites well and truly whetted.

NOPE

July 22nd Director: Jordan Peele

TBC

Very little is known about Jordan Peele's newest horror feature although we do know that both Steven Yeun and Daniel Kaluuya have both signed up, so that's good news. Us and Get Out are hard acts to follow but we're hopeful Peele can pull off a masterstroke once again.

SALEM'S LOT

September 9th Director: Gary Dauberman

A writer travels to a town where the people become vampires

The latest Stephen King feature to get a remake is Gary Dauberman's take on his vampire horror, Salem's Lot. Dauberman's last (and first) directorial gig was the impressive Annabelle Comes Home so fingers crossed his sophomore effort is another hit.

HALLOWEEN ENDS

October 14th Director: David Gordon Green

The saga of Michael Myers and Laurie Strode comes to a spine-chilling climax in this final installment of the franchise

It's fair to say that Halloween Kills (2021) was a mixed bag and was considered a dip in form after the solid Halloween (2018). David Gordon Green has a chance to redeem himself though and if Ends ends in a satisfying way, then all will be forgiven. The chaos of Kills still feels a bit too raw at this point so we're less confident that we'll all get the conclusion to the Laurie Strode saga that we all want. Hey, they'll probably have another bite at the cherry when the film is inevitably rebooted again in 5-10 years time...

EVIL DEAD RISE

October 21st Director: Lee Cronin

A twisted tale of two estranged sisters whose reunion is cut short by the rise of flesh-possessing demons, thrusting them into a primal battle for survival as they face the most nightmarish version of family imaginable.

Another of the big franchises that's getting a new addition is Evil Dead. Since Fede Alvarez's brutal 2013 reboot we have had a TV series (Ash vs the Evil Dead) but no further films - which is surprising considering how well the 2013 movie did. Turns out that there were plans for a direct sequel but these were scrapped and Evil Dead Rise is what has replaced it. Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell are acting as producers and with Lee Cronin (The Hole in the Ground) directing, it looks like it could be a really interesting new chapter in the Necromonicon series...

JEEPERS CREEPERS: REBORN

TBC Director: Timo Vuorensola

Forced to travel with her boyfriend, Laine, she begins to experience premonitions associated with the urban myth of The Creeper. Laine believes that something supernatural has been summoned - and that she is at the centre of it all.

The original Jeepers Creepers is one of the best monster movies since the turn of the century. There we said it! Sadly, the sequels have been a case of diminishing returns, with the latest entry being something of a dud. However, there's still life in the creeper yet and Finnish Director Timo Vuorensola (Iron Sky) will hopefully be breathing fresh life into a stale series. Sure, the plot sounds rather pedestrian and familiar but as long as we see the creeper wreaking havoc, we'll be happy