2022 has already been an impressive year for horror movies, with Scream and Texas Chainsaw Massacre starting off the year. Luckily, there are still several interesting features to come.
Last year was also a great year for the horror genre. 2021 saw movies like M. Night Shyamalan’s Old, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, the Fear Street trilogy and the Candyman remake.
This year will also see a few remakes and sequels, like the long-awaited Hocus Pocus 2 and the remake of Stephen King’s ‘Salem’s Lot, which was originally released on screen in 1979, and is based on the book of the same name. There will also be another installment of the popular Evil Dead franchise, Evil Dead Rise.
There will be a lot of new, original material this year to get excited about. Like Olivia Wilde’s Don’t Worry Darling, which is a psychological thriller about 1950s suburbia, starring Harry Styles and Florence Pugh. Or David Slade’s Dark Harvest, which is based on the novel of the same name by Norman Partridge.
While several of these highly anticipated horror flicks are set to release during the fall - fittingly around Halloween - now is a great time to get excited for what’s to come and read about some of the most anticipated horror movies to hit the screens in 2022.
7 The Black Phone
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The Black Phone is about a 13-year-old boy (Mason Thames) who gets kidnapped by a sinister masked killer (Ethan Hawke), and is kept in a soundproof basement. There's a disconnected phone on the wall in the basement that starts to ring and connects the boy with the voices of the killer's previous victims, who want to help him escape.
The movie will be directed by Scott Derrickson (Doctor Strange) with co-writing from screenwriter and film critic C. Robert Cargill, and is based on a short story by Joe Hill; Stephen King's son. Jason Blum, of Blumhouse Productions (Paranormal Activity, Insidious) will be producing.
The Black Phone will have its theatrical release on June 24th, and just from the trailer alone, it looks like bona fide nightmare fuel.
6 Men
The horror/drama Men is about a young woman (Jessie Buckley) who ventures out into the English countryside for some self-care and personal time, when she discovers something, or someone, in the woods is stalking her. Alex Garland (Ex Machina) wrote and directed the movie, with A24 (Midsommar, Hereditary) aiding in production.
The trailer depicts a very creepy, unsettling plot that looks ripe with twists, turns, and depth that's recognizable with A24 productions. The theatrical release for Men is set for May 20.
5 Halloween Ends
Halloween Ends is the thirteenth and seemingly the last installment in the Halloween franchise, created by horror master John Carpenter. It follows the 2018 reboot Halloween and the 2021 sequel Halloween Kills, and will be directed by David Gordon Green, who was also responsible for the other two films in the reboot trilogy.
Halloween Ends will pick up where Halloween Kills left off and put Laurie (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Michael Myers against each other for a final showdown. Jason Blum is on board for production and the movie will feature writers who worked on the recent prequels, like Danny McBride.
Michael Myers has been terrorizing audiences since the debut of the original Halloween in 1978. Several sequels and reboots have been released over the years - some better than others. Viewers will have to wait until Halloween Ends' theatrical release on October 14 to see how - and if - the franchise comes to an end.
4 'Salem's Lot
'Salem's Lot is one of Stephen King's most notable classics. It was adapted on screen once before in 1979, and received rave reviews from critics, labeling it one of the best King adaptations. Later in 1987, the sequel, A Return to 'Salem's Lot debuted, but really didn't live up to the original.
The horror classic about Ben Mears (Lewis Pullman), a writer who returns to his childhood home of Jerusalem's Lot and finds it slowly overcome with vampires, is being remade and directed by Gary Dauberman (Annabelle, The Nun). Well-known horror director James Wan, (The Conjuring, Inisidious), is also coming on as a producer.
The theatrical release for 'Salem's Lot is set for September 9. There have yet to be any trailers or sneak peeks released for the movie, but Wan and Dauberman are aiming to keep the remake as close to the original book as possible.
3 NOPE
NOPE is the latest movie from acclaimed director Jordan Peele (Us, Get Out). It's about a couple of caretakers at a horse ranch in California that encounter some kind of strange presence that affects animal and human behaviors. Maybe it's aliens or some other strange supernatural force. It's unclear, and the trailer is just as ambiguous as the title itself. However, knowing what Peele is capable of from his past works puts NOPE at the top of the list for summer must-sees. NOPE also has a star-studded cast including Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out), Keke Palmer (Hustlers), Steven Yeun (The Walking Dead) and Barbie Ferreira (Euphoria).
The theatrical release is set for July 22.
2 Bodies, Bodies, Bodies
Bodies, Bodies, Bodies is another A24 scare hitting theaters this summer. It's about a group of wealthy, out-of touch teens who play a party game that turns deadly. It's not a novel plot, but something about the trailer makes the characters seem intriguing and comical, as they're portrayed by an interesting cast of actors. The movie stars Pete Davidson (The King of Staten Island), Rachel Sennott (Shiva Baby), Chase Sui Wonders (Genera+ion), Maria Bakalova (Borat Subsequent Moviefilm) and Amandla Stenberg (The Hate U Give).
The movie is directed by Dutch actress and director Halina Reijn, with a screenplay written by Kristen Roupenian, which A24 acquired the rights to in 2018. The movie is set to premiere in theaters on August 5.
1 Don't Worry Darling
The internet has been buzzing about Don't Worry Darling for a while now. Directed by - and also starring - Olivia Wilde (The Change-Up, In Time), Don't Worry Darling is one of the most anticipated thrillers of the year. The film follows Alice (Florence Pugh) a 1950s housewife who lives with her husband Jack (Harry Styles) in an experimental utopian society that isn't what it seems. The trailer is both incredibly detailed and vague at the same time. It spotlights some of the phenomenal acting, cinematography, and music to look forward to, yet it doesn't give much away as to what the movie is really about. This is what makes it so enticing.
The screenplay and story was written by Katie Silberman (Booksmart), Carey and Shane Van Dyke, with production from New Line Cinema and Vertigo Entertainment. Don't Worry Darling will premiere in theaters on September 23rd, and will be available for streaming on HBO Max shortly after.