Best Horror Movies of 2025

Happy belated horrordays darklings! Looking to put some extra chill in your Netflix? Or laugh yourself stupid at others' deliciously twisted misfortune? I've got you. Now, don't @ me because I didn't see every new horror movie released this year, but here are my picks for the Best Horror Movies of 2025, plus a few standouts in other genres, and just a wee bit of disappointed bitching.

10) The Parenting (Craig Johnson)

This queer meet the parents getaway from Hell is perfect horror-lite. A top cast including Parker Posey keeps a not so original plot from feeling stale. End result? The best kind of horror comedy fluff.

https://youtu.be/fn-hc0yf3MY?si=IHPh-2oztWjDiGYY

9) Opus (Mark Anthony Green)

What's that? The insanely successful vintage pop musician (John Malkovich) who's invited you to his desert compound full of groupies and sycophants might have plans afoot more nefarious than Spotify? This cult chiller with echoes of The Menu deserves a spot on your playlist.

https://youtu.be/hW37xn62twQ?si=d5Z7DFF_CT4wku9p

8) Heart Eyes (Josh Ruben)

Your new favourite Valentine's horror tradition? An old-school slasher with killer visuals, some fun characters, a queer sensibility and some playful twists to keep it fresh.

https://youtu.be/1cRzZcMlJh8?si=fzk2RjV4chaB6eCQ

7) Companion (Drew Hancock)

See description for Heart Eyes... only even better. Great performances from the four main leads land every absurd moment, leaving a trail of cringe-worthy--but funny--violence in their wake.

https://youtu.be/Qr_kX0D3DNA?si=W2Nf9Q_-3QrPF3pT

6) Frankenstein (Guillermo del Toro)

There's just no keeping the big guy down, as the patron father of modern cinema monsters brings his passion project, the father of all literary monsters, to the screen. Don't get stuck on deviations from the book here. This is a pure, honest love letter to Shelley's tale, James Whale's landmark adaptations, and the countless acolytes it's inspired alongside del Toro. (Also, its criminally short run in theatres to be rushed onto streaming is a good example of why we don't want Netflix in control of a certain major studio.)

https://youtu.be/x--N03NO130?si=2wA04c3j9gVrz6PD

5) Final Destination: Bloodlines (Zach Lipovsky, Adam Stein)

The beloved 00s franchise returns for new blood and holy f---balls, that opening scene. It's the best kind of legacy sequel, easy to go in cold, while satisfying long-time fans with strong characters, memorable kills, and all the ingredients that remind us why nobody drives behind a logging truck any more. Also, Tony Todd's final performance. RIP Candyman.

https://youtu.be/KnWzz0n60pE?si=vsfREzJ-vEr8mlyI

4) Dust Bunny (Bryan Fuller)

Is there a monster under your bed? The genre-mashing, dark fantasy sleeper delight sadly disappeared from theatres faster than people could talk about it. Cult classic incoming! Great performances, gorgeous to look at, and charming from start to finish. Put your phone AWAY while watching.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=w0TCFdkIFW4

3) Weapons (Zach Cregger)

A smart puzzle of classic horror that leaves a little mystery without shying away from camp or humour, Weapons is also genuinely horrifying in parts, partly because it's effectively told from both an adult and child's points of view. Also, Amy Madigan... not much else I can add here.

https://youtu.be/OpThntO9ixc?si=d2tCm-i28bmto9NW

2) The Monkey (Osgood Perkins)

Perkins' adaptation of the Stephen King story leaves us wondering why he's not doing more horror comedy. Sure, he grazed that world with Nicholas Cage's bonkers performance in Longlegs, but here, it's deliberate and consistent. It pays off with wildly entertaining kills, a bunch of easter eggs that reward re-watchers, and a terrific pair of performances from Theo James.

https://youtu.be/p2uBZ3AaZAM?si=OxKFX1OTzqj2Cb-a

1) Sinners (Ryan Coogler)

Forget the hype. For a movie that spends half its running time in one genre before essentially throwing 'and then the vampires showed up' at us, Sinners swings big, and holy hell. A From Dusk Till Dawn for the mainstream with A-grade ambition, it's more collage than movie at times, in the best way. The anachronistic magical realist moments are delicious, the horror is earned, and the cast, packed with memorable and sympathetic supporting characters is stacked, led by Michael B. Jordan in another dual role.

https://youtu.be/bKGxHflevuk?si=WnmauHmChhBzM_Ar

Two notable omissions I haven't yet seen, I hear nothing but good things about The Long Walk, while Together changes the definition of 'close-knit relationship.' I can't speak for either of these films unseen, but I know a lot of horror fans got right into these, particularly The Long Walk, so they warrant a mention.

Biggest horror letdowns of the year? 28 Years Later was a minor disappointment for me. I own this had more to do with my own expectations, but it felt more like the lead-up to a great return of that world rather than a compelling movie on its own. That said, I'll definitely be checking out Bone Temple, which looks to be doubling down on the best parts of the film. By far the biggest letdown though was Leigh Whannel's The Wolf Man. It feels like every time we get a flash of hope for the Universal monsters, particularly one as amazing as Whannel's own revival of The Invisible Man, some misguided misfire puts a silver bullet into it, and one such bullet was this Wolf Man, which, when you could see it (Seriously, lighting guy, where were you?) was a laboured, clunking mess that made 2010's attempt look pretty good and even makes the disastrous Tom Cruise Mummy remake look forgivable in hindsight.

And of course, it's not all about the horror. Standout movie experiences for me outside the genre were Rental Family starring Brendan Fraser, set in Japan's unique industry of loved ones for hire. Viewed as a fabulously underappreciated feelgood movie or as an ad for tourism Tokyo, it'll give you all the feels. I also finally got to see the cult Stephen Sondheim musical Merrily We Roll Along, albeit in the wonderful filmed version starring Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff and Lindsay Mendez. Seeing it in a sold-out theatre hearing songs I'd heard out of context many times and being drawn into this brilliantly crafted reverse plot was just *chef's kiss*.

Also, speaking of chef's kiss, The Bear continues to feed me in all the best ways.

Sadly, I have to cut this piece somewhere, though there's probably another dozen movies, shows etc I could shout out, and I haven't even touched on books. Instead, I'll sign out here, wishing you all a fantabulous 2026 full of fun and original stories that warm, terrify, tickle, confound, and inspire you, darklings.

Happy New Queer!