2025 in Horror

If the past few years have proven anything, it’s that horror is and always will be the most exciting and inventive type of storytelling. Horror movies have always been respected and appreciated amongst those who love the genre, but it's fair to say that they have been underappreciated and dismissed as not being "serious movies" by the general public, and even by the film industry itself.

We finally seem to be moving in the right direction, as many of the most honored films in this year’s awards cycle have been horrors. For the first time, acting performances in horror movies are being recognized with nominations across multiple Oscar categories this year. Too little too late some might argue (it's criminal that the performances of both Toni Collete in Hereditary and Lupita Nyong'o in Us went unnoticed), but better late than never for horror actors to finally receive the recognition they’ve long deserved.

2025 was one of the most exciting years for horror in recent memory. Many of my personal favorites from the year fall within the genre, and I wanted to take the opportunity to talk about some of the ones that stood out and really pushed the boundaries of what horror can be.

Sinners

"Most nominated movie in Oscar history" has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Ryan Coogler's Sinners broke the record a few days ago, becoming the movie with the highest number of nominations in the history of the Oscars. A tall order in every sense of the way, and a monumental achievement for so many different reasons.

Firstly, it's a horror movie. A vampire horror movie more so, very different from the type of movies the Academy usually likes to nominate. Secondly, it's a movie with an almost exclusive black cast and made by a black director. If you know anything about the Oscars, it's that they don't have a good track record of nominating black art. Ryan Coogler himself received a nomination for Best Director, and in doing so became only the seventh black filmmaker to ever achieve that (no one has won it yet). A really depressing and absurd stat when you remember the Oscars have been going on for almost a hundred years.

Something I don't see discussed enough when people talk about Sinners is how it tackles about six different genres all in one, yet it manages to do justice to all of them. Yes, it's a horror, but it's also an amazing period drama as well as a great musical (seriously, the music in this movie is phenomenal). Without a doubt, it's one of the defining movies of this century and one that you can just tell will become a blueprint for the next generation of filmmakers. It broke through every barrier and defied every limitation, going beyond anything we ever imagined a horror movie could accomplish.

The best movie of 2025, no doubt about it.

"You keep dancing with the devil...one day he's gonna follow you home."

Weapons

Who remembers when the first Weapons trailer dropped? Or better yet, the very first teaser. It was absolutely bone-chilling. Most people would agree that one of the quickest ways to make a frightening premise even more terrifying is to involve children. And that’s exactly what Weapons is built around: an entire classroom of kids who vanish one night at 2:17 a.m. and are never seen again.

The buzz around this movie months before it even came out was wild. Everyone had a theory about what it was really going to be about, who the villain might be, and how Zach Cregger was going to pull off another surprise. Acclaimed horror director Jordan Peele famously tried to acquire the rights to Weapons but ultimately lost the bidding war. He was reportedly so frustrated by the outcome that he later parted ways with his management for failing to secure the deal. After watching Weapons, it’s easy to understand why. It's such a well-written, carefully crafted story, and the structure of it is one of the things that makes it feel so special and different. In its darkest moments, it’s genuinely terrifying.

It's also one of the funniest movies of last year.

Once again proving that horror doesn’t have to stick to a single tone, Cregger perfectly balances chilling, disturbing moments with just the right touch of humor and levity, keeping the tension high without ever feeling overwhelming. The best part of this movie is that it never takes itself too seriously. We simply don’t get many horrors like this, ones that are so delightfully ridiculous in the way they unfold. Weapons spends half its time making you jump out of your seat, and half its time making you laugh out loud. And what a fun ride it is.

The Long Walk

This is my personal favourite movie of last year, and one that has slowly but surely climbed its way into my list of favourite movies of all time. Conceptually, it's as close to a psychological horror as you can get, which should come as no surprise considering it's based on a Stephen King novel; the horror master himself. Although this movie has definitely gained a loyal fanbase since its release, I think it kind of flew under the radar with the general public and hasn’t gotten the attention it deserves.

The Long Walk is an ensemble movie, and the acting carries what is already a compelling premise. David Jonsson is a special actor who often steals the show in this movie, but every member of the cast delivers an incredible performance, no matter how big or small their role is. The filmmakers and cast deserve high praise for what they achieve with this story; it's rare to see such a beautiful portrayal of healthy masculinity and broterhood in a movie.

Haunting and incredibly sad, The Long Walk is also full of heart. Trust me, it will leave you completely devastated by the end. I watched it in theaters four times, and some scenes hit me so hard that I found myself sobbing each time.

"Just walk with me a little longer."

Final Destination: Bloodlines

This one was for the loyal Final Destination fans. We’ve been waiting for a new entry in the franchise since 2011, and let me tell you, it was absolutely worth the wait. Bloodlines doesn't just live up to its expectations; it easily outshines all six previous movies, and by a long shot.

Admitedly, I don't need too much from these movies in order to have a good time. Just give me the classic Final Destination formula and I'm happy: a premonition at the start, creative and over-the-top deaths, and some likable characters. Bloodlines doesn't just check all those boxes; it also delivers so much more. Unlike the earlier movies, this one isn’t afraid to bend the rules of its universe. It takes what worked before and cranks it up, turning a standard gory horror flick into a clever, twisted ride that’s ten times better than anything that came before. For the first time in the franchise, the main group is a family, not just friends or strangers thrown together, which I think was a great choice that adds so much emotion to the narrative.

Oh, and it has the best opening sequence in the franchise. The Sky View premonition will never be forgotten.

28 Years Later

2025 truly felt like the year of long-awaited sequels. Though not as long as the title might suggest, fans of the iconic zombie franchise had to wait eighteen years for this one to come out. And what a success it turned out to be. Personally, it’s my favorite in the franchise (though I should note I haven’t seen the latest release that came out just a couple of weeks ago).

This is the kind of movie that demands the big-screen experience. Every frame is stunning, the visuals practically pulse with energy. Not every stylistic choice will land for everyone, but each one feels deliberate, perfectly capturing the tone that has Danny Boyle written all over it.

On the surface, 28 years later is yet another zombie survival story, but at its core, it’s a family drama. The relationship between mother and son is heartbreaking and tender, giving the story real emotional depth. It’s a film that lingers with you, making you think: how do you go on living when death is all around you?

Probably the most polarising ending out of all movie releases from last year, this one will stick with you long after you leave the cinema.

"Memento amorous. Remember you must love."

Bring Her Back

This one is a tough watch. I’m not easily squeamish and have seen my fair share of gory, intense horror movies, but there are at least two moments in Bring Her Back that genuinely made me feel sick to my stomach. The Philippou Brothers, who made Talk To Me, are behind this film as well. If you’ve seen Talk To Me, imagine Bring Her Back as its grotesque, traumatising older sibling.

Beneath all its brutality and gruesomeness, the movie is ultimately a heartbreaking story about what the loss of a child really does to a grieving mother. Sally Hawkins delivers an incredible performance, making you genuinely fear her character’s actions while also fully understanding how her grief shapes every decision she makes. Depraved in the best possible ways, Bring Her Back will both haunt and horrify you, and, at times, bring you to tears.

Dangerous Animals

I don't know a single person apart from me who has seen this movie. I came across it by chance, decided to give it a watch, and it turned out to be one of last year’s biggest surprises.

Not only is this a snappy little horror, it's a shark survival horror. For me, that's the quickest way to convince me to put on a movie: let me know there's sharks in it. There is something about a shark movie that just does it for me every single time. But a lot of them are not that good (with the obvious exceptions such as Jaws, Deep Blue Sea, The Shallows). Dangerous Animals is definitely in my top five favourite shark movies.

The best part about this movie is that the sharks aren’t the real villains, they’re just the tool the true antagonist uses to commit his crimes. Jai Courtney shines as the main villain; he clearly enjoys every moment of the role, and whenever he’s on screen, it’s impossible to take your eyes off him. This movie just rules. It's funny, suspensful, scary.

These are just a few of my personal favorites and not even close to all the great horror movies from last year. There' still a long way to go until horror movies will be truly embraced and appreciated, but something in the air feels different. It's as if we turned a new page.

I’ll leave you with my favorite quote from John Carpenter on horror movies:

"Horror is a reaction; it's not a genre."