The world of horror started 2022 off right with the latest entry ofScreambeing the first breakout hit of the year. The fifthScreamfilm, directed byTyler GillettandMatt Bettinelli-Olpin, has garnered a lot of acclaim from critics and fans alike, and earned a lucrative $50 million domestic gross so far. It was filled withwild moments that shocked fansand paid homage to the franchise’s legacy established by the legendaryWes Craven. Horror fans have already been treated with a great return for Ghostface, but he isn’t the only iconic slasher character headed to screens in 2022.
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Horror fans will see the return of more notable franchises and slashers than ever before as Blumhouse and directorDavid Gordon Greencap off theirHalloweentrilogy withHalloween Ends, and some big streaming services resurrect dormant franchises. Plus, there are plenty of fresh, original films and adaptations slated to create new stories that horror fans can obsess over.Screamwas just the start of 2022’s strong horror slate and there are plenty of familiar faces, both in front of and behind the camera, making a grand return.
‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’
Leatherface is revving up his chainsaw once more and slashing onto a new platform as Netflix’s newTexas Chainsaw Massacremovie, set as a sequel to the original, releases on February 18th.
This new entry is produced byDon’t BreathecreatorsFede AlvarezandRodo Sayaguesand sees the return of both Leatherface and Sally Hardesty, now played byMark BurnhamandOlwen Foure, respectively. Leatherface, dubbed Old Man Leatherface here, hasn’t been seen since the heavily maligned 2013 reboot, so fans are expecting some bloody kills and a strong return for one of the horror genre’s most notable killers.
Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin aren’t the onlyV/H/Salums dropping a big horror flick in 2022 as directorTi Westteams up with indie powerhouse A24 for his newest filmX.
Through its story of an adult film crew finding disturbing secrets about the old couple whose farmhouse their filming in,Xalready looks like it could be one of the best horror offerings of the year. The film’sTexas Chainsaw Massacreinspirations are clear, and its premise is super original and full of horrifying potential that’ll be unleashed into theaters on March 18th.
‘The Black Phone’
The duo behindSinisterandDoctor Strange, directorScott Derricksonand writerC. Robert Cargill, reunite with Blumhouse for their adaptation ofJoe Hill’s 2004 short storyThe Black Phone.
The film’s story of a young boy trying to escape a masked killer with the help of his past victims shows a great blend of coming-of-age storytelling and suspenseful horror. It’s visually reminiscent ofSinister’s eerie home video vibes and has already garnered immense praise from its premiere at Fantastic Fest, so it’s set to be a breakout summer horror hit when it hits theaters on June 24th.
The next horror film fromJordan Peele,Nope, is set to release on July 22nd and although not much is known about it, there’s a lot to be excited about.
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WithGet OutandUsbeing resounding hits, a new horror film from Peele, regardless of what it is, instantly makes it a major release — especially when the cast has the likes ofKeke Palmer,Daniel Kaluuya, andSteven Yeun. A trailer has to be just around the corner, but the cryptic teases have offered enough reasons to be excited about it.
‘Salem’s Lot’
After a brief absence, the modernera ofStephen Kingadaptationsreturns on September 9th withAnnabelle Comes HomedirectorGary Dauberman’s adaptation ofSalem’s Lot.
The film follows a writer returning to his hometown to find that it’s being taken over by vampires and starsLewis Pullman,Alfre Woodard,Pilou Asbaek, andBill Camp. A new King adaptation should always be on a horror fan’s watch list and given the talent involved,Salem’s Lotcould be a highly talked about adaptation.
‘Dark Harvest’
Salem’s Lotisn’t the only horror movie currently set to debut in September asBlack Mirror: Bandersnatchand30 Days of NightdirectorDavid Slade’s new film, an adaptation ofNorman Partridge’s 2006 novelDark Harvest, is slated to release around that time.
Based on the little we know aboutDark Harvest; it looks like it could be a grand return to horror for Slade with its small-town mystery centered on a supernatural specter named Sawtooth Jack potentially providing the horror genre with a memorable horror killer.
‘Halloween Ends’
Blumhouse and David Gordon Green’s modernHalloweentrilogy ends on October 14th withHalloween Endspossibly being the last bout betweenJamie Lee Curtis’ Laurie Strode and Michael Myers.
Halloween Killsleft things on a tense and devastatingly bloody note, so the stage is set for a brutal final fight between Laurie and Michael that’s sure to tear through Haddonfield once again. It’s easily the biggest horror release of 2022 and one that horror fans can’t wait to see.
TheEvil Deadfranchise has had one of the best modern resurgences in the horror genre with the success ofAsh vs. Evil Deadon the small screen, a new video game release on the horizon, and now, a new film fromThe Hole in the GrounddirectorLee Croninfor HBO Max.
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Evil Dead Risewill tell a new story in theEvil Deaduniverse, and while it was sad thatBruce Campbellconfirmed that beloved protagonist Ash won’t be involved with his retirement of the character, Campbell and franchise creatorSam Raimiserving as producers shows the potential forEvil Dead Riseto continue the franchise’s resurgence.
Hulu is set to release a new film in thePredatorseries from10 Cloverfield LanedirectorDan TrachtenbergtitledPreysometime in 2022.
At this point, not much is known about the film since its ties to Predator were originally supposed to be a secret, but it is said to be a prequel to every film in the series capturing a Predator’s first journey to Earth. The cat might be out of the bag onPreybeing aPredatormovie, but that doesn’t mean it still can’t have some surprises up its sleeve in the form of some R-rated action-horror fun for fans.
‘Hellraiser’
If you wanted anotherV/H/Salum to take on another beloved horror franchise in 2022, look no further thanDavid Bruckner’s upcoming reboot ofHellraiserset to release on Hulu this year.
Given his recent work withThe Night House, Bruckner could return the franchise to its psychologically haunting atmosphere and make it align more withClive Barker’s original vision. This entry will also be the first time an actress is portraying the central cenobite, Pinhead, who will be played byJamie Clayton, so fans should definitely watch out for the return of the cult classic horror franchise.
