2014 was a great year for horror in quantity AND quality (read about my top 10 and other 2014 horror releases
HERE), so I am eagerly looking forward to see what 2015 brings us! The majority of films I'm looking forward to in 2015 seem to be original stories from both newcomers to the genre and true horror maestros, but there is LOTS to choose from in 2015! The slate is already brimming with juicy horror releases, from indies to foreign films to major studio releases!
To give a clearer picture of the horror landscape of 2015, I've not only listed my most anticipated horror films, but also 2015 releases I'm a bit lukewarm on (I'm cautiously interested, just still iffy on them), and 2015 movies I have
no interest in seeing. There are
a lot of horror films listed, which is exciting to see at such an early point in the year!
Before we get started, a quick word about release dates - you'll notice a few films included may have had festival releases or releases in other countries in 2014, but I've decided to include them in my 2015 list as they haven't had wide U.S. releases (neither theatrically nor on VOD/DVD). If you've already seen them in 2014, kudos to you, but many people (including myself) have not been able to, hence their inclusion on this 2015 list. Also, release dates are slippery buggers - they are accurate to the best of my knowledge as of when this was posted, but release dates tend to get moved up or pushed back, so consider this a disclaimer that they may not be 100% accurate.
It's still early in 2015, so the lists below will change, especially considering how often release dates are moved. I'm sure there are also films that will drop off my lists after I see more info/trailers from them, or others that will move up the lists the more I learn about them. For now, though, I have quite a varied selection of horror films to look forward to this year, which makes me very happy!
My Most Anticipated Horror Films of 2015 (ordered by release date):
Suburban Gothic (U.S. release date 30 January 2015) -
"Raymond has a prestigious MBA, but he can't find work. He can channel the paranormal, but chatting with a cute girl mystifies him. Kicked out of his big city apartment, Raymond returns home to his overbearing mother, ex-jock father, and beer-bellied classmates. But when a vengeful ghost terrorizes the small town, the city-boy recruits Becca, a badass local bartender, to solve the mystery of the spirit threatening everyone's lives."This horror comedy looks quirky and weird with an engaging story. Plus how can I resist cutie Matthew Gray Gubler, a gothy Kat Dennings, Ray Wise, and a cameo from John Waters?! Count me in! You can check out the trailer
here!
What We Do in the Shadows (U.S. release date 13 February 2015) -
"A house of vampires quarrel over dirty dishes, discuss fashion, and go to parties. When they turn Nick into a vampire, the entire house teams up to show him the perks of that world."This horror comedy staged as a documentary looks delightfully fun and the reviews so far have been overwhelmingly positive! I'm hoping it's a fun riff on vampires. Check out
the trailer!
Digging Up the Marrow (U.S. release date 20 February 2015) -
"A documentary exploring genre based monster art takes an odd turn when the filmmakers are contacted by a man who claims he can prove that monsters are indeed real." This is Adam Green's new film where he partnered with legendary artist Alex Pardee to design the monsters! I love Pardee's surreal work, so I can't wait to see the monsters they created! The film stars Green as himself, along with Ray Wise as the man that contacts Green with proof that monsters are real. I love the concept, and I'm really excited about the creative collaboration that when into this! The poster above says a release of 2014, but it only hit festivals then, so 2015 will be the official release, first on VOD in February, then on Blu-ray/DVD in March. Can't wait!
It Follows (U.S. release date 27 March 2015) -
"Following a seemingly innocent sexual encounter, a teenager (Maika Monroe) has disturbing visions and the inescapable feeling that someone -- or something -- is watching her."This is probably 2015's
Babadook - highly hyped and highly anticipated. I'm afraid to get my hopes up too high, but the atmospheric
trailer is unsettling and makes me excited to see it!
Insidious Chapter 3 (U.S. release date 05 June 2015) -
"This chilling prequel, set before the haunting of the Lambert family, reveals how gifted psychic Elise Rainier reluctantly agrees to use her ability to contact the dead in order to help a teenage girl who has been targeted by a dangerous supernatural entity."I really liked the first two, so how can I not be excited about the third? It looks like it has some surreal, nightmarish images and eerie atmosphere just like the first two! Check out
the trailer!
Goosebumps (U.S. release date 07 Aug 2015) -
"Goosebumps is an upcoming American adventure horror comedy film directed by Rob Letterman and written by Mike White and Darren Lemke. It is based on the children's book series of the same name by R. L. Stine."While this may get pushed back to 2016, I'm hoping for a 2015 release of the film based around the much-loved
Goosebumps books! While it's not adult horror and will be aimed towards kids, the monster kid in me really wants to love this!
Regression (U.S. release date 28 August 2015) -
"A young girl is sexually abused by her father. Thus, begins the disturbing tale of a father and daughter torn apart, thrown into the center of a conspiracy that shocks the nation." Emma Watson and Ethan Hawk?! That's all I need, I'm in. I also hear there is a Satanic cult element to the film AND that the director is none other than Alejandro Amenábar, who helmed the excellent
The Others, all of which makes me all the more interested in this film.
Crimson Peak (U.S. release date 16 October 2015) -
"In the aftermath of a family tragedy, an aspiring author is torn between love for her childhood friend and the temptation of a mysterious outsider. Trying to escape the ghosts of her past, she is swept away to a house that breathes, bleeds...and remembers."I don't know how anyone could NOT be looking forward to this gothic horror film from Guillermo del Toro! Early visuals from the film ooze gothic elegance and a sense of quiet dread. Behind
It Follows, this is my 2nd most anticipated film of 2015.
Tales of Halloween (U.S. release date 30 October 2015) -
"Ten stories are woven together by their shared theme of Halloween night in an American suburb, where ghouls, imps, aliens and axe murderers appear for one night only to terrorize unsuspecting residents." I have been following the production of this anthology on
Facebook, and I am in awe of all the talent that came together to make this film happen! Not only the talent, but talent that has a deep devotion to the Halloween holiday! It is directed by Darren Lynn Bousman, Axelle Carolyn, Adam Gierasch, Andrew Kasch, John Skipp, Neil Marshall, Lucky McKee, Mike Mendez, David Parker, Ryan Schifrin, and Paul Solet! This will be this year's must-see Halloween film!
Krampus (U.S. release date 04 December 2015) -
"A demon seeks out naughty people to punish them at Christmas time."FINALLY horror fans get a U.S. film about Krampus, St. Nick's sidekick who doles out punishments to naughty boys and girls. Bonus: It is being directed by Michael Dougherty, who directed everyone's favorite modern Halloween film,
Trick 'r Treat!
Cooties (U.S. release date TBD) -
"A mysterious virus hits an isolated elementary school, transforming the kids into a feral swarm of mass savages. An unlikely hero must lead a motley band of teachers in the fight of their lives."This film, starring Elijah Wood and Rainn Wilson, was supposed to be released in 2014, but last I heard was undergoing re-shoots for the ending. Should be coming out sometime in 2015. Kids are my ultimate nightmare/fear, so this should scare the hell out of me! And it sounds like a lotta fun, too!
XX (U.S. release date TBD) -
"An anthology of female-driven horror-movie segments."With horror talent like Mary Harron, Karyn Kusama, Jennifer Chambers Lynch, Jovanka Vuckovic, Sofia Carrillo, and Jen and Sylvia Soska at the helm, I am ecstatic for
XX's release and have been waiting for it for quite some time. I'm really keeping my fingers crossed that I get to finally see it in 2015!
Green Room (U.S. release date TBD) -
"A young punk rock band find themselves trapped in a secluded venue after stumbling upon a horrific act of violence."Really not much info on this one as of yet, but it sounds a bit more like a dark, intense crime thriller rather than a horror movie, focusing on a neo-Nazi gang (led by Patrick Stewart!) who perpetuate the violence that the punk band witnesses. It also stars Anton Yelchin and Imogen Poots and is the follow up to Jeremy Saulnier's superb
Blue Ruin film, so I'm expecting great things!
Spring (U.S. release date TBD) - "A young man in a personal tailspin flees the US to Italy, where he sparks up a romance with a woman harboring a dark, primordial secret." This film played a few film festivals in 2014 but is still awaiting a wider release. It's from the duo of Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, who brought us the thrilling and trippy Resolution a few years ago, so I am very excited to see more of their work!
Phantasm: Ravager (U.S. release date TBD) -
"The final installment of the long running Phantasm series."The Tall Man himself, Angus Scrimm, returns alongside Reggie Bannister, but besides some
little bits of footage released, not much is know about this final entry in the series. Still, I'm pretty stoked about this one.
The Green Inferno (U.S. release date TBD) -
"A group of student activists travel from New York City to the Amazon to save the rainforest. However, once they arrive in this vast green landscape, they soon discover that they are not alone - and that no good deed goes unpunished." This Eli Roth film has been shelved repeatedly, and now it is unsure if it will ever see the light of day. Nevertheless, I hope the distributors get their act together and release this cannibal movie in 2015. Despite the fact that it pretty much sounds like a remake of
Cannibal Holocaust or
Cannibal Ferox, I am still be interested to see what Roth did with the cannibal sub-genre.
Cub (U.S. release date TBD) -
"Over-imaginative 12 year-old Sam heads off to the woods to summer scout camp with his pack convinced he will encounter a monster...and he does."This Belgian film played a few festivals in 2014, but has yet to see a wider release. It looks pretty visceral, dark, and brutal. Check
the trailer.
The Editor (U.S. release date TBD) -
"A giallo-inspired film about a film editor that gets embroiled in a string of murders."You had me at giallo! I'm a sucker for anything giallo-inspired, and this homage/spoof has received good word-of-mouth from a few film festival showings. I can't wait to see how the film pokes fun at giallos (the music! the camera POVs! the editing!) and recreates gory set-pieces. Watch the (NSFW)
trailer!
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (U.S. release date TBD) -
"In the Iranian ghost-town Bad City, a place that reeks of death and loneliness, the townspeople are unaware they are being stalked by a lonesome vampire."I keep hearing so many good things about this film from Ana Lily Amirpour and
the trailer makes it look like a beautiful and intelligent vampire film, so I can't wait to see it once it's released wider here.
Goodnight Mommy (U.S. release date TBD) -
"In the heat of the summer. A lonesome house in the countryside between woods and corn fields. Nine-year-old twin brothers are waiting for their mother. When she comes home, bandaged after cosmetic surgery, nothing is like before. The children start to doubt that this woman is actually their mother. It emerges an existential struggle for identity and fundamental trust."This looks like it could be chilling and tense. A lot of people who saw the film in festivals in 2014 called it one of the year's best, so I have high hopes for this one!
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Other 2015 Horror Releases That Might Be Good (but I'm Still Iffy On):
Dark Summer (U.S. release date 09 January 2015) -
"A 17-year-old is on house arrest for the summer while his mother is away on business. A horrifying incident occurs leaving an ominous presence in the house." This is director Paul Solet's first feature after his stunning
Grace. As a fan of his work, I'm interested to check this one out, but
the trailer makes it look a bit generic. Still, I'm hoping Solet lends some depth to this seemingly simple story.
Wyrmwood (U.S. release date 13 February 2015) -
"A survivor of a zombie plague prepares to slash his way through a horde of sinister soldiers and ravenous monsters to rescue his kidnapped sister." This Aussie flick has been called "
Mad Max meets
Dawn of the Dead", which sounds like a killer time! It looks a little goofy and more on the action side (
watch the trailer), but I'm hoping the horror elements and slight twist on the zombie sub-genre make it worth my while.
WolfCop (U.S. release date 17 February 2015) -
"As a series of strange and violent events start happening, an alcoholic policeman realizes that he has been turned into a werewolf as part of a larger plan, so he investigates with the help of his partner and his friend."Again, this looks like madcap fun, I just hope it's not one silly werewolf gag after the another. Check out
the trailer.
The Lazarus Effect (U.S. release date 27 February 2015) -
"When a team of research students mapping the human brain accidentally kills one of their own, they unwittingly unlock a deadly force by reanimating their colleague. Fighting for their own lives, the team must contain their colleague in the lab before she is unleashed on the world." I like the concept of this one, whose storyline seems somewhat similar to
Flatliners at first glance, but I was underwhelmed when I saw
the trailer. I'm hoping it delivers something fresh and exciting rather than the same old concept of people coming back from the dead evil.
Muck (U.S. release date 13 March 2015) -
"After narrowly escaping an ancient burial ground, a group of friends find themselves trapped between two evils, forcing them to fight, die, or go back the way they came."From
the trailer this looks like your typical brainless, backwoods slasher story, but I get the sense it's got some extra oomph to its story besides the standard slasher cliches (at least, hopefully). Plus, since it is set on St. Patrick's Day it will give us a St. Paddy's Day horror movie option that's not one of the
Leprechaun films.
Unfriended (U.S. release date 17 April 2015) -
"One year after her suicide, the vengeful spirit of a bullied teen uses online trickery to kill her tormentors." I'm hoping this isn't just another dumb uninspired teen scream film, but that it actually has something intelligent to say about how the ever-present internet has connected us in unexpected ways and how our social lives are affected by what happens or what shows up about us online.
The trailer actually makes me want to see more, so I hope this film actually delivers.
The Kitchen Sink (U.S. release date 04 September 2015) - "Vampires, humans and zombies used to get along in Dillford, but then something unexpected arrived and now it's humans vs. vampires vs. zombies in all-out mortal combat. It's up to three teenagers to try to get things back to 'normal.'" I love the idea of a world where monsters and humans get along (at least until something evil comes along and upsets the balance), so I'm hoping this will be a fun film without devolving into brainless, messy muck.
The Disappointments Room (U.S. release date 25 September 2015) - "A mother and her young son release unimaginable horrors from the attic of their rural dream home." Details are pretty vague about this film, but I'm a sucker for haunted house movies, so I am hoping it is done right! Kate Beckinsale is starring, which is kinda meh for me to be honest, BUT the film was written by Wentworth Miller, who scripted the brilliant Stoker, a film I loved, so I'm hoping this one pans out.
Victor Frankenstein (U.S. release date 02 October 2015) - So, this is a Frankenstein movie starring Daniel Radcliff told from Igor's point of view. That's pretty much all we know at this point, so while I'm hoping for a sweeping gothic story, I'm not exactly sure how this one will turn out, so let's say I'm cautiously optimistic for this one.
Scouts vs Zombies (U.S. release date 30 October 2015) - "Three scouts, on the eve of their last camp-out, discover the true meaning of friendship when they attempt to save their town from a zombie outbreak."This one sounds like it could be a lot of fun, or it could be another monotonous zombie movie.
The Final Girls (U.S. release date TBD) - "A young woman grieving the loss of her mother, a famous scream queen from the 1980s, finds herself pulled into the world of her mom's most famous movie. Reunited, the women must fight off the film's maniacal killer." The film pretty much grabbed me with its title - who doesn't love the final girl in horror films? Plus, it has an intriguing premise that includes time travel and a strong female cast (Taissa Farmiga of American Horror Story and Nina Dobrev of The Vampire Diaries, to name a few), so I am hoping it really does pay homage to final girls!
31 (U.S. release date TBD) - "Five people are kidnapped on the days leading up to Halloween and held hostage in a place called Murder World. While trapped, they must play a violent game called 31 where the mission is to survive 12 hours against a gang of evil clowns." Don't get me wrong, I love me some Rob Zombie and even some of his horror films, but killer clowns don't do a thing for me (unless they are from outer space), so this project doesn't excite me much EXCEPT for the set and costume design, which looks like it will be cool. I'm really Zombie pulls through and gives us a good horror film.
Alléluia (U.S. release date TBD) - "Michel is a serial womaniser and professional hustler. When he meets Gloria, she falls in love with him just like the others. But this time, things will be different. Gloria finds her reason to live in Michel. When Gloria discovers Michel's hustling she becomes his accomplice rather than risk losing him. Together they embark on a wild odyssey that becomes deadly and murderous." I'm interested in this one since it is Belgian filmmaker Fabrice Du Welz's follow up to the twisted Calvaire and part two of his Ardennes trilogy, based around the isolated Belgian countryside where Du Welz grew up. It will be the director's take on the infamous Honeymoon Killers that murdered scores of young women in the 1940s. I just hope it focuses on horror and isn't just a drama film.
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2015 Movies I'm NOT Interested in Seeing (ordered by release date):
The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death (U.S. release date 02 January 2015) - "40 years after the first haunting at Eel Marsh House, a group of children evacuated from WWII London arrive, awakening the house's darkest inhabitant." This films already been out and I've only heard bad things about it, but even before bad word-of-mouth I had no interest in seeing it. It just looked like a quick cash-grab to capitalize on the previous film, lacking substance and scares. Also, could they have picked a more generic title with "Angel of Death"? Yeesh.
Paranormal Activity: Ghost Dimension (U.S. release date 13 March 2015) - Don't get me wrong, I actually LIKE the Paranormal Activity films (despite all the haters out there). I even enjoyed the latest one, The Marked Ones, in 2014. However, this sixth one in the series just sounds cheesy. "Ghost Dimension"? I mean, c'mon! I know I shouldn't judge a book by its cover, or a film by its name, but this title is so silly it is off-putting. Plus, not much is known about the plot for this one, despite the release being a mere two months away. Hopefully it is better than the title suggests.
Poltergeist remake (U.S. release date 24 July 2015) - "Legendary filmmaker Sam Raimi and director Gil Kenan reimagine and contemporize the classic tale about a family whose suburban home is invaded by angry spirits. When the terrifying apparitions escalate their attacks and take the youngest daughter, the family must come together to rescue her." I fully admit that this could be good, especially with a strong cast that includes Sam Rockwell, but I'm hesitant to get TOO optimistic about it, especially since the original has a special place in my heart (what kid didn't have nightmares after watching the original?). I just need to see more on this remake before I can truly look forward to it, so for now it remains on my "not interested" list.
Sinister 2 (U.S. release date 21 August 2015) - "A young mother and her twin sons move into a rural house that's marked for death." The first film was meh to me, so I'm not really interested in seeing more. However, my major girl crush for Shannyn Sossamon might sway me to check this out if it receives good word-of-mouth or if the trailers pique my interest.
The Last Witch Hunter (U.S. release date 23 October 2015) - "The last remaining witch hunter battles against an uprising of witches in modern day New York." Vin Diesel is a witch hunter. Ya, that's enough for me to pass on this one.
Friday the 13th remake/prequel/sequel/whatever (U.S. release date 13 November 2015) - I'm still scarred by how awful the 2009 remake was, so I have zero interest to see how they butcher this one. Plus, no one knows exactly what this film will be (remake? sequel? prequel? who knows!) and I don't believe there is a complete script for this one yet, let alone a confirmed cast. I've heard different rumors, everything from that it is going to be a found footage flick to it's going to be set in a snowy landscape. None of these rumors are encouraging, and even if they are all false I still have no interest in seeing this. Pass.
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What films are you most looking forward to in 2015?
What horror releases do you plan to skip in 2015?
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