Hasitha Fernando on the top ten horror movies to see in 2022…
Ah yes, here we all thought that 2020 was the worst year we endured when we welcomed 2021, but boy were we wrong. 2021 saw the world populace grapple with the worst wave of the still raging COVID-19 pandemic leaving us all masked up and physically distanced for yet another year. But here’s hoping that 2022 will bring with it some semblance of hope and sanity for us COVID fatigued cinephiles and we’d be able to get our asses back in the seats of cinema halls, as we did before. With that in mind here our 10 horror films debuting in 2022, that could rival the living nightmare that was 2021.
Scream
Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett.
Starring Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Melissa Barrera, Mason Gooding, Jenna Ortega.
The fifth instalment of the fan-favorite slasher franchise sees the return of the OG trio who survived the previous Ghostface attacks. But the question on everyone’s mind is, will any of them live to tell the tale this time around? New directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillet, the creative duo behind the wickedly entertaining 2019 horror flick Ready or Not, have their work cut out for them this time around as they’ve taken over the reins from none other than the legendary Wes Craven himself. Pretty daunting stuff. But with a script penned by Zodiac scribe James Vanderbilt and cast members reprising their roles from previous outings, we could be looking at some twisted horror shenanigans that would make Craven proud.
Nope
Directed by Jordan Peele.
Starring Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, Steven Yuen, Barbie Ferreira, Brandon Perea, Michael Wincott.
Right now, we know bupkis regarding horror maestro Jordan Peele’s latest offering Nope. Apart from a rather foreboding looking poster, revealed exactly one year prior to its scheduled release date, plot details for Peele’s new project have been kept tightly under wraps. The crazy secrecy surrounding the film’s production has us all guessing, but looking at the efforts the talented auteur has had his hand in during the past few years, it’s safe to assume Nope will be yet another terrifying social-thriller in the same vein as Get Out. Bolstered by a stacked cast of rising talents like Daniel Kaluuya, Steven Yuen and Keke Palmer there’s a hella lot reasons to believe that this horror affair will not only deliver on the scares, but also serve up a delicious side-dish of biting social commentary that will be the proverbial icing on the cake. Can’t wait.
The Black Phone
Directed by Scott Derrickson.
Starring Ethan Hawke, Mason Thames, Madeline McGraw, Jeremy Davies, James Ransone.
Based on author Joe Hill’s chilling 2014 short-story of the same name, The Black Phone sees director Scott Derrickson make a return to his grungy horror roots; the genre that made him come under Marvel head honcho Kevin Feige’s radar in the first place. After successfully helming the delightfully trippy Doctor Strange however, Derrickson parted ways with Marvel Studios due to creative differences, and set his eyes on adapting Hill’s supernatural tale to the big screen with frequent collaborator C. Robert Cargill. Receiving glowing reviews during its world premiere at Fantastic Fest 2021, where viewers praised Derrickson’s taut direction and Hawke’s unsettling performance, it’s safe to say that this film will be one wild terrifying ride from start to finish.
Halloween Ends
Directed by David Gordon Green.
Starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Kyle Richards, Andi Matichak, Nick Castle, James Jude Courteney.
The recent franchise reboot courtesy of David Gordon Green and Danny McBride has it’s high-points and low-points, but that won’t stop Michael Myers from making a killing at the box-office. 2021’s Halloween Kills hacked its way into audience hearts, making the best opening for an R-rated movie amid the pandemic, and that speaks volumes about the power of this IP. Not much is known about Halloween Ends, except that it will take place four years later after the events of Halloween Kills, and will even address the COVID-19 pandemic. Described by Green as a “coming of age story” and “a more intimate movie” this film looks like it’ll bring the saga of Myers and Strode to a satisfying end…at least for the time being.
Disappointment Blvd.
Directed by Ari Aster.
Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Nathan Lane, Patti LuPone, Kylie Rogers, Amy Ryan, Parker Posy, Meryl Streep, Michael Gandolfini.
The existential dread of Hereditary and the pastoral horrors of Midsommar scared the bejeezus out of us, so it isn’t a stretch to imagine that director Ari Aster’s next venture would make it to our ‘most anticipated horror film’ lists for the year 2022. Aster has described Disappointment Blvd. as a “4-hour long nightmare-comedy”. Boasting a stacked cast of heavyweights which includes the likes of Joaquin Phoenix, Nathan Lane, Parker Posy and Meryl Streep this latest effort by Aster seems like a sure-fire win that will surprise us, beguile us and creep-us-the-hell out in equal measure. Release it already, dammit.
Prey
Directed by Dan Trachtenberg.
Starring Amber Midthunder, Dane DiLiegro, Dakota Beavers, Stefany Mathias.
Director Dan Trachtenberg delivered a doozy of a film with 2016’s 10 Cloverfield Lane. It was a tense psychological thriller which offered some unexpected twists and turns, making for one entertaining edge-of-the-seat watch. Interestingly, it was around this same time period that Trachtenberg and writer Patrick Aison started conceptualizing their premise for the Predator prequel. Known as Skulls up until recently, the movie is said to have no connection whatsoever with Shane Black’s 2018 travesty The Predator. Trachtenberg will undoubtedly be influenced heavily by John McTiernan’s masterful 1987 original, with a similar setting and story, only this time around the lead will be female and the story takes place 300 years in the past. Here’s hoping Prey won’t disappoint.
7. Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Directed by David Blue Garcia
Starring Sarah Yarkin, Elsie Fisher, Mark Burnham, Jacob Latimore, Moe Dunford, Olwen Fouéré
Similar to the recent reimagining of the Halloween series, this upcoming slasher will completely disregard all previous sequels in the franchise, and function as a direct sequel to the original cult-classic. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre’s impact on pop-culture was immense and its ripple-effect on modern horror, is something that we still feel to this day. It’s crazy how a grimy, sweat sodden, genre flick shot on a shoe-string budget could wield such ferocious resilience, but that’s the power of Tobe Hooper’s primal masterpiece. If newbie director David Blue Garcia and the talented scribes of Don’t Breathe, are able to recapture lightening in a bottle, then ladies and gents, we are in for a real treat.
Hellraiser
Directed by David Bruckner.
Starring Jamie Clayton, Hiam Abbass, Odessa A’zion, Brandon Flynn, Goran Višnjić, Drew Starkey.
With The Night House, director David Bruckner delivered one of the most unnerving and utterly devastating horror films of 2021. The fact that it wasn’t based upon a pre-existing IP makes it even more impressive. So, if there’s two reasons that all of us should be excited about this project is, that this reboot is helmed by Bruckner with a script penned by writer duo Ben Collins & Luke Piotrowski – who crafted The Night House. Adding to this hellish brew is the gender flipping casting of actress Jamie Clayton as Hellraiser’s twisted antagonist Pinhead. Said to be adhering closely to Clive Barker’s source material novella The Hellbound Heart, this reboot has all the makings of a horror film that will scare the living daylights out of us.
Salem’s Lot
Directed by Gary Dauberman.
Starring Lewis Pullman, Alfre Woodard, Makenzie Lee, Bill Camp, Spencer Treat Clark, Pilou Asbæk.
There have been numerous adaptations of Stephen King’s critically acclaimed horror novel ‘Salem’s Lot through out the past few decades, mostly for the small-screen. And sometimes King’s efforts are best adapted in series format in order to be better appreciated. However, this movie has the added benefit of having immensely talented creatives attached to it. Horror auteur James Wan is producing it while his frequent writer/collaborator Gary Dauberman is helming it. Throw in some gifted actors like Alfre Woodard and Lewis Pullman into the mix, and you have the recipe for a damn fine film, which will hopefully honour the source material and Stephen King’s legacy.
Evil Dead Rise
Directed by Lee Cronin.
Starring Alyssa Sutherland, Lily Sullivan, Gabrielle Echols, Morgan Davies, Nell Fisher, Mia Challis.
‘Groovy’ is hardly the word to describe the return of the Evil Dead franchise. Yes, the darkly funny Ash vs. Evil Dead TV series did satiate our hunger for three awesome seasons but now the time is ripe to revisit some old horrors, and right on cue we have a sequel in the form of Evil Dead Rise. Not being a follow-up to Fede Alvarez’s 2013 film nor featuring any returning characters from outings prior, Evil Dead Rise will simply be a new instalment set in the same universe. Sam Raimi himself handpicked Lee Cronin-who crafted the superb psychological horror drama The Hole in the Ground-to direct this affair, so we can at least confidently state that the movie is in very good hands.
SEE ALSO: 18 Horror Movies From the Past Decade That You Might Have Missed
What horror movies are you most looking forward to in 2022? Let us know on our social channels @FlickeringMyth…
Hasitha Fernando is a part-time medical practitioner and full-time cinephile. Follow him on Twitter via @DoctorCinephile for regular updates on the world of entertainment.
