Ten Horror Movies to Look Forward to in 2022
By Daniel Rester
The year 2021 was a solid enough year for horror movies, with pictures like Titane, Censor, and Saint Maud being standouts. This coming year looks to have a strong lineup as well. Here are ten films with 2022 release dates that we have to look forward to.
First, here are four films to keep an eye on that don’t have set release dates yet: Evil Dead Rise, Hellraiser, Prey, Slayers
Scream (Jan. 14th, theaters)
It’s been over ten years since Scream 4 (2011), but the Ghostface series returns to kick off the horror movies of 2022 with a fifth entry. Unfortunately Wes Craven passed away in 2015, so this time directing duties are going to Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, who last made the excellent Ready or Not (2019). Key cast members are returning and are joined by some fresh faces, including Jack Quaid and Kyle Gallner. Hopefully Scream can prove that the series has some legs even without Craven directing.
Morbius (Jan. 28th, theaters)
After over a year and a half of delays, audiences will finally get to see Morbius in late January… assuming the date doesn’t change again. This Sony/Marvel mashup features the title character, who gains vampire abilities after trying to cure his blood disease. Jared Leto will be the lead while Matt Smith and Tyrese Gibson fill out supporting roles. Despite the PG-13 rating and superhero vibe, this looks to have some promising vampire elements.
Orphan: First Kill (Jan. 28th, theaters)
Thirteen years after Orphan (2009) shook audiences with its wild twist ending, Esther is returning to the screens. Though this is a prequel, Isabelle Fuhrman is somehow returning to the role as well despite being 24 now. I hope some de-aging magic can help this casting choice because otherwise the prequel will have an illogical air about it. Still, it could be fun to see Esther in action again with Orphan: First Kill.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Feb. 18th, Netflix)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre series has had a couple of highs and a lot of lows over the years. I’m slightly optimistic about this new entry though as it is ignoring the other sequels and acting as a direct sequel to the original film in order to create a fresh start. But… Texas Chainsaw 3D (2013) already tried that and failed miserably, so it’s hard to be too optimistic. With Fede Alvarez having helped with the story and being a producer on this new one, and the talented Elsie Fisher being in the cast, I do have some hope.
You Won’t Be Alone (April 1st, theaters)
Australian writer-director Goran Stolevski makes his directorial debut with You Won’t Be Alone. The film takes place in the 1800s and has a plot involving witches. Noomi Rapace is in the lead role. I know little else about the film, but those ingredients make me excited to see what Stolevski has in store for horror fans.
The Black Phone (June 24, theaters)
Director Scott Derrikson is returning to the horror genre with The Black Phone and reuniting with his Sinister (2012) actors Ethan Hawke and James Ransome. Hawke will play a serial killer/kidnapper in this project based on a short story by Joe Hill (son of Stephen King). It will be interesting to see the likable Hawke disappear into a dark role. Sinister was a terrific and scary picture, so I look forward to this team coming back together.
Nope (July 22nd, theaters)
Comedian Jordan Peele continues his surprising turn as a horror filmmaker with his third film, amusingly titled Nope. It will reunite him with Get Out (2017) star Daniel Kaluuya and also feature Steven Yeun. Nothing is known about the project yet, but Peele’s name on it alone will get many horror fans into seats.
Dark Harvest (Sep. 9th, theaters)
David Slade, director of the excellent vampire flick 30 Days of Night (2007), will drop his new project Dark Harvest in September. It’s said to be about “a legendary monster called October Boy.” Hopefully it kicks off the Halloween horror season with a bloody bang.
Salem’s Lot (Sep. 9th, theaters)
Also in early September is Salem’s Lot, a new adaptation of the 1975 Stephen King novel; the book was famously adapted as a miniseries by Tobe Hooper in 1979. This new version of the vampire story will be written and directed by Gary Dauberman, who has worked a lot with the Conjuring universe. Rising star Lewis Pullman will lead the cast while William Sadler will play antagonist Kurt Barlow.
Halloween Ends (Oct. 14th, theaters)
David Gordon Green’s reboot trilogy of films in the Halloween series will come to an end with Halloween Ends in October… unless of course it’s a huge hit and the studio finds a way to make a fourth one. Halloween (2018) and Halloween Kills (2021) had ups and downs in quality, but they’ve provided some slick entertainment for fans. I doubt any film in the series will ever get close to the master level of the 1978 original, but hopefully Green can at least end his trilogy on a high note.
