Previously, I named 12 of the best modern horror films to watch during spooky season. Fast forward two years and I am back with another dozen for you to sink your teeth into!
Split (2016)
Starting strong, with acclaimed director M. Night Shyamalan. I was stuck between choosing two of his films, both of which boast memorable performances from leading males. So as not to make it all extremely recent, Josh Hartnett and Trap have had to give way to James McAvoy and Split.
Despite having seen how nice the Scotsman is in interviews, I can’t see past this menacing portrayal as Kevin, a man battling with a dissociative identity disorder. He ensnares a trio of teenage girls, one of whom is played by Anya Taylor-Joy, who are left to deal with—and escape from—his varying personalities and moods.
The Strangers: Prey at Night (2018)
As a burgeoning franchise, The Strangers’ reputation has taken a bit of a knock with the latest entries, to the detriment of two brilliant openers. The Liv Tyler-starring 2008 film brought us into the world and then, 10 years later, Prey at Night took it to new heights.
A spine-tingling slasher that perfectly uses one of the greatest songs of all time, Bonnie Tyler’s ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’, what’s not to like?
Last Night In Soho (2021)
Dream sequences are a common feature in modern cinema, and whilst it simply doesn’t work for some films, the unconscious crossover between Thomasin McKenzie’s and Anya Taylor-Joy’s characters in Last Night In Soho is executed so well by Edgar Wright here. A young student’s (McKenzie) battle with the fast pace of London and the secrets around every corner makes for intoxicating viewing.
From The Kinks to Sandie Shaw, James Ray to Cilla Black, the music in this film is truly brilliant and offers something different to what you’d expect within the genre. Where the lines start to blur, switching back and forth between sanity and insanity, normalcy and lunacy, the music follows suit to offer an unforgettable thrill ride.
Scream V (2022)
Two Scream films featured in the last list and now it is time to sing the praises of the fifth instalment, simply called Scream by some and Scream V by others. Off the back of the year of Mikey Madison, thanks to her superb, award-winning performance in Anora, why not go back and revisit her contributions to a beloved franchise?
Also introducing talents such as Jenna Ortega, Melissa Barrera, Jack Quaid and Mason Gooding to name just a few, there is blood being spilled all over the place—as is par for the course.
Watcher (2022)
Not all horrors need to be right up in your face and Watcher, similarly to an upcoming addition to this list, does a marvellous job of slowly eking every emotion out of its viewer.
Burn Gorman has the face for the horror genre (that’s a compliment) and Maika Monroe’s descent into madness will keep your eyes firmly glued to the screen. A very real fear for a lot of people, particularly the women of the world, is on full display in this one.
Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
The ability to seamlessly blend horror and comedy is an underappreciated one, and so Halina Reijn deserves endless credit for the gem that is Bodies Bodies Bodies. Between this and, more recently, Babygirl, Reijn has proven to be a director to watch.
It is safe to say that the chronically online, Gen Z humour will rub plenty of people the wrong way, but every member of the cast, whether it be Rachel Sennott, Amandla Stenberg, Myha’la or whoever else, hits every beat and lands every punchline.
Barbarian (2022)
Zach Cregger’s stock has soared exponentially thanks to the sweeping success of Weapons earlier this year, with many fans excitedly discussing the chance of a prequel. A few years prior though, Cregger debuted with Barbarian, boasting another hugely intriguing premise and shifting the narrative between characters well.
The premise in question concerns a rental home in a shady area being double-booked. The duo in question have far more to be scared of than each other though.
The Blackening (2022)
Similar to Bodies Bodies Bodies, The Blackening has a charmingly modern feel to it with sharp humour consistently keeping you on your toes. This is definitely a horror comedy, and whilst there are some gory moments it is heavy on the humour too. It’s a blast!
The 2022 release has a really good cast with a lot of black actors that we don’t see enough of, providing a great platform for them to shine. With fresh and witty jokes, often poking fun at tropes of the horror genre as if the characters are listening to what the audience shouts at them, The Blackening takes you on a rollercoaster ride that you won’t want to get off of in spite of the scares.
Red Rooms (2023)
Whilst not a traditional horror film, Red Rooms has an eerie atmosphere that will have your head spinning for hours beyond the final credits.
The modern obsession with serial killers and true crime is not only touched upon but extensively explored in this French-Canadian film. Kelly-Anne (Juliette Gariépy) and Clémentine (Laurie Babin) have different reasons for following a high-profile murder case, with questions of morality launched at the audience throughout this slow-burning thriller.
Love Lies Bleeding (2024)
Whilst not a traditional horror film—I’ve said that already, but Love Lies Bleeding is even less of a horror film than the others—the brutality, gore and all-consuming tension just about edge it into the reckoning for this list.
There aren’t enough superlatives to describe the performances from both Katy O’Brian and Kristen Stewart, and their supporting cast members are just as impressive. As just her second feature film, Rose Glass’s direction here creates an alluring tale of passion, power and everything in between.
It’s What’s Inside (2024)
Some concepts and ideas aren’t for everyone, with It’s What’s Inside perhaps coming across as twee or overly quaint to some viewers. Films, like many other things, would be a lot less interesting if everyone had the same tastes, though.
There is a melting pot of genres on display with mystery afoot in this Netflix release, which follows a group of friends reuniting only for their pasts to catch up with them and their own bodies to fail them.
Sinners (2025)
Whereas some horror films don’t aim particularly high, Ryan Coogler’s Sinners hit homerun after homerun earlier this year, making it one of the most talked about films of 2025 to date. Coogler wouldn’t know a bad film even if it hit in the face, and reuniting with frequent collaborators such as the lead Michael B. Jordan, cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw and composer Ludwig Göransson allows him to fire on all cylinders.
Both on an acting and a musical front Miles Caton is the breakout star here, whilst Delroy Lindo, a Hollywood veteran, excels just as much. The way in which Coogler taps into black history and culture is truly mesmerising, yet there is still room for plenty of terrifying bite, if you’ll pardon the pun.
Honorary mentions: Unfriended (2014), Late Night With the Devil (2023), The Pope’s Exorcist (2023), The Boogeyman (2023), Thanksgiving (2023), The First Omen (2024), Heart Eyes (2025).
Words by Jamie Rooke
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