5 Recent horror films you need to watch

The most exciting horror film of the year, this compelling and thrilling picture is highly acclaimed studio A24’s second highest-grossing film for good reason. Surprisingly it’s the debut feature film from Australian directors Danny and Michael Philippou, and it has what many other horrors lack—a great story and a talented young cast. Intense and exhilarating, it's my favourite horror film since 2017's Get Out. Peter Jackson even called it "relentlessly scary and disturbing". 

Following Mia (Sophie Wilde) and her group of friends who discover how to conjure spirits through possession by using an embalmed hand, they use it as teenage party game. It goes too far and the supernatural forces take control and take a terrifying toll on the group. Talk to Me is intense and exhilarating—one of the best horror films of recent years. Let it in and it will possess your mind.

Watch it on Netflix

This second film in the reboot of the classic 1980s/90s horror comedy (that starred Bruce Campbell as the iconic Ash, who nows executive produces this new film, alongside Sam Raimi) continues down the more horror-focused path with new characters and is the highest-grossing film of the series.

Following on from 2013’s Evil Dead, this fifth film of the Evil Dead series is a gorefest that fans of both Evil Dead and The Exorcist should enjoy. Written and directed by Lee Cronin (The Hole in the Ground) it’s a twisted horror where a family reunion is ruined by the rise of flesh-eating demons that put the survival of the family under severe threat. This is not good parenting…

Watch it on Netflix

The latest picture from respected director M Night Shyamalan (Old, Signs, The Sixth Sense), it’s unsurprising that Knock at the Cabin is a psychological horror full of twists and turns. It was critically acclaimed on its release earlier this year and will hold you hostage for 100 minutes.

Adapted from the 2018 horror novel The Cabin at the End of the World, the apocalyptic plot sees a family on holiday in a cabin being taken prisoner by a ruthless, brutal cult (including Dave Bautista’s Leonard and Robert Grint’s Redmond) who force them to make a seemingly impossible decision—which of them will be sacrificed to prevent the end of the world? This weird and wonderful watch is a mind-melter and Shyamalan’s best film in years.

The sequel to the worldwide horror hit and the latest film in The Conjuring universe, The Nun II sees the return of the demon nun, Valak (Bonnie Aarons). Arguably scarier than the original, it’s sure to creep you out for spooky season.

With Valak killing priests across 1950s Europe, Sister Irene (Taissa Farmiga) and reluctant believer Sister Debra (Storm Reid) set out to stop the murders. The idea of a demonic nun and the fantastic character design alone is enough to make this Michael Chaves (The Curse of La Llorona, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It) directed-sequel a true blessing for horror fans.

Watch it on Amazon Prime (rent/buy)

A curveball horror comedy to finish with! A film about a rage-fuelled, murderous sloth, the excellently titled Slotherhouse is surprisingly clever and fun. Following in the animal horror comedy footsteps of the likes of Black Sheep and Boar, this film is better than either.

The film sees Emily Young (Lisa Ambalavanar) adopt a sloth named Alpha to use it to gain votes and become president of her sorority. However, the sloth has other ideas and begins to slaughter the sorority girls in outrageous and entertaining ways. Also, the tagline is “Don’t rush, die slow”. What’s not to love?

Watch it on Paramount+