Top 10 Anticipated Horror Movies of Summer 2023
#10: “The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster”
Top 20 Anticipated Horror Movies of 2023
Release Date: June 9, 2023 [US]
It’s been a while since we’ve gotten a solid reinvention of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” but “The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster” is looking like the movie we’ve been waiting for. Set in the modern day, this one trades Dr. Frankenstein for a teen girl named Vicaria, who attempts to bring her brother back to life after he’s tragically killed in street violence. Naturally, this being a horror movie, things go a lot more wrong than they go right. Having hit the festival circuit this spring, the movie has already gotten unanimous praise from critics, who laud it for marrying its classic and contemporary influences beautifully. This is one that might make us feel just as much as it makes us scream.
#9: “Sympathy for the Devil”
Release Date: July 28, 2023
No, this one doesn’t have anything to do with the Stones song. At least, we don’t think so. Rather, this one reportedly follows a man who’s forced to chauffeur a stranger at gunpoint. This being psychological horror, though, you can bet what follows may not be all as it seems. While we don’t have much more to go off of at this point, it’s the leads that have us most intrigued, as the movie stars Joel Kinnaman and Nicolas Cage as the driver and mysterious passenger, respectively. While Kinnaman doesn’t have too much experience in the horror genre, it’s always a fun time when Nicolas Cage is around. While his previous effort “Renfield” didn’t make the biggest splash, it could become another Cage cult classic.
#8: “Bird Box Barcelona”
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Release Date: July 14, 2023 [US]
While certainly a divisive film, you can’t say the first “Bird Box” didn’t dominate the cultural conversation when it hit Netflix back in 2018 - for better or worse. With such a recognizable IP on its hands, the streaming service would be silly not to follow it up somehow. While not a direct sequel, “Bird Box Barcelona” will shift focus to the Spanish city as residents similarly grapple with the arrival of creatures that force you to take your own life if you look at them. Centering on a father-daughter duo, this one could be the start of an anthology series of apocalypse stories à la “Cloverfield.” And who knows, if it’s as big as the last one, we may not be able to look away.
#7: “They Listen”
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Release Date: August 25, 2023 [US]
Here’s another one we know almost nothing about, but the behind-the-scenes specs have us intrigued all on their own. For one thing, it comes from horror mega-studio Blumhouse, which could end the summer just as strongly as they started out the year with “M3GAN.” This one comes from writer-director Chris Weitz, who’s had quite the eclectic career, helming films like “About a Boy” and “The Golden Compass” and penning 2015’s “Cinderella” and “Rogue One.” In front of the camera will be Katherine Waterston, who looks to further her scream queen status after starring in “Alien: Covenant.” And then there’s John Cho, whose screenlife movie “Searching” is one of the best thrillers of the century thus far.
#6: “Talk to Me”
Release Date: July 28, 2023 [US]
Another film that’s already garnered rave reviews, “Talk to Me” is an Australian creepfest that got picked up by A24 for American distribution out of this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Forget Ouija boards, this one sees some friends using an embalmed hand to converse with the other side. However, when one of them becomes a little too taken with the experience and supposedly contacting her deceased mother, things get out of hand, no pun intended. Making their directorial debut are brothers Danny and Michael Philippou, who are best known for their horror-comedy YouTube channel RackaRacka. If this film is any indication, though, they might be right at home on the big screen.
#5: “The Last Voyage of the Demeter”
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Release Date: August 11, 2023 [US]
Conversely, if you want to talk about established horror directors, look no further than André Øvredal. He’s had solid outings like “The Autopsy of Jane Doe” and “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark,” and if the trailer’s any indication, we may just be adding “The Last Voyage of the Demeter” to that list. In addition to Frankenstein’s monster, Dracula is also getting an update this summer, albeit in more familiar circumstances. The film looks to expand upon the section of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” novel whereby the legendary vampire feeds on a ship’s crew on his way to London. The isolated setting and design of the creature alone make this one we can’t wait to sink our teeth into.
#4: “The Blackening”
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Release Date: June 16, 2023 [US]
Every season needs a good horror comedy, and this summer’s might just be “The Blackening.” It starts with the usual cabin in the woods setup, but where it goes from there is anything but. A group of friends celebrating Juneteenth find themselves accosted by a masked stranger who seeks to kill them off in the order of their “blackness.” We can be sure to expect tons of witty humor in this one, as the characters are forced to deconstruct the African-American element in slasher films. And you can expect it to be plenty funny, too, as it comes from “Barbershop” and “Ride Along” director Tim Story. Honestly, this might be the summer’s biggest wildcard, and we hope it becomes a surprise hit.
#3: “Haunted Mansion”
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Release Date: July 28, 2023 [US]
Speaking of horror comedies, we’d be remiss if we didn’t include the family-friendly horror offering in Disney’s “Haunted Mansion.” Yes, the Mouse House’s previous adaptation of the ride came in under expectations, but there’s no reason the concept can’t deliver twenty years later. Instead of Eddie Murphy, this one stars Rosario Dawson as a single mother who seeks to exorcise her newly acquired mansion. In comes an all-star cast to assist her, including LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, and a Jamie Lee Curtis fresh off an Oscar win. Whether all those names translate to consistent laughs remains to be seen, but the potential is certainly through the roof.
#2: “Insidious: The Red Door”
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Release Date: July 7, 2023 [US]
With respect to “Bird Box,” “Insidious” is the horror franchise that’ll arguably be making the biggest waves this summer. Originally subtitled “Fear the Dark,” “The Red Door” will be something of a legacy sequel, as the original lead actors make their full return ten years after the first sequel. This time out, Dalton is now college age, and his father Josh goes to drop him off at school. However, remnants of the Further are once again calling out, and the family will have to close the door for good. Making this one even more notable is star Patrick Wilson, who will be making his directorial debut. After “Evil Dead” just had a successful fifth installment, maybe “Insidious” can do the same.
#1: “The Boogeyman”
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Release Date: June 2, 2023 [US]
You’d be forgiven for thinking a movie called “The Boogeyman” might sound a little childish. But make no mistake. This. Movie. Looks. Terrifying. Based on a Stephen King short story, this one follows a family reeling from the passing of its matriarch. But amidst that sorrow and emotional neglect comes a petrifying entity looking to feed on their suffering. Originally slated to come out on Hulu, the film was upgraded to a theatrical release following positive reactions. But no reaction was as positive as the one from the King of Horror himself, who reportedly said “They’d be [freaking] stupid to release this on streaming and not in cinemas.” Only he didn’t say “freaking.” This movie already has us looking under our beds.
