Top 10 Most Anticipated Horror Movies of 2021
#10: “A Head Full of Ghosts” (2021)
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Published in 2015, Paul G. Tremblay’s horror novel “A Head Full of Ghosts” received widespread praise. Following a young teenager who may or may not be mentally ill, “A Head Full of Ghosts” won the prestigious Bram Stoker Award while beating out Clive Barker’s “The Scarlet Gospels.” Focus Features acquired the movie rights and Oz Perkins of “The Blackcoat’s Daughter” penned the screenplay. He was also scheduled to direct before the job went to Scott Cooper of “Black Mass” fame. Margaret Qualley of “The Nice Guys” and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” will star in the lead role.
#9: “Antlers” (2021)
This horror movie produced by Guillermo del Toro is a long time in the making. It was filmed in the fall of 2018 and was originally slated to come out on April 17, 2020. Unfortunately, the release date was moved due to coronavirus. It has since been pushed back to February 19, 2021. “Antlers” concerns a school teacher and a student who may be harboring some type of supernatural entity. The movie has a lot of talent behind it, including Keri Russell, Jesse Plemons, and wouldn’t you know it, “A Head Full of Ghosts’” very own Scott Cooper. He’s a busy man. Add the inclusion of del Toro, and “Antlers” promises to be one of the most intriguing and fantastical horror films of 2021.
#8: “Escape Room 2” (2021)
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2019’s “Escape Room” was quite a success. It earned praise for its atmosphere and scared up just over $155 million at the box office. Naturally, Sony couldn’t help but make a sequel and announced one soon after the original’s debut. The new movie will carry over both the director, Adam Robitel, and the writers, Bragi F. Schut & Maria Melnik. Unfortunately, not much is known about the plot yet. We do have confirmation that lead actors Taylor Russell and Logan Miller will also be returning. Like “Antlers,” “Escape Room 2” was also set to release on April 17, 2020, but it too has been pushed back to a later, undisclosed date.
#7: “Don’t Breathe 2” (2021)
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The original “Don’t Breathe” proved to be a huge sleeper hit, earning excellent reviews from critics and grossing a very respectable $157 million at the box office. Since it was made for around $10 million, Sony set their sights on a sequel. Producer Sam Raimi is extremely enthusiastic about the premise. In an IGN interview, he called “Don’t Breathe 2” “only the greatest idea for a sequel I’ve ever heard. I’m not kidding.” The movie was shot over the COVID pandemic with Stephen Lang returning as The Blind Man. While original director Fede Álvarez returned to work on the script, co-writer Rodo Sayagues will take a stab at directing.
#6: “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It” (2021)
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While the quality of the extended “Conjuring” universe has varied throughout the years, the core series has remained intriguing and scary thanks in large part to director James Wan. While Wan is producing the long-awaited third entry, Michael Chaves of “The Curse of La Llorona” is directing. His talents may prove suitable for the movie’s stylistic departure. Instead of focusing on a haunted house, the new “Conjuring” movie concerns the trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson. The jury convicted this man of killing his landlord in the infamous “The Devil Made Me Do It” case. Johnson was widely believed to be the first defendant in American history to say he was innocent because a demon possessed him.
#5: “Last Night in Soho” (2021)
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Director Edgar Wright is stepping away from his lighthearted comedy fare to write and direct a straight psychological horror about time travel and fashion in 1960s London. Wright has named Roman Polanski’s “Repulsion” and Nicolas Roeg’s “Don’t Look Now” as major influences. The film has an all-star cast that includes Anya Taylor-Joy, Thomasin McKenzie, Matt Smith, and the late Diana Rigg. We don’t know what to expect from Wright in the horror genre, so we can only hope “Last Night in Soho” will be fun, stylish, and hopefully very, very scary.
#4: “Spiral” (2021)
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We never thought we’d see Chris Rock and Samuel L. Jackson in a “Saw” movie, but here we are! Serving as the ninth installment in the popular franchise, “Spiral” sees them investigate a series of grisly murders. The existence of “Spiral” can mostly be attributed to Rock. After meeting the head of Lionsgate at a wedding and discussing a potential “Saw” film, he was subsequently hired to write the story treatment. Rock is also credited as an executive producer alongside “Saw” creators James Wan and Leigh Whannell. Official writing credit goes to “Jigsaw’s” Josh Stolberg and Peter Goldfinger. Darren Lynn Bousman, who helmed the second, third and fourth “Saws” will be returning to the director’s chair.
#3: “Halloween Kills” (2021)
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No one really expected 2018’s “Halloween” remake-boot to be as good as it was. After all, it came from comedic talents like director David Gordon Green and writer Danny McBride. The duo envisioned making two movies back-to-back, “Lord of the Rings” style. But they were unsure if the first movie would succeed. When “Halloween” made over $75 million opening weekend, all doubts were cast aside, and work quickly began on a sequel. The new movie will see the return of Michael, Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie, Judy Greer as Karen, and Andi Matichak as Karen’s daughter Allyson. Tommy Doyle, the kid that Laurie babysat back in 1978, will also return. The newest chapter in the franchise is scheduled for release on October 15, 2021.
#2: “Candyman” (2021)
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Jordan Peel is another comedian who’s made very, very respectable forays into the horror genre. The man behind “Get Out” and “Us” is resurrecting the “Candyman” franchise in 2021 with a direct sequel to Bernard Rose’s 1992 original. While Peele is both writing and producing, Tony Todd will be returning as the titular villain. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who is fresh off his Emmy win for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series, will take the lead role. With Peele involved, fans can rest assured that the new “Candyman” won’t just be a mindless slasher. The film will hopefully be yet another notch in Peele’s increasingly robust horror filmography.
#1: “A Quiet Place Part II” (2021)
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Like some others on this list, 2018’s “A Quiet Place” became a surprise hit. John Krasinski, who directed and starred in the horror film, proved to be a commanding performer and director. Grossing over $340 million at the box office, the film was also one of the most successful original horror movies in some time. And given that the original had a cliffhanger ending, it was only a matter of time before a sequel was released. Krasinski is once again directing and will appear in flashbacks. Stars Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, and Noah Jupe are also returning. They’ll be joined by the always incredible Cillian Murphy. Barring further delays, the movie should hit theaters on April 23, 2021.
