Top 10 Best Horror Movies of 2023 (So Far)

M. Night Shyamalan has certainly had a rather up-and-down last few years - which is certainly better than his run of films previous. But offerings like “Knock at the Cabin” prove he can still tap into his early-career charm. While the titular setting is exceedingly familiar in the horror genre, it’s the plot mechanics that set it apart. Specifically, it sees a family of three being prodded by a group of strangers into sacrificing one of them so humanity may live on. Don’t worry, no spoilers here. But just know that Shyamalan smartly allows his powerhouse cast to do the emotional heavy lifting. Dave Bautista in particular is excellent as a gentle giant with a grave task.

“Skinamarink” is definitely cut from a different kind of cloth, something that will test many viewers. But in a horror landscape that’s constantly having to reinvent itself, it fits right in. Made for a paltry $15,000, the movie is about a couple of kids who awake in the middle of the night to discover things are disappearing in their house, including their father and means of exit. With a premise like that, and already it’s tapping into a kind of aberrant childhood nightmare, like an irrational fear coming to life. We can all remember feeling like this in our youth, and while the movie doesn’t always make sense, we can’t really say it needs to, either.

Lots of slasher franchises have tried to shake things up with a change of scenery. But while it’s often played like a gimmick, “Scream VI” is the exception that actually makes it work. Taking the action to New York City, the movie follows the survivors of last year’s requel as a more vicious Ghostface emerges to take a bite out of the Big Apple. While this is the first outing without original final girl Sidney Prescott, it’s the returning young cast that really shines here. Not to be outdone though, the thrills and kills remain top notch, as the set pieces really take advantage of the urban setting. Forget the ‘90s - it looks like “Scream” may be finding its glory days in the 2020s.

Now more than ever, it feels like classic horror stories are being shrewdly adapted for the modern day, and this one is no exception. “The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster” lifts from Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” to tell a tale of loss, rebellion, and most importantly, death. It sees a teen genius named Vicaria give a new definition to “mad scientist” by resurrecting her brother after he’s killed in gun violence. As you probably guessed, he doesn’t come back the same, and that’s when the terror kicks up a notch. We’re currently living in a golden age of socially conscious horror, and this one has enough thematic and emotional resonance to engage on all levels - on top of making you scream.

The COVID-19 pandemic was arguably the most earth-shattering event of the 21st century so far. But Hollywood has largely abstained from incorporating it for multiple reasons. And when they do, the results have been mixed at best. “Sick” isn’t like those movies. This Peacock original is set in the horrorshow that was April 2020, as two friends look to quarantine at a remote lake house. But the outside world follows them in the worst way possible. Real-world commentary aside, this is just a solid home invasion film, complete with gnarly kills and effective jumps. And if the topicality doesn’t bother you, you will be sure to have a good time with it.

The only straight-up horror comedy on this list, “The Blackening” you’ll be happy to know is pretty riotous in the latter regard. Also playing on the “cabin in the woods” setup, this one subverts genre clichés through an alternative lens, as a group of friends is put through a twisted game that measures their “blackness.” While the thrills are well and good, they’re really just an excuse to crack wise and roast the usual trappings we’re familiar with, and in that regard, bullseye. More than most slashers, “The Blackening” relies heavily on the energy of its ensemble cast, which has chemistry and personality to spare. Definitely one of the funnier horror movies in recent memory.

Brandon Cronenberg obviously comes from body horror royalty thanks to his father David Cronenberg. But if “Infinity Pool” is any indication, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Starring Alexander Skarsgård and Mia Goth, the film sees the former play a struggling writer on vacation in a fictional country. However, he soon comes to realize that the government outside the resort is taking part in some horrific practices. Brilliant in its setup, the film will leave you thinking about the relationship between western affluence and tourist destinations. It isn’t for everyone, but anyone looking for the intellectually bizarre will certainly find it here.

Okay, everyone pause the video so you can do the M3GAN dance - we’ll wait. Beyond the movie’s genius marketing and social media approach, “M3GAN” simply has a lot going for it as a fun cinematic ride. For one thing, its titular, cybernetic villain has a design and affectation that’s wholly and flawlessly realized. Furthermore, its approach to AI is surprisingly clever, succeeding in places where a lot of recent horror offerings have failed. And while we can definitely feel when the movie wants to go R, where it lacks in blood, it more than makes up for in tension and thrills. If the future of AI looks anything like M3GAN, we for one welcome our new robot overlords.

If you thought “Infinity Pool” dabbled in body horror, try “Huesera: The Bone Woman.” This Spanish-language horror flick has the innate ability to make you squirm as it centers on a pregnant woman whose journey… let’s just say, takes a turn for the uncomfortable. If ever there were a horror movie primed for social commentary, it’s this one. “Huesera” brilliantly portrays the sometimes suffocating effect pregnancy can have on people, especially when motherhood stems from cultural expectations or patriarchal influences. Moreover, there’s actually some really potent queer themes baked in as well, making for an endlessly fascinating watch. Currently sitting at 99% on Rotten Tomatoes, it has more than earned that mark.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are some honorable mentions:

“Missing” (2023)
This Screenlife Thriller Keeps Us Glued to the Screen

“The Boogeyman” (2023)
Beware the Thing That Goes Bump in the Night

“Beau Is Afraid” (2023)
Ari Aster’s Latest Effort Is Singular, to Say the Least

“Cocaine Bear” (2023)
We Think the Title Pretty Much Sums It Up

“The Outwaters” (2022)
This Found Footage Horror Movie Isn’t Like Anything You’ve Seen Before

Who would’ve thought that this silly old bear would make for such a great slasher villain? Not Disney, not A. A. Milne and not us. Not then… and not now either. Okay, onto our real number one pick.

“Evil Dead” rise, indeed. While the franchise has been coming and going since the early ‘80s, its track record has been consistently solid. So imagine our unsurprised satisfaction to learn that this one lives up to that legacy and then some. Unlike our first entry, this one largely abandons the cabin in the woods setting entirely, trading it in for a dilapidated LA apartment complex. But if there’s one thing we learned while watching it, it’s that “Evil Dead” is still “Evil Dead” as long as there’s some possessed folks, a creepy book, and lots and lots of blood. On none of these aspects does “Rise” fall short, delivering a non-stop thrill ride that’s anything but predictable. In short, it is groovy.