We're already well over a month into 2018, and it's fair to say we've had some top quality cinema thus far. However, in terms of horror there has not been much as of yet, but I assure you, the best is yet to come. 2018 will see a number of new horror films, sequels, reboots, and remakes, to keep horror fans on their toes for the next several months. While some of the best horror films of the past few years have tended to crop up unexpectedly, the following 10 films are ones we know of so far, that are confirmed for a 2018 release. Unfortunately, The New Mutants will not be on this list as it got pushed forward to next year for some reason, but the res of these films are all slated for a release before the end of the year.
10. Suspiria (TBA)
Anticipated, yes, but for all the wrong reasons. For those of you who read this blog frequently, you'll know that Dario Argento's 1977 supernatural horror Suspiria is basically my all time favourite film. Set at a German dance academy, the film follows a young girl who discovers that dark forces are lurking behind the walls of the prestigious academy. Naturally when a remake was announced I was not exactly enthusiastic about it, and I wasn't the only one, Argento himself has spoken out against the film, claiming that he thinks it would be better if it wasn't remade. However, I can't deny that I'm extremely curious about this new iteration of Suspiria, especially considering the talent behind it. Call Me By Your Name's Luca Guadagino is directing this new remake, while the cast includes the likes of Tilda Swinton, Mia Goth, and Dakota Johnson, with the star of the original, Jessica Harper, set to cameo as well. On top of that Radiohead's Thom Yorke is on scoring duty, and as much as I love Radiohead, I can't see Yorke outdoing Goblin anytime soon. Despite all of my skepticism surrounding this remake, I can't deny that Guadagino is an excellent director, and I do believe that if anybody were to tackle an Argento remake then they should be Italian. While no official date has been set for Suspiria's release, it has been confirmed to be coming out sometime this year, so that gives you all plenty of time to check out the original in the meantime.
9. Death House (Feb 23)
A film that has had horror fans buzzing for years, Death House has been dubbed 'The Expendables of horror' and is based off an original screenplay from the late Leatherface himself, Gunnar Hansen. Set within the confines of a maximum security prison known as the Death House, 2 FBI agents find tssorhemselves fighting for their lives against the deadly horde of recently escaped inmates. The film has been highly anticipated due to the fact that it will bring together some of the biggest living horror legends, from Kane Hodder, to Tony Todd, to the always entertaining Bill Moseley. These are just some of the icons among the ensemble cast, so it's set to be a pretty big event to say the least. While director Harrison Smith doesn't seem to have the best track record, the fact that Death House will bring together some of the horror genres best is enough to get us excited, regardless of whether or not it's actually good. If the trailer is anything to go by, then it will certainly be a relentlessly violent film to say the least. Even if it doesn't reach all expectations, it's sure to become a cult classic for years to come.
8. The Strangers: Prey at Night (Mar 9)
A sequel to 2008's eerie home invasion film The Strangers has been rumored for years, but now, ten years later, it's almost finally upon us. The sequel will see the return of the masked strangers from the first film, only this time, they are targeting an unsuspecting family stranded at a deserted trailer park. Mad Men alum Christina Hendricks is on board this time round, seemingly playing the matriarch of the unfortunate family, while Don't be Afraid of the Dark star Bailee Madison will join her. The trailer certainly has me hyped for this installment to The Strangers franchise, set to the tune of Tiffany's 'I Think We're Alone Now', it has a more tongue-in-cheek vibe to it in comparison to its predecessor so it'll be interesting to see if this will play out in the film as well. While the original has mixed reviews, I quite liked it and I'm looking forward to rewatch it in preparation for this long overdue sequel.
7. The Predator (Aug 3)
After the success of 2016's The Nice Guys, Shane Black returns to our screens this year with the fourth installment into the Predator franchise, aptly titled The Predator. Little is know about the plot as of yet, but the film is confirmed to take place after the first 2 films and prior to the events of Robert Rodriguez' Predators. As well as that, Jake Busey is set to play the son of his father's character, Peter Keyes, from the second film, so it will be interesting to see if there are any other callbacks to earlier installments (here's hoping for an Arnie cameo). Boyd Holbrook, Olivia Munn, and Keegan-Michael Key are also among the cast, as well as Jacob Tremblay who will play Holbrook's son. Shane Black, who actually had a supporting role in the original Predator, has stated that it will be a much more intimate film in line with the first, so it will be exciting to see the titular monster in all his stealthy glory again. We've got a while to wait with an August release date confirmed, but by the looks of things the wait will certainly be worth it.
6. The Nun (Jul 13)
Without a doubt the scariest thing about The Conjuring 2 was Valak (Bonnie Aarons), the demonic nun who orchestrated both the Amityville and Enfield hauntings, and almost put an end to the Warren family once and for all. Lucky for us it looks as though she's not quite finished yet, as she's set to return this summer in a prequel film directed by Corin Hardy. Set in the 1950's, the film will take place in a Romanian monastery and will follow a group of individuals sent by the Vatican to investigate the mysterious death of a nun. The main reason to be hyped for The Nun is that Corin Hardy is directing, and if one thing is certain its that Hardy has an incredible amount of love and respect for the horror genre. His first feature The Hallow is a prime example of how well he knows the genre, and if it's anything to go by then The Nun is definitely one to look forward to. While Conjuring spin off's can go either way, with the first Annabelle being a massive letdown and its follow up being a refreshing return to form, it's hard to tell how The Nun will turn out. However, I have faith in Corin Hardy and his talent for the genre, and I'm certain that he will do justice to everybodies favourite demonic nun.
5. A Quiet Place (Apr 6)
Directed and co-written by John Krasinski (who's come a long way since his days in The Office), A Quiet Place will see him star alongside his wife Emily Blunt as members of a family who reside on a secluded farm where they hide from a supernatural force that's attracted to sound. In order to avoid this unfathomable evil, the family must communicate in sign language and prevent themselves from making any sort of noise whatsoever. It's a fascinating concept alone and feels very reminiscent of Fede Alvarez' Don't Breathe, but on a more supernatural level. Krasinski and Blunt are both extremely talented actors, and their real life marriage will ensure that their characters will share an interesting dynamic in the film itself. As well as that, I'm interested to see how Krasinski tackles the horror genre from behind the camera as well, although from the trailer it definitely looks as though he's succeeded in crafting an effective suspense horror. Not much else is known about the film, which is probably for the best, so as of now all we can do is wait in anticipation for when A Quiet Place drops in April.
4. Annihilation (Feb 23)
Now I haven't read any of Jeff VanderMeer's books off which this is based so I don't know too much about it, but judging from the trailer and with Alex Garland at the helm, it's safe to say I'm hyped for Annihilation. Natalie Portman plays a biologist named Lena who joins an expedition into a mysterious zone known as Area X in an attempt to save the life of her husband, the only survivor of a previous expedition. Tessa Thompson and Jennifer Jason Leigh are also among the cast, with Alex Garland of Ex Machina fame as writer and director, so there's some serious talent carrying this adaptation. Garland is also most well-known for writing 28 Days Later, so this isn't his first foray into the horror genre either. The trailer gave off some serious Aliens vibes, and because its source material is so acclaimed then its hard not to feel excited for Annihilation's release later this month. While it will receive theatrical releases in the states, Canada, and China, it will be released via Netflix elsewhere, which I'm sure is a little disappointing for fans of the books. However, because of this the studio could do little to interfere with Garland's vision for the film, so hopefully its move to Netflix will be one that's worthwhile.
3. Unsane (Mar 23)
Shot in secret by Steven Soderbergh himself, on an iPhone no less, Unsane is without a doubt the most intriguing film on this list. The film stars Claire Foy as a woman who is wrongly committed to a mental institution and must wrestle between her delusions and reality in order to survive. This is certainly an ambitious move from Soderbergh, and although it's easy for people to hop on the 'too gimmicky' bandwagon, the trailer without a doubt puts all that cynicism to rest. From the looks of things this will be a very psychological film in the vein of Jacob's Ladder or Shutter Island, and the trailer alone shows how the use of the iPhone camera aids in creating this distorted atmosphere. There isn't much else I can say really, considering how much secrecy is shrouding this project, but Unsane looks like it has a lot of potential, and the secrecy surrounding it makes it all the more intriguing.
2. Hereditary (Jun 8)
Already being dubbed one of the scariest films in recent years after being screened at Sundance a few weeks ago, Hereditary is the feature debut for writer/director Ari Aster and it looks as though he's about to leave a strong impact on the horror genre. Toni Collette stars as Annie, a woman who begins to notice strange events occurring around her daughter following the death of her own mother. The trailer hasn't revealed much, which is always good, but if the Sundance hype is anything to go by then Hereditary is definitely one to look forward to. A24 have produced and will distribute the film, and with the likes of The Witch and It Comes at Night among their filmography, it's hard not to have high hopes for this film. I think Toni Collette is a very strong actor, and after her appearance in the Fright Night remake all those years ago, it was only a matter of time before she returned to the horror genre. I don't want to speak too soon, but with all the hype surrounding it and with A24 backing the film, Hereditary is looking out to be one of the most successful horror films of the year.
1. Halloween (Oct 19)
Of all the horror films set to be released this year however, Halloween is the one that I'm most excited for. Reuniting Jamie Lee Curtis and Nick Castle as Laurie Strode and Michael Myers respectively, the film will pick up 40 years after the original Halloween and will see Strode and Myers face off once again. David Gordon Green of Pineapple Express fame will direct the film, based off a script by him and Danny McBride, so it's intriguing to see how these usually comic men will tackle the horror genre. However, John Carpenter himself has been extremely positive about this new project, and will even do the score for it, which gives me hope that this will be a worthy entry into the Halloween franchise. The film is set to be a semi-reboot, effectively erasing the sequels from the canon, so don't be expecting the cult of Thorne of Busta Rhymes to make any appearances, because as far as the filmmakers are concerned, those films never happened. Halloween is by far one of the most influential horror films of all time, and while most of the sequels don't nearly do justice to the original, the fact that this John Carpenter's blessing gives us hope that maybe, just maybe, this one will.
Those are just a few of the horror films I'm most looking forward to this year, although I'm sure plenty more will crop up here and there over the course of the year. Next week I'll be looking at the films of Guillermo Del Toro at some stage, so stay tuned for that!
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