Frightening Strikes

Anything for Jackson is one of those little gems you come across every now and then and wonder why you hadn’t watched it before. It had been on my radar for a while, but I’d never quite felt compelled to commit. The idea of an elderly couple performing a reverse exorcism didn’t feel like a “must-see”. That said, taking the plunge turned out to be a good decision. This is a surprisingly elegant and well-handled horror from Justin G. Dyck—better known for films with “Christmas” in the title. An Ancient Satanic Ritual Henry and Audrey Walsh are an affluent but otherwise unremarkable couple. Henry is the town doctor, Audrey his composed and quietly driven wife. After the loss of their grandson, Jackson, they turn to an ancient satanic ritual in an attempt to bring him back and repair their damaged lives. Early on, Audrey and Henry kidnap a pregnant woman and hold her prisoner in their home in order to perform the ritual and the couple go to great lengths to acquire the knowledge they need...

The first wave of 2026 has hit the shore, proving that horror isn’t riding in on a gentle swell. With Send Help, Scream 7, and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple already planting their flag on the calendar, the tone has already been set with creative risks, franchise returns, and filmmakers pushing familiar concepts into darker territory. And yet some of the most anticipated titles are still to come. From medieval nightmares and franchise reinventions to cult sequels and viral legends making the leap to the big screen, the months ahead promise a varied stretch for horror. Here’s a look at the films emerging over the 2026 horizon — though release dates may change — with more titles to be added as official dates are confirmed. The Bride! (2026)   Set in 1930s Chicago, The Bride! follows Frankenstein as he works with Dr. Euphronius to create a companion by reanimating a young woman. As the Bride begins to form her own identity, the situation draws public attention and complicates the...

Black Phone 2 shifts the focus away from Finn and places Gwen at the centre of the story, leaning further into the supernatural elements hinted at in the first film. The sequel explores how both siblings continue to deal with the aftermath of their ordeal while introducing a renewed threat as The Grabber returns for revenge — forcing them to confront the killer once more and revealing deeper, darker connections to their family’s past. Life After Survival The story resumes four years after the original. Finn and Gwen are older and changed by what happened to them. Finn has become a rather angry young man, clearly still struggling to process his trauma. Gwen, on the other hand, is moving into adolescence and beginning to look outward — including a growing interest in Ernesto, the brother of Robin and one of The Grabber’s victims. The siblings are as close as ever, but Finn is trapped in the prison of his trauma, unable to talk about his experiences. As Gwen tries to help him through it,...

February is shaping up to be a busier month for horror releases than either January’s cautious trickle or December’s end-of-year slowdown. After a quiet start to the year, February welcomes a slew of new titles spanning studio sequels, indie thrillers, and high-concept supernatural stories. To make sense of the congestion, I’ve split this month’s releases into two groups. The "Looking Good" titles are the films currently generating the most attention — whether through trailers, familiar franchises, or early word of mouth — while "Hmm, Not So Sure" gathers projects that may still surprise, but are arriving with fewer indicators to a standout debut. It’s not a verdict, just a way of navigating a crowded release slate. Looking Good The Morrigan   When Fiona, an American archaeologist, travels to rural Ireland to excavate an ancient burial site, the dig unleashes an ancient force tied to Celtic mythology — The Morrigan, a vengeful war goddess bound to blood, prophecy,...

High-Stakes Robbery and a Risky Escape The film centres on estranged siblings Joe and Sid, who reunite after years apart to pull off a high-stakes robbery. The crime is intended to clear their debts, secure a future, and provide a better life for Sid and her young daughter. With the police closing in, they flee to an isolated farmhouse that Joe has secretly prepared as a hideout. Once inside, Joe guides Sid through a precise sequence of actions involving a hidden cupboard, clocks, and a strange notebook filled with time-travel instructions. The ritual opens a time loop, shifting them into an unspecified period in the history of the house. Joe explains the rules: they must remain there for fourteen days before they can return home. Sid is uneasy and anxious about the separation from her daughter but Joe manages to reassure her and the siblings settle in to wait. The plan, however, quickly unravels. When the fourteen days pass, they are unable to return to their own time and realise they...

Bring Her Back is a dark psychological horror that peers into the abyss of grief and the dangerous lengths we might go to in order to ease it. What begins as an intense study of loss gradually morphs into something far more disturbing, unfolding with a confidence that set it apart from more formula-driven genre entries. An Unconventional Presence Andy and Piper are step-siblings reeling from the sudden death of their father at home. With Andy just three months shy of legal adulthood, the pair are placed into foster care rather than being allowed to remain together independently. Their new guardian is Laura, an experienced social worker and counsellor who initially only wants to take in the younger, visually impaired Piper. She reluctantly agrees to accept Andy as well, on the condition that he maintains good behaviour. At first, Laura appears to be an unconventional but caring presence. Her eccentricities are easy to dismiss as quirky, and her background suggests she is equipped to sup...