Frightening Strikes

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...

  Introduction January may not be overflowing with horror releases, but the few films hitting screens this month show plenty of promise. From psychological thrillers and survival horrors to creature features and supernatural tales, the lineup offers a strong mix of tension, atmosphere, and character-driven scares. While the selection is modest, each title has something distinctive to offer — whether it’s a chilling return to a classic franchise, a fresh take on folk or cosmic horror, or a tightly wound survival nightmare. Here’s a look at what horror fans can expect this month. We Bury the Dead   In the aftermath of a sudden global collapse, a small civilian task force is assigned to recover bodies from a quarantined zone. What begins as a grim logistical operation soon turns nightmarish when signs emerge that the dead are not staying buried. As isolation deepens and trust erodes, the team must confront a horrifying truth about what remains of humanity — and what is rising to ...

Christmas has always been fertile ground for horror. Beneath the decorations, rituals, and goodwill lies a holiday steeped in darkness and uneasy folkloric tradition. Filmmakers take advantage of that contrast, using festive familiarity to heighten unease rather than offer comfort. The films below span decades and subgenres, from slashers and folklore to bleak psychological slow burns, each finding its own way to corrupt seasonal cheer. Whether cynical, brutal, or quietly unsettling, these are horror films (in no particular order) that understand the power of turning reassurance into threat — and why Christmas can feel more frightening than joyful. 1. Black Christmas (1974) During the Christmas break, a group of sorority sisters begin receiving obscene phone calls that slowly escalate into something far more dangerous. As police investigate a missing student, the house becomes the centre of an unseen and increasingly menacing threat. Black Christmas lays it on the line with chilling a...