It's that time of year again. That time in which I look at what's to come and what is getting me excited about horror. I'm opening the list up to not just films but television shows as well, since small screen fright fare is becoming more and more common. A few things to note, before you start asking me questions like, "Why isn't [insert random film title here] on this list?" I've seen a few of the horror films opening in 2014 already such as Big Bad Wolves, The Green Inferno, Cheap Thrills, Grand Piano, Almost Human, and Witching & Bitching – so these obviously won't make th list. Also: This is a personal list. It doesn't reflect the opinion of the other contributors to this site, just mine. With that said, let's get started, shall we?
Scroll past the gallery for a 2014 release breakdown as well to see what else is on the way.
Films arriving in 2014 (at the time of this writing):
January 3 – Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones
January 10 – The Banshee Chapter
January 14 – Voodoo Possession
January 17 – Devil's Due
January 17 – Big Bad Wolves
January 21 – Black Water Vampire
January 24 – I, Frankenstein
January 28 – Torture Chamber
January 28 – The Cat
February 4 – Scorned
February 7 – Nurse
February 11 – Sorority Party Massacre
February 14 – The Returned
February 14 – Vampire Academy
April 4 – Jinn
April 11 – The Quiet Ones
May 1 – The Scribbler
May 16 – Godzilla
June 20 – The Purge 2
July 2 – Beware the Night
August 29 – Jessabelle
October 3 – Dracula Untold
October 24 – The Kitchen Sink; Paranormal Activity 5
Undated 2014 – Where the Devil Hides, Horns, Almost Human, The Green Inferno, See No Evil 2, Leprechaun: Origins, Grand Piano
Most Anticipated 2014
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#10 Devil's Due
Opening on January 17, 2014, Devil's Due looks like a found footage version of Rosemary's Baby. The thing it has going for it? It's the first studio picture from Radio Silence, the team behind the best segment of V/H/S. Yeah, you know which one I'm talking about: The haunted house tale that wowed us. I'm looking forward to see what they do with this.
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#9 The Scribbler
Opening May 1, 2014, The Scribbler is based on the comic book of the same name by Dan Schaffer. Katie Cassidy and Garret Dillahunt star - I'm a fan of both - also, the story deals with a machine that eliminates multiple personalities. Interesting concept, and, I'm loving the look of the photos we're seeing from this one.
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#8 The Purge 2
Feel free to give me all the shit you want for this. In spite of its flaws - and yes, I'll admit there are lots of them - The Purge packed a nasty little punch and presented a great concept that elicited fun conversation. The same team is coming back for the sequel - debuting June 20, 2014 - and I'm very curious about the approach they'll take this time.
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#7 See No Evil 2
Save for a few colleagues and myself, I don't know anyone else who liked 2006's Gregory Dark-directed See No Evil. Mean-spirited and trashy, I had a blast with it. Lionsgate made a sequel, even though no one asked for one, and enlisted the Twisted Twins - Jen and Sylvia Soska (American Mary) - to direct. Perfect choices. Add Katharine Isabelle and Danielle Harris and I'm so in... No release date has been set, but it's due in 2014.
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#6 Hellions
Pontypool director Bruce McDonald returns to horror with this tale about a young girl taking on a trio of "malevolent trick or treaters." Pontypool ranks as one of the most underrated horror movies of the last decade in my book so I'm more than excited to see what McDonald does with this. No release date has been set, but it's due in 2014.
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#5 Beware the Night
Originally slated to open in 2015, Beware the Night was moved up to July 2, 2014 because the studio was so confident in it. That's good news, for sure. Also good news? Scott Derrickson is the director on board - he gave us Sinister, one of my favorites of 2012. Here, he tells the story of a copy and a "renegage priest" who team up to take on a demonic case. Eric Bana and Edgar Ramirez star.
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#4 The Strain
The first TV entry on this list. Guillermo del Toro directs the pilot of this upcoming FX series which was taken to a 13-episode order. Corey Stoll of House of Cards stars - that guy is great, also, viral vampirism infecting NYC. I haven't read the books the series is based upon, but I curious to see how it all plays out.
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#3 Horns
Alexandre Aja adapting Joe Hill's novel. That's enough for me. I want to see Aja put some distance between him and films like Piranha 3D and Mirrors. Do something mature again. Not something for camp value or for the sake of delivering big gore gags. Horns could be it. Daniel Radcliffe wouldn't be my first choice for Horns' protagonist (I would have gone with Aaron Paul), but I can't wait to see him play Iggy Parish, a man who wakes up with horns on his head. No release date yet, but coming in 2014.
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#2 Hannibal Season 2
I didn't think Hannibal, the television series could work. But, man, Bryan Fuller and his team knocked it out of the park with season one. Grim and smart, season one demanded my attention each week and I can't wait to see where they take us in season two. And I especially can't wait to see what they do with Will Graham and his predicament.
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#1 Godzilla
I'm a Godzilla fan and I've always been a Godzilla fan since my youth. I'm also a big fan of Gareth Edwards' Monsters. He knew how to handle a cool relationship story wrapped in creature feature tropes. I thought he was an excellent choice for next year's Godzilla reboot, opening May 16, 2014. I'm not saying the approach he took to Monsters is best for Godzilla, but I'm confident the property is in the right hands. He clearly knows how to handle both character drama and "monsters." And, guys, that cast: Bryan Cranston, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen... Godzilla can't get here soon enough.
