While 2022 was an iconic year in horror, 2023 has seen arguably more success in the genre. This past year has, without a doubt, brought genre buffs some new modern classics. From new additions in classic franchises to indie gems, here are Jon Mendelsohn’s 10 favorite horror movies of 2023.
10. Evil Dead Rise
The fifth film in the Evil Dead franchise, Evil Dead Rise, was originally supposed to go straight to streaming but was ultimately given a theatrical release because of extremely positive reactions during test screenings. That should be unsurprising since Evil Dead Rise is a smart sequel that reinvents the franchise by changing the location and upping the stakes.
This film follows a woman who must fight for her family when her sister’s apartment complex is overrun by deadites. Evil Dead Rise packs an emotional punch while still being scary and unpredictable. The gore is off the charts, and the final battle is one to remember.
9. Saw X
As the tenth film in the ever-popular Saw franchise, Saw X has no right to be as enjoyable as it is. Not only is Saw X a fantastically brutal horror movie, but it contains way more heart and character depth than most of its predecessors.
In Saw X, which serves as a prequel to most of the other films in the franchise, the viewer is shown a different, more sympathetic side of John Kramer, AKA Jigsaw. The twists and turns run wild, and seeing Jigsaw portrayed as an antihero of sorts is the exact kind of switch-up the long-running franchise needed. The traps are also highly memorable this time around, and the film delivers some of the most stomach-churning kill scenes seen in any Saw film thus far.
8. Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving, Eli Roth’s adaptation of his faux trailer seen in the 2007 film Grindhouse, is a perfect blend of an old-school slasher and contemporary satirical horror. The feature version of Thanksgiving updates the tone to match the current times, trading in shock value for a more pointed evaluation of our society. However, the film still brings the gory goods and serves as an extremely successful entry in the whodunit slasher subgenre.
Thanksgiving features several uncomfortable sequences, including a gnarly scene involving a pickup truck and the presentation of a human turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. The film also provides a smart update on the infamous trampoline scene from the original faux trailer. Equipped with engaging performances from Patrick Dempsey and Nell Verlaque, Thanksgiving is smart and self-aware but still a bloody camp riot.
7. Malum
A remake of his own film Night Shift, Anthony DiBlasi’s Malum is a gorier and scarier update of his lesser-known 2014 horror flick. Malum stars Jessica Sula as a rookie police officer who is forced to stay the night in the police precinct where her father committed a heinous crime years prior.
Malum delivers some of the most grotesque and horrifying imagery shown on screen in recent memory. The film’s plot largely concerns a cult, and scenes of the cult’s horrific acts are not for the faint of heart. The movie contains an eerie, surreal vibe, and the location becomes effectively claustrophobic as the runtime goes on. There are also some creature designs at the end that are nothing short of brilliant.
6. Spoonful of Sugar
Spoonful of Sugar is a captivating psychological thriller that tackles provocative themes effectively. This Shudder original film stars Morgan Saylor as Millicent, a young woman undergoing medical treatments involving psychedelic drugs. Things take a dark turn when Millicent takes a job as a nanny while under the influence.
Spoonful of Sugar is extremely stylish, sporting eye-popping cinematography as well as an unpredictable and dynamic storyline. The lead performance is extremely layered, with Saylor providing tons of depth. The film offers some shocking set pieces throughout, which will have some viewers’ jaws on the floor and a massive twist ending that most will not see coming.
5. Infinity Pool
The third feature film from Brandon Cronenberg, Infinity Pool, is not your typical horror fare, but it is definitely horrifying. Infinity Pool stars Alexander Skarsgard as James Foster, a writer who vacations with his wife on a fictional island where clones can be punished for crimes committed by the vacationers.
For any fan of psychological horror, Infinity Pool is a treat. The film is moody and psychedelic, offering some transgressive sequences depicting complete debauchery. Mia Goth also further solidifies herself as a horror icon in her unhinged portrayal of a socialite and leader of a cult of criminals.
4. Good Boy
This underseen Norwegian horror mystery taps into very real fears that many young people in the online dating scene harbor. Good Boy concerns a young woman named Sigrid who thinks she’s met the perfect guy on a dating app until she meets his dog Frank, who happens to be a man in a dog suit.
Good Boy is an original film that tackles relevant themes and doesn’t shy away from shocking the viewer but always contains a sense of finesse. The suspense is palpable and doesn’t let up until the credits roll. The last 20 minutes of this film are mind-bending and will leave most genre fans pleased and shaken.
3. Talk to Me
A24’s Talk to Me is one of the most unique takes on the demonic possession subgenre seen in a long while. The film follows a group of friends who get high by summoning spirits through a mysterious embalmed hand. Of course, things go awry when one young boy gets a spirit stuck in him indefinitely.
Talk to Me is unlike anything most people have seen before in the genre, providing truly unique and bizarre sequences of dread. One scene depicting hell is brief but will get stuck in the viewer’s head, and the demonic possession sequences are genuinely terrifying.
2. Candy Land
Candy Land was released silently at the very start of 2023, and it’s certainly a hidden gem. The film follows a group of lot lizards; prostitutes who frequent truck stops. After the group takes in Remy (Olivia Luccardi), a former member of a religious cult of sorts, an eruption of violence occurs.
Candy Land is a slasher, but it is also a layered drama and an effective examination of a subculture. The performances, especially from Luccardi, are fantastic and elevate this dynamic horror film even more. The gore is extreme, and the story is rich, resulting in a must-see indie flick.
1. The Outwaters
Arguably one of the scariest found footage horror movies ever made, Robbie Banfitch’s esoteric nightmare follows a group of friends who trek out to the Mojave desert to film a music video and experience cosmic terrors. The Outwaters depicts a literal descent into hell, equipped with doppelganger ax-murderers, wormholes, and slithering intestines.
While the climaxes of many found footage movies erupt into chaos, the last 50 minutes of The Outwaters is an inescapable whirlwind of horrific images. The film is an assault on the senses, and once the horror begins, it never lets up. The Outwaters may irritate some viewers with its ambiguity, but for others, The Outwaters will prove to be thought-provoking and nerve-shattering.
