The Grudge (24th January 2020)
The reviews of this supernatural horror aren’t looking good, but if you enjoyed the American remakes in the 2000s, then you might have fun with this latest reboot. It stars iconic scream queen Lin Shaye from the Insidious and Ouija series, and is a side-sequel which follows the stories of multiple families affected by the original Japanese curse.
The Turning (24th January 2020)
The 1898 supernatural horror tale by Henry James, The Turn of the Screw, gets a new modern adaptation starring Mackenzie Davis, Finn Wolfhard, and Brooklynn Prince. A nanny takes over the care of two orphan children living on an estate in Maine, only to find that the house and the children aren’t what they seem and hide disturbing secrets.
Gretel & Hansel (TBC)
This American retelling of the dark fairy tale stars Sophia Lillis from the It series as Gretel and Sam Leakey as her little brother Hansel. The fantasy horror follows the older Gretel’s search for work and food as it takes her and her brother into the creepy forest, which turns out to be the dwelling place of an evil witch and her horrifying house.
Underwater (7th February 2020)
If you like sci-fi horror and monster movies, then this deep-sea thriller might be for you. Kristen Stewart stars as an engineer working on a drilling station in the Marianas Trench, where things go wrong when the crew encounters an undiscovered species. Explosions, sea creatures, and suspense abound as the dwindling crew attempts to survive.
The Lodge (TBC)
This English-American psychological thriller was produced in 2018 and intended for release in 2019, but is now due for release sometime this year. Riley Keough stars as the stepmother of two children who don’t seem to like her… What darkness will come to light when these three find themselves snowed in at the family’s remote holiday cabin?
Fantasy Island (14th February 2020)
Based on a 1977 television series, Blumhouse Productions is updating the story of a luxurious remote resort where guests of the mysterious Mr Roarke are invited to live their fantasies. When these dreams become nightmares, the visitors must uncover the dark secrets of the island in order to survive the consequences of their twisted wishes.
Brahms: The Boy II (21st February 2020)
The sequel to 2016 horror film The Boy is finally out this year. In haunted-house tradition, a young family moves into the Heelshire Mansion without being aware of its morbid history. One of the children, Jude, soon finds the porcelain Brahms doll and befriends it, drawing the sinister attention of the presence still lurking within the mansion’s walls.
The Invisible Man (28th February 2020)
Another modern remake of a classic sci-fi horror gets a new twist in this loose adaptation of the HG Wells novel. Elisabeth Moss of The Handmaid’s Tale and Us is the ex-girlfriend of an abusive scientist who appears to commit suicide after she escapes… but is he really dead? Something or someone appears to be haunting or hunting her.
A Quiet Place: Part II (20th March 2020)
John Krasinski’s sci-fi horror A Quiet Place was a smash hit back in 2018, so you’d be right to be excited about its sequel. Part II follows the remaining members of the Abbott family from the first film as they must leave the farm and face more threats in the outside world than just the alien creatures hunting down humanity through sound.
The New Mutants (8th April 2020)
If the title gives you deja vu, it’s because the trailer for this X-Men spin-off debuted way back in 2017. Due to post-production problems, the film has faced several delays over the years, but will finally see the light of day this spring. Maisie Williams, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Charlie Heaton are among five teenage mutants trapped in a secret facility.
Antlers (17th April 2020)
This small-town supernatural horror produced by Guillermo del Toro is based on an original short story written by Nick Antosca, who also helped to write the screenplay. In Oregon, a teacher played by Keri Russell and a sheriff played by Jesse Plemons try to find the frightening truth behind a quiet student who appears to live in poverty.
Promising Young Woman (17th April 2020)
It’s perhaps more of a drama thriller than a horror film, but the trailer for this revenge story garnered praise and excitement when it dropped last month. Cassie, played by Carey Mulligan, leads a double life after something terrible happens to her and goes to extreme lengths to teach “nice guys” a brutal lesson for harming women.
Antebellum (24th April 2020)
Potentially supernatural time-travelling meets social commentary through horror in a similar vein to Jordan Peele’s Get Out. Janelle Monae takes the lead as Veronica Henley, a successful author who becomes trapped in a “mind-bending mystery” involving the Civil War. The film also stars Gabourey Sidibe, Kiersey Clemons, and Jena Malone.
Saint Maud (1st May 2020)
This British film is a Christian psychological horror following a recently-converted Roman Catholic hospice nurse who becomes unhealthily obsessed with saving her hospice patient and is afraid that she is being possessed by a demon. It has been described as unsettling with a shocking finale, which should be enough to generate intrigue.
Saw 9: The Organ Donor (15th May 2020)
Yet another film in the twisted Saw franchise, not long after 2017’s entry Jigsaw. Is it necessary? Probably not. Will people go and see it anyway? Most likely. This one is based on a story written by Chris Rock (yes, that Chris Rock) who will also be starring in the film along with Marisol Nichols, Max Minghella, and the iconic Samuel L. Jackson.
Candyman (12th June 2020)
Produced by Jordan Peele, this sequel to the 1992 horror movie Candyman is bound to be worth watching, unlike many horror reboots. In the same now-gentrified neighbourhood in Chicago, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II plays a grown-up Anthony McCoy who is now an artist pursuing the urban legend. Tony Todd reprises his role as the Candyman.
The Purge 5 (8th July 2020)
The Purge franchise is offering a final film for release this summer, following the fourth entry in 2018 which was a prequel revealing the origins of the Purge. While a spin-off television series is still ongoing, this instalment will wrap up the separate film series. It could possibly follow President Charlie Roan’s aim to end the Purge once and for all.
Escape Room 2 (14th August 2020)
Last year’s psychological thriller Escape Room set itself up for a sequel at the end, and that sequel is coming this summer. Though the first film received mixed reviews, it was a box office success, so the sequel could go much further in exploring the possibilities of the format and the secret organisation behind the too-real escape rooms.
Malignant (14th August 2020)
King of horror James Wan (Saw, Insidious, The Conjuring, Lights Out) returns this summer with an original horror story which appears to be adapted from his own graphic novel, Malignant Man, from 2011. The story follows a patient whose terminal cancer turns out to be not a tumour but a parasite that gives him supernatural powers.
The Conjuring 3: The Devil Made Me Do It (11th September 2020)
The Conjuring has been a massively successful franchise, with spin-offs for characters such as the nun and Annabelle the doll. Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson return as paranormal investigators Lorraine and Ed Warren, who this time will deal with the case of a murderer claiming the defence of demonic possession for his trial.
Last Night in Soho (18th September 2020)
Not much is known yet about the upcoming film from acclaimed director Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Scott Pilgrim vs the World, Baby Driver). The film also stars critical darlings Anya Taylor-Joy and Thomasin Mackenzie as a present-day fashion student and her 1960s idol, and apparently features time travel with shady consequences.
The Witches (16th October 2020)
As with many of Roald Dahl’s books for children, the plot of The Witches is actually pretty dark. The story of global communities of monstrous child-killing witches was already adapted into a feature-length film in 1990, but this new version will feature Anne Hathaway as the formidable Grand High Witch, plus Octavia Spencer and Stanley Tucci.
Halloween Kills (16th October 2020)
The latest Halloween reboot in 2018 was a surprising success, so a sequel to that franchise entry is imminent, with plans to release a third and final sequel in this trilogy next year. The original cast is reprising their roles, including Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode, Judy Greer as her daughter Karen, and Nick Castle returning as Michael Myers.
Friday the 13th (TBC)
Not to be outdone, Jason Voorhees is also returning to our screens in a reboot of Friday the 13th, 40 years after the original film came out. The legal battle following the previous reboot in 2009 may finally have come to an end last year, which means that we can now expect the hockey-masked killer to rise again with a similar franchise refresh.
The Craft (TBC)
The original 1996 horror film developed a cult following, so it’s unsurprising that this is yet another classic getting its own modern remake. It was in development as a sequel in 2016, but officially became a reboot last year. It may follow the same plot of a coven of teenage witches, with a new cast including Cailee Spaeny and Gideon Adlon.
The Banishing (TBC)
For fans of historical horror movies, this British film is set in 1930s England, inspired by the true story of Borley Rectory. A young reverend and his family move into a haunted manor house, where a vengeful spirit soon tries to harm their daughter. Unsuccessful exorcism attempts force the reverend to turn to the occult and black magic.
Army of the Dead (TBC)
What do you get if you mix a heist film with zombies? The answer is Zack Snyder’s new film for Netflix, which stars Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Ella Purnell (Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children), and Omari Hardwick (Kick-Ass). It follows a group of mercenaries who break into a Vegas casino during a zombie outbreak.
You can catch these films at cinemas or on digital platforms throughout the coming year.
