New in Horror in 2018

2018 is set to be an exciting year for horror films. Personally, I don’t think anything will top my love for the horrors of 2017 as I’m still forcing everyone around me to watch the IT remake. However, 2018 definitely looks promising with its long list of horror films that are set to be released. From new concepts to the return of beloved horror icons, we have a lot to get hyped over.

The Strangers: Prey at Night -  The long-awaited sequel of the 2008 film, The Strangers: Prey At Night is about a family road trip gone wrong when three masked strangers show up in the middle of the night. The family, on their way to visit relatives in a secluded trailer park, find it mysteriously deserted and are now in a fight for their lives as the masked trio terrorize them.

The Predator - A revival of the Predator series, the fourth installment is set to take place between Predator 2 (1990) and Predators (2010). The director is Shane Black, who previously directed Iron Man 3 and also had a supporting role in the original 1987 film. The star-studded cast includes: Olivia Munn, Trevante Rhodes, Keegan-Michael Key, Jacob Tremblay, Sterling K. Brown and many others. The supposed plot follows a group of veteran soldiers being transported to a hospital when one of the men on the bus reveals that he’s been targeted by the U.S military because he witnessed one of the Predator ships landing. Of course, that doesn’t go over well with the soldiers but unbeknownst to them, a bigger threat awaits.

Halloween -  The return of horror-icon Michael Myers is set to be released this October. The eleventh installment of the series comes from the minds of filmmakers and long-time fans of the series, David Gordon Green and Danny McBride. It’s set to take place forty years after the original Halloween, with fan favorites Jamie Lee Curtis and Nick Castle reprising their roles as Laurie Strode and Michael Myers. (This is the film I’m the most stoked about!)

A Quiet Place – Real-life couple, John Krasinski and Emily Blunt star in this thrilling attack-of-the-senses flick about a family trying to survive their daily lives by living in silence due to the threat of strange creatures that hunt by sound. The tagline “If they hear you, they hunt you” rings true as you see the family attempting to navigate through their daily lives in complete silence – going to extreme measures to not make any sudden noises that might attract the creatures lurking about. Fun fact: Krasinksi, who also directed and co-wrote the film sought out a deaf actress to play their daughter, explaining he didn’t want someone who’s not deaf pretending to be.

The Nun – Back at it again with another spin-off of from The Conjuring universe. This film is a spin-off of 2016’s The Conjuring 2 and is the backstory for the character, Valek. The plot is set in 1952 Romania when a nun, and Catholic priest, and a novitiate are sent by the Vatican to investigate the suicide of a nun. While there, they come face-to-face with Valek, a demon who has taken the blasphemous form of a nun. The film stars American Horror Story’s Taissa Farmiga, Charlotte Hope, Demian Birchir, and Bonnie Aarons as Valek.

Pumpkinhead – There’s been talk of a Pumpkinhead remake for a couple of years now but apparently, we can expect a release sometime this year. Peter Block, who previously produced Saw is set to produce this film as well.  The original film is a vengeful tale about a father, stricken with grief over the death of his son, who summons a demon called Pumpkinhead to exact his revenge on the teens responsible. It’s also a pretty badass song by The Misfits.

The First Omen – Over 40 years ago, The Omen introduced us to a young boy named Damien, who just so happened to be the Antichrist. Not only did it have an amazing score, but it terrorized audiences everywhere – with scares that still hold up to this day. It sparked two sequels and the 2006 remake and now this year, we will supposedly get a prequel. It’s strange, considering the original film serves as an origin story but seeing as Damien was adopted, I’m only guessing that we will see what led to his birth.

The First Purge – The next installment in the Purge series will be a prequel, alternatively titled The Purge: The Island. The film will focus on the events that led to the U.S deciding that they needed to implement the “Purge Night.” The New Founding Fathers of America, decide to test out the first “purging” for one night on an island community, but when the “violence of the oppressors meets the rage of the marginalized,” the experiment goes haywire and spreads beyond the community borders.

The House That Jack Built – In this upcoming psychological horror-thriller directed and written by Lars von Trier, Matt Dillion stars as a serial killer named Jack. The story spans over the course of 12 years, depicting the murders that took place. Trier explained the film portrays the “idea that life is evil and soulless.” The film also stars Uma Thurman and Riley Keough. Trier is known for other films such as the bleak tale about the stages of grief, Antichrist, and the sexually explicit drama, Nymphomaniac, so there’s no telling what’s in store for us in this flick.

Truth or Dare – A “seemingly harmless” game of truth or dare turns deadly when someone – or something – begins punishing those who tell a lie or refuse a dare. The film stars Lucy Hale, Tyler Posey, Violett Beane, Nolan Gerard Funk, and others in this teen slasher from Blumhouse Productions. Blumhouse is also responsible for producing other horror films such as Get Out, Insidious, The Purge, Paranormal Activity, Sinister, and Happy Death Day so I’m definitely looking forward to this film.

Annihilation – This sci-fi horror film is based on the novel of the same name. Natalie Portman, Gina Rodriguez, Tessa Thompson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Oscar Issac star in this film about a group of military scientists who enter the “Shimmer”, an environmental zone that’s full of mutating landscapes and creatures.

Slice – You gotta love a good horror-comedy. The film was shot in secret in Chicago as a collaboration with A24 and Chance the Rapper and centers around an “enigmatic outlaw” that’s framed for a string of murders involving unsuspecting pizza delivery boys.  The film also stars Zazi Beetz, Paul Scheer, and the love of my life Joe Keery.

Grab your popcorn.