A new year means a slew of new thrills at the movies, and 2023 is shaping up to be a good one for horror fans. We’ll see the return of a few beloved franchises as well as the introduction of original properties that’ll be sure to leave you looking over your shoulder. Here are five of the most anticipated horror movies releasing this year, so don’t miss them!
- The Pale Blue Eye (Jan. 6)
Unlike the other entries on this list, this one is already out on Netflix as of January 6, just to give you a taste of what’s in store for this year. Starring Christian Bale, The Pale Blue Eye is an eerie historical re-write that follows Detective Augustus Landor, who’s investigating the homicide of a West Point cadet. After realizing that the victim’s fellow cadets won’t help him solve the case, he enlists the help of a certain young cadet by the name of Edgar Allan Poe–yes, that Edgar Allan Poe, portrayed by The Queen’s Gambit actor Harry Melling.
- There’s Something Wrong With the Children (Jan. 17)
Margaret and Ben, portrayed by Alisha Wainwright and Zach Gilford, embark on a fun weekend trip with their two young children and two close friends, but things take a turn after the kids disappear into the woods one night. While they show up “unharmed” the next day, Ben, and gradually the other adults, begin to suspect something terrible and supernatural afoot after the children display disturbing changes in behavior.
- Scream VI (Mar. 10)
The long-anticipated follow up to 2022’s Scream, the sixth overall installment in the Scream franchise follows the four survivors of the original Ghostface killings, who ditch Woodsboro to start new lives in New York City. But, as you’d expect, Ghosftface isn’t so easy to escape from. Jenna Ortega of Wednesday fame reprises her role as Tara, and Scream 4’s Hayden Panettiere returns as Kirby. Sadly, the franchise’s beloved final girl Sidney Prescott–portrayed by Neve Campbell–won’t be returning due to disagreements over salary.
- Renfield (Apr. 14)
If you remember those pictures of Nicholas Cage walking around New Orleans dressed as Dracula that went viral, it was for this movie. This film goes back to the roots of the original 1897 Dracula novel by Bram Stoker, this time focusing on Dracula’s assistant, Renfield, portrayed by Nicholas Hoult. The horror-comedy follows Renfield’s exploits as he ditches his boss (Nicholas Cage as Dracula, of course) to pursue the affections of traffic cop Rebecca Quincy (Awkwafina).
- Salem’s Lot (TBA 2023)
The latest in Stephen King novel-to-film adaptations, Salem’s Lot, originally published by King to wide acclaim in 1975, follows a writer named Ben Wears (played by Lewis Pullman of Top Gun: Maverick) who returns to his small hometown of Jerusalem’s Lot, Maine, only to find that it’s now completely overrun by vampires. With a ragtag band of misfits by his side, Ben sets out to take on the bloodthirsty villains and save the New England town from total destruction. This particular adaptation is directed by Gary Dauberman, who wrote the screenplays for the two IT movies and The Nun and directed Annabelle Comes Home, so audiences are sure to be in for a ride.
