The 10 best horror films of 2025 so far, according to Variety

The year 2025 delivered great horror productions. Of vampiric horror “Sinners” until the long-awaited continuation of the franchise “Premonition”, Scary and bloody films occupied part of movie theaters.

The American magazine Variety has listed, with the help of the site’s specialized critics, the 10 greatest works of the genre that have been highlighted in 2025 so far. Honorable mentions that were not on the list yet were “Make Her Come Back”, “The Clown in the Cornfield” and “Drop: Anonymous Threat”.

The 10 best horror films of 2025 so far, according to Variety

10. “Presence”

The story follows couple Rebekah (Liu) and Chris (Chris Sullivan) and their children, Chloe (Callina Liangfrom “Foundation”) and Tyler (the newcomer Eddy Maday). After a recent loss, the family moves to a new home, seeking to regain stability and ensure a promising future for their children. However, to everyone’s surprise, the house is already occupied by a supernatural entity with a particular interest in Chloe

“The unique approach of Steven Soderbergh A Ghost Story sees your camera pan around a house in a first-person, spectral mode. The family inside can certainly feel the spirit wandering through the house, but why? There’s certainly more going on in the story than just unfinished business, and Soderbergh manages to land the murder mystery written by his frequent collaborator, David coepp. For experimental work, it’s a resounding success.”

9. “Heart Eyes”

Olivia Holt e Mason Gooding They’re a couple with the most conventional meet-cute ever. But what happens when their first night together turns into a crazy one-night stand where they are chased by a serial killer?

“Josh Ruben directed a complex work of pop culture, mixing a perfectly charming romantic comedy with the DNA of a ‘Scream’ cop. The laughs outweigh the scares, but it’s a great twist on the genre for slasher fans, elevated by a supporting cast that includes memorable performances from Gigi Zumbado, Michaela Watkins, Devon Sawa e Jordana Brewster.”

8. “Best Wishes to All”

Kotone Furukawa plays a young woman who visits her grandparents and comes across a very shocking — and seemingly normalized — part of their family history.

“This Japanese horror film is packed with some of the most haunting images brought to screens this year, a nightmare for anyone who can keep their eyes open. Telling a broader story about happiness and class culture, Yuta Shimotsu’s film is most impactful when it sets the tone of a gonzo family drama, turning stunning sacrifices into a family affair.”

7. “Dead Mail”

When a synthesizer expert is kidnapped, he manages to get a desperate letter in the mail, and the amateur detectives at the dead-letter office go on the hunt. Things quickly get complicated for everyone involved.

“Joe DeBoer and Kyle McConaghy’s unique conspiracy mystery feels straight out of the ’80s, with production design and filmmaking reminiscent of a long-forgotten VHS relic.”

6. “The Monkey”

The film is one of Stephen King’s short stories first published in 1980. The story follows twins Bill and Hal who find their father’s old toy monkey in their attic. Soon after the discovery, a series of terrible deaths begin. The brothers then decide to throw the toy away and move on with their lives, distancing themselves from that as the years go by.

“The turnaround of Osgood Perkins following the success of “Longlegs” was this bloody, dark comedy about a toy monkey who brings death and destruction wherever he goes. Theo James is hilarious playing identical twins who try unsuccessfully to keep this malevolent force buried, and some of the year’s most bizarre deaths come courtesy of this furry demon. A cruel and brutal work that will certainly please fans of blood.”

5. “Extermination 3: The Evolution”

“The return of the director Danny Boyle and the screenwriter Alex Garland The zombie franchise is bold, controversial, bloody and one hell of an adventure. Meeting with the director of photography of “Extermination”, Anthony Dod Mantlewho shot much of the film on complex iPhone rigs, the stylish colors and editing keep everything eye-catching. The sleek visuals highlight the disturbing blood and heart-pounding chases, while the young Alfie Williams learns to become a man by sneaking to shoot zombies in an infected zone. Aaron Taylor-Johnson a Ralph Fiennes add grit to their supporting roles.”

4. “Perfect Escort”

A weekend trip turns bloody and violent when a subservient android, raised for human companionship, simply goes crazy.

“Sophie Thatcher is incredible, dealing not only with her manipulative boyfriend (a deliciously smarmy Jack Quaid) but also with the fact that she is not human, and the bloody twists raise the stakes. Underrated in theaters, “Companion” is sure to become a cult favorite once discovered.”

3. “Premonition 6: Blood Ties”

Tormented by a violent and recurring nightmare, college student Stefanie returns home to track down the one person who, perhaps, might be able to break the foretold fatal cycle and save her family from the terrible death that inevitably awaits them all.

“The film felt bigger in scope overall. But ultimately, what worked really well were the sappy, saccharine kills, which were a perfect mix of funny and embarrassing. Mix in a heartfelt farewell to franchise stalwart Tony Todd, and it’s no surprise that this was a hit with critics and audiences alike.”

2. “The Shrouds”

Karsh, 50, is a prominent technology entrepreneur. Inconsolable since the death of his wife Becca, he invents a revolutionary technology: a shroud equipped with cameras that allow family members to maintain visual contact with their deceased loved ones. One night, several coffins are desecrated, including Becca’s. Karsh tries to find those responsible, in the process uncovering a conspiracy that will put his company at risk.

“A depressing synopsis that turns into a prickly story of corporate intrigue, filled with flourishes of body horror and romantic moments as sensual as they are vulnerable. A unique chapter in an incomparable career, “The Shrouds” is a must-see, with the director David Cronenberg reflecting on death with a renowned troupe of actors, including Diane Kruger, Guy Pearce e Sandrine Holt.”

1. “Sinners”

The viewer is taken to the Mississippi Delta region in 1932, a few decades after the end of slavery in the United States, where the black community lives segregated and oppressed by hate groups such as the Ku Klux Klan.

In the plot, Michael B. Jordan plays twin brothers Smoke and Stack, who have just returned to the city and bought a sawmill with the idea of ​​turning it into a blues bar.

“An incredibly confident and imaginative work, writer-director Ryan Coogler has delivered his best film yet with this music-filled horror story. Led by a Michael B. Jordan in his prime as the Smokestack twins, each character in this rich work — which veers into the supernatural when an Irish vampire begins infecting the clientele of the twins’ new bar — could be the anchor of his own film.”