1. Five Nights at Freddy’s 2023，IMDB Rating: 5.4, IMDB Votes: 100173, ID: 4589218 Photo by gameblast.com.br, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Five Nights at Freddy’s is a family-friendly horror thriller about a security guard who discovers and must defend himself from a gang of creepy animal robots. The movie is adapted from the popular video games by three co-writers: series creator Scott Cawthon, director Emma Tammi, and Scott Cuddeback. It’s pretty bloody for a PG-13-rated horror movie, though it’s probably not as grisly as you might expect if you’ve played the games. The movie often feels like a pre-teen dream of what a horror movie should be, full of incidental details that tease deeper and stranger avenues to be explored in future spinoffs.
2. Talk to Me 2022，IMDB Rating: 7.1, IMDB Votes: 156263, ID: 10638522 Photo by wikipedia.org, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Talk to Me is a genre-bending movie that defies simple definitions. At first, writer-director John Rosman’s feature debut presents itself as an engaging cat and mouse game played by Sonya Walger and Hayley Erin that doesn’t seem like it will add something new to spy thriller conventions. As it turns out, though, that’s part of Talk to Me’s charm, with big second-act revelations pushing Rosman’s feature straight into horror territory and changing the story’s stakes.
3. Thanksgiving 2023，IMDB Rating: 6.3, IMDB Votes: 56370, ID: 1448754 Photo by wikipedia.org, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Thanksgiving 2023 is a horror film that delivers a thrilling experience. It’s pure in its nastiness and has more in common with ‘80s films. The film’s plot revolves around a Black Friday sale that turns deadly, leading to a series of brutal satiric beats. Despite its gruesome nature, the film is surprisingly engaging and entertaining.
4. The Nun II 2023，IMDB Rating: 5.6, IMDB Votes: 62032, ID: 10160976 Photo by gwigwi.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 The Nun II, despite its shortcomings, is a remarkable improvement over its predecessor. It follows Sister Irene five years after the first film’s events, as she and a newbie nun face a test of faith. The film is less compelling as it progresses, losing touch with its initial power. However, it redeems the franchise by delivering a captivating story with genuine scares.
5. Haunted Mansion 2023，IMDB Rating: 6.0, IMDB Votes: 44033, ID: 1695843 Photo by wikipedia.org, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Haunted Mansion 2023 is a star-studded film that unfortunately falls short in execution. The film follows a single mother and her son who move into an antique house, only to discover its spirited tenants. Despite its fun-loving origins and a few playful chases, the film’s pace is stuttering and it becomes less compelling as it progresses.
6. Saw X 2023，IMDB Rating: 6.6, IMDB Votes: 79661, ID: 21807222 Photo by wikipedia.org, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Saw X is a refreshing entry in the long-running franchise. It takes a back-to-basics approach by going back in time and making the menacing Jigsaw killer, John Kramer, the protagonist. The film is filled with plentiful twists and stomach-churning traps. Despite being the 10th chapter, it’s considered one of the best Saw sequels in years.
7. A Haunting in Venice 2023，IMDB Rating: 6.5, IMDB Votes: 117639, ID: 22687790 Photo by bundabergnow.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 A Haunting in Venice is a masterful blend of mystery and horror, with Kenneth Branagh’s Hercule Poirot at the helm. The film’s clever reinvention of Agatha Christie’s Hallowe’en Party is a visual treat, with its setting in a palazzo that’s as immense as Castle Elsinore. The supernatural elements, coupled with the film’s empathetic portrayal of the death-haunted mentality of people from Branagh’s parents’ generation, make it a standout.
9. Totally Killer 2023，IMDB Rating: 6.5, IMDB Votes: 54413, ID: 11426232 Photo by wikipedia.org, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Totally Killer is a cheeky mashup of horror and sci-fi, with a Back to the Future-inspired slasher twist. Director Nahnatchka Khan delivers a fish-out-of-water comedy filled with amusing one-liners and time-travel sci-fi that actually makes sense. Despite its weak horror element, the film remains enjoyable throughout, largely due to the engaging presence of Kiernan Shipka.
10. Dream Scenario 2023，IMDB Rating: 6.9, IMDB Votes: 66483, ID: 21942866 Photo by fortworthreport.org, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Dream Scenario is a peculiar film that explores the concept of a man appearing in the dreams of others. Nicolas Cage delivers an excellent performance as Paul Matthews, an evolutionary biology professor who becomes a phenomenon and then a pariah when everyone’s dreams co-starring him become violent. The film is funny and satirical, offering a clear-eyed look at the insularity of small-town life.
11. Til Death Do Us Part 2023，IMDB Rating: 3.8, IMDB Votes: 5889, ID: 27047448 Photo by wikipedia.org, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Til Death Do Us Part is a horror/action thriller that fails to deliver on its promise. The film’s attempts to surprise the audience are constantly sabotaged by cliché, lacking any unexpected twists or surprises. Despite its flaws, the film’s premise of a runaway bride fighting for survival against her vengeful former fiancé and his seven deadly groomsmen is intriguing.
12. Cobweb 2023，IMDB Rating: 5.9, IMDB Votes: 34826, ID: 9100018 Photo by wikipedia.org, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 ‘Cobweb’ is a suspenseful horror film that revolves around a young boy named Peter who is plagued by a mysterious tapping from inside his bedroom wall. Despite some pacing issues and convoluted editing, the film succeeds in creating a chilling atmosphere. The film’s strength lies in its use of sound and the intelligent and strategic moves of its protagonist, Brynn. However, the film’s ending could have been better.
13. No One Will Save You 2023，IMDB Rating: 6.3, IMDB Votes: 68031, ID: 14509110 Photo by wikipedia.org, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 ‘No One Will Save You’ is a sci-fi horror film that showcases the isolation and fear of its protagonist, Brynn. The film’s strength lies in its creative use of sound and the physical performance of its lead actress, Kaitlyn Dever. However, the film’s lack of narrative context and its tiring cycle of capture, release, and recapture sequences can be frustrating. Despite these shortcomings, the film provides a thrilling experience.
Your Guide to 2023’s Best Horror: 13 Spine-Chillers That Will Keep You Up All Night
