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MONTH IN REVIEW: JANUARY 2025

It's not always easy to keep track of the world of horror day-to-day. So here's a round up of what's happened last month and a glimpse of what we can expect in the coming weeks...



The new year kicked off in grand fashion with the release of Robert Eggers’ ambitious retelling of one of the genre’s oldest and most revered classics. While Eggers’ debut feature remains unmatched (The Lighthouse and The Northman were strong efforts but fell short of The Witch), his take on F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu comes remarkably close. Though imbued with a certain coldness, the film is visually breathtaking, dripping with atmosphere, and - despite its gothic trappings - surprisingly laced with camp. Eggers’ meticulous attention to historical detail is second to none, and critics were largely impressed. With a $50 million budget, Universal and Focus took a calculated risk, but Nosferatu has already grossed more than three times that amount, reaffirming the enduring appeal of grand, classical epics. This one truly deserves to be seen on the big screen.


January also (finally) saw the release of Steven C. Miller’s Werewolves, a film we all hoped would have been available a little sooner here in the UK. If the elegance and style of Eggers’ Nosferatu isn’t your thing, then this offers something completely different. It’s a schlocky, high concept actioner with ambitions slightly beyond its means. But it’s got Frank Grillo in – a man who is endlessly watchable and perfect for a film like this. The werewolves themselves are bloody good too.


Speaking of werewolves, another adaptation of a classic monster tale failed to make the same impact as Nosferatu - Leigh Whannell’s Wolf Man. Expectations were high, given Whannell’s exceptional reboot of The Invisible Man in 2020, but alas, Wolf Man falls flat. Earnest yet uninspired, its lacklustre box office performance reflects the tepid critical reception. Despite costing half as much as Nosferatu, it has only just broken even. Though the year has only begun, it is already shaping up to be one of 2024’s biggest disappointments.


Another noteworthy release was The Damned, a folk horror set in a remote 19th-century Icelandic fishing outpost. A perfect fit for fans of A24 and Eggers-style horror, it prioritizes visuals and atmosphere, making it ideal for a cold winter’s night.



Meanwhile, Steven Soderbergh’s Presence debuted on the 24th. At just 85 minutes, it is still something of a slow burn, devoid of big jump scares or nerve-shredding horror. Instead, it takes a more subtle and inventive approach to the ghost story, offering a poignant and refreshing take on the genre. With a modest budget of just a few million, it has already doubled its return.


Looking ahead to February, three upcoming cinema releases should catch genre fans’ attention. First up is Josh Ruben’s Heart Eyes, a slasher about a masked killer with glowing red eyes who returns each Valentine’s Day to terrorise unsuspecting couples. The recent slasher resurgence may have produced mixed results, but hey, their slasher movies, they’re meant to be a bit crap!  A week later, The Monkey arrives in theaters, carrying significant buzz thanks to its impressive creative team. Based on a Stephen King story, produced by James Wan, and directed by Osgood Perkins (Longlegs), expectations are high. Hopefully, it delivers. Finally, Bryan Bertino’s Vicious is slated for release on the 28th - though given its shifting release date, that remains uncertain.

Beyond these theatrical releases, Elric Kane’s debut feature The Dead Thing lands on Shudder on the 14th, having garnered solid festival reviews. Meanwhile, Nosferatu-inspired thriller The Last Voyage of the Demeter (directed by André Øvredal of The Autopsy of Jane Doe) is set to premiere on Paramount+. Physical media fans can also look forward to Heretic’s Blu-ray release on the 24th.


In industry news, the sixth and final Insidious film was originally scheduled for this summer but has been delayed by a year, much to the disappointment of fans. While imperfect, the franchise has consistently delivered solid horror entertainment.


Robert Eggers remains in the spotlight following Nosferatu’s success, with two new projects already in the works. First up is Werwulf, a werewolf thriller set in 13th-century England, featuring dialogue in Old English (naturally). After that, Eggers will co-write a sequel to Jim Henson’s cult fantasy film Labyrinth alongside Icelandic poet Sjón, who previously collaborated on The Northman. Eggers will direct too, obvs.


Columbia’s comedic reimagining of Anaconda added a couple more faces to the project, with news that Thandiwe Newton and Steve Zahn have signed up. They join Paul Rudd and Jack Black on what is going to feel like some kind of early noughties reunion when these guys were at the peak of their powers. Just don’t think about getting Jon Voight involved…

 

Dexter origin story series New Blood has performed relatively well and fans of the show will be happy to hear that Michael C.Hall will be starring in a brand new season called Dexter: Resurrection which has already begun filming. It’ll follow on from New Blood, which aired back in 2021. It’s quite mad to think that the original Dexter first aired back in 2006 – that’s nearly 20 years ago! Obviously people still can’t get enough!


In remake news, reactions will likely range from mild excitement to outright despair. Warner Bros. and Chris Columbus are reportedly developing a new Gremlins movie - hardly surprising given the years of speculation. Meanwhile, the 1998 sci-fi horror The Faculty is also set for a reboot. Original director Robert Rodriguez will produce, with Companion writer Drew Hancock penning the script. Expect woke social commentary, plenty of snark, and probably an overabundance of smartphone usage (kidding!).



Slasher fans rejoice! Prolific author RL Stine has said that three more Fear Street movies are in the works. A Netflix trilogy in 2021 went down rather well (even if weren’t overly impressed ourselves) and a fourth film, Prom Queen, is already set for release this year. So, expect more visits to Fear Street over the next few years (unless they plan to dump a load in one go that is)


Finally, the horror community mourned the passing of David Lynch. While much of his work veered toward the surreal rather than pure horror, his influence on the genre was profound. Twin Peaks remains one of the most fascinating television series ever made, while films like Mulholland Drive and Lost Highway cemented his legacy. Eccentric yet beloved, Lynch leaves behind an indelible mark on cinema.


As for trailers, several notable ones dropped in January. Bloat looks like an intriguing screen-life horror with J-horror influences, while Christopher Landon’s Drop explores a disastrous first date. Finn Wolfhard (who somehow isn’t 14 anymore) makes his directorial debut with the summer camp slasher Hell of a Summer, which could be a fun addition to the genre. Meanwhile, Paul W.S. Anderson returns with action-packed fantasy fare, this time with Dave Bautista and Milla Jovovich (of course!) in In the Lost Lands. Finally, David F. Sandberg’s Until Dawn adaptation looks promising - a time-loop horror thriller reminiscent of Happy Death Day, but with a more serious tone.


That wraps up January. Spring is just around the corner now, make the most of the cold, wintry nights while you can! Take the opportunity to watch as many snow set horrors as you can. Like The Thing and The Shining and The Lodge. Well, maybe not the last one because it’s so depressing. Because before too long it’ll be sunshine and hotpants and we’ll all be watching Friday 13th movies again! (that’s not a bad thing actually)

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