It's not just the Candyman who made his return this year.
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If you don't like having the bejesus scared out of you, this is simply not the place for you. No, this post belongs to the freaks who love a jump scare. Those who live and breathe for the monster that lived under their beds growing up—the tried and true fans of horror. 2021 has given us quite an impressive slate of horror films, ranging from reboots and adaptations to original ideas. And yeah, these are scary times. Who needs horror when there's all this horror around us? That's the joy of this genre though. It's here to take your abject terror and place it in a world that can be turned off at the press of a button.
This year, we've seen horror-comedy gems like Willy's Wonderland and Jakob's Wife. But that's only the start. We've also had follow ups to A Quiet Place, The Conjuring, and the Purge franchise, along with a reimagining of the Saw universe, starring Chris Rock. Chris Rock, we say! Top that off with a touch of Jordan Peele and Nia DaCosta's Candyman and you have all the makings of an incredible year for horror.
Malignant
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Leave it to James Wan to deliver the spooky-season, cinematic thrill ride we've been craving. Although it divided audiences, for us, Malignant is an absolute joy, with an all-chips-in twist that makes it one of the most ambitious horror films of the year.
The Amusem*nt Park
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The Amusem*nt Park is a bit of a technicality, but we'd be remiss if we didn't tip our caps to the master of horror, George Romero. The late director's 1973 film, The Amusem*nt Park, was believed to be lost, until a 16mm print resurfaced and was sent to Romero's family. Now, The Amusem*nt Park has been restored, and Shudder released it to the world over the summer.
Fear Street Part 3: 1666
Really, every film in the Fear Street trilogy deserves a spot on this list. But for now, we'll give the nod to Fear Street Part 3: 1666, which satisfyingly wrapped Netflix's delightful slasher-horror-time-travel-teen adventure.
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Army of the Dead
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Once you've finished Zack Snyder's (approximately) eight-day long version of Justice League, why don't you chase it with something with a little more levity from the director. Army of the Dead is the zombie genre at its best, with as much blood, guts, and gore as your undead heart desires.
The Night House
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Rebecca Hall is a national treasure, of course, and her performance in The Night House is something even you non-horror-heads need to see. Her turn as a recent widow tormented by a haunted house is one of the year's best.
Saint Maud
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Did you think we were going to go long without an A24 screamfest? That'd be a sin. Saint Maud is the studio's horror must-watch this year, telling the story of a caretaker dealing with a religious crisis.
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Willy's Wonderland
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No list of scary movies is complete without a good horror comedy. Cut to: Willy's Wonderland, which some horror film professor will dig up in 2076 and deem a beautiful relic of our hellish world. Willy's Wonderland stars Nic Cage as a janitor who has to fight off all the dark-sided animatronic mascots at a theme park. Reading that sentence should give you the biggest FOMO of your life.
Jakob's Wife
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Forgive us for a minute. One more horror comedy, for you Sam Raimi heads out there. For the record, this isn't directed by Raimi, but the subgenre really doesn't get much better than Jakob's Wife, which sees a minister's wife go the way of the vampire. Sacrilegious antics and bloodsucking ensue.
The Queen of Black Magic
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Now, let's chase Jakob's Wife, as great as it is, with something that's sh*t-your-pants scary. The Queen of Black Magic is the latest horror hit out of Indonesia. Kimo Stamboel’s remake of The Queen of Black Magic is a tale of witchcraft and blood (lots of blood!) that'll fray your nerves for the week. Maybe more.
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The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It
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The Conjuring universe continued with this new sequel, but it’s not just ghosts and apparitions this time. Vera Framiga and Patrick Wilson return as the Warrens, a paranormal investigative couple who must explore a crime committed by a real, human man. So what’s the twist? Oh, just look at the title and take a guess…
Spiral: From the Book of Saw
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A Saw revival? With Chris Rock and Samuel L. Jackson? Help us all. The famed horror franchise got a revamp, with Rock doing double-duty as star and producer. At one point, Samuel L. Jackson says, "You wanna play games motherf*cker?"), then it should be a wild ride.
A Quiet Place: Part II
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Spoiler alert: John Krasinski might have been eaten, but Emily Blunt and her little family of three made a comeback in A Quiet Place: Part II this year. Originally slated for last year, the sequel followed up on the events from the first movie, centering on their world that requires absolute silence, or else monsters will appear and devour you in just a few bites.
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Don't Breathe 2
Everyone just wants to stay home and be left alone, but no. It's always more complicated. When a blind man who has been living in isolation with his daughter for years is tested by his daughter's kidnapping, he has to leave his home to get her back. Can't y'all just let a peaceful man live his life?
Candyman
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Who can make the sun riiiiise? The horrifying franchise called Candyman returns this year, with Nia DaCosta directing and Jordan Peele heading up the writer’s room with Win Rosenfeld. Nearly 30 years after the original, the story has moved to present day. Having only really heard the story of the chilling legacy, a couple opens up the story of Candyman a bit too wide, inviting him and his havoc back into the world.
