10 Great Modern Horror Movies to Watch This Halloween (That We Think You’ve Never Seen) – 2026 Edition
For the 7th year in a row, we want to talk about modern horrors we think you should definitely be checking out this Halloween season. Movies that you may have missed, movies that delighted us and movies we think are good enough to recommend. Now, our definition of modern is ‘released’ in the last 5 to 6 years. Some might be brand-new (released this year), others may be a couple of years old, and we’ve just got round to mentioning them now.
In 2020, we recommended Dinner Party, Stairs, The Night Eats the World, We Are the Missing, Room for Rent, The Good Things Devils Do, Racoon Valley, Terrifer, The Void and Butterfly Kisses. You can read that full article here.
In 2021, we recommended Till Death, Slashorette Party, Bloody Hell, Paintball Massacre, Don’t Look Back, After Midnight, Yummy, Oxygen, Killer Rack and Savageland. You can read that full article here.
In 2022 we recommended Torn Hearts, Hellarious, Vicious Fun, Broadcast Signal Intrusion, Knocking, No One Gets Out Alive, Horror in the High Desert, Slumber Party Massacre – Remake, Becoming Death, and Anything for Jackson. You can read that full article here.
In 2023 we recommended Tailgate, Scare Package, Brain Freeze, Scare Package II: Rad Chad’s Revenge, Virus:32, Glorious, Deadstream, Mind Leech, Craving, and Older Gods. You can read that full article here.
In 2024 we recommended Compression, Im Wald, Schism, Stupid Games, Blight, The People in the Walls, Infested, MadS, When Evil Lurks, and Chompy and the Girls. You can read that full article here.
In 2025 we recommended Good Boy, Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare, 825 Forest Road, Popeye the Slayer Man, The North Witch, The Rule of Jenny Pen, The Soul Eater, Horror in the High Desert 3: Firewatch, Bad Fish, and Azrael. You can read that full article here.
So, what are we recommending for 2026? Read on to find out!
Frogman – 2023
Do you know the legend of The Loveland Frog? It is a tale about a 4-foot-tall frog-like humanoid that has been, allegedly, spotted in Loveland, Ohio since 1955.
I love legends like this and love that they can inspire horror creators, but I really love it when what we get from these mad stories, ends up being really good. That is the case here with Frogman, a feat made even more impressive by the fact that it is a found footage horror too.
Read the full review here.
My Only Friend’s A Corpse – 2025
My Only Friend’s A Corpse is a horror comedy with heart. Delivering a memorable experience that comes in at a tight 70 minutes.
My Only Friend’s A Corpse was a nice surprise. You never know what you’re going to get with indie horror, especially one crossed with comedy, and one coming from a first-time director. Yet, it’s clear a ton of effort was put into making it an unforgettable watch, something that extends to other important areas such as the score (I also really like how the film is lit).
Read the full review here.
Else – 2024
Else is film that stays with you, even if I’m not entirely sure why. It’s experimental; blending surrealism, romance and body horror, but doing it in a way that feels quite static. If you’re looking for an eventful film, you’ve come to the wrong place. Yet, it’s so arresting, it’s impossible to forget.
Else is a film you’ll struggle to tear your eyes away from, no matter how uncomfortable it makes you feel. It’s not just the horror that’s on display that makes it so effective, it’s the evolving mood and ever-growing sense of darkness.
Read the full review here.
The Deep Dark – 2023
The Deep Dark is a delightful subterranean horror film that combines history and fantasy, while throwing in a dash of Lovecraftian cosmic horror too. It’s an experience that can be described as immersive, and a lot of its shortcomings can easily be overlooked.
Read the full review here.
Satan’s Cellar – 2026
Satan’s Cellar is a riotous ride of anthology horror paying tribute to a wide range of media that came before. Horror fans will have a lot of fun picking out the detail and references throughout.
All of this is complimented by a soundtrack that fits the tone, never feels forced, and is genuinely good to listen too. Although for those who know Lesbian Bed Death, that should be no surprise.
Go into it with an open mind and see it for what it is, and you’ll have so much fun.
Read the full review here.
Dolly – 2026
A couple coming across a psychotic killer wearing a doll’s head while hiking in the woods isn’t the most exciting of premises, but thankfully Dolly rises above this to be a thoroughly entertaining watch. One with a grindhouse/70s slasher feel, and one that delivers plenty of violence, gore, and harrowing moments.
Read the full review here.
The Severed Sun – 2024
A slow-burn, narrative-driven British folk horror can go one of two ways. We can get something iconic like The Wicker Man, or we can get something hilariously bad like The Wicker Tree. Often, sadly, it’s the latter that we get but every once in a while, we get something like The Severed Sun. A compelling watch with an interesting set of characters and a story that stands out.
Read the full review here.
Don’t Answer – 2025
A simple idea playing out in predictable fashion doesn’t stop Don’t Answer being a thoroughly enjoyable film. One that focuses on the fun aspects of a slasher, doesn’t get overly preachy about systematic failures in the care/prison system, makes a point about how we really don’t know who were inviting into our homes when it comes to deliveries, and has two leads actors who nail their roles.
Read the full review here.
Within the Pines – 2024
The film is extremely compelling, putting us alongside the main character, Sam, in a ‘sort of’ silent companion role. His peaceful experience in the forest is our peaceful experience in the forest. His confusion, fear, and panic once the second act kicks in, is our confusion, fear and panic. The way in which the forest twists afterwards, becoming dark and dangerous, is an aspect we experience too. It’s not just Sam who is filled with dread, we are too. Within the Pines is a sensory experience and, happily, it pays off this immersion with a powerful and effective ending too.
Read the full review here.
Pandemonium – 2023
Writer and director Quarxx takes a freeform look at hell and what suffering can look like from a metaphysical point of view with Pandemonium. A French horror film that is an anthology of sorts but told in disconnected fashion. It looks great, has interesting stories that deal with heavy topics, and a very strong cast across the board, but the lack of cohesion between the stories makes it a challenging watch from a complete film perspective.
Read the full review here.
