30 best horror movies from 2023 and 2022 to watch this Halloween

Halloween is quickly approaching, you’ve got a million-and-one things to do before the big day, and you’ve not even thought about when you’ll fit in time for some pumpkin carving. But let’s be honest, pumpkin carving or no pumpkin carving, all you really want to do is watch some horror films – and not just any horror films, but some ruddy good ones worthy of your time!

How many times have you sat down to watch a horror film at Halloween and discovered it’s a steaming pile of pants? Answer: Probably on more occasions than you wish to admit.

So, for this reason alone, I am chucking 30 horror movies your way, to help take out (some of) the hassle of Halloween. These film selections are from 2022 and 2023 ONLY, which means they are all relatively recent movie suggestions.

Below you will find a list of all 30 movies, which should give you plenty of ideas for what to watch this spooky season. The films on this list range from supernatural stories to gorefests and lots more in between!

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Talk to Me (2022)

First up is a thoroughly engrossing, perfectly paced Australian horror movie from directors Danny and Michael Philippou. The film is Talk to Me – a supernatural horror-thriller about a young woman called Mia, who finds herself opening up a door to the spirit world that she cannot close.

In the film, Mia takes part in séance which allows her to see the dead. However, shortly after the séance Mia discovers some dark forces from the other-side are infiltrating her world and bringing life-changing consequences for herself, and her nearest-and-dearest.

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Evil Dead Rise (2023)

Up next is the gore-tastic horror movie, Evil Dead Rise. The film – from writer/director Lee Cronin – follows the story of a young family who encounter a demonic force that brutaly attacks them in their own home.

Filled with buckets of blood, and with its tongue firmly in cheek, Evil Dead Rise is a fantastic and unnerving horror. Newcomers to the Evil Dead film series will find it an easily accessible way in, while old hands will be pleased that Cronin has delivered something very satisfying.

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Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)

In Bodies Bodies Bodies, a group of friends gather together at a mansion for a ‘hurricane party’, and soon embark on a seemingly innocent murder-mystery game. But when one of the friends ends up dead, the group begins to fall apart as they question who is responsible.

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Speak No Evil (2022)

In horror movie, Speak No Evil, Danish couple Bjørn and Louise are on holiday with their young daughter when they meet Dutch couple, Patrick and Karin. A few months later, after both couples have returned home, Bjørn and Louise receive a postcard from Patrick and Karin, with an invite to travel to Holland to spend a weekend at their home.

But over the course of the weekend, Patrick and Karin begin to demonstrate some unusual behaviour, in this excellent and atmospheric horror. Speak No Evil is deliciously dark, at times very unnerving, and by the end truly horrifying.

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The Blackenining (2023)

In comedy-horror, The Blackening, it’s the Juneteenth weekend in the US, and a collection of friends gather together at a cabin in the woods for some rest and relaxation. But soon the friends become caught up in a fight for survival against a masked killer.

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Tin & Tina (2023)

After adopting two children named Tin & Tina, new parents Adolfo and Lola soon find themselves heading down a dark path. There’s something not quite right about Tin & Tina, in this Spanish psychological horror-thriller, but will Adolfo and Lola turn their backs on their new children?

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Renfield (2023)

Following years of servitude to his master, Count Dracula, long-suffering manservant, Renfield finds himself questioning his own existence in this likeable action-horror-comedy. Nicholas Hoult takes on the title role, while Nicolas Cage hams it up as Dracula.

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The Pope’s Exorcist (2023)

Russell Crowe chews the scenery and delivers an enjoyable turn as Father Gabriele Amorth in this simple, yet effective supernatural horror. The Pope’s Exorcist walks familiar terrain, but does so with plenty of style and a fair bit of swagger from Crowe.

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Scream (2022)

In 2022’s Scream, the iconic horror franchise gets a fresh cast for more slice-and-dice fun with Ghostface. The killer is back bumping off a new bunch of teens, while bringing back some familiar faces in the process, for this murder-mystery slasher.

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Scream VI (2023)

Hot on the heels of Scream (see above) is Scream VI – the sixth entry in the popular slasher franchise. In this instalment, the survivors of Scream battle Ghostface once again, only this time around the masked killer appears far more confident and brazen in their killing spree.

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X (2022)

In X, the year is 1979 and a group of filmmakers head off to a secluded farm in Texas to shoot a no-budget skin flick. But what starts out as a seemingly straight-forward film shoot soon turns into something sinister, with bodies piling high.

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Pearl (2022)

Created as a prequel to the events of X (see above), Pearl follows the story of a young woman whose life appears to revolve around her family farm. But this woman harbours a secret which sets her off down a dark path.

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Cocaine Bear (2023)

Played for laughs, and loosely inspired by true events, Cocaine Bear is an action horror-comedy about a 500lb American black bear who snorts a bag of cocaine, then goes on a drug-fuelled rampage. Chaos and killing soon follows, with the bear picking off victims with careless abandon.

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Knock at the Cabin (2023)

In M. Night Shyamalan’s Knock at the Cabin, Eric and Andrew take their seven-year-old daughter Wen, to a remote cabin in the woods for some rest and relaxation. But shortly after they arrive, four strangers turn up at the cabin, demanding to be let inside.

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M3GAN (2022)

Mixing superb satire with plenty of kills, M3GAN tells the story of an artificially intelligent robot who becomes a crazed murderer. The movie features a sharp script, a strong central antagonist, and some enjoyable humour.

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Nope (2022)

Written, directed, and co-produced by Jordan Peele, Nope stars Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, Steven Yeun, Brandon Perea, and Michael Wincott. The movie is a sci-fi horror about two siblings who attempt to capture proof of an unidentified flying object.

Prey (2022)

Conceived as a prequel to the 1987 action-horror movie, Predator, Prey presents a back-to-basics tale about humanity’s first brush with the alien hunters. The film – directed by Dan Trachtenberg – stars Amber Midthunder and Dane DiLiegro and is set in 1719 amongst the Northern Great Plains.

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Virus 32 (2022)

In Uruguayan horror movie, Virus: 32, a young mother takes her daughter to work with her, only to find herself in the midst of a zombie attack. The film offers a short, sharp zombie story which doesn’t get bogged down in too much plot or exposition, but instead offers up the right amount of action and drama.

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A Haunting in Venice (2023)

Something a little different now, as this isn’t a horror movie, but rather a supernatural whodunnit. The film is A Haunting in Venice, a macabre murder-mystery movie which sees Hercule Poirot putting his detective skills to good use in a spooky picture which is perfect for Halloween.

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Hollywood Dreams and Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story (2023)

Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story, is a docu-movie which serves up a detailed look at the life and career of actor, director, and horror icon, Robert Englund. The movie is directed by Christopher Griffiths and Gary Smart and takes a detailed look at his many roles, including his signature turn as Freddy Krueger.

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Cobweb (2023)

In mystery horror movie, Cobweb, it is a week until Halloween and in the town of Holdenfield, 8-year-old Peter is woken up by a strange noise in his bedroom. After investigating the noise, Peter believes it is coming from behind the bedroom wall, but is he really hearing voices?

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Bones and All (2022)

In Bones and All, 18-year-old Maren Yearly flees from a sleepover after she bites her friend’s finger in a seemingly cannibalistic attack. This incident soon leads Maren on a life-changing journey and an encounter with the enigmatic Lee, in this slow-burning horror-drama.

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Hellraiser (2022)

After a succession of underwhelming or simply awful sequels, the Hellraiser franchise gets a much-needed reboot via 2022’s Hellraiser. The film follows a new lead, and introduces a new Pinhead, while ensuring the story is instantly accessible for a new generation.

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The Curse of Bridge Hollow (2022)

A change of pace for this next entry, which is a family-friendly supernatural movie ideal for audiences of all ages. The movie follows the story of a young family who relocate to the town of Bridge Hollow over Halloween, and encounter zany zombies and a cavalcade of dark decorations.

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Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)

Sticking with the family-friendly theme for this next movie – the Disney horror-comedy, Hocus Pocus 2. Picking up three decades after the events of the original, the Sanderson Sisters return to the town of Salem to cause more chaos.

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Smile (2022)

In psychological horror, Smile, a young woman is haunted by a supernatural presence. Sosie Bacon, Kyle Gallner, Jessie T. Usher, and Kal Penn star, while Parker Finn writes and directs.

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Fresh (2022)

In black-comedy horror, Fresh, a young woman called Noa is playing the dating game when she stumbles across a charming man named Steve. However, Steve may not be the true gent he appears to be, in this dark little tale starring Daisey Edgar-Jones and Sebastian Stan.

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WarHunt (2022)

Daft in places, but highly enjoyable, WarHunt is a supernatural horror movie set during the end days of World War II. The film is a low-budget picture, which really shouldn’t work, but if you go with it (and overlook Mickey Rourke in an eye-patch) you’ll have fun.

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When Evil Lurks (2023)

Directed by Demián Rugn, When Evil Lurks is an Argentinian horror movie about two brothers who cross paths with a demon. During the events of the film they attempt to outrun the dark force, but gradually they realise this is simply impossible.

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Saw X (2023)

And finally, devised as an ‘inbetween’ entry in the Saw franchise, which takes place between the events of 2004’s Saw and 2005’s Saw II, Saw X sees John Krammer dishing out death traps while also dealing with his own battle against cancer. Tobin Bell reprises the role of Krammer, and delivers his best Saw performance to date, in this effective horror.

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Recap

The 30 best horror movies from 2022 and 2023 are as follows:

• Talk to Me (2022)
• Evil Dead Rise (2023)
• Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
• Speak No Evil (2022)
• The Blackenining (2023)
• Tin & Tina (2023)
• Renfield (2023)
• The Pope’s Exorcist (2023)
• Scream (2022)
• Scream VI (2023)
• X (2022)
• Pearl (2022)
• Cocaine Bear (2023)
• Knock at the Cabin (2023)
• M3GAN (2022)
• Nope (2022)
• Prey (2022)
• Virus 32 (2022)
• A Haunting in Venice (2023)
• Hollywood Dreams and Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story (2023)
• Cobweb (2023)
• Bones and All (2022)
• Hellraiser (2022)
• The Curse of Bridge Hollow (2022)
• Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)
• Smile (2022)
• Fresh (2022)
• WarHunt (2022)
• When Evil Lurks (2023)
• Saw X (2023)

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Thank you for stopping by It’s A Stampede! to read this post about the best horror movies from 2022 and 2023 – I hope it has proved useful. For more useful posts, be sure to check out the recommended reads below.