Best Horror Films of 2022

Exceptional multi-genre film. Absolutely not what I had expected, and all the better for it! Top-tier work from all involved; acting, directing, cinematography, writing, sound, etc.

It very much has the feel of a Tarantino or Coen brothers film, but mashed together with a modern "elevated" horror movie. It's very drama-led and has some wild tonal shifts, so be prepared for a slow, character-driven film that may be too light on horror for some.

A brilliant drama that plays out a bit like the 'X-Men', except with kids, and in a realistic way.

It has a gentle pace, but is never boring. Great acting, especially from the young cast, and very good production values. An exceptionally well made film that demands a viewing.

Warning: Some scenes are very hard to watch. There's a scene featuring animal cruelty which I found mortifying, I imagine some folks would switch the film off at that point, as I nearly did.

A slow-burning psychological drama. Absolutely harrowing and impeccably acted. Some have found it too slow, but it had me on the edge of my seat throughout! It's pretty heavy going tho, the main themes are psychological trauma and extreme gaslighting, it's definitely not a "good time".

Fantastic drama-horror hybrid with a superb aesthetic and a blinding lead performance by Mia Goth. Won't be for everyone, but I thought it was great!

I actually preferred this to 'X', to which this film is the prequel.

Absolutely loved this film! It's more of a mystery-thriller with some horror elements than a straight-forward horror flick, so you may want to adjust your expectations accordingly.

Excellent cast, unique premise and great production values!

Really good Aussie thriller (or it may be from New Zealand, I can't remember off the top of my head - apologies!) that's very similar to Pearl, also released in 2022. Very violent with a sharp sense of humour. Top stuff!

If you liked Pearl, you'll really like this, too!

Uncomfortable viewing, and quite horrifying.

This is a home invasion thriller that's done in a 'cinema verite' style, which is quite refreshing and makes the film incredibly engrossing and shocking. It definitely stays with you after watching...

Note: This is an extreme 'thriller', and although it's quite horrifying, I wouldn't really class it as a 'horror' film, personally. Just FYI.

Quality film! Very unexpected, surprising and entertaining. Some good scares, gore and a bit of humour. Also has a few nods to 70's and 80's exploitation flicks, I won't say which ones, you'll know when you see it.

Nice slice of 70's exploitation-style weirdness. Leans more towards gross and uncomfortable than scary, so if that's your bag...

Followed in the same year by the prequel 'Pearl'.

While it lacks the sweaty claustrophobia of the original 'Predator', this prequel is a huge step in the right direction. One Predator and one "prey", with the prey having to rely on wits and cunning rather than brute-force to survive. That's what a Predator film should be, and the makers of this film understand that ...it only took 30 years for someone to get it right!

It loses some points due to some really obvious CGI, and there's lots of it.

Another wonderfully off-kilter horror film that starts in one place and ends up somewhere completely different! Weird, funny and with a very nice 70's aesthetic, as well.

Some have bemoaned the huge tonal shift that occurs, preferring the more grounded first act to what comes next, but I swung the other way. Regardless, this is not your average horror movie, so be prepared for something a little different!

Note: This really needed / needs to have a 'comedy' tag. While not exactly 'Zoolander' it really does have lots of genuinely amusing moments.

An entertaining, light-hearted, sci-fi mystery film with a dash of horror. Solid film, very 'Twilight Zone'. Recommended!

A visually stunning fever dream! Nightmarish, grotesque and occasionally darkly comical, this insane animated film is truly something to behold.

On the downside, aside from vague themes of creation and destruction (as well as mans brutality to man), there's very little narrative to latch on to, which is a shame. It makes the film feel longer than it is.

Excellent thriller with a very disturbing climax. Not exactly a barrel of laughs, but a very well-made film.

Some complain the two main characters don't react to their situation(s) in a realistic way, but speaking as a European, this is very accurate to the social-etiquette of some European cultures. Extreme politeness, even in very uncomfortable and unpleasant situations, is a trait that is seen as noble and should be adhered to at all times. This film obviously takes that to the extreme (and beyond), but that's the point. At least that's what I took away from it...

Really good cannibalism film. A good watch if you can "stomach" it!

Drama-thriller-horror hybrid.

Interesting mix of elements that make for a refreshing thriller. Think of Carrie without any supernatural elements and you'll be close to Piggy.

If you can, choose the subtitled version with original Spanish audio, the English dubbing is really, really bad.

Fun film! Found footage horror mixed with The Evil Dead. A few unexpected scares and lots of goofy monsters, all played for laughs.

The humour was a bit irritating at first, but the more I watched the more I warmed to the lead character and the films style of humour.

Well made drama-thriller that's unique enough to stand out in it's sub-genre of horror films.

Quirky sci-fi film with very little horror. Works well as a character-driven drama, as the sci-fi stuff is more window dressing, and the horror is not really there at all.

A very decent watch if you like oddball indie flicks, tho!