Horror fans rejoice! This May, a horde of great horror movies and dark thrillers are headed your way! We’ve got a list so you don’t miss a single one. So, pop some popcorn, put on your favorite PJs, and settle in to watch some movies that are guaranteed to leave you unsettled.
I Saw the TV Glow
May 3 – Theaters
The film takes inspiration from the 1982 classic Poltergeist, where a seemingly harmless television set becomes a conduit for malevolent spirits. However, I Saw the TV Glow goes beyond the haunted technology trope. It offers more than just familiar jump scares. The film weaves contemporary themes of sexuality, gender identity, and social anxieties into its chilling narrative.
Something in the Water
May 3 – VOD/Digital
We meet Meg, a guest attending her old friend Lizzie’s wedding in the Caribbean. Joining her are her pals Cam and Ruth, along with her ex-partner Kayla. The synopsis hints at a dark secret shared by Meg and Kayla – a past encounter with a shark that left them forever marked. Will this shared trauma resurface as they face a new wave of terror together?
New Life
May 3 – VOD/Digital
New Life breaks from traditional horror tropes, offering a deeply personal and suspenseful experience. The film delves into the complexities of human nature and the concept of mortality. The story follows a mysterious woman on the run, played by the talented Hayley Erin (“Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists”). Hot on her heels is a resourceful fixer, portrayed by the ever-impressive Sonya Walger (For All Mankind). As their fates become intertwined, their pursuit takes on an apocalyptic dimension, raising the stakes to a new level.
Imaginary
May 7 – Blu-ray/Digital
The film follows Jessica (DeWanda Wise), who has returned to her childhood home with her family. Her young stepdaughter, Alice (Pyper Braun), unearths a hidden treasure in the basement—a dusty teddy bear named Chauncey. What starts as harmless playtime quickly takes a turn for the worse as Alice becomes increasingly fixated on her new “friend.” Their playful interactions become progressively disturbing, escalating in intensity and revealing a darkness lurking beneath the surface.
Tarot
May 10 – Theaters
The trailer, released by Sony Pictures, offers a glimpse into the terrifying consequences these friends face. Their reckless disregard for the sacred rules of tarot reading unleashes a malevolent entity trapped within the cursed cards. One by one, their destinies unfold in horrifying ways, mirroring the grim predictions foretold in their readings. They are thrust into a desperate fight for survival, racing against time to escape the clutches of their predetermined fates.
Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever
May 17 – Shudder
The original Nightwatch, released in 1994, captivated audiences with its exploration of darkness and the fragility of sanity. The 1997 American remake, starring Ewan McGregor, further solidified the film’s place in horror history. Demons Are Forever promises to deliver a fresh wave of chills while staying true to the unsettling atmosphere of its predecessor.
The story centers on Emma (Fanny Leander Bornedal), a young medical student haunted by a past she barely remembers. Emma takes a night watchman job where her parents were once terrorized by the infamous Inspector Wörmer (played by Coster-Waldau). She unwittingly awakens a dormant evil. Determined to uncover the truth about that fateful night, Emma confronts the deranged Wörmer, reigniting a thirst for vengeance that threatens to consume them all.
Strangers: Chapter One
May 17 Theaters
Get ready for a cross-country road trip gone wrong in this must-see horror movie. Madelaine Petsch (“Riverdale”) and Froy Gutierrez (Hocus Pocus 2) find themselves stranded in a secluded Airbnb. Their idyllic escape takes a horrifying turn when they become the targets of three masked strangers with an insatiable thirst for terror.
You Can’t Run Forever
May 17 – Theaters
Academy Award® winner J.K. Simmons takes on a sinister role as a relentless serial killer. Isabelle Anaya portrays Miranda, a young woman already battling crippling anxiety from a past trauma. When Miranda becomes the target of this ruthless killer, she’s forced to confront both her inner demons and a terrifying external threat.
Thrust into a desperate fight for her life, Miranda is chased through a dense forest. This harrowing struggle unveils a strength within her that she never knew existed. The film explores themes of resilience, the enduring bonds of family, and the remarkable potential of the human spirit to overcome even the most horrifying situations.
In a Violent Nature
May 31 – Shudder
Shudder, the streaming service specializing in all things spooky, is preparing to unleash this beastly gem. In a Violent Nature, which screened at Sundance, follows the “enigmatic resurrection, rampage, and retribution of an undead monster in a remote wilderness.” Sounds intriguing, right? But here’s where things get genuinely unique: we witness the carnage through the monster’s eyes.
Imagine this: a locket unearths a long-buried secret, resurrecting Johnny, a vengeful spirit driven by a 60-year-old crime. Hungry for payback, his decaying body twists and contorts, transforming into a grotesque golem fixated on reclaiming the stolen locket. But his wrath doesn’t stop there. Anyone unfortunate enough to cross his path becomes meat for the grinder in his methodical, one-by-one slaughter spree.
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