Best and Worst Horror Movies of 2023 so far
With just 6 months left of 2023 is time to revisit all the horror releases that we have seen so far. From January to June 2023 56 horror movies have been released giving a little of everything for every horror fan.
We had the return of big franchises like Evil Dead with Evil Dead Rise, the continuation of the Scream franchise with Scream 6, and original horror like M3GAN, Huesera: The Bone Woman, Infinity Pool, and more. As expected, some of them have been praised by the critics and rejected by the audience and others the total opposite.
But at the end 2023 has brought horror movies that we will never forget. Here’s the best and worst horror movies of 2023 so far based in my personal rating and opinions.
Top 10 Best Horror Movies of 2023 so far
Scream 6 – 4.5/5
In the next installment, the survivors of the Ghostface killings leave Woodsboro behind and start a fresh chapter in New York City.
Film synopsis
Ghostface has arrived to the big apple. Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, written by James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick, and with the original franchise writer and creator Kevin Williamson as executive producer Scream 6 is an American horror slasher film being the sixth installment in the Scream franchise and a direct sequel of Scream (2022). This is the second film in the franchise that is not directed by Wes Craven after he passed away in 2014.
A year after the events of Scream (2022) the survivors find themselves in New York trying to move on and forget about Ghostface. Unfortunately for them, the masked killer has followed their steps and hides in the crowd waiting for the right moment to attack. None of the characters are safe as the film reminds us that legacy characters can be killed too.
Scream 6 has the best opening scene after Scream (1996) with Drew Barrymore. It’s brutal, gory, has a mid scene plot twist, and sets the tone for the rest of the film. The film continues the franchise consistency in black comedy and satirizes the slasher subgenre and the trend of film franchises. The return of Kirby Reed and Gale Weather’s first phone call with Ghostface will please fans since both have been awaited for a long time. Jenna Ortega delivers once again a remarkable performance and next to Melissa Barrera both are set as future scream queens.
Taking the story out of Woodsboro makes the film feel fresh and bringing it back to college resembles Scream 2 (1997). The writers took advantage of the new setting creating tense and creative chase scenes, as an example is the subway scene / Mindy attack and the convenient store both featured in the teasers and marketing material. We have the most brutal and dangerous Ghostface yet, with a socking reveal and plot twist. Fans will enjoy the latest installment in one of the best and most solid horror franchises in cinema history.
Evil Dead Rise – 4/5
A twisted tale of two estranged sisters whose reunion is cut short by the rise of flesh-possessing demons, thrusting them into a primal battle for survival as they face the most nightmarish version of family imaginable.
Film synopsis
Mommy’s with the maggots now. Evil Dead Rise is a 2023 American supernatural horror film written and directed by Lee Cronin (The Hole in the Ground) and produced by Robert Tapert. It is the fifth installment of the Evil Dead film franchise. Originally set for a streaming-only release on HBO Max, the film was switched to a theatrical release in August 2022 having its premiere at SXSW (South By Southwest) on March 15, 2023, and is scheduled to be released in theaters the United States on April 21, by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Feeling like a love letter to the franchise soaked in blood Evil Dead Rise takes the best elements from the original trilogy and the 2013 remake to create another good entry in the franchise. Fun, groovy, intense, and gory are the best words to describe the fifth film in the franchise that continues the legacy the best way possible. Just like Scream VI (2023) did, Evil Dead Rise changes the usual setting taking us out from a cabin in the woods and trapping us in a apartment complex in the city until dawn.
The entire cast delivers a good performance, but Alyssa Sutherland as Ellie is the best one of all. Switching between a loving mother and the host of a demon, Sutherland’s performance will haunt you in your dreams. The marketing team did a good job hiding all the good parts of the film in the trailers making the watching experience even better. Unfortunately, not everything is perfect since the ending can turn predictable. But, taking that aside Evil Dead Rise is the return to the big screen that the franchise and fans deserved and i’m sure that is one of the best horror movies of 2023.
M3GAN – 4/5
A robotics engineer at a toy company builds a life-like doll that begins to take on a life of its own.
Film synopsis
If there’s one thing that the movies has show us over the years is that technology can turn very dangerous very soon. M3GAN takes that with a twist and puts it in on a cute life-like doll that is supposed to turn into a child’s best friend and best toy ever. M3GAN is a science fiction horror movie directed by Gerard Johnstone and co written by Akela Cooper and James Wan.
While it has some story inconsistencies, and the acting may not be outstanding, M3GAN takes a step forward and bring us the best way to start 2023 horror movies speaking. This science fiction horror film is self aware of how ridiculous it can be, and that is camp, but it embrace it and let you know that they know. Killer dolls have been in movies for a long time and have turn into an easy way to scare an audience. This concept may not be new and even the concept of evil robots but M3GAN makes it feel like it.
The purpose of M3GAN is not to scare you but to make you fear how advance technology has turned. The possibilities of an artificial intelligence system like M3GAN is not that far from reality. While it has some jump scares along the way is not the main source for scaring. The last act can be the most ridiculous but is enjoyable and fun, closing the experience with an intense and laughable situation. The very last scene can be predicted, but still leaves you with questions waiting for an answer. A sequel is by far not in the books and it should stay like that, or it could take away some of the unique essence of the film.
Huesera: The Bone Woman – 4/5
Valeria has long dreamed about becoming a mother. After learning that she’s pregnant, she expects to feel happy, yet something’s off.
Film synopsis
Pregnancy and motherhood can be a beautiful experience for a woman or it can turn into their worst nightmare. Huesera: The Bone Woman is a supernatural body horror film directed and co-written by Michelle Garza Cervera in her feature film directorial debut. The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival on 9 June 2022 winning the Best New Narrative Director and Nora Ephron awards.
For Valeria, becoming a mother is her biggest goal and desire. But, not everything is color pink after receiving the big news that she’s in fact pregnant. Everything and everyone around her turns into a negative energy that forces Valeria to return to her past and dig up her real desires and identity. The exploration of motherhood is a well known subject in the horror genre since the release of Rosemary’s Baby back in 1968. After that we have seen it over and over with the same outcome but this time the director brings a whole new perspective and approach creating a powerful and haunting horror film.
Huesera (The Bone Woman) takes motherhood and combines it with Mexican myths, folklore and body horror. This added to the outstanding performance of Natalia Solián as Valeria and mesmerizing cinematography, turns Huesera into one of the best Mexican horror films ever made. The film relies heavily in symbolism, specifically spiders, Mexican religious beliefs and superstitions instead of just jumps scares creating a tense and heavy atmosphere. Natalia Solián carries the film and gives a convincing and memorable performance throughout the whole film without missing a bit. Her struggle to find her true self and happiness can be felt creating an emotional connection with the viewer.
The internal battle of Valeria and her family situations that are presented are relatable and real life experiences that any woman could have in her life. Huesera feels genuine, and its a raw representation of how the expectations of everyone around you can force you to a life that you don’t want but you’re convinced that is the right path in life.
Renfield – 4/5
Renfield, Dracula’s henchman and inmate at the lunatic asylum for decades, longs for a life away from the Count, his various demands, and all of the bloodshed that comes with them.
Film synopsis
Being the assistant of a vampire can be a fun job at the beginning but it can turn into a nightmare. Renfield is a 2023 American supernatural comedy horror film directed and produced by Chris McKay (The Lego Batman Movie, The Tomorrow War) and written by Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead) featuring characters from the 1897 novel Dracula by Bram Stoker, it serves as a direct sequel to Dracula (1931). The film had its world premiere at the Overlook Film Festival on March 30, 2023, and was released in theaters in the United States on April 14, 2023.
After decades of being Dracula’s assistant, Renfield ends in a 12-step self-help group for co-dependency with a macabre plan but quickly realizes that he in fact needs a support group. Ending in the middle of the police and the biggest mafia family in the city Renfield joins forces with the traffic cop Rebecca Quincy to finally get out of his life lasting job.
If I had to describe this film in one word it would be fun. Renfield has a duration of 1 hour and 30 minutes that felt less than that. The fast pace of the story will hook you from the very beginning and by the time that is done you don’t even realize it. Nicolas Cage as Dracula is the right cast, it’s noticeable that he enjoyed playing this enigmatic character. Nicholas Hoult and Awkwafina had a good chemistry with the perfect balance of comedy and drama. The film has some fighting sequences that are once again the perfect balance between “campy” comedy and action.
The gore level is the expected for a vampire’s film with a well made job by the makeup department, especially the fx makeup used in Cage and Hoult. Overall this is a film to sit back, relax, and enjoy. It’s simple, straight to the point, funny, and enjoyable. This is the comeback that the character needed after the failure of Universal’s Dark Universe. Enjoy this modern take of Dracula and his assistant now available in theaters.
Cocaine Bear – 4/5
An oddball group of cops, criminals, tourists and teens converge on a Georgia forest where a huge black bear goes on a murderous rampage after unintentionally ingesting cocaine.
Film synopsis
A bizarre situation that turn out to be true. Back on September 11, 1985 a black American bear, later known as Cocaine Bear, overdosed on cocaine that was dropped by the Kentucky-based drug smuggler Andrew C. Thornton II in the wilderness in Tennessee, United States. The bear was found dead on December 23, 2023. The film was announced by Universal Pictures on March 2019 and released on February 24, 2023.
Cocaine Bear is as ridiculous as the title but surprisingly enjoyable, and an actual good black-comedy horror movie. The combination of a talented cast with a solid script creates a fun cinematic experience. The film is exactly what the trailers showed, nothing more nothing less. It’s a film about a bear doing cocaine, expecting seriousness can lead to disappointment. The story is simple, straight forward, and with enough development to care about the characters and they outcomes without unnecessary filler scenes.
If this is your type of comedy don’t walk but run to movie theaters and enjoy this ridiculous cheesy but well made comedy horror. Elizabeth Banks brings the best and funniest side of the cast even with the creative liberties that the film takes since its not confirmed that the bear killed somebody after consuming the cocaine.
Clock – 4/5
A woman enrolls in a clinical trial to try and fix her seemingly broken biological clock after friends, family, and society pressures her to have children.
Film synopsis
Being a mother can be a beautiful experience, but only if your really desire it. Clock is a 2023 science fiction horror film written and directed by Alexis Jacknow in his feature length debut, and starring Dianna Agron (Glee, The Family, I Am Number Four). The film had its world premiere at the Overlook Film Festival in New Orleans on March 31, 2023 and will be streaming exclusively in the United States on Hulu and internationally on Disney+ starting on April 28, 2023. The film originated from a short film by Jacknow of the same name.
Back in February the body horror film Huesera: The Bone Woman was released in theaters. It follows woman that is pregnant but is experiencing supernatural events and is being haunted by her past. The Hulu original Clock takes pieces from that story while bringing a new perspective to it. I saw this film with low expectations and ended being an impressive engaging triller. Dianna Agron brings the best of herself delivering her best performance yet passing from a successful woman with everything under control to a desperate and unstable one.
Unfortunately, the ending turns predictable but the plot twist before compensates it. Just like many other horror films about motherhood Clock relies in symbolisms, like spiders, and has a decent amount of body horror. While the film is simple the social commentary feels adequate for the story making it more than just a woman having supernatural experiences while trying to get pregnant.
Infinity Pool – 3.5/5
James and Em Foster are enjoying an all-inclusive beach vacation in the fictional island of La Tolqa, when a fatal accident exposes the resort’s perverse subculture of hedonistic tourism, reckless violence and surreal horrors.
Film synopsis
The latest Brandon Cronenberg feature is an unsettling, bizarre, and boundary breaker experience. Infinity Pool is a science fiction horror film written and directed by Cronenberg. The film premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2023 and was theatrically released in the US and Canada on January 27, 2023.
nfinity Pool proves that the phrase “like father like son” applies to the Cronenberg family. Just like his father did in the past, Brandon Cronenberg pushes the audience boundaries to the limit with unsettling body horror and visuals that will leave them severely disturbed. Saying that I feel the need to disclose that this film is not for everyone. After receiving mostly positive reviews by the critics the general audience has a different perspective and opinion.
While the film has a strong cast, perfect soundtrack, ideal setting, and gruesome body horror the weak link is the plot. Is not difficult to feel that Infinity Pool is trying too hard to provoke a shock factor turning the narrative confusing, and for some, boring. Alexander Skarsgård performance shouldn’t be overlooked, he is the real star of this madhouse. The Cronenberg staple is present making the outcome of this film not surprising.
Sick – 3.5/5
Due to the pandemic, Parker and her best friend decide to quarantine at the family lake house alone – or so they think.
Film synopsis
Being in the middle of a pandemic can be scary, but realizing that someone out there is trying to kill you can turn the situation into a nightmare. Sick is a 2022 American slasher film directed by John Hyams (Alone) and written by Kevin Williamson (Scream, Scream 2, Scream 4, I Know What You Did Last Summer, The Faculty) and Katelyn Crabb (Scream 5). Produced by Blumhouse and Miramax Sick premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2022 and was released on January 13, 2023 by Peacock.
Starting with a strong and but familiar opening scene Sick turns into a fun modern slasher. The influence of others slashers like Friday the 13th (1980), House of Wax (2005), and Scream (1996) can be notice from the start. This doesn’t comes as a surprise since the film is written by Kevin Williamson who has worked in the Scream franchise and another slasher classic I Know What You Did Last Summer.
Sick balances the slasher formula with modern horror creating a fun and entertaining horror movie. While it fails with some details and portrait of characters this is compensated with tense and well played cat and mouse sequences. That combined with good practical effects and creative kills the film elevates from turning into a unmemorable and basic horror film. Sick even makes a good use of being set during April 2020, the peak of the COVID19 pandemic. Instead of being just an element to bring the audience to watch it is used as the plot twist trigger. Enjoy this pandemic slasher film with your friends or alone now available in Peacock Tv.
Skinamarink – 3.5/5
Two children wake up in the middle of the night to find their father is missing, and all the windows and doors in their home have vanished.
Film synopsis
An experimental film is a mode of filmmaking that explores non-narrative forms and breaks the traditional way of cinema. Skinamarink is a Canadian experimental horror movie written and directed by Kyle Edward Ball in his directorial debut. It premiered at the 26th Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal on July 2022, but due to technical issues in other film festival the film got leaked online gaining popularity in social media.
Skinamarink has a running time of 1 hour and 40 minutes that feels like 3 hours. This is the type of film that is not for everyone and will test the viewer’s patience. The shots jumps to one to another with not real sequence, sometimes being as long as 2 minutes and sometimes just seconds. We never get to see the characters’ faces, we only hear their voices as whispers from time to time. The whole film is set to be seeing from the perspective of a child, this includes the height of the camera and the main subject of the film: the fear of the dark.
This horror film is meant to be watched in a dark room and requires the complete attention of the viewer. If you aren’t immersed into the story a sensation of tediousness will overwhelm you. At moments your mind will be tricked into doubting if something is there or not in the darkness when the camera just stays there looking into the abyss that the dark halls of the house create. As an audience, you don’t get to see the house only pieces and wall corners. All of this combined brings another primal human fear: the fear of the unknown.
This experimental horror film will play with your mind and will force you to confront the fears that you could have as a child. The fear of darkness and the unknown has been seen before in horror films but is not always that effective. The silence and occasional cartoons background music will leave you waiting for the jump scare that never comes. But once again, this is not a horror film for everyone but you will know as soon as the film starts if you will be absorbed by the darkness or if you’re staying out.
Top 5 Worst Horror Movies of 2023 so far
