5 Upcoming Horror Movies You Should Be Excited About

It has been a slow start to the year for horror fanatics. So far, the exceptional Oculus is the only stand out in the genre. However, do not fret. The dual trends of rehashing tired franchises and glutting the market with pointless remakes seems to be slowing down, and there are plenty of original horror flicks to get excited about for the rest of the year. Listed below in no particular order are five movies still to come in 2014 that are sure to make you sleep with the lights on.

The Sacrament

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Ti West has an indelible style. He eschews fast-paced editing and jump scares in favor of slow burning tension. This leads to his films having an unparalleled level of suspense. His movie, The House of the Devil, is the epitome of this and is easily one of my favorite horror movies of all time.

The Sacrament is a found footage film in which a photographer tracks down his sister who has been living in a commune. This cult is headed by an enigmatic man, and though everything seems rosy at first, something sinister is lying in wait.

Though this is well trodden territory, I am convinced that Ti West and his immense talents are going to bring something fresh, exciting, and without a doubt terrifying to cinemas with this release.

Tusk

A horror film by Kevin Smith? This seems like an odd proposition. However, he has dabbled in the past with his excellent film, Red State. If you are not a fan of his work, the bizarre premise to this movie alone may still pique your interest.

The short of it is an older man (Michael Parks) kidnaps a podcaster (Justin Long) and surgically changes him into a walrus. How insanely awesome does that sound?

This movie has hints of the unfairly maligned Human Centipede (the first one, the less said about the second, the better). And, seeing that it is Kevin Smith, I’m sure there will be a fair amount of his unique brand of comedy to soften the blow of the grotesqueries that are no doubt going to play out on the screen.

Horns

Horns is an incredible novel. It was penned by Joe Hill. He comes from fantastic pedigree given that his mother and father are the authors, Tabitha and Stephen King.

Ignatius Perrish (Daniel Radcliffe) is a young man who is being accused of the rape and murder of his girlfriend. He wakes up one day to find that horns are growing out of his head. He soon discovers that these horns cause those around him to divulge their innermost desires and darkest secrets.

As a big fan of the book and the director, I can’t wait to see what Alexandre Aja (The Hills Have Eyes, High Tension) brings to the table when this adaptation finally hits screens.

Babadook

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The buzz around this movie has been immense. It currently sits at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. Some have even called it a “classic horror masterpiece.”

After her husband dies, a woman is struggling to parent her out of control son. He has visions of a monster that is intent on killing them both. After a disturbing book arrives mysteriously at their house, the mother begins to see the creature herself.

This movie is being helmed by actress turned first time director, Jennifer Kent. I am usually very cautious when it comes to debut features, but there is no denying the overwhelmingly positive reviews it has garnered thus far.

Green Inferno

Eli Roth is a controversial figure in horror circles. Some people adore him while others hate him for bringing popularity to the subgenre of “torture porn.” Though there may be a kernel of truth to the fact that his films were the catalyst that ushered in the glut of torture centric horror films in the mid ‘00s, it doesn’t change the fact that both Hostel 1 and 2 are superb, and his feature debut, Cabin Fever, was just as excellent.

In the Green Inferno, a group of student activists travel to South America to protect a secluded tribe from extinction. When they arrive, they are terrorized and taken hostage by the very group of people they were hoping to save. Grisly events ensue.

With echoes of the horrific Hannibal Holocaust, this is definitely one to keep your eye on this year, provided you have a strong stomach.

All in all, the remainder of 2014 is going to be a bloody good time for horror fanatics. If I missed any upcoming horror flicks of note, please feel free to inform me in comments below.