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Brendan’s Favorite 3 Horror Movies of 2023

While 2023 may have been a terrible year, it hasn’t been a bad year for horror. In what feels like the first real year post-pandemic, it’s pretty clear that cinema is back on the menu. From indie films to Hollywood blockbusters, we’ve seen some absolute BANGERS.

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While 2023 may have been a terrible year, it hasn’t been a bad year for horror. In what feels like the first real year post-pandemic, it’s pretty clear that cinema is back on the menu. From indie films to Hollywood blockbusters, we’ve seen some absolute BANGERS. Childhood icons have turned ravenous with Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, Joe Lynch came back with a vengeance with the sexy and thrilling Suitable FleshFive Nights at Freddy’s killed at the box office, Ted Geoghegan gave us a hauntingly beautiful chamber piece with Brooklyn 45, one of the greatest horror franchises of the new millennium had its final installment in Insidious: The Red Door, Anthony DiBlasi made a reimagining of his own killer film (and somehow made it even better) with MalumV/H/S/85 did its thing, Hell House LLC Origins told a wild prequel story, and Saw is back in action with Saw X grossing over $100 million worldwide. Oh, and I didn’t even mention there was a horror movie about SLOTHS.

This isn’t mentioning some of the amazing indie festival films from 2022/23 that received not only physical releases but theatrical ones, too! Indie films like Beaten to DeathThe RetaliatorsMegalomaniac, and Malibu Horror Story, to name a few, have proven that indie horror isn’t going anywhere. Out of all the films this year, I liked a few more than others; here are my top three, and oh boy, was this list hard to make!

Scream 6

Who knew the moment when Sam Carpenter discarded the Ghostface mask that we were getting a finale to the Carpenter sisters? In hindsight, this ending is bittersweet, but fitting. As a HUGE Scream fan, I’m not afraid to admit there have been moments when the series took storylines too far. Now, the reason for Scream 6 being the end of the Carpenters isn’t how their story should have ended, and it’s sad it turned out this way. 

That being said, Scream 6 taking us to Manhattan for even more unbridled chaos in this whole bloody affair was the best decision the franchise could have made. As someone who regularly walks the packed streets of Manhattan, it can be daunting not knowing what the hundreds of people on the same block as you are thinking. Taking the viewer out of Woodsboro and plopping us down in a new city elevated the horror of the franchise to heights it hadn’t seen since, well, the first film. Plus anything with Samara Weaving in it gets a few extra points in my book. 

Scream 6 is streaming on Paramount+ and Showtime, it’s also available for rent on all major VOD services.

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You can read our review of Scream 6 here.

Man and woman

Crumb Catcher

Crumb Catcher is the directorial debut from writer/director Chris Skotchdopole, with story credits by Chris Skotchdopole, Rigo Garay, and the always amazing Larry Fessenden. There have been a handful of completely off-the-wall films in 2023, but Crumb Catcher takes the cake. If you want a masterclass on how to do tonal shifts correctly, then you need to watch this film. From comedy, to home invasion, to action, to psychological horror, Crumb Catcher effortlessly switches tones with the ease of a ten-film filmmaker. Skotchdopole proves, without a shadow of a doubt, he understands film and knows how to make a damn good one. With astounding performances from John Speredakos, Ella Rae Peck, Rigo Garay, and Lorraine Farris, Crumb Catcher is undoubtedly one of the most well-acted horror films of the year.

Creature

Frogman

Found Footage films are the hardest films to make well, and the easiest films to make awfully. Just because you have a cheap camera and know how to create a false jump scare doesn’t mean you know how to make a good Found Footage film. Frogman doesn’t only give us a terrifying Found Footage film, it gives us an insight most supernatural films don’t: consequences. Films like The Antares Paradox and UFO Sweden tackle a similar idea, but Frogman does it best. That idea is the consequence of seeing something, be it a cryptid, a ghost, or a UAP. While it may have only recently become ‘cool’ to see a UAP, it has ruined hundreds of lives. Frogman shows us how far someone will go when their life is ruined based on documenting supernatural events. How far would you go to prove something you witnessed was real? The answer for the characters in Frogman is pretty damn far. 

What a list, huh? 2023 provided some excellent horror films, and now that the year is over, a new year is on the horizon with tons of horror for us to look forward to sinking our teeth into. So what DO we all have to look forward to? The newest Blumhouse film Night Swim is set to kick off the year at the beginning of January. We’re getting a new Saw film in September. Does this mean we’re going back to yearly Saw releases? I hope so. Radio Silence’s Universal Monster Movie, starring Melissa Barrera, has wrapped and is looking at an April release. Return to Silent Hill is also set for an April release. A sequel to the hit film Smile is ready to go for an October treat. And the third part of the MaXXXine trilogy, MaXXXine, is coming at some point as well.

Not a bad lineup if I do say so myself! What films did you love in 2023? And what films are you excitedly anticipating for the new year?

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Brendan is an award-winning author and screenwriter rotting away in New Jersey. His hobbies include rain, slugs, and the endless search for The Mothman.

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The Best Horror You Can Stream on Shudder in November 2025

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Halloween season is over, and many streamers have forgotten about us horror kids. While they take their 11-month hiatus from the genre, we can be grateful that we still have an app that cares. We are so lucky that Shudder remains that girl year-round. Whether you’re finishing their new original show Guts & Glory, catching up on The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula: Titans, or running at some of their deep cuts like I am, Shudder has your best interests at heart. As usual, she has quite a few titles fighting for our attention. Which is why I am here with five titles I think should be at the top of all of our watch lists this November. So, cancel your holiday plans and pick up your remote because we have got horrifying things to watch.

The Best Movies to Stream on Shudder This Month

Habit (1995)

An alcoholic unwittingly enters into a relationship with a succubus in New York City. If you ever wondered what Larry Fessenden was getting up to in his youth, you need to see this ’90s gem. I lucked out and caught it at Brooklyn Horror Film Festival last year, and I lived my best life. While watching it on the small screen will not be the same, I plan to hit play anyway. Mostly because I love to see 1990s succubi leaving their mark on men…and also the horror genre. Shudder is also adding The Last Winter and Depraved, so we can spend a whole day with Uncle Larry’s work.

Sew Torn (2024)

A seamstress happens upon a failed drug deal and steals a briefcase. She soon finds herself caught in a deadly situation where all roads lead to death. I caught Sew Torn at SXSW last year and have been wondering what happened to it. So, I am very happy this odd little bird has found her way to Shudder. I cannot wait to make my friends who are looking for something cute and deadly watch. I knew nothing when I hit play on this, and I encourage you to know as little as possible, too. I fear I have already written too much in this blurb to be completely honest. 

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You can watch Sew Torn on November 1st.

The Retreat (2021)

A couple goes on a pre-wedding retreat and unwittingly becomes targets of a group of serial killers. We have seen too many movies about retreats, and I thought this one would be more of the same. This title does not completely reinvent the wheel, but it does set itself apart within this oversaturated subgenre. The Retreat is a surprisingly fun and tense little thriller that feels made for the winter watches. Come for the lesbian characters leading the film, and stay for the violence. I also encourage you to check it out while it is on Shudder, because it is usually on apps with ads.

You can watch The Retreat on November 1st.

The Creep Tapes (Season 2)

Peachfuzz returns with more tapes, chaos, kills, and WTF moments. Mark Duplass and Patrick Brice have reentered the TV arena and are making things weird again. If award shows were real, this duo would be leading the Emmys charge. I saw the first three episodes, and Josef/Peachfuzz is still the serial killer after our own hearts. Our Wolfie is still cutting up (literally and figuratively) in the most amazing ways. Guest stars in danger this season include David Dastmalchian (Late Night with the Devil), Katie Aselton (The League), and Robert Longstreet (The Haunting of Hill House). 

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You can watch The Creep Tapes (Season 2) on November 14th.

Krampus (2015)

A kid accidentally summons demons during the holidays in this horror comedy. Krampus remains one of the top-tier Christmas horror titles for me. It is also my favorite Michael Dougherty film. Not only because it has the star power of Adam Scott and Toni Collette, either. This movie is wicked, and even the kids are in danger. I do not have many holiday horror movies I revisit every year, but Krampus is one of the very few. It still holds up, and I cannot wait to rewatch it with a festively boozy beverage. 

You can watch Krampus on November 15th.

Those are a few reasons I am grateful for Shudder this holiday season. While the rest of you are fighting with your family and friends, I will be parked in front of my TV. You can have your turkey because I would rather gorge myself on episodes of The Creep Tapes anyway.

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Let me know what Shudder shenanigans you have got your little eye on. I am nosy and want to make sure I am not missing anything on my favorite streamer.

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The Best Horror You Can Stream on Netflix in November 2025

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The year is winding down, and I don’t know about you, but I am trying to pack in as many 2025 horror movies as I can. Is this because I love making end-of-the-year lists? Yes. Is it because I am an unhealed overachiever? Also, yes. So, I am assuming some of you are also cruising the streamers to see what you may have missed. While Netflix has had my favorite new slasher Heart Eyes for a bit, and I have mentioned that in previous streaming guides, they also have other new horror titles to show you.

I do not talk about them as much because I did not have a good time with them. However, that does not mean you won’t enjoy some of these titles. That’s why I am taking the high road and finding something to be grateful for about each of them. That way, you will know there is a silver lining if you do watch them. Allow me to help you figure out what to prioritize this month and what to skip. Check out this chaotic Netflix hitlist below! 

The Best Movies to Stream on Netflix This Month

28 Years Later (2025)

A group of survivors on a small island has built a fortress to protect them from the rage virus. However, a young boy discovers what is really outside the walls of their community and sets off to find a cure for his sick mother. We all loved 28 Days Later, and some of us liked 28 Weeks Later. So, 28 Years Later was never going to live up to the hype with almost thirty years of anticipation. While I didn’t love it, I did enjoy seeing Danny Boyle helm another zombie installment. What he does in the subgenre is top-tier, and we are welcome (even if the script left me wanting more). That might have gotten buried in all the talk about the dicks seen in the movie, though.

Fear Street: Prom Queen (2025)

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A group of girls competing for prom queen starts disappearing, leaving the underdog to figure out what is happening to her competition. I had a lot of thoughts about this lackluster installment in Netflix’s Fear Street adaptations. As someone who grew up reading Fear Street books and wanting to adapt them myself, I do not understand how this movie came out so badly. Which made it hard to find something nice to say about this title. However, the soundtrack slaps, and it is not the soundtrack’s fault that it was wasted on a low-energy bottom-tier slasher. So, if you hit play on this, you can at least look forward to hearing some retro bangers selected by music supervisor Nora Felder. If you are familiar with her work on Yellowjackets and Stranger Things, you know Felder does not miss.

Maa (2025)

To battle a demon’s curse, a mother transforms into the legendary goddess Kali. As usual, Netflix did not advertise an international horror movie that seemed to have some potential. If they had told us Maa was an Indian Hindi-language mythological horror movie, most people who yell for intersectionality and originality would have run at it. Instead, we had to find out about it months later while looking for something we hadn’t already seen on the app. This movie is too long, and I cannot say it is good by any stretch of the imagination. However, it also made me realize how little I know about the goddess of destruction. If you are a nerd like me, this might lead you down a cool rabbit hole. You can also say you gave a view to a horror movie starring Brown people. Who knows, maybe you could be one of the few who enjoy this chaotic film.

Until Dawn (2025)

A group of friends find themselves trapped in a time loop where they keep getting killed in gruesome ways. I love the video game and was so bummed this adaptation was so bad. However, the practical effects are very cool and should be celebrated more. I think the stuff that the SFX team pulled off might be the only reason to watch the movie personally. I’m happy the actors whose work I enjoy got paid, and that’s another positive thing I can say. However, if we want to see young people in deadly time loops, we have so many movies that do it better. Excuse me as I look right at Happy Death Day and all of the movies that have tried to copy her.

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Ziam (2025)

A Muay Thai fighter battles through a zombie apocalypse to save the woman he loves. Netflix fumbled the advertising for this one too, because who doesn’t want to see a Thai zombie film? So, I was excited to watch it, but then sad I did not like it. However, I think this one is on me. It is an action-horror with a lot of heartfelt moments, and that’s not my bag. I wanted more violence and zombie action because I am a broken and heartless ghoul. So, Ziam might be the only movie on this list that does not deserve my bombastic side eye. I am waiting for other people to watch it and let me know if they have a better time with it, though. 

While I was not the audience for these movies, I am assuming some of you will dig them. Worst-case scenario, you cross off a few more 2025 horror movies and have something to talk about at Friendsgiving. Happy Horrordays! I will see myself out now…

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