Best Horror to Experience at the Cinema and Beyond in 2023

It turns out that 2022 was an unexpectedly good year for horror. Expected to be bogged down by isolation horrors, a few real hits made it to the big screen that didn’t come close to bothering with the vogue sub-genre. Scream was a decent return to the franchise and warrants a follow-up, and Jordan Peele delivered once again with the eerie sci-fi horror Nope. X, Terrifier 2, Deadstream, Barbarian, Violent Night, The Black Phone, and Crimes of the Future added to the top end of good horror releases last year.

There’s a lot to like about the 2023 slate for horror movies that we know are coming already, but more than ever, people are seeking experiences beyond the big screen. Luckily, you’ll be spoiled for choice this year. These are the top movies to watch for cinematic and streaming releases, as well as some great ways to experience your own jump scares and horror situations.

Horror movies to keep an eye out for in 2023

Top of the list for many in 2023 will be the release of Evil Dead Rise. Sam Raimi’s cult classic series returns in the fifth cinematic installment, which comes a whole decade after Evil Dead. Although Robert Tapert will produce once again, Lee Cronin is behind the screenplay and in the director’s seat this time. The new trailer certainly makes it seem as creepy as previous films in the franchise, and they reportedly used over 6,000 litres of fake blood. Evil Dead Rise comes to theatres on 21 April.

Perhaps the most eagerly anticipated of the horror slate in the mainstream – especially after the reception of the trailer that earned a far heftier production budget – is Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey. With the rights in the public domain, Rhys Frake-Waterfield took it upon himself to turn A.A. Milne’s classic characters into horrifying, rampaging murderers. Winnie and Piglet come to the big screen as you’ve never seen them before on 15 February.

Establishing herself as one of the decade’s leading scream queens, Mia Goth will be back on the big screen at least once more. She starred in the remarkably good X, which is now available to buy on DVD and Blu-ray, its surprise sequel, Pearl, and will feature with Alexander Skarsgård and Cleopatra Coleman in the sci-fi horror Infinity Pool from Brandon Cronenberg on 27 January.

There’s also a chance that the third part of the X series, MaXXXine, will release in 2023, with Goth reprising her role. Others well worth adding to the calendar include Knock at the Cabin (3 February), Scream VI (10 March), Cuckoo (29 September), and The Exorcist (13 October).

Horror beyond the big screen in 2023

Between major and indie horror movie releases, if you’re still searching for the scares, you have plenty of options out in the world and online. Easily the most immersive way to get the spooks at home is through a VR headset. The Horror & Mystery experiences on the Oculus all offer jump scares and tension, but a few stand out for horror movie fans. Blair Witch VR Edition is the big one, while Dream Mirror and Cursed Night – The House are the highest-rated horror experiences.

Away from such futuristic tech, and if you don’t fancy splashing £300 on a VR headset, there are plenty of online-based platforms that utilise the appeal of spooky settings and scares. On a live casino platform, the Real Spooky Roulette studio offers a variation on the classic table game. As the name suggests, the immersive live stream and the studio have been updated with creepy features to add a distinctly Halloween theme to the sessions of roulette.

If you want to be spooked, you can also head to the fad-driven space of escape rooms. Ditching the fairly tame puzzle scenarios altogether, Horror Escape UK has gone all-in on scary scenarios for you and your friends to tackle. Cabin Fever and Murder Mansion certainly look to be the most terrifying if you happen to be in London for the day. The venue can be found on Peckham High Street.

This year is shaping up to be a great one for the horror genre: experience the terror at the cinema, at home, or at specialised experiences for yourself, if you dare.