Horror movies. Stories about the paranormal. Ghosts, witches and zombies have always been fascinating for a movie. No wonder horror films continue to have a devoted following of their own. While 2016 offered brilliant movies like Don’t Breathe, The Conjuring 2 and Train to Busan, there are plenty of great movies to look forward to in 2017 too.
Here are some of the most awaited horror movies, this year:
1. It (September, 2017)
An adaptation of Stephen King’s 1986 novel, the supernatural horror story will come out in the form of a feature film. The film stars Billy Skarsgard (son of veteran actor Stellan Skarsgard) who plays the role of Pennywise, the dancing clown. The story takes place as many people start going missing after the sighting of the clown.
2. Insidious: Chapter 4 (October, 2017)
The fourth instalment in the Insidious franchise is all set to come out, after James Wan made the original movie starring Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne in 2010. The plot of the movie has been closely guarded, and the only bit of confirmed information indicates that the movie has none of the original characters.
3. The Dark Tower (July, 2017)
Based on source material written by Stephen King, the movie adaptation stars Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey in the lead roles. Considered ‘unfilmable’ for many years, the film has been reported to be undergoing re-shoots. They recently unveiled their first poster and it looks very intriguing.
4. Annabelle: Creation (August, 2017)
Taking shape as the fourth instalment in The Conjuring franchise, the film features an all new cast, with none of the original cast members from the James Wan film appearing in the movie. This movie too is rumoured to take place around a couple of dollmakers who take in a few young girls after an orphanage shuts down. And the evil Annabelle takes over.
5. Get Out
Having got a limited release in the United States only a month ago, the film held the distinction for having a 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating, over the course of more than a hundred reviews. The film is yet to release in India, and is directed by one half of the comedy duo Key & Peele.
6. World War Z 2 (TBA)
Following up on Marc Foster’s end-of-the-world zombie movie starring Brad Pitt, is this second instalment which is being produced by the film’s leading man, who is also roping in close friend and director extraordinaire, David Fincher. However, the production house has stated the shoot hasn’t commenced yet and thereby cancelling the June release, which was earlier announced.
7. Alien: Covenant (May, 2017)
Brought back to life by director Ridley Scott, the film will be the sequel to the 2012 movie Prometheus, which essentially served as the prequel to Scott’s earlier Alien franchise. This movie will see Michael Fassbender return to his role of Walter, and will also see actors like Danny McBride and Billy Crudup join him.
8. Flatliners (September, 2017)
A remake of a 1990 movie of the same name, the film follows a bunch of medical students who experiment with ‘near death’ experiences which involve past tragedies. And the dark consequences which jeopardise their lives. The new one stars Nina Dobrev, Ellen Page and Diego Luna in the lead roles.
9. Saw: Legacy (October, 2017)
The eighth instalment of the franchise, based on James Wan’s sleeper-hit from 2004, the film continues to follow the Jigsaw Killer. As a bunch of corpses are discovered across the city, tortured in unspeakable ways, fingers point towards the now-deceased Jigsaw Killer.
10. Hellraiser: Judgement (TBA)
Trailing a brutal serial killer, a couple of detectives join forces to look for the culprit behind the city’s violent crimes. The movie is the tenth instalment in the Hellraiser franchise, which began all the way back in 1987.
11. The Dark Tapes (April, 2017)
Pegged as a ‘genre-defying film’, it promises to fuse multiple paranormal elements like ghosts, spirits with sci-fi, mythology and mystery. All of this gets viewed through a lens of rationality.
12. Raw (March, 2017 – Limited)
One of the best-received films in 2016’s Toronto Film Festival, this French cannibal thriller follows the life of a life-long vegetarian young girl, who joins a vet college. Called violent, provocative and immersive, it is highly unlikely that this movie will get a wide release in India.
13. Suspiria (March, 2017 – Limited)
A remake of the 1977 Italian horror movie, the newer version stars big names like Chloe Grace-Moretz, Tilda Swinton and 50 Shades star Dakota Johnson. The film stars a young American ballerina who joins a dance company and finds out it is infested with evil spirits.
14. Phoenix Forgotten (April, 2017)
Three youngsters chased the mystery behind the ‘Phoenix lights’ and disappeared more than two decades ago. This film features the last few hours of their found footage, before they disappeared for good. The movie is co-produced by veteran director Ridley Scott.
Honourable mention –
Mummy Reboot (June, 2017)
Directed by Alex Kurtzman, the film is being produced by JJ Abrams and stars Tom Cruise and Russell Crowe. The film will be a reboot of the franchise earlier headlined by Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz. If reports are to be believed the film has a zero-G stunt, because Tom Cruise. Duh!
All set to spook the living daylights out of you!
*All of the above release dates pertain to the film’s initial release in their home country. Which happens to be USA in most cases, except Raw which will release in France.