The Exorcist: Believer
After David Gordon Green completely bungled his Halloween reboot trilogy with increasingly disappointing films, I was worried about him turning to The Exorcist IP. Turns out, my fears weren’t unfounded. “Exorcist: Believer” stumbles through a maze of clichés and predictable plot points, failing to add anything new or intriguing to the well-trodden exorcism genre. The performances feel forced, lacking the depth and nuance required to elevate the film beyond its generic script. Visually uninspired and thematically shallow, the film misses the mark on delivering the chilling tension and psychological depth expected from its namesake.

Hell House LLC Origins: The Carmichael Manor
This franchise needs to be dropped. The latest installment struggles with a narrative that feels recycled and uninspired, lacking the originality and tension that made the original stand out. The characters are thinly written and their decisions often border on the nonsensical, detracting from the overall immersion and suspense. I’d argue the protagonist is straight up unlikeable. There may be a couple effective scares, but despite its attempt to delve deeper into the franchise’s mythology, the film fails to deliver meaningful or compelling backstory, resulting in another lackluster Hell House flick.

The Last Voyage of the Demeter
While a step up from recent Universal attempts to reinvigorate its monster legacy, “The Last Voyage of the Demeter” fails to deliver surprises due to its well-known narrative. Directed by André Øvredal, its visual style and moody atmosphere are wonderful, creating effective scare moments. However, it falters with slow pacing, glaring plot holes, and a final scene aimed more at setting up a superhero-esque universe of future movies.

Dark Harvest
It pains me a bit to relegate this to the bad section as I really want to like a beautifully made indie horror. However, “Dark Harvest” disappointingly trudges through a lackluster narrative, squandering its intriguing premise on underdeveloped characters and predictable plot twists. The film’s attempt at atmospheric horror falls flat, failing to evoke the suspense or fear necessary to engage the audience. Additionally, the pacing is inconsistent, leading to a viewing experience that feels longer than its actual runtime.

Five Nights at Freddy’s
This delivered an adequate adaptation of the popular video game, capturing some of the original’s eerie atmosphere and jump-scare tactics. The animatronic characters were absolutely fantastic and pushed this over into the “Good” section for me. Nonetheless, the film’s character development and dialogue often fall flat, leaving much to be desired. Ultimately, it serves as a middling experience that might entertain fans of the games, but likely won’t convert the uninitiated.

No One Will Save You
“No One Will Save You” delivers an unconventional narrative, filled with suspense and well-crafted character arcs. Kaitlyn Denver’s nearly silent performance is particularly noteworthy, enhancing the film’s emotional impact. However, the movie’s experience is moderately marred by its subpar CGI mess, which detracts from the immersion and overall quality of the visual storytelling, leaving a blemish on an otherwise impressive movie.

Knock at the Cabin
“Knock at the Cabin” offers a unique twist on the home invasion genre, combining philosophical undertones with intense drama. While the premise is engaging and the actors deliver convincing performances, the plot sometimes struggles with pacing and predictability. Despite these shortcomings, the film’s atmospheric tension and moral questions provide enough substance to keep viewers engaged until the end.

Thanksgiving
“Thanksgiving” stands as a more-than-competent homage to the slasher genre, delivering the requisite chills and thrills with a nod to its classic predecessors. The film meticulously captures the essence of a solid slasher, yet falls short of capturing the unpolished, gritty essence that made its Grindhouse inspiration so memorable. Despite this, its well-constructed plot and skillful direction make it a worthy watch, though it lacks a distinctive element to elevate it above the standard genre fare.

The Outwaters
“The Outwaters” is an intense found-footage film that defies conventional storytelling, delivering a deeply unsettling experience through minimalistic but effective use of visuals and sounds. The film excels in creating a disorienting, nightmarish atmosphere, utilizing limited light and disturbing sound design to immerse viewers in its horror. It may not cater to all, but for those seeking a raw, immersive experience, it offers a unique and terrifying journey.

Sick
“Sick” provides a fun spin on the slasher sub-genre that only a global pandemic can provide. It’s an entertaining romp with its clever plot twists and relentless tension, providing a fresh take. What initially feels like a Scream rip-off makes an interesting swerve about 2/3 of the way through. The director skillfully balances horror and humor, creating a thrilling ride that’s as entertaining as it is horrifying. While some may find the character development lacking, the movie’s fast pace make it enjoyable, ensuring that fans of the genre will find plenty to enjoy.

The Conference
“The Conference” sets out to explore the high-stakes world of corporate politics with a blend of suspense and drama, yet it often finds itself caught between being overly didactic and intriguingly insightful. The ensemble cast delivers competent performances, but they sometimes struggle against a script that lacks the sharpness required to fully engage the viewer. Despite these issues, the film’s sleek production values and a few standout moments provide a decent, if not entirely memorable, viewing experience.

Saw X
Full disclosure: I’m not a fan of the Saw franchise. Nonetheless, “Saw X” marks a significant improvement over its predecessors, making it the best sequel in years. In fact, I’d argue this is the best film in the franchise. It refocuses on the core elements that made the series a hit, featuring Tobin Bell and Shawnee Smith who bring new depth to their characters. It has a streamlined and poignant plot and inventive traps that align more closely with the franchise’s original spirit.

Scream VI
“Scream VI” manages to breathe some new life into the venerable franchise with its suspenseful set pieces and a fresh take on familiar ground. Jenna Ortega delivers another standout performance, injecting vitality into the series, while the movie’s homage to horror, though familiar, still provides entertaining nods for fans. The New York City backdrop introduces an intriguing, if not perfectly executed, new environment for the classic horror action​.

The Blackening
“The Blackening,” directed by Tim Story, is a bold horror-comedy that offers a sharp, satirical take on racial stereotypes within the horror genre, blending laughter with slasher elements effectively. The film’s engaging humor, combined with its meta-commentary on cultural perceptions and the Black experience, is carried well by a cast with remarkable chemistry, particularly highlighting issues around the portrayal of Black people in media and horror films​​​​. Uneven pacing and a less intense third act, where some narrative and technical elements falter, take the film down a notch​​. Nonetheless, “The Blackening” stands out for its unapologetic approach to comedy and horror​​​​.

The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster
“The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster” is a vibrant film that blends social commentary with elements of horror and fantasy, putting a unique spin on a Mary Shelley’s classic narrative. The lead’s performance is both powerful and nuanced, brilliantly conveying a spectrum of emotions that anchor the film’s thematic ambitions. The innovative storytelling and strong character development make it a standout, offering a fresh perspective that is both engaging and enlightening.

M3GAN
“M3GAN” thrives on its unique blend of humor and horror, with a screenplay that revels in its own absurdity while exploring classic themes like science gone awry. The film, with its engaging and satirical tone, delivers a fresh take on the “tiny terrors” genre, setting it apart from its contemporaries. The standout moments of dark comedy and the unsettling presence of M3GAN make it an enjoyable watch.