From Gothic ghosts to savage werewolves, discover the most anticipated horror movies arriving this winter 2026!
Beware the moon and hide the mistletoe, because horror’s not slowing down this holiday season! While the rest of the world gets wrapped up in holiday cheer, we horror hounds have some deliciously dark gifts to dig into—from gothic chills to blood-soaked thrills—and a wickedly enticing slate is headed our way.
The Last Temptation of Becky — November 4
Becky is back, and apparently two rounds of Nazi-slaying weren’t enough. (Who can blame her?) In The Last Temptation of Becky, Lulu Wilson (Ouija: Origin of Evil, Annabelle: Creation) returns as our favorite pint-sized purveyor of punishment, now a CIA operative sent undercover to Poland. Her mission– stop a sinister family from resurrecting the Fourth Reich. Naturally, things are bound to get bloody.
I’ve loved watching Wilson transform Becky into one of modern genre cinema’s most ferocious antiheroes. And with director Jenn Wexler (The Ranger, The Sacrifice Game) at the helm, I’m thrilled to see a kickass woman filmmaker unleash Becky’s unapologetic brutality. Resourceful heroines, inventive punky carnage, and a leading lady who’s raising hell!
Ebenezer– November 13
In Ti West’sEbenezer, Johnny Depp plays the infamous miser, whose encounters with three supernatural spirits force him to confront his haunting past, lifeless present, and a terrifying future.
I’ve always adored the darker, gothic roots of A Christmas Carol as a supernatural fanatic. With West’s horror sensibilities, Depp’s knack for disappearing into eccentric characters, and the promise of spectacularly spooky apparitions, I’m excited to see this timeless tale embrace its haunted heart. After all, Christmas is the perfect season for ghost stories!
Victorian Psycho – November 13
Set in 1858, Victorian Psycho stars Maika Monroe(It Follows, The Guest) as Winifred Notty, a governess whose arrival at a remote Gothic estate brings more than a few breaches of etiquette—and a suspiciously growing body count. Directed by Zachary Wigon (Sanctuary, The Heart Machine) and adapted by Virginia Feito from her novel, the film premiered at Cannes and is scheduled for a wide U.S. theatrical release. I’m especially eager to see Monroe rip some blood-splattered scenery with one of my favorite veteran actors, Jason Isaacs (Event Horizon, Harry Potter franchise).
As a raving English dark-comedy, mystery fan, give me those breathtakingly bleak Yorkshire Moors estates, stunningly crafted gowns, moody candlelit shenanigans, and a leading lady with absolutely no intention of playing nice!
The Holy Boy – November 27
A village without suffering sounds heavenly, but in this case—when faith meets flesh—things are bound to get grotesque. Debuting on Shudder, Paolo Strippoli’s (Flowing, A Classic Horror Story) Italian nightmare The Holy Boy follows a troubled teacher who arrives in a mountain village where everyone is terrifyingly cheerful. Their secret? A mysterious teenage boy whose embrace will erase pain and sorrow. But beneath those blissful smiles lurks something far more sinister.
With my particular fondness for body horror and practical effects, I’m fascinated by the film’s twisted marriage of physical suffering, religious devotion and psychological terror. Add a dash of Italian horror sensibility with the promise of disturbing visuals and I’m dying to experience this unholy embrace.
Violent Night 2 – December 04
Forget milk and cookies. Santa’s serving knuckle sandwiches and broken noses. David Harbour (Stranger Things, The Green Hornet) returns as our favorite foul-mouthed Saint Nick in Violent Night 2. Stripped of his Christmas magic, Santa finds himself battling a ruthless gangster (Jared Harris) in a New Jersey mall. This time he’s not decking the halls alone! Kristen Bell (Scream 4, Pulse) joins the carnage as a hammer-swinging Mrs. Claus.
I like my horror flicks year-round, and good blood-soaked Christmas chaos is a holiday must. With Tommy Wirkola (Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, Thrash) back in the director’s chair, I’m hoping for inventive fight choreography, gloriously excessive carnage, and enough festive mayhem to paint the snow red.
Above the Below – December 04
From the infinite darkness of space to the crushing depths of the ocean, three astronauts race against the clock as their disastrous return to Earth leaves them trapped on the ocean floor. Cut off from civilization and dependent on their malfunctioning onboard AI system, they run dangerously low on oxygen.
The trailer is spare on plot points, but packs a punch with its visuals and pounding score; dig a little deeper, and it feels like Leviathan meets The Abyss with a 2001: A Space Odyssey HAL 9000 kicker—and I’m all for it!
Few things get under my skin quite like a well-crafted, suffocating suspense. What really has me intrigued is the film’s commitment to practical filmmaking, including a full-size spacecraft submerged set and actors training to hold their breath underwater to perform their own stunts.
Unholy Night – December 4
Christmas dinner is about to become a family bloodbath. In Michael Gabriele’s (Get Away, Room Tone) holiday horror-comedy Unholy Night, an Italian Christmas Eve goes gloriously off the rails when Gino’s dearly departed Nonna returns from the grave with murder on her mind—unleashing a neighborhood-wide undead nightmare. Thrilling holiday horror that serves its carnage with a wicked sense of humor, Evil Dead-style lunacy, zombie mayhem, and Italian family dysfunction. Sounds delicious! Pass the carnage!
Eternal Return – December 4
Love, loss, and a little cinematic sorcery meet-cute! In Yaniv Raz’s (Dr. Bird’s Advice for Sad Poets) Eternal Return, Naomi Scott (Smile 2, Long Distance) plays Cass, a young woman whose encounter with a mysterious mapmaker (Kit Harington) sends her tumbling through time on a fantastical journey of heartbreak, healing, and second chances.
After Scott’s deliciously unhinged turn in Smile 2, I’m eager to see what she brings to a story that trades psychological terror for sci-fi fantasy. The emotional stakes seem high, and a little classic movie magic has me intrigued.
After the Silence – December 18
Forget ghosts and ghouls. Sometimes the most rotten monsters are the ones running the town. In Michael Marantz’s (The White Rabbit) After the Silence, a former true-crime podcaster (Dónall Ó Héalaí) returns to his New England hometown when his sister vanishes, only to uncover a nest of corruption, secrets, and some seriously unsavory locals.
I’ve always had a soft spot for small-town thrillers where every friendly face might be hiding wicked agendas. Slow-burning mystery, a colorful cast of suspicious characters, and enough moral rot to make the whole town stink. Plus, seeing comedian Andy Richter venture into darker territory is an unexpected cherry on top.
Werwulf – December 25
From Universal’s fog-drenched classics with Chaney Jr. to the anxiety-inducing nightmares of modern horror, werewolves have always held a special place in my monster-loving heart.
Robert Eggers (The Northman) is back this holiday season, injecting a more feral approach into his new lycanthrope lore with Werwulf, a medieval nightmare set in 1300s England. Aaron Taylor-Johnson plays a cursed peasant who struggles to conceal his monstrous transformations while protecting his family from the darkness within.
Eggers masterfully creates visually striking, atmospheric universes, like 2015’s The Witch or 2024’s Nosferatu, that I love getting lost in. The marriage of deep monster mythology and human tragedy, mixed with Eggers’ obsession with historical authenticity and folkloric dread, makes this a tantalizing prospect I can’t wait to experience in a theater.
So, trade the holiday cheer for a dose of diabolical fear, because these winter horror releases deserve a spot on your must-watch checklist!
Make sure to follow Dread Central and Anastasia Elfman across social media, and check out my companion video where I reveal my Top 3 Winter Horror flicks!
