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The National
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The National
The 12 scariest horror movies of the 2020s
Want to see the future of film? Look to the horror genre. While some corners of Hollywood feel stuck in the past, with the same old directors making the same sorts of movies year after year, scary movies are experiencing a genuinely thrilling moment. Young filmmakers worldwide are turning in bold and inventive work, and even with small budgets and little marketing, audiences are turning out in droves. And with Halloween just more than two months away and many of us searching for a good scare towards the end of summer, here are 12 of the best and most frightening films that have come out this decade, from underrated chillers to terrifying blockbuster hits. Weapons (2025) One night in a small town, at 2.17am, 17 children run away from their homes and are never seen again. Weapons, the second film from Cregger, is the story of what happens next – blending elements of Stephen King's It, Hirokazu Kore-eda's Monster and Kiyoshi Kurosawa's Cure. Operating in a mystery-box format as we jump between character perspectives to figure out what really happened, Weapons executes its scares first through our fear of the unknown, punctuated with the unnerving creepiness with the security footage of the children running from their home. It then pays off that unease with shocking, violent moments when the danger gets closer, and the answers begin to unfold. The film is a big box office hit so far – and while Jordan Peele may not have fired his team after they lost the bidding war, its success virtually guarantees that the story will become myth. While it may not be wholly original, what makes this different from its influences, of course, is Cregger's sense of humour, and while it may be a funnier film than Barbarian, it may not be a scarier one. Oddity (2024) It's not just that Oddity is scary – it's how many different ways that the film finds to terrify you that's most impressive. The tension begins with a knock at the door. A young woman awaiting her husband's return is greeted by a strange man who has come to warn her that she is not alone. He's a patient of her husband's, he says, and while he may have been stalking her, he now only has her safety in mind. Is there danger lurking behind her? Or is the man the danger? You don't immediately find out. The film cuts forward in time months after the woman's death, introducing you to her sister who runs a shop that sells supernatural oddities, herself determined to figure out what happened. It's a ghost story, a murder mystery and a monster movie all in one, with the duelling tones leaving you unsure where it may go next from beginning to end. Longlegs (2024) Early on, Longlegs feels like it will coast along as a riff on Silence of the Lambs. In it, a young detective pursues a serial killer in a case that slowly starts consuming her life. But while it starts more eerie than scary, Nicolas Cage's unforgettable turn as the titular killer brings the film to another level, delivering goosebumps in the truckload, and adding an unexpected supernatural element as well. The film's outsized success has cemented Osgood Perkins, son of the late Psycho star Anthony Perkins, as one of the genre's new pillars, and his next film The Monkey is already one of next year's most anticipated. Barbarian (2022) Horror comedies have been around since the early days of film, but in almost every case, the moment humour is introduced, the horror dissipates entirely. Barbarian, the directorial debut of former sketch comedian Zach Cregger, somehow manages both. It begins with two strangers forced to share an Airbnb, and just when their night couldn't get any worse, the film cuts to actor Justin Long singing like a fool, and a new thread begins. Fiendishly clever in twists and turns through both plot and tone, this is a singular film that lingers long after it ends. Host (2020) When global lockdowns began during the pandemic in 2020, people worldwide pledged that they would use that time to create their masterpiece. Director Rob Savage may have been the first person to achieve that goal. Host, his screenlife film documenting a video call among friends who decide to hold a virtual ceremony to contact the dead, is simple in concept, but terrifyingly effective in execution. A product of its time, sure, but one that is worth revisiting even as lockdown memories begin to fade. Anything for Jackson (2020) Of all of the films on this list, Anything for Jackson is the one that has flown most deeply under the radar, moving straight to the boutique horror streaming service Shudder after a small festival tour. But if you give it a shot, you'll most likely be hooked from the opening scene. In it, a seemingly normal elderly couple are mourning the loss of their grandson. But while they may be easygoing in their demeanour, they secretly worship darker forces, determined to find a vessel that could bring their beloved progeny back from the dead. And while it could easily have veered into familiar and gory territory, the film has a restrained take that allows an unsettling feeling to take hold instead. Nope (2022) Nope, Jordan Peele's third film, is perhaps both his best and most perplexing. It's about many things: aliens, paranoia, grief, poverty, all wrapped in the general anxiety in modern-day America. But most importantly, this is about the human obsession with spectacle and the subsequent exploitation of it for monetary gain. It's even a commentary on the history of cinema, and how everything can be sacrificed for the sake of that one perfect shot. What makes Nope scary, apart from the obvious alien presence that literally looms large over the characters, is the fact that many of us are not much different. We as humans are drawn to darkness, no matter how gruesome. And facing that is a deeply unsettling truth. Talk to Me (2022) Sometimes you never know where the best horror talent will get their start. In 2022, a giggling pair of YouTuber twin brothers from Australia named Danny and Michael Philippou somehow gave the world one of the scariest films in recent memory. Following a group of young people who contact the dead by holding hands with a mysterious porcelain statue, it quickly becomes a moving exploration of grief. And while it often relies on jump scares, it uses them well, and the truly scary moments are psychological rather than simple shocks. Bring Her Back (2025) The second film by the Philippou brothers is far better than the first. And while Bring Her Back is a deceptively kinder-hearted film than its predecessor Talk to Me – offering us characters who feel fresh, real and impossible not to root for – it's all the more terrifying for it, as our emotional investment makes every brutal twist and turn even harder to bear. The film follows two siblings who are forced to enter foster care after the death of their father – and find themselves in the home of a woman who is thrilled at how much the younger sister resembles her own dead daughter. Not for the squeamish, this two-hour film will make you more anxious than any other film on this list, without ever feeling cheap or exploitative. It's a masterwork. Late Night with the Devil (2023) Starring David Dastmalchian, Late Night with the Devil shows the downfall of a late-night talk show host whose ratings drop so he must resort to cheap tactics such as a Halloween episode in which he hosts a cast of guests that attempt to communicate with the dead. The whole film is presented like a lost episode, in which we see both the show and the behind-the-scenes happenings, with every passing segment building up to an incredible crescendo. The scariest thing about the film is how it lulls you into the sense that you're watching a real true crime documentary, hoping you would forget that it's a horror film at all. If it works on you, then you're in for a thrill ride that will get under your skin. The Empty Man (2020) Directed by David Prior, a regular collaborator of filmmaker David Fincher, The Empty Man is unlike any other horror movie in recent years. It dances between genres and explores familiar themes – spooky cults, disappearances, murder and supernatural beings – but it does it all with a singular vibe that hooks it all together. Something feels off from the start, and that unease doesn't dissipate until the twist ending. Speak No Evil (2022) The 2024 remake of Speak No Evil starring James McAvoy received rave reviews upon release, but it doesn't hold a candle to the Danish original from 2022. Some films are scary because of a lurking unknown force of evil like a ghost or monster, others are scary because of the prospect of being the victim of a serial killer. Speak No Evil 's horror is found in social awkwardness. In it, a meek and polite family become prisoners of an abrasive and straight-talking couple. And it happens not by force or persuasion, but just merely to avoid an uncomfortable confrontation. Even if you've seen the new version, give this one a shot. It may start the same, but the last 20 minutes, completely changed in the remake, will leave you cowering behind the sofa. A version of this story was first published in October 2024
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Now That They've Relaunched, How Will DC and Marvel Avoid the Same Old Downward Spiral?
If superhero fatigue is a trend that became all too real, the making of the movies that brought it on might be likened to an addiction. The studios that produced those films got hooked on the idea that comic-book movies would be a limitless cash cow. And so they started to make them without limits, jacking up the budgets, the thorny interconnectedness of the characters, and the sheer volume of films they greenlit, each one promising — in theory — to be the box-office equivalent of Christmas Day. But it didn't work out that way. For audiences, more turned out to be less. After a while, the sheer overkill of comic-book cinema began to look like it might kill the golden goose. This summer, though, the release of two vital, game-changing superhero movies created a kind of Christmas in July. With 'Superman' and 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps,' DC and Marvel, the reigning studio factories of superhero movies, have brought off more than just a course correction. They have, in effect, started over, relaunching expectations for a bold new era in which comic-book movies become successful again by avoiding the addictive missteps of the past. Both films have connected with audiences the old-fashioned way: by merging spectacle and emotion, infusing their iconic characters with the kind of human relatability that got squashed in the superhero-overkill era. More from Variety 'Superman' and 'Fantastic Four': How Hollywood Finally Pulled Off Comic Book Camp James Gunn to Direct Next Movie in the 'Super-Family' at DC Studios After 'Superman' Success Box Office: 'Freakier Friday' and 'Weapons' Battle for First Place Over 'Fantastic Four' That said, even two terrific flagship movies do not a revolution make. James Gunn, the co-chairman of DC Studios (and, not so incidentally, the writer-director of 'Superman'), and Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios, have both spoken of the new era they're embarking upon in the abashed, let's-own-our-failures language of recovering addicts. Gunn has vowed that he won't put a superhero movie into production until it has a fully realized, well-carpentered script — the absence of good scripts, in the face of ever-more-bombastic onslaughts of CGI, being the most notorious feature of bad comic-book movies. And Feige has vowed that he'll produce fewer films and TV spinoffs, and exert the kind of quality control that went out the window at Marvel as the studio went on its bender of more, and lesser, comic-book product. You deeply want to believe these two, because they sound like they mean it, and because anyone who cares about the future of movies has a vested interest in seeing Hollywood maintain a thriving and creatively disciplined blockbuster culture. In both 'Superman' and 'The Fantastic Four,' the filmmakers (Gunn and Matt Shakman, respectively) made the very canny decision to spin right past the usual origin-story narratives (Superman's arrival on earth, how the Fantastic Four got their powers). Both films are, in effect, second chapters. And there's a tradition in comic-book cinema of second chapters being the charm. 'The Dark Knight' is the crowning masterpiece of the whole genre, 'Superman II' is, for many of us, deeper and richer than 'Superman: The Movie,' and 'Spider-Man 2' is universally cherished. But if second chapters are the sweet spot, they're also the easy part. 'The Fantastic Four,' especially, benefits from the fantastic simplicity of its storytelling design. But the film concludes with a teaser of an end title that I, for one, found worrisome: 'The Fantastic Four will return in 'Avengers: Doomsday'.' In other words: The next time you see these characters, they'll be in a movie that features 14 superheroes. And just like that, we could once again be in the land of overkill. I believe Gunn and Feige when they say they're newly committed to quality control. The challenge they're going to face is this: As their shiny new universes grow ever more complicated and multi, which is going to start happening in about five minutes, the new DC and Marvel are going to lose, by definition, the elemental, no-strings-attached quality that 'Superman' and 'The Fantastic Four' have. They're going to become glorified puzzle pieces again, fitting into a larger more elaborate whole that…we once again stop giving a damn about? I'd be a cynic if I said that was destined to be true. I'd be a realist if I said there's a very good chance it could be. Best of Variety Final Emmy Nom Predictions: 'Severance' and 'The Studio' Expected to Lead Series With 19 Noms Each Oscars 2026: George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Roberts, Wagner Moura and More Among Early Contenders to Watch Oscar Predictions: Best Picture — Netflix, Neon and Warner Bros Could Dominate Season With 'Frankenstein,' 'Sentimental Value' and 'Sinners'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Now That They've Relaunched, How Will DC and Marvel Avoid the Same Old Downward Spiral?
If superhero fatigue is a trend that became all too real, the making of the movies that brought it on might be likened to an addiction. The studios that produced those films got hooked on the idea that comic-book movies would be a limitless cash cow. And so they started to make them without limits, jacking up the budgets, the thorny interconnectedness of the characters, and the sheer volume of films they greenlit, each one promising — in theory — to be the box-office equivalent of Christmas Day. But it didn't work out that way. For audiences, more turned out to be less. After a while, the sheer overkill of comic-book cinema began to look like it might kill the golden goose. This summer, though, the release of two vital, game-changing superhero movies created a kind of Christmas in July. With 'Superman' and 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps,' DC and Marvel, the reigning studio factories of superhero movies, have brought off more than just a course correction. They have, in effect, started over, relaunching expectations for a bold new era in which comic-book movies become successful again by avoiding the addictive missteps of the past. Both films have connected with audiences the old-fashioned way: by merging spectacle and emotion, infusing their iconic characters with the kind of human relatability that got squashed in the superhero-overkill era. More from Variety 'Superman' and 'Fantastic Four': How Hollywood Finally Pulled Off Comic Book Camp James Gunn to Direct Next Movie in the 'Super-Family' at DC Studios After 'Superman' Success Box Office: 'Freakier Friday' and 'Weapons' Battle for First Place Over 'Fantastic Four' That said, even two terrific flagship movies do not a revolution make. James Gunn, the co-chairman of DC Studios (and, not so incidentally, the writer-director of 'Superman'), and Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios, have both spoken of the new era they're embarking upon in the abashed, let's-own-our-failures language of recovering addicts. Gunn has vowed that he won't put a superhero movie into production until it has a fully realized, well-carpentered script — the absence of good scripts, in the face of ever-more-bombastic onslaughts of CGI, being the most notorious feature of bad comic-book movies. And Feige has vowed that he'll produce fewer films and TV spinoffs, and exert the kind of quality control that went out the window at Marvel as the studio went on its bender of more, and lesser, comic-book product. You deeply want to believe these two, because they sound like they mean it, and because anyone who cares about the future of movies has a vested interest in seeing Hollywood maintain a thriving and creatively disciplined blockbuster culture. In both 'Superman' and 'The Fantastic Four,' the filmmakers (Gunn and Matt Shakman, respectively) made the very canny decision to spin right past the usual origin-story narratives (Superman's arrival on earth, how the Fantastic Four got their powers). Both films are, in effect, second chapters. And there's a tradition in comic-book cinema of second chapters being the charm. 'The Dark Knight' is the crowning masterpiece of the whole genre, 'Superman II' is, for many of us, deeper and richer than 'Superman: The Movie,' and 'Spider-Man 2' is universally cherished. But if second chapters are the sweet spot, they're also the easy part. 'The Fantastic Four,' especially, benefits from the fantastic simplicity of its storytelling design. But the film concludes with a teaser of an end title that I, for one, found worrisome: 'The Fantastic Four will return in 'Avengers: Doomsday'.' In other words: The next time you see these characters, they'll be in a movie that features 14 superheroes. And just like that, we could once again be in the land of overkill. I believe Gunn and Feige when they say they're newly committed to quality control. The challenge they're going to face is this: As their shiny new universes grow ever more complicated and multi, which is going to start happening in about five minutes, the new DC and Marvel are going to lose, by definition, the elemental, no-strings-attached quality that 'Superman' and 'The Fantastic Four' have. They're going to become glorified puzzle pieces again, fitting into a larger more elaborate whole that…we once again stop giving a damn about? I'd be a cynic if I said that was destined to be true. I'd be a realist if I said there's a very good chance it could be. Best of Variety Final Emmy Nom Predictions: 'Severance' and 'The Studio' Expected to Lead Series With 19 Noms Each Oscars 2026: George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Roberts, Wagner Moura and More Among Early Contenders to Watch Oscar Predictions: Best Picture — Netflix, Neon and Warner Bros Could Dominate Season With 'Frankenstein,' 'Sentimental Value' and 'Sinners' Solve the daily Crossword
CBC
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Acadictionnaire: A new, bilingual look into the ABCs of Acadian history
A first of its kind at Le Pays de La Sagouine, this 25-minute play takes audiences through the terms that represent Acadians for a crash course in the culture.
Geek Girl Authority
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
Tips for Making a Film
Many people dream of creating their own film one day. They could be inspired by cinematic legends or an intriguing narrative begging to be told. But making movies requires artistry, technical know-how, and some determination. Creating movies goes far beyond simply wielding a camera, it is about crafting experiences that speak directly to audiences. While the process can seem frustrating and exhausting at times, with some help and tips it can become a career worth embarking upon. Concept and Scriptwriting: The Bedrock of Your Film Every cinematic masterpiece begins with an amazing concept. A film's story, themes, and structure form its core. Therefore script writing becomes very important in creating cinematic works of art. A well-considered script serves as both its heart and blueprint, outlining narrative arc, character interactions, tone setting elements within one document. Focus on Your Vision: Knowing the tone and genre will help guide your later decisions. Characters are Important: Believable characters drive an engaging tale while keeping audiences invested in their development. Keep It Crisp: For a good script, aim for a balance of dialogue and action. Avoid long, drawn out monologues in favor of actions which speak volumes. Once the script has been written, refine and rewrite it for better results. Very rarely are scripts completely finished in their first draft stage. Editing helps transform them into something extraordinary. Assemble Your Dream Team Movie productions require teamwork. Assembling the perfect team can transform an ordinary film into something extraordinary. From cinematographers and sound designers, each team member brings something different to the table. Choose the Right Cast: Actors give life to your script. Hold auditions until you find those who embody the characters you've imagined . Find Technical Wizards: Skilled directors of photography, sound engineers, and editors can be invaluable when creating art from raw footage. Stay Organized: Assign clear roles and responsibilities among team members in order to make sure there is smooth collaboration among them. A production manager or assistant director can be invaluable in keeping everything running as smooth as oil. Plans, Budgets and Scouting Before you start with the production of your film project, careful planning is important. Devising a production plan and securing funding ensure the project stays on course. Set Your Budget: Film production can be expensive, but resourcefulness goes a long way in covering the costs. Crowdfunding , grants and sponsors are often available to indie projects who require financial backing for production costs. Scout Locations: The setting of each scene is what creates immersive and aesthetic appeal, from urban alleys to lush forests. So carefully choose the locations that align with your story and always obtain all necessary permits before the filming begins. Storyboarding is Your North Star: A storyboard serves as a visual outline, outlining key shots, sequences, and movements for production purposes. It ensures your creative vision translates seamlessly during production. The Magic of Cinematography Once the production begins, cinematography takes the forefront. Cinematography goes far beyond simply recording scenes, it creates an immersive environment within each film that sets its mood and atmosphere. Lighting Sets the Tone: Lighting sets the atmosphere and enhances a scene's depth. From soft natural daylight for an ethereal atmosphere to dramatic shadows that create tension. Angles Matter: To create dynamic content, experiment with various camera angles . Overhead shots can convey distance while close-ups capture raw emotion. Keep it Smooth: To add movement and create dynamic shots, invest in stabilizers or gimbals for smooth shots. Shaky footage may exude chaos when intended but can become distracting when overdone. Using Drones to Elevate Your Filmmaking Drones have revolutionized filmmaking, providing dynamic perspectives and cinematic shots previously impossible. Creators can use drones as versatile tools for capturing sweeping landscapes, dramatic aerial views, and smooth tracking sequences effortlessly, elevating storytelling techniques while leaving an amazing impression with viewers. Shoot Breathtaking Aerial Shots: Filmmakers who use drones like the DJI M400 can capture breathtaking aerial shots that were once impossible or required costly equipment. Creating captivating aerial views for their film that convey scale, depth, and grandeur, whether filming expansive landscapes, bustling cityscapes or intricate chase scenes. Versatility in Angles: The drone's agile maneuverability makes it simple to experiment with dynamic angles and perspectives, from bird's-eye views to dramatic pull-back shots, adding cinematic flair that keeps viewers engrossed. Smooth and Stable Footage: With its advanced stabilization technology, the drone produces smooth footage free from distracting handheld shots or shake. This ensures professional-grade cinematography which seamlessly fits into your film project. Cost-Effective Innovation: Integrating a drone like the DJI M400 into your toolkit brings tremendous production value without breaking your budget. Filmmakers can achieve results comparable to helicopter shots while saving both time and money, and maintaining exceptional quality. Unleash Creativity: Drones help directors expand their creative boundaries. Thanks to their ability to quickly adapt to various environments and shoot at various altitudes and speeds, tools such as these make it possible to easily visualize and execute complex scenes with ease. Perfecting Post-Production Post-production is where all of your film's pieces come together into a narrative, through meticulous editing, visual effects, sound design and color grading processes. Seamless Editing: Arrange scenes to ensure an engaging storytelling experience. Choose an editing pace that complements the scene. For instance, quick cuts work well for high-energy scenes while longer shots may better suit reflective moments. Enhance with Sound: Dialogue clarity, ambient noise and background music can add depth and emotion to your scenes. A great soundtrack can elevate the emotional impact of any film. Color Grading: Adjusting the tones and colors of your footage for stylistic effects. Warm tones may evoke nostalgia while cooler tones create suspense or isolation. Conclusion No filmmaking experience is without its challenges, but every hiccup adds depth to both the storytelling and technical prowess. When coupled with captivating stories, collaborative teams, and determination, creating your own film becomes an exhilarating creative conquest. With credits rolling and applause erupting upon its completion making every ounce of effort worth it. Cinema has the power to inspire, connect, and entertain, an avenue through which dreams truly become realities. POKER FACE Recap: (S02E10) The Big Pump RELATED: NYCC 2025: Check Out the First Wave of Star-Studded Guests
