Halloween 2025 - 7 Must-Watch Modern Horror Films: From Talk To Me To Frankenstein

Over the past few years, horror cinema has undergone a chilling renaissance. The genre has evolved from jump scares and slasher tropes into bold, emotionally charged storytelling that mirrors the fears of our age. Between 2022 and 2025, a new wave of filmmakers has redefined what it means to be afraid, blending psychological horror, supernatural dread, and social commentary with striking originality. From Talk to Me’s viral possession thrills and Smile’s haunting exploration of trauma, to Evil Dead Rise’s blood-soaked mayhem and Guillermo del Toro’s soulful Frankenstein, this era of horror is fearless, inventive, and profoundly human. These seven must-watch modern horror films prove that the genre isn’t just surviving, Instead it shows that it’s

evolving, reflecting our anxieties about technology, identity, faith, and control in ways that are as terrifying as they are unforgettable.

Talk to Me By Directed by Danny and Michael Philippou (2022)

In recent years, few films have hit horror fans as hard as Talk to Me. The Australian shocker follows a group of teens who use an embalmed hand to summon spirits for fun – until one of them takes it too far. The film is fast, frightening and deeply emotional, blending supernatural dread with real world grief, and loneliness. Talk to Me is a refreshingly fresh take on horror through the eyes of Gen Z and their obsession with viral experiences and emotional disconnection.Also Read:

Barbarian by Zach Cregger (2022)

What starts as a simple Airbnb mix-up spirals into an unpredictable nightmare beneath Detroit’s suburbs. Barbarian thrives on its unpredictability as it vacillates between sharp tonal shifts, wild twists, and disturbing secrets lurking below ground.

Smile by Parker Finn (2022)

Parker Finn’s Smile is an eerie tale which sees a therapist beginning to experience terrifying visions of people grinning unnaturally after witnessing a patient’s shocking suicide. Smile turns trauma into a literal curse, exploring how pain spreads and lingers. The film expertly blends psychological horror with supernatural scares.

Evil Dead Rise by Lee Cronin (2023)

This ferocious reboot of Sam Raimi’s cult franchise brought the Deadites to a Los Angeles apartment building, turning domestic space into a blood-soaked battlefield. Brutal, claustrophobic, and drenched in gore, it proves the Evil Dead legacy is still alive and screaming. The film is a visceral, relentless ride that modernises a classic without losing its wicked sense of fun.

Longlegs by Oz Perkins (2024)

A breakout critical hit, Longlegs follows an FBI agent (Maika Monroe) investigating a series of ritualistic murders linked to a mysterious figure played by Nicolas Cage. Drenched in dread and silence, it’s the kind of horror that crawls under your skin and refuses to leave.

Weapons by Zach Cregger (2025)

Zach Cregger’s Weapons is a chilling, multi-layered narrative that pushes the boundaries of the genre. Following his breakout success with Barbarian, Cregger returns with an ensemble cast in a story that intertwines terror, violence, and the human instinct for survival.

Frankenstein by Guillermo del Toro (2025)

Guillermo del Toro’s long-awaited take on Frankenstein reimagines Mary Shelley’s gothic classic for the AI age. Starring Oscar Isaac as Victor and Jacob Elordi as the Creature, it explores creation, arrogance, and the ethics of playing god - themes that feel eerily relevant in 2025. The film is visually stunning, deeply human, and emotionally devastating - a monster movie with a soul.Between 2022 and 2025, horror has reinvented itself yet again - moving beyond simple scares to explore identity, grief, technology, and moral decay. From Talk to Me’s raw emotional terror to Frankenstein’s philosophical grandeur, modern horror reflects the anxieties of our time - and reminds us that fear, when done right, is timeless.