Halloween Horror 2022
As the crisp autumn leaves fall, and the shadows grow long, Halloween enthusiasts everywhere prepare for an evening of spooky delights. It’s that bewitching time of year when ghouls and ghosts emerge from the darkness, and horror takes center stage. And what better way to celebrate this eerie season than by revisiting the darkest corners of this year’s cinema for the very best Halloween horror movies?
From the iconic return of a masked slasher to the birth of new nightmares, the 2022 lineup has been nothing short of extraordinary. Each film in our top 10 has carved its place in the annals of horror history, beckoning you to join its sinister dance. So, without further ado, let’s descend into the world of the unknown and discover the top 10 horror movies that made 2022 a year of heart-pounding terror. Viewer discretion is advised.
10. Texas Chainsaw Massacre
After 48 years of hiding, Leatherface returns to terrorize a group of idealistic young friends who accidentally disrupt his carefully shielded world in a remote Texas town.
- Director: David Blue Garcia
- Writers:
- Chris Thomas Devlin
- Fede Alvarez
- Rodo Sayagues
- Stars:
- Sarah Yarkin
- Elsie Fisher
- Mark Burnham
- IMDB Link
My View:
This is a sequel to the original movies not the remake movies. It’s not a bad horror movie, but it isn’t brilliant either. To my surprise, the sole survivor from the original movie Sally, was back in the action. There are some great gore scenes, but the story was lacking.
Trivia:
- John Larroquette returned to narrate the opening scene of this movie. He was also the narrator for the 2003 remake opening scene.
- The film was shot in 2020 and was due for release in 2021 but all plans were scrapped after many issues while filming. It was later sold to Netflix and released in 2022.
- Sallys Barn and house that you see in her intro scene, were from the set of Rambo: Last Blood (2019).
09. Prey
Naru, a skilled warrior of the Comanche Nation, fights to protect her tribe against one of the first highly evolved Predators to land on Earth.
- Director: Dan Trachtenberg
- Writers:
- Patrick Aison
- Dan Trachtenberg
- Jim Thomas
- Stars:
- Amber Midthunder
- Dakota Beavers
- Dane DiLiegro
- IMDB Link
My View:
I went into this movie with very low expectations but by the end I realized this is probably my most favorite since the original. Amber Midthunder plays her role perfectly. Like the original Alien movie, the lack of proper weapons makes this movie even more intense. This was a great addition to the Predator franchise.
Trivia:
- Dane DiLiegro (The Predator) did all of his own stunts in the movie.
- The producer of the movie, Jhane Myers is an enrolled member of the Comanche Nation.
- This was the first Predator movie where the alien didn’t use its shoulder mounted laser cannon.
08. Nope
The residents of a lonely gulch in inland California bear witness to an uncanny and chilling discovery.
- Director: Jordan Peele
- Writer: Jordan Peele
- Stars:
- Daniel Kaluuya
- Keke Palmer
- Brandon Perea
- IMDB Link
My View:
This was the most original horror film of the year for me. Jordan Peele makes some truly great horror films, and this is one of his best. It has a great cast and some amazing cinematography.
Trivia:
- Steven Yeun’s character Jupe has a large pair of scissors on his desk, these are the same scissors from Jordan Peele’s Movie Us (2019).
- This was the first horror movie to be filmed with IMAX cameras.
- This was Jordan Peele’s third R rated movie after Get Out (2017) and Us (2019).
07. Scream
25 years after a streak of brutal murders shocked the quiet town of Woodsboro, Calif., a new killer dons the Ghostface mask and begins targeting a group of teenagers to resurrect secrets from the town’s deadly past.
- Directors:
- Matt Bettinelli-Olpin
- Tyler Gillett
- Writers:
- James Vanderbilt
- Guy Busick
- Kevin Williamson
- Stars:
- Neve Campbell
- Courteney Cox
- David Arquette
- IMDB Link
My View:
Ghostface is back! This movie was pretty decent but not the best in the franchise. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have Wes Cravens magic, but we do have some new actors to the team who did a pretty decent job. All in all, it is still a Scream movie with Ghostface and plenty of slasheriffic killing fun.
Trivia:
- As with all previous Scream movies, Roger L. Jackson is the voice on the phone as Ghostface.
- This was the first Scream movie not to be directed by our beloved Wes Craven.
- In the original movie, when Sidney uses the online 911 emergency contact system, we were supposed to see her typing her home address, 34 Elm Street, but this scene was cut for time. It wasn’t until this movie; Elm Street was seen and confirmed as Sidney’s home address where she grew up.
06. X
In 1979, a group of young filmmakers set out to make an adult film in rural Texas, but when their reclusive, elderly hosts catch them in the act, the cast find themselves fighting for their lives.
- Director: Ti West
- Writer: Ti West
- Stars:
- Mia Goth
- Jenna Ortega
- Brittany Snow
- IMDB Link
My View:
In my opinion, this is the best slasher movie created for a long while. Mia Goth is amazing! The premise for the movie was very original. There are plenty of horrific gore scenes for you to endure this Halloween.
Trivia:
- At the beginning of the movie, the names of the gas station and mini mart, is a direct reference to Ti Wests movie The Innkeepers (2011).
- The movie is supposedly set in Texas, nut the whole film was shot in New Zealand.
- Before X had finished filming, A24 had been handed the script for the prequel movie Pearl. A24 instantly gave it the go ahead. Mia Goth was then asked to stay in New Zealand to continue shooting for the prequel and she agreed.
05. The Black Phone
After being abducted by a child killer and locked in a soundproof basement, a 13-year-old boy starts receiving calls on a disconnected phone from the killer’s previous victims.
- Director: Scott Derrickson
- Writers:
- Joe Hill
- Scott Derrickson
- C. Robert Cargill
- Stars:
- Mason Thames
- Madeleine McGraw
- Ethan Hawke
- IMDB Link
My View:
Very creepy movie. I was convinced this would tie in somehow with the movie Sinister, but I was wrong. Ethan Hawke plays the role of the grabber perfectly.
Trivia:
- Scott Derrickson pushed back production of this movie because he was so impressed with Madeleine McGraw (Gwen) who at the time was already shooting for another movie Secrets of Sulphur Springs (2021).
- The script for this movie was written in only six weeks, and the movie was shot in thirty-three days.
- Ethan Hawke for a Halloween party in 2022 went dressed as his character The Grabber.
- Scott Derrickson’s own son briefly appears in the movie.
04. Halloween Ends
The saga of Michael Myers and Laurie Strode comes to a spine-chilling climax in the final installment of this trilogy.
- Director: David Gordon Green
- Writers:
- John Carpenter
- Debra Hill
- Paul Brad Logan
- Stars:
- Jamie Lee Curtis
- Andi Matichak
- James Jude Courtney
- IMDB Link
My View:
Sad Face! This can’t be the end for Micheal Myers, can it? If so, this was a truly great ending for his character. Jamie Lee Curtis is amazing as ever. This wasn’t the typical Micheal stalking random people with a kitchen knife. The first half starts off slowly, but the second half ramps up the pace. Still, we get plenty of stabbing, slasheriffic fun.
Trivia:
- In the trailer for the film, Laurie (Jamie Lee Curtis) is seen wearing the same clothes she wore in the original Halloween film (1978).
- Jamie Lee Curtis stated this will be the last time she will ever play Laurie Strode, but she also said that after Halloween II.
- Jason Blum has confirmed there will be more Halloween films because Malek Akkad has a clause prohibiting Micheal Myers from being permanently killed.
03. Prey for the Devil
A nun prepares to perform an exorcism and comes face to face with a demonic force with mysterious ties to her past.
- Director: Daniel Stamm
- Writers:
- Robert Zappia
- Earl Richey Jones
- Todd R. Jones
- Stars:
- Jacqueline Byers
- Debora Zhecheva
- Christian Navarro
- IMDB Link
My View:
I love the religious/demonic horror genre, and this movie is one of the best. A female exorcist is something new to the genre and to me, makes perfect sense. Surely a nun and a priest would make a great team to combat evil. Bit like good cop bad cop. Anyways this movie had a great story line with even better actors. I thoroughly enjoyed this addition to the demonic horror genre.
Trivia:
- The movie was originally titled “The Devils Light” but was later changed.
- Ben Cross died of cancer 10 days after finishing this movie.
02. Smile
After witnessing a bizarre, traumatic incident involving a patient, a psychiatrist becomes increasingly convinced she is being threatened by an uncanny entity.
- Director: Parker Finn
- Writer: Parker Finn
- Stars:
- Sosie Bacon
- Jessie T. Usher
- Kyle Gallner
- IMDB Link
My View:
This was terrifying, it had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. The music score will make you very uncomfortable throughout. There are plenty of jump scares to give you an untimely heart attack. This was one of the few horror titles this year to really surprise me. Smile will haunt you for hours.
Trivia:
- The smiles in the movie are all natural and not enhanced.
- The movie was originally title ” Somethings Wrong with Rose” but was later changed.
- Sosie Bacon is the daughter of actors Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick.
- Rose’s cabin where her mother committed suicide, is no.409 those numbers add up to the unlucky number 13.
01. Hellraiser
A take on Clive Barker’s 1987 horror classic where a young woman struggling with addiction comes into possession of an ancient puzzle box, unaware that its purpose is to summon the Cenobites.
- Director: David Bruckner
- Writers:
- Ben Collins
- Luke Piotrowski
- David S. Goyer
- Stars:
- Odessa A’zion
- Jamie Clayton
- Adam Faison
- IMDB Link
My View:
This movie was a well needed reboot to the franchise, after seeing so many crappy hellraiser titles, this was exactly what we needed. Jamie Clayton played Pin Head extremely well. The six configurations of the box also gave us something new to the story. This was a very well-done remake indeed. It gets the no.1 spot because it was the most perfect horror film of the year for me. This film has some truly grotesque sights to show you!
Trivia:
- Jamie Clayton could barely move dressed as Pin Head, as the suit was so heavy and tight.
- Doug Bradley, who originally played Pin Head, said on twitter “I’m a bit blown away by this! The clever re-design of the make-up; the shimmer of the “pin heads”; the palette; whatever that keyhole/locket/tracheotomy thing is at the throat. It’s simple, subtle, disturbing and sexy. Everything it should be. Peace and Pain, Doug.”
Honorable Mentions:
While these movies didn’t make it into my top 10, they were all worthy contenders and deserve a mention:
- Hellbender
- Terrifier 2
- Orphan: First Kill
- Jeepers Creepers Reborn
Conclusion
In the spirit of Halloween, let us embrace the eerie and the unsettling, for these are the moments when we truly feel alive. As the witching hour approaches, we invite you to embark on your own cinematic adventure through this list of top 10 horror films. Choose your poison, gather your courage, and confront the fear that awaits in the dark.
From all of us at Meganano, we wish you a spine-tingling Halloween filled with screams, laughter, and the company of fellow thrill-seekers. May your night be haunted by the unforgettable images and stories you’ve encountered here, and may you continue to find solace in the embrace of horror, both on the screen and in the shadows of your own imagination.
Happy Halloween Folk’s!
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