Let’s be honest, the state of media has been lackluster at best.

Movies have been one remake after another, often followed by sequels to aging franchises. With few exceptions, Hollywood seems to be doing the bare minimum to push out new movies. The gaming industry isn’t much better. While there are exceptions, most new releases seem to fall flat. Game mechanics are uninspired, stories feel repetitive, and graphics often look dated. Media has been declining for years. While studios seem aware of the trend, long production cycles mean they’ll be stuck in a rut for a while longer.

So, where does that leave horror?

Well, horror games seem to be following the same trend. Aside from Alan Wake 2 and Amnesia, it’s been remake city. From Dead Space to Resident Evil 4, studios seem to be playing it safe. Don’t get me wrong, revitalizing these classics is great, but I don’t see any brand new content in the pipeline any time soon.

While games lean on the past, horror films are charging into new territory and appear to be entering a golden age. I don’t watch many movies these days, but most of my favorites in recent years have been horror. Talk to Me (2023) was the first movie to grab my attention. My expectations were low going in, but I was hooked early on. I loved the concept. It brought fresh possession chills, and those handshakes were nightmare fuel. This past year gave us Longlegs, with Nicolas Cage delivering a chilling performance, and Nosferatu, which might be my favorite vampire movie ever (though Blade 2 still holds a special place in my heart). With The Monkey, Sinners, and 28 Years Later on the horizon, it’s safe to say horror isn’t going anywhere.

It seems that horror’s thriving because it’s a place where creators are free to experiment and innovate, unlike the stale blockbusters clogging other genres. I’m excited to see where the genre is heading and look forward to a year of chills.

What about you? What horror movies are excited about this year? Let me know on X @EvanGrantAuthor!