Horror 2025: The 10 Films That Impressed Me Most

By: Myriam Akbar

The year 2025 was great for the horror genre, with many films tackling unique concepts and serious themes of inner turmoil. Filmmakers took risks by focusing on the perspectives of non-humans, combined genres, emphasized the power of metaphors, and shocked audiences with gory visuals. I tried to watch as many as I could before making this list and formed it by highlighting the ones that impressed me the most. I have attempted to give as much detail as possible to describe the films honestly and illustrate why I enjoyed them so much, without spoiling anything major in the plot. My hope is that this reads as a list of recommendations rather than thorough reviews, some of which will be fully examined on my site this week. 

10.) Good Boy

Good Boy is a supernatural horror film directed by Ben Leonberg–starring his very own dog, Indy. He co-wrote it with Alex Cannon and co-produced it with Kari Fischer. The plot follows a man suffering from lung disease, whose dog attempts to save him from a haunting entity. The storytelling is shown through the perspective of Indy, focusing on action rather than dialogue. His body language and vocalizations demonstrate his awareness that something malevolent is lingering, alarmed by the danger it poses to his terribly sick owner. As soon as I heard about the film’s concept, I knew that I wanted to watch it because it's not a typical horror premise. It’s inventive, introspective, despondent, and Indy’s performance was unexpectedly convincing. With limited characters and a contained setting, it's easy to focus on his behavior. While watching, I couldn’t help but put myself in the dog’s position–conceptualizing for the first time in my life, how worrying and confusing it must be for pets to see their owners struggling with illness. This made for an emotional and eye-opening watch. The strategic choices in cinematography were absolutely successful in portraying these anxieties. The creepiness of the supernatural forces caught me by surprise as the film went on and I actually found some moments scary. The overall pacing could have been better because some moments felt dull, like I was dog-sitting, However, I argue that Good Boy accomplished what it set out to and is a well executed film. I think the creativity alone makes it worth the watch.

9.) The Woman in the Yard

The Woman in the Yard is a psychological horror film that blends supernatural elements. It's directed by Jaume Collet-Serra and written by Sam Stefanak. The plot follows a grieving and injured mother named Ramona, raising her two children as she investigates a mysterious woman sitting in front of her house. This harrowing and emotionally intense film received divisive reviews, being more slow paced and metaphorical than expected for many. I have been a fan since my first watch, due to the acting performances and overall depth. I personally loved the non-typical and unanticipated nature of it, because I too was expecting a jump-scare packed supernatural film. However, what I got was a deep and dark tale about a woman confronting her battles with mental health–demonstrating how grief and shame manifests itself when not confronted. I was only recently able to rewatch the film because of the impact these themes had on me, causing me to cry a few times. Danielle Deadwyler’s performance was so raw, I felt the characters' emotions. Peyton Jackson and Estella Kahiha who played Ramona’s children, also gave convincing and relatable performances. My two criticisms are that I would have approached the role of the woman in the yard differently and provided a trigger warning; however, I won’t be discussing details on those subjects. Regardless of how the film ends, it's a admirable feature screenwriting debut from Collet-Serra. I think it's an underrated film that's misunderstood by many, possibly becoming more popular with time.

8.) Bring Her Back

Bring Her Back is a horror film that intertwines supernatural and occult elements. It's directed by Danny and Michael Philippou, following two orphaned step-siblings who become fostered by a woman hiding distubring secrets. It’s brutal, gory, and leaves a lasting impression. This isn’t the kind of film that I can rewatch often (if ever ) because I had such a visceral reaction, crying during some scenes and others making me gag–one particularly, actually making me throw up. The bloody and disgusting visuals are some of the most striking I’ve seen in years. What impressed me about this film is the inventive nature of the concept and how it alone creates a horrifying story even without the visuals. As someone who spent time in the foster system, I had been longing for more horror that explores it. However, this also made the experience of watching it depressive and bleak. So I can’t say that I enjoyed Bring Her Back but recognize the unmistakable talent displayed by the filmmakers. 

7.) Weapons

Weapons is an occult mystery horror film written, directed, and produced by Zack Cregger. The plot involves 17 elementary students who go missing one night, resulting in the suspicion of their teacher and a town-wide investigation. The non-linear story is told through chapters and focuses on different character viewpoints, providing new details about the mystery. While I’m a big fan of the concept and set up of the film, I actually didn’t find this narrative strategy to be fully effective. I feel it made the pacing too slow in the first two acts and contributed to a runtime that was too long. The repetition of scenes was frustrating because it didn't always push the story forward or expand on the intriguing aspects of the story. I think if the third act (which is my favorite part) had been longer, the runtime wouldn’t have bothered me. What landed Weapons on my list is that the main protagonist and the revelations attached to them are brilliantly written, terrifying, and truly one of a kind. I just wish that the energy brought out towards the end, had been there the whole time. I was also impressed by the implication of deeper themes; such as: alcoholism, loss of innocence, and failure to protect children. However viewers, including myself shared other interpretations--mine being a critique of the military industrial complex. Overall, Weapons is an inventive and fun watch that much of the horror community didn’t see coming. It takes the occult sub-genre and breathes life into it, giving it depth through thematic concerns relevant in society.

6.) HIM

HIM is a supernatural occult horror film directed by Justin Tipping that received mixed reviews, which took me by surprise because it’s thematically layered and thoroughly entertaining. It was one of the most fun theater experiences I had all year. Once I heard that comedian Marlon Wayans was starring in it, I had to see it. The plot follows Cameron (played by Tyriq Withers), a rising football star who goes to remote grounds for an intense mentorship after an injury that could end his career. The film illustrates how our biggest dreams can shape our identity and influence our decision making. It observes a variety of themes: the exploitation of athletes, toxic masculinity, homoerotism, extremities of fandom culture etc. It’s lively, mysterious, unique and full of religious allegory. It also has touches of ironic humor and gore. Both Withers and Wayans gave their all with their acting performances, having undeniable chemistry and dedication. I think what makes the film special is that it discusses topics that have been mostly ignored, possibly due to discomfort or attachment to sports culture. I feel that the intent behind the story is clear and accomplishes what it set out to, taking risks in a way that might not resonate with some people at first. My only areas of critique are pacing in the second act and storytelling in the third, which I think would have been more effective if shown through subtext. Otherwise, I am convinced that with time this will become a horror classic and people will truly appreciate its artistry.

5.) The Monkey

The Monkey is a horror comedy written and directed by Osgood Perkins, based on Stephen King’s 1980s short story. The premise is simple–a drumming monkey toy brings deathly chaos into the lives of twin brothers who previously had it as children. The story depicts how the monkey impacts their childhood and adulthood, examining the inevitability of death and the significance of confronting trauma. What landed this film on my list is that it’s one of very few horror comedies I’ve enjoyed to this extent, unlike others it easily landed for me. For me, the genre blending works because death itself is the perfect subject to explore with this genre mashup due to its serious nature. When hearing that a loved one has died, many of us yearn for something to soften the blow as we deal with the grief. Watching The Monkey made me reflect on the interactions and moments that aided me when confronting this kind of loss. It was laughter, friendship, spending time with relatives, and acknowledging that everybody dies (a phrase used for marketing for the film). While it's not terrifying, the ridiculous and gory death scenes brought the shock factor of horror. As for the humor, I found many scenes hilarious and laughed along with the audience. Like the film doesn't take itself too seriously, we did not take the theater experience too seriously. My main criticism is that I found the first half to be more well balanced and interesting than the second half. As the story progresses, it gets unpleasantly wacky and muddled. Otherwise, I think Perkins did a great job adapting and expanding on King’s short story as it uses the curse aspect to explore relatable themes. 

4.) Presence

Presence is a psychological and supernatural horror drama written by David Koepp and directed by Steven Soderberg. The plot follows a grieving teenager named Chloe, after she and her family move into a new house that has a lingering presence. From the POV of the unseen entity, we are shown its journey and learn more about its purpose for being there. The film received mixed reviews due to its lack of jumpscares and terrifying visuals, typically associated with the supernatural genre. However, I was in awe of the innovative and introspective nature of the concept. It truly shows how expansive the horror genre can be in exploring our feelings associated with danger. It’s an atmospheric and hair-raising drama that examines the anxieties of a family, as well as its haunting presence. It explores themes of trauma, redemption, and the role empathy has in building connection. My only issue was that some of the acting performances were unconvincing to the point of becoming distracting, but that didn’t overpower the undeniable creativity behind the Presence. I wasn’t expecting to be emotionally impacted and shocked by what’s revealed in the third act, but I believe it’s what makes the film so special. It sets itself apart from others in the haunted house category and I have no doubt that in time, it’ll be looked at as one of the greatest. 

3.) Traumatika

         Traumatika is a supernatural horror film directed by Pierre Tsigaridis. He co-wrote and produced it with Maxime Rancon. I kept this one in my back pocket for a while after seeing it recommended on TikTok and am so glad I watched it before 2025 ended, because it made my top 5 of the year. The plot involves a demonic entity that is released when an artifact is opened, allowing it to feed on the abuse and trauma in a family. It possesses and makes abuse spread like a disease, exploring the reality of how trauma often becomes generational. This film is discomforting, gruesome, and visually terrifying. It’s hard to decide which one takes the crown in that department, this or Bring Her Back. Out of all the horror I watched throughout the year, Traumatika is the only film that actually scared me and this took place within the first 15 minutes. I had second thoughts on finishing it because I didn't want nightmares, but decided I was up for the challenge. If there weren't thematic concerns being addressed, I honestly wouldn’t have enjoyed it as much because some scenes were hard to watch. However, there is a level of depth that motivated me to recommend it to others. Aside from demonstrating the cyclical nature of abuse and trauma, Traumatika examines two other subjects that stood out to me. One of my favorite kinds of films are those where a character learns that their ignorance towards other cultures or beliefs can come back to bite them and this film depicts this in a subtle but efficient way. It also emphasizes how some people attempt to profit off exploiting others, benefiting from their trauma. Overall, I think this film is successful in balancing its supernatural elements with shedding light on real life horrors. Because many horror fans are looking for the scare factor in the genre, I imagine as time passes more people will watch it and enjoy as much as I did.

2.) It Ends 

It Ends is a genre-bending psychological thriller that has horror and apocalyptic undertones. It’s written and directed by Alexander Ullom, first premiering at the South by Southwest Festival. It involves a group of young adults who go on a late night drive, only to be trapped in the car on a never-ending path. Every time they stop the car, they’re met with screaming people running towards them and seemingly trying to attack them. Throughout the film the group tries to figure out where they are, what’s going on, and whether they’re even alive. What landed this film on my list was that I was exceptionally moved by its existential and spiritual themes, as well as the exploration of early adulthood. It explores the confusion associated with the uncertainty of the future, accepting reality, and how our decisions impact our lives. I found myself constantly looking inward, reflecting and wondering what I would do if I was in the characters’ shoes. This made for an emotional and introspective experience. The dialogue and acting performances in It Ends are naturalistic and feel genuine. This is a great use of a contained setting, limited characters, and simple premise. However, with that being said it still manages to hold weight and contain layers. Overall, the film does a good job at fulfilling its intent because it's clear and consistent throughout all 3 acts.  

1.) Marshmallow

        Marshmallow is an indie sci-fi horror film that’s written by Andy Greskoviak and directed by Daniel DelPurgatorio. I watched it due to seeing recommendation videos on Tiktok and it did not disappoint, in fact I was amazed. I was so shocked by the plot-twist, I watched the film again the very next morning. The story involves children at a summer program investigating an urban legend-like mad scientist, after the staff tell them a scary camp tale. Although the plot was interesting enough, at first I thought it would be just another camp slasher. However once the twist came into play, I became aware that it’s actually a one of a kind and moreso pays homage to classic slashers. I have yet to see a review where viewers have seen the revelation coming. What is so clever about Marshmallow as a horror film is that it uses a traditional setting where children are expected to be kept safe and returned to their families--completely flipping it and demonstrating a new way to look at this setting. It sets itself apart from others in that film category, which is why it's currently catching so much buzz. I think the focus on youth is something that is needed more in the genre, because there’s so much to be explored from childhood anxiety and trauma. Some of the themes examined in Marshmallow are how memory shapes our identity and how truth gives us a sense of safety. Aside from the twist, the very last scene also packs a punch and suggests a sequel might be in the future. It's now available to watch on Shudder and I can’t wait to hear what others think once more people watch it.

Collage made by me, from posters & screen caps from IMDB.com.