Tyler Doupe´’s Top 10 Horror Movies of 2025 [Dread Central Selects]

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

It’s a brilliant time to be a horror fan. Not only is there a steady stream of quality releases hitting multiplexes, VOD, and streaming each week, but the genre is finally getting the mainstream recognition it deserves. Last year, The Substance achieved the unthinkable, earning five Oscar nominations and winning Best Makeup and Hairstyling. This year, Sinners is poised to follow suit and win big during awards season. The very idea that genre pictures could show up at the Academy Awards two years in a row illustrates how strong the output has been of late, and paints a picture of a more inclusive future that celebrates cinema in all its various forms. 

Speaking of celebrating cinema, I am beyond excited to share my top 10 horror films of 2025 with you. This year’s lineup features a variety of indie sleepers, box office smashes, and even a legacy sequel for good measure. 

#10 Lifeline

This meditative indie picture didn’t get much press when it debuted in select theaters and on VOD in February 2025. I did my best to spread the good word through a rave review that likened the film to a feature-length episode of The Twilight Zone. But it flew under the radar for most, which is a true shame. The film delivers plenty of sneaky twists and turns and ultimately builds to a wild conclusion that left me speechless. The setup follows Steven (Josh Stewart), a psychologist volunteering at a mental health crisis line on New Year’s Eve. When Steven takes a call from a young man in dire distress (Judah Lewis), he begins to notice striking similarities between the two of them, ultimately learning that the caller knows intimate details of his personal history that cannot be explained away. What follows is a grounded, atmospheric presentation largely carried by just two lead characters. Both Stewart and Lewis turn in top-notch showings that left me feeling haunted after all was said and done. 

#9 Bark

Bark is yet another indie gem that largely flew under the radar. I went into it completely blind, and I would suggest you do the same if you decide to watch it. The film provides the viewer with precious little context as it catches up with a man called Nolan (Michael Weston) on what might be the worst day of his life. He wakes up tied to a tree in the middle of an unfamiliar forest with no idea how or why he ended up there. It’s not entirely clear if he’s the protagonist or the antagonist until the bitter end. Nolan is the only character on screen for long stretches, but he carries the burden well. Director Marc Schölermann does a lot with a little. He makes the most of a modest budget and delivers a jaw-dropping finale that left me cheering with a big, dumb grin on my face. 

#8 Clown in a Cornfield

I was pleasantly surprised by how unpredictable Clown in a Cornfield is. If you’ve read the novel on which it is based, your mileage will vary. I’ve heard that the film sticks pretty close to the source material. But I couldn’t help but be impressed by how often it goes left when I thought it was going to go right. I love the way that the opening introduces what I assumed were two core characters, only to kill both off before the title card appears. That sets things off on exactly the right foot, establishing the precedent that this is more than just a perfunctory rehash of tired ideas. After the jarring introductory sequence, the film introduces the viewer to young Quinn (Katie Douglas), who has just relocated to the cozy town of Kettle Springs with her father for a fresh start following her mother’s death. Quinn is a great lead character. She’s got a heavy backstory, which gives her some added depth, but it never feels heavy-handed or like we’re supposed to feel sorry for her. Also noteworthy are the epic send-offs. The picture is packed to the brim with gruesome kills that will surely scratch your itch for viscera. 

#7 Bring Her Back

Bring Her Back didn’t terrify me in the same way that Danny and Michael Philippou’s first film, Talk to Me, did. But it’s not trying to hit the same notes as the filmmaking team’s directorial debut. Bring Her Back is a much more meditative film, a feature with a lot to say. Bring Her Back provides astute commentary on loss, the toll it takes on the human psyche, and the desperation it inspires. The film also features a beautiful central relationship at its core, introducing us to step-siblings Andy (Billy Barratt) and Piper (Sora Wong) as they come to terms with the death of their guardian, Phil (Stephen Phillips), and ultimately try to assimilate with their eccentric foster mother, Laura (Sally Hawkins). It’s pretty downbeat, and I’m not in any hurry to revisit, but the film remains a strong showcase for the Philippou brothers and has me eager to see what they have in store for us next. 

#6 Final Destination: Bloodlines

Final Destination: Bloodlines breathed new life into the franchise. It mixes up the formula by setting the inciting event years in the past rather than in the current timeline. In this incarnation, Iris (Brec Bassinger) foresees a tragedy at a trendy observation tower restaurant, and instead of merely saving herself and a few pals, she is able to warn her fellow patrons and the staff, ensuring everyone makes it out alive. With hundreds of lives saved, that creates a backlog for Death, meaning that it takes decades to catch up. That setup allows the film to differentiate itself from previous series installments and offer fresh, original, and unexpected ideas. Not to mention, focusing on Iris and her descendants gives the film greater emotional weight than any other installment in the series. Watching bereft family members grieve the loss of one loved one after another gives the film a surprisingly strong emotional core.   

#5 Good Boy

Animals are the center of my universe. So, the idea of a horror film told entirely from the perspective of a canine companion is right up my alley. Director Ben Leonberg delivers a legitimately emotional setup here, following Todd (Shane Jensen) as he grapples with terminal illness and his furry soulmate Indy (as himself) as he tries to come to terms with losing his best friend. The ghost that haunts the proceedings serves as a metaphor for Todd’s illness, coming for him while poor Indy watches, helpless to save his human from harm’s way. The ending is absolutely devastating. The last thing we hear Todd say to Indy still haunts me. The performances are great all around, but Indy is the real star. He miraculously manages to convey, on a film set, the kind of deep adoration a dog feels for its human on command. His deep, soulful eyes communicate an undying love and an unbreakable bond between two species.

#4 Dangerous Animals

I knew I was going to like Dangerous Animals the moment I laid eyes on the trailer and marketing materials. The idea of a shark-obsessed serial killer stalking his prey on the high seas is a winning concept. And it’s executed exceptionally well in director Sean Byrne’s capable hands. Jai Courtney is unbelievably charismatic as the sadistic Tucker, and his unforgettable dance sequence is easily one of my favorite scenes from any horror movie this year. Hassie Harrison is equally effective as the final femme Zephyr. She’s just the right mix of vulnerable and capable, rising to the occasion and giving Tucker a proper run for his money. Her burgeoning relationship with Moses (Josh Heuston), a fellow she meets by happenstance and forms a bond with, gives the film added emotional depth and had me hoping against hope for a happy ending.  

#3 The Monkey

God, I loved this movie. Oz Perkins has a dark, depraved sense of humor that takes center stage in The Monkey. The film offers wry commentary on the randomness of life and death through a storyline that follows brothers Hal and Bill (Theo James) as they navigate a string of gruesome deaths tied to a children’s toy. I found myself laughing out loud as one cast member after another succumbed to ghastly send-offs. It felt wrong to laugh, but Perkins is so tongue-in-cheek with the proceedings that I have to assume that was his intent. Bravo to him for deftly adapting Stephen King. The author’s work is notoriously difficult to translate for the screen, but Perkins does so with aplomb. 

#2 Sinners 

I was apprehensive going into Sinners. I’m not big on period pieces or musicals, so I was a little concerned that I would fail to connect with it with the same zeal as the masses. But when I finally endeavored to take it in, I was blown away. The picture seamlessly blends a variety of seemingly opposed genres as it tells the story of twin brothers Stack and Smoke (both played by Michael B. Jordan). They are lovable outlaws with a strict code of conduct who aspire to open a juke joint, only to run afoul of a gaggle of bloodthirsty creatures of the night. The film is edgy and sex-positive. It smartly uses vampirism as a method to speak to cultural appropriation, with the undead preying on Black characters, taking their stories and songs as their own. If you’ve not yet seen this one, do yourself a big favor and stream it on HBO Max. 

#1 Weapons 

Weapons is a truly surreal viewing experience. But I’d expect nothing less from the twisted mind behind Barbarian. Writer/director Zach Cregger delivers a unique premise that’s vaguely reminiscent of the surreal, small-town antics of Twin Peaks. The setup sees a mass exodus of elementary school students, all from the same classroom, inexplicably vanishing from their homes without a trace. The picture features great characters, the most memorable of which is easily Amy Madigan as Aunt Gladys. She is one we’ll be talking about for years to come. But I won’t say any more than that, because the less you know about Weapons going in, the better. 

Well, that wraps up my top 10 of 2025. I’d love to hear which films made an impression on you over the past year, dear reader. If you’re keen to share your 2025 favorites, you can always find me on Twitter or Instagram.

Tags: Bark Best of 2025 Lifeline Sinners Weapons

Categorized: Best of 2025 Editorials