Welcome to Horror Explorer, a curated column showcasing the month’s best movies, series, books and everything else spooky worth checking out. I’m William Earl, the executive digital director of Variety and the publication’s resident horror enthusiast. Please drop me a line at [email protected] if there’s something I should check out for next month’s missive.
Jay Duplass and Arabella Olivia Clark play the husband and daughter in peril in Rob Savage’s film. The trailer alone is a nail-biter, and director Brian Duffield’s last film, the nearly dialogue-free alien invasion movie “No One Will Save You,” was fantastic, so “Whalefall” should be a wildly claustrophobic ride. Pictures) — Mike Flanagan wrote the story and co-wrote the script for this Batman villain standalone story.
The trailer promises a frightening and squeamish body horror tale. Nelson, who delivered strong horror reboots in recent years with 2021’s “Wrong Turn” and 2025’s “Silent Night, Deadly Night,” returns with a giant killer snake story. Kiana Madeira, Jessica Rothe and Logan Marshall-Green star in an adventure that works to develop well-rounded humans before the titular snake bares its fangs.
The initial press release for the project promised “outrageous splatter and groundbreaking practical effects,” which sounds perfect for a Halloween treat. Jayson Rothwell scripted the film, which stars Matilda Lutz, Gregg Sulkin, William Miller and Melina Matthews. Director and co-writer Jordan Downey’s twisty feature is filled with plenty of dread, tension and practical FX.
With a script from director Samuel Gonzalez Jr. and star Gigi Gustin, who based elements on her own experience as an exotic dancer, expect plenty of blood, kinks and NSFW fun. When a normal family starts getting close with a household that celebrates Christmas all year long, things take a turn for the surprising and bloody. Howell stars in the title role, with Flanagan regulars like Samantha Sloyan, Matthew Lillard, Kate Siegel and Rahul Kohli rounding out the cast.
Mackenzie Davis, Charlie Heaton and Natasha Henstridge also star in the series, and early footage looks stylish and spooky. The production comes from A24, stars Linda Cardellini and was created by “It: Welcome to Derry” co-showrunner Brad Caleb Kane — a tremendous amount of talent that could elevate the show. A web of conspiracy and horror follows.
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