All through October, I’ll be posting reviews of the best of the best films in the horror genre released since October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. As an added bonus, I’ll be doing a secondary review that may be somewhat related to the main review or slightly missed the countdown by inches. Follow along the countdown every day in October. Feel free to agree, disagree, or better yet, give me your own picks for your favorite horror movies of the year. Happy Halloween!

The Best in Horror 2025-2026 So Far…

#31 – DOLLY (GATOR FACE)
#30 – THINESTRA (SACCHARINE)
#29 – ONSLAUGHT (BEAST OF WAR)
#28 – READY OR NOT 2: HERE I COME (PENNY LANE IS DEAD)
#27 – IN OUR BLOOD (V/H/S/HALLOWEEN)
#26 – SEND HELP (HEEL)
#25 – THE CARPENTER’S SON (THE BOOK OF SIJJIN AND ILLIYYIN)
#24 – OTHER (YOU ARE NOT ME)
#23 – WHO’S WATCHING (MATCH)
#22 – HOPE (TOUCH ME)

#22 – HOPE (2025)

Released on September 9, 2026!
In theaters now from Forged Films, Plus M Entertainment, and Westworld!
Directed/Written by Na Hong-jin.
Check out the trailer here!

The South Korean town of Hope is not prepared for the gigantic threat that comes from a downed spaceship in the middle of the hills. Only a cop, his deputy, and a few civilians stand firm against a group of seemingly unstoppable creatures.

HOPE is an epic motion picture from Na Hong-jin, the man behind the equally epic THE WAILING. So epic that this is the most expansive and expensive movie ever to come from South Korea. Quite a bit of hype came from HOPE as it left the festival circuit to hit theaters and I’m thrilled to say most of that hype was warranted.

Though we don’t really see the creatures until about forty minutes into the movie, HOPE is a phenomenal creature feature. The film starts slowly as a sheriff in a small town Beom Seok (Heang Jung-Min), investigates a dead cow lying in the middle of the road. Debating whether it was a bear or tiger attack with some local hunters, led by Sung Ki (Zo-In Sung), the film escalates slowly from this simple beginning following the sheriff as he tracks the carnage into town, while the group of hunters tread into the nearby forest following their own trail of mayhem. HOPE then splits the narrative between two locations; the town and the outlying woods—both inhabited by something truly unearthly.

What impressed me the most about HOPE was the restraint the director used in telling this story. Instead of plopping all info down in an info dump, which so many Hollywood films love to do these days, HOPE doles out just enough info and then slathers it with tension in the first hour and non-stop action in the second. This first hour was my favorite part of the movie. Not knowing what is causing this carnage becomes maddening as the filmmaker holds back a reveal until the last possible time. Once the reveal occurs, HOPE almost becomes a completely different movie. The film can be dissected into three immense action-horror scenes. The first being the pursuit of the monster through the harbor town of Hope. The second following the hunters’ discoveries in the woods. And the big climax as both groups attempt to get away from the creatures along a long highway. Each segment has its own personality. High Tension in the first, strange discovery in the second, and balls splattered to the wall action and terror during the climax.

Filmmaker Na Hong-jin’s inspiration is obvious. He’s doing Spielberg like Spielberg can’t do anymore. This is the DISCLOSURE DAY that I wanted. Shades of CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND and JAWS are all over this film. At the same time, Na Hong-jin borrows heavily from the personality riddled films of Tarantino, specifically, PULP FICTION. Midway through, there is even a comedic monologue that is more than reminiscent of Christopher Walken’s famous watch speech. By the end, Na Hong-jin apes the grand scale of Cameron’s AVATAR but talking about that aspect feels like I’m getting into spoiler territory. Still, HOPE is its own beast, only borrowing story structure and elements of spectacle that those filmmakers often display in their films.

The large cast have wonderful personalities, each distinct and surprisingly funny. This is no spoof or farce with one liners and quips. The comedy comes from the genuine reactions these common people have to this insane situation. Though it’s been done a million times, scenes like having two people count to three before they enter a scary situation and then neither move when they get to three, neither does and it works! There’s a charming old school zaniness to this film that I don’t think would work if translated into English.

Heang Jung-Min is great as the sheriff out of his element. We follow most of the movie riding shotgun with him and the fear is palpable as he reluctantly tracks this creature through the carnage it leaves in its path. Though he is scared shitless, he pushes forward out of dedication to upholding the law, making this a fun character to watch. I also loved Hayeon as Sung Ae. Her character is a trope, the eager underling cop who is highly proficient in driving like a madwoman and using machine guns. Zo-In Sung plays the lead hunter and looks like a Korean Benicio Del Toro. He’s more of a gruff action star but is tossed around like a ragdoll by the creatures. It’s fun to see how much of a beating he can take.

Rounding out the cast is Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vickander, who I just this minute found out were married. They play the motion captured aliens and are surprisingly emotive despite their horrifying forms.

The story takes a very interesting turn in the last act and while I really dug it, I think some people will have issues with this curious decision by the filmmaker. I won’t reveal much, but going into this one, I had no idea that this was only the first movie in what looks to either be a series of films or a trilogy.

The major issue is that HOPE holds back a lot of answers, assuming the audience will be there for future installments. And that’s pretty ballsy from this first movie. It’s not a complete film as most pertinent questions are left open ended. This is definitely going to piss some people off, as this is over two and a half hours long, and I think some of the more tediously paced action (mostly from the repetitious third act) could have been trimmed in exchange for a clue or two as to what’s going on. I understand those who thought HOPE holds back too much.

Still, despite the long runtime, HOPE whizzed by for me. There is a lot left to demystify in HOPE and I hope the answers are just as thrilling as this first film. HOPE shifts perspectives in the final moments and what is to come should be a doozy of a sequel. I hope they will be successful enough to make it.

HOPE is surprisingly gory. Not only do the creatures leave a massive body count, but they are portrayed as monstrous beasts with multiple forms and powers. My theory is that they adapt themselves to what they eat as the various creatures look and act quite differently than one another. There is a gruesome autopsy scene with a jaded physician that is gorily hilarious yet filled with slime and grossness. While this might be called an action movie or a sci fi movie, the sheer amount of blood and different types of monsters plants it firmly into the horror genre just as comfortably.

HOPE is epic storytelling. It seems like Na Hong-Jin has a plan. Its AVATAR levels of narrative that delivers thrills, chills, and gacks, yet it’s not preachy or overly sweet, though there are some tender moments. It’s simply what James Cameron was trying to accomplish with AVATAR, yet in my opinion highly more successful. Na Hong-jin has taken a hodge podge of ideas from some of your favorite films and given it an undeniably South Korean edge to it. It’s pure epic storytelling yet never loses its grounded feel. Take a chance with HOPE. They just don’t make them like this anymore. If you can deal with the open-endedness, you’re the type of moviegoer this one is for.

Worth Noting – TOUCH ME (2025)

Released on April 2, 2026!
Streaming on Shudder from Lightbulitsm Distribution!
Directed/Written by Addison Heimann.
Check out the trailer here!

Joey (THE VATICAN TAPES’ Olivia Taylor Dudley) and Craig (ORPHAN BLACK’s Jordan Gavaris) are two self-centered roommates trying to get by. Joey recently met a man claiming to be an alien named Brian (EVIL DEAD and SPRING’s Lou Taylor Pucci) who gave her an unbelievable sexual experience that left her both exhilarated and scared. When a backed-up sewer system causes their apartment to be flooded with feces, Joey and Criag have no choice but to stay at Brian’s place. Once at his mansion, the alien Brian welcomes them with open arms and tells them about his way of life, which includes saving the world from itself. Meanwhile, both Joey and Craig begin having tentacle sex with Brian, causing a rift between the two longtime friends. But everything is not as perfect as it seems and Brian’s intentions might not be completely noble, not that the self-centered roommates care that much as long as thy keep getting their rocks off from the tentacle sex.

TOUCH ME is a twisted little comedy about horrible people. The film starts out with a cool long take of Joey talking with her therapist about her one-night stand with an alien, which is an obvious exposition drop, but Olivia Taylor Dudley is so compelling as is her story that I couldn’t look away. There really isn’t a redeemable character in the bunch, but still, because the comedy is rich and the acting is good, it’s hard not to get into this story.

Basically, this is a story of self-centeredness. Everyone is out for themselves and as the stakes rise, it’s fun watching how these supposed friends and lovers will stab each other in the back for survival. This by far is the most entertaining aspect as Joey, Craig, Brian, and his caretaker Laura (Marlene Forte) are all out for themselves and don’t matter how many bodies fall to do it.

There are strong aspects of body horror, specifically influenced by THE SUBSTANCE and tentacle porn, at play here. This is a highly sexual film, so do t expect TOUCH ME to gloss over the uncomfortable and downright day nasty bits of human copulation, hetero and homo included. But there is such a level of ludicrousness achieved in this film that you can’t help but laugh, rather than gasp at it all. The effects, the ones involving the tentacles, as well as the gorier, bloody parts, are a plenty and potent. This isn’t a film for the weak stomached.

But at the heart of it all are some fantastic performances by leads Olivia Taylor Dudley and Jordan Gavaris, who exemplify the shallow, narcissistic disease society suffers from these days so hilariously well. Lou Taylor Pucci is also great as the naive, but not so naive alien and his hip-hop dance moves that he performs to achieve a level of Zen are the highlight of this unusual little movie. Marlene Forte is also good as Laura the housekeeper with an agenda. Her demented backstory is crucial to how it all pans out in the end.

TOUCH ME is not going to be for everyone. It’s going to make you squirm, both from the slimy, gory effects, and the terrible way people treat each other. But it also holds a funhouse mirror to the cruel, sad world we live in and like most body horror, it does so grossly and insightfully.

Once again, feel free to agree, disagree, or how about you play along at home and give me your own picks for your favorite horror movies. It’s October, so let’s talk horror. Come back tomorrow for the next level in the Best in Horror Countdown. Be sure to hit all of the pertinent bells and whistles down below and you’ll never miss a post! Happy Halloween, folks!