The year 2025 set a high bar for horror movies. Big studio hits and small indie films both delivered. Some won awards. Some dominated the box office. Others quietly built loyal audiences.
Movies like Sinners and Weapons may be remembered the longest. But earlier releases helped shape the year. Companion, Clown In A Cornfield, and Heart Eyes arrived before summer and set the mood.
So far, 2026 has started strong with critics. January brought titles like We Bury the Dead, Primate, 28 Years Later The Bone Temple, and Sam Raimi’s Send Help. Reviews have been solid. Box office numbers have not followed.
That could change very soon.
One February release looks ready to break out. 20th Century Fox will release Psycho Killer on February 20. It may become the first true horror hit of 2026.
The early signs are promising.
The first trailer feels tense and grounded. It hints at something dark and disturbing. There is no major star used as bait. The movie seems confident without spectacle.
The cast is a strong draw. Georgina Campbell leads the film. She has become a familiar face in modern horror. Her performance in Barbarian helped turn that film into a surprise hit. Since then, she has built a steady reputation in thrillers.
Malcolm McDowell also appears in the film. His role is still being kept quiet. His presence alone adds weight and unease.
The script may be the biggest strength. Psycho Killer is written by Andrew Kevin Walker. He is known for Se7en, 8mm, Sleepy Hollow, and The Killer. His work often focuses on obsession, violence, and moral decay. He knows this genre well.
The story centers on a police officer whose husband is murdered in front of her. That loss drives her forward. Her search leads to a brutal serial killer tied to dark and Satanic beliefs. His goals go far beyond random violence.
It is a familiar setup. But the execution matters. And in Walker’s hands, it could feel fresh and unsettling.
Psycho Killer arrives during a crowded year for horror. Several major sequels are on the way. Scream 7, Ready or Not Here I Come, Scary Movie 6, and Evil Dead Burn are all expected to draw attention.
Even so, original films have proven they can still surprise. Barbarian did it. Longlegs did it. Weapons did it.
Psycho Killer may be next.
If early buzz and creative talent mean anything, this could be one of the horror films people remember when looking back at 2026.
Credits – ScreenRant
