Hi all!

Today I am discussing new horror movie releases from this year, aside from those I’ve already reviewed/saw in cinema. I hope these mini reviews inform whomever reading, whether to add said film to their watchlist OR avoid it entirely. Without further ado, let’s get into it! 

Note: This post is in partnership with JustWatch. 

1.) RETURN TO SILENT HILL 

James Sunderland receives a letter from his lost love, Mary Crane, urging him to return to their home. Upon arriving, he finds a monstrous, nightmare version of the town. To escape, he must unravel a dark psychological truth about his past.

I am a massive fan of the original game, which made this viewing experience all the more painful. Some elements of the source material were touched on but they were few and far between. If you aren’t familiar with the story, nor never played Return To Silent Hill, you might enjoy it. It has decent creature design and plenty of action-packed moments. However, for those in the know, this was a cheap and embarassing adaptation. There was no need to alter the main storyline. The fandom deserved better.

Rating: 2.75/5

 

  

2.) THE MORTUARY ASSISTANT 

Rebecca Owens, a mortuary science graduate, takes a night job at River Fields Mortuary. What begins as a routine job, soon turns sinister, as she faces terrifying supernatural forces.

I’m sad to report that the game-to-movie adaptations continue to disappoint in 2026. The Mortuary Assistant is beloved by me. I’ve watched countless content-creators play it for hours. Needless to say, I was excited for the film. Silly rabbit! Not only was it poorly acted, it was all over the place. If this was your first introduction to the story, you would have no idea what was going on. I’m quite familiar with it and even I was struggling. They didn’t need to overcomplicate things. It’s frustrating how many unsuccessful video game adaptations have spawned in recent years. Directors heed my call – please do not take these projects on unless you can do them justice!

Rating: 2.5/5

 

 

3.) TWISTED

A con artist’s real estate scam unravels into a living nightmare when she’s captured by a surgeon who has terrifying plans for her.

I had high hopes for Twisted. After all, it was directed by Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II, Saw III, Saw IV); starring Lauren LaVera (Terrifier 2 & 3). To be honest, I expected a lot more than I received. Let’s start with the positives. The premise was excellent and the acting, top-notch. Not to mention, the film had a bangin’ soundtrack. Unfortunately, it just didn’t go anywhere. I was hoping for a lot more gore and violence. They barely pushed the limits. Furthermore, the runtime was far too short to be paced so slowly and yet, it was. It took a while to get to the “torture” and by then, the movie was over. In terms of whether the punishment fit the crime, I can confidently state it did not! To say it was an extreme reaction, would be an understatement. At least it ended well. Stream it and see for yourself.

Rating: 3/5

 

 

4.) DOLLY 

A young woman fights for survival after she is abducted by a monstrous figure intent on raising her as its child.

Last, but not least, we have Dolly. This was one of my most anticipated horror movies of 2026. Did it end up meeting expectations? Not really. However, out of the four listed, it was my favourite. I loved the concept and idea of it. A creepy doll? Sign me up! Dolly has the potential to be a modern horror icon, depending on franchise expansion. She’s terrifying to look at and just as brutal in her pursuit to claim a victim. Think Barbarian meets Texas Chainsaw Massacre. What I wasn’t a fan of was the lack of story. Nothing happened. It’s divided into chapters, despite the very short runtime; losing steam long before it ends. Additionally, if you have emotophobia, you won’t enjoy the force-feeding scene. It’s stomach-churning to say the least. It completely put me off. I believe, like Terrifier, a tighter sequel could launch it into mainstream success. I recommend checking it out.

Rating: 3/5

 

 

Thank you so much for reading. Let me know if you have seen any of the movies mentioned and what you thought of them.

Peace & Love xoxo