It’s the end of the year once again and that can only mean one thing! It’s time to drink heavily with your extended family and suffer through comments made by your cringey uncle who has all the wrong political opinions!
Oh! And it’s also time for the year end wrap up here at The Scariest Things!
This year, I did better than years past as far as content consumed goes, but in the interest of transparency here are some sizable ones I didn’t get around to seeing: Osgood Perkin‘s latest, Keeper (2025); sequel to the Ethan Hawke extravaganza, Black Phone 2 (2025); and the lovable Good Boy (2025). They’re still on the list to get them in front of my eyeballs, but sadly not in time for the Top 10.
Also, my list is going to stick to the carved in stone release dates (a la Letterboxd). This means it won’t have entries like The Rule of Jenny Pen (2024), but for the love of all that’s horror go see it if you haven’t yet.
That being said, let’s get on with the list!
1. Final Destination Bloodlines
A long running franchise film at #1? Say it ain’t so!
Ah, but it is. As a long time fan of the (often astoundingly disappointing) Final Destination franchise, this is the one I’d been waiting for. Fun characters, jaw dropping CG, and a gloriously entertaining send-off to one of Horror’s reigning monarchs: Tony Todd. Kudos to the filmmakers for finally getting it right.
2. Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story
Like Scariest Mike, I love me a good horror documentary and this one struck a chord. Chock full of interviews, behind the scenes chatter, and peeks behind the special effects wizardry, Jaws @ 50 covers everything from the film’s inception to its public reception. If you’re a fan of the 1975 classic, this is a Must See.
3. Project MKHEXE
Speaking of documentaries! The other thing I love is a stellar shockumentary. Blending fiction and reality in just the right way is an art form and makes for a truly compelling watch. With his debut feature, Project MKHEXE, writer/director Gerald Robert Waddell hits the ground running with this Lovecraft-tinged gem. And don’t forget to check out all the related MKHEXE websites mentioned in the film for more juicy backstory and mythos! Phenomenal.
4. The Ugly Stepsister
Cinderella meets disturbing body horror! Another absolutely stunning debut feature. This time from Emilie Blichfeldt. Body horror at its finest with a crackerjack screenplay that grabs you by the giblets and never lets go. Masterful character arcs from beginning to end.
5. Companion
Sophie Thatcher. What more do I need to say? Put her in a used car commercial and the critics will still be raving. Companion is a darkly comedic, fully entertaining romp covering heady topics like objectification, body autonomy, and personal agency. Great dialog and everyone involved does a good job, but Thatcher’s the one who really shines.
6. The Long Walk
This is one of those movies I’d been waiting for and waiting for. Stephen King’s stories penned as Richard Bachman (as an experiment to see if his books were selling due to his already famous name or because of his writing) are some of his hardest hitting. And The Long Walk ranks right up there. Adapting it to the screen for this year’s release was done with an obvious love of the source material and it shows. Add in some powerful performances by David Jonsson and Cooper Hoffman and this one was destined for the year end Top 10 from the jump.
7. Sinners
Spectacle! Music! Vampires! Gore!
While it might not be one of the most cohesive movies this year, it’s definitely one of the boldest and most flamboyant. A period piece with some of the best sets and wardrobe you’ll see anywhere. With the music and the dance numbers, you can’t take your eyes off the screen. Superb!
8. 28 Years Later
A quirky, ambitious addition to the franchise. Heartfelt, tense, and wonderfully acted especially by an exceedingly orange Ralph Fiennes. Writer Alex Garland once again teams up with director Danny Boyle to expand the mythos and evolve the story beyond its humble beginnings. Can’t wait to see what’s next!
9. Heart Eyes
A fantastic new addition to the Valentine’s Day horror family! It’s a perfect blend of blood-soaked slasher and cutesy rom/com. Not spectacularly original, obviously, but the killer crushed it (sometimes literally) and both leads — Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding — acted their hearts out. This’ll be a yearly rewatch for sure.
10. The Other
And finally, rounding out the year end Top 10 is one you’ll either love or you’ll hate. Slow burn, ominous kid, then a couple left turns later and you’re in Crazy Town. Writer/director Paul Etheredge gives us a debut feature that definitely doesn’t go where you think it will. Wonderfully unique story, fantastic performances, and more weirdness than you can shake a stick at.
And there it is! We bring 2025 to a close while everyone’s favorite genre continues to evolve and improve. If this keeps up, picking out the year end Top 10 for 2026 is going to be a nigh impossible task.
As always, thanks for joining us at The Scariest Things! We couldn’t do this without ya (nor would we want to) and wish all of you out there a very Happy New Year full of ghosts, goblins, and monsters galore.