After 36 years, the sequel to Tim Burton’s iconic 1988 classic, “Beetlejuice,” finally hit the screen on Friday, Sept. 6. Did “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” live up to the hype?

The slasher film “Thanksgiving” was released in theaters on Nov. 17, scoring big with fans and critics alike. The film has notched an 84% on Rotten Tomatoes with mostly positive reviews for director Eli Roth’s latest horror installment while also grossing $36.8 million against a $15 million budget as of Monday, Dec. 4.

There are too many horror films to count that would be appropriate for a Halloween viewing through splayed fingers and squinted eyes in a dark room. Given the season’s celebration of the macabre, unorthodox and otherworldly themes, settling in for some onscreen frights on Halloween night is one of the best ways to honor the holiday.

It is an irrefutable understatement to point out that the film industry was forever changed by the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. Productions were halted, films were delayed indefinitely, casts and crew members from all over were sent into isolation, and the streaming world naturally took over as the entertainment savior of lockdown. There were a couple of failed attempts at resuscitating theaters during 2020, and it wasn’t until March 2021 that moviegoing started showing signs of life again. Even then it wasn’t until well into 2022 that the box office was back to relative normalcy.

With over $1 billion in unadjusted worldwide grosses and a massive, devoted following, “Saw” is one of the most successful horror franchises in existence. Starting off with a “Seven”-esque thriller and quickly morphing into a wildly elaborate and excessively gory soap opera, the soon-to-be-ten-film series has repulsed critics and general audiences alike but has ensnared the hearts and minds of horror fans around the world for nearly two decades. 

Nearly 19 years after audiences were brutally introduced to the twisted world of “Saw,” the franchise’s staple character John Kramer (aka Jigsaw) is still one of the most iconic and beloved horror movie villains of all time. What makes his case so different from the rest, however, is how debatable his status as a villain is. Of course, kidnapping people and subjecting them to elaborate torture machines isn’t exactly the work of a traditional “hero,” but as his mythology unfolds during the first seven films, his achingly tragic and at times empathetic character is revealed to be more of an anti-hero than a clear-cut hero or villain. 

On Friday, Sept. 8, fans of the wildly popular “The Conjuring” films had the opportunity to kick off the start of spooky season with the franchise’s latest addition: “The Nun II.” However, those looking to repeat the sinisterly religious experience of “The Nun” might find the newest film lacking the same qualities that made the first one so powerful.

Only a few characters have had a profound cultural impact such as Bram Stoker’s Blood Sucking Count, Dracula. Throughout film history, many actors have dawned the iconic cape and fangs such as the legendary Bela Lugosi and the great Christopher Lee.

“Evil Dead Rise” is the fifth film in the long-running and beloved “Evil Dead” horror franchise. It arrives 10 years after Fede Alvarez’s remake/reboot/sequel and five years after the final episode of the television revival “Ash vs Evil Dead.” 

The third season of “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” aired on Sunday, April 9, and it has become one of the most popular shows of the spring 2023 season.

It’s 1981. The audience is packed into a small, dark movie theater. The smell of fresh popcorn permeates the air as the projector gently whirs in the back. Little did the patrons know, Sam Raimi’s infamous and diabolical “The Evil Dead” would test even the most extreme limits of gore hounds and horror fans.

For over a century, horror films have lured audiences to cinemas all around the world. Their purpose is not only to terrify or disturb but also to engage with dark, challenging and taboo themes that you usually would not see in any other genre of films.