This year is already off to an incredible start for the horror genre, with M3GAN scaring up big time profits in theaters and “The Last of Us” getting set to elevate horror television on HBO.
Much like last week, this second week of 2023 is similarly home to several exciting new horror releases, including the return of Kevin Williamson plus the arrival of a viral horror indie.
Not to mention, this Friday is the first Friday the 13th of 2023!
Here’s all the new horror releasing January 10 – January 13, 2023…
First up, from Ryûhei Kitamura, the director of Midnight Meat Train, comes Lionsgate’s The Price We Pay, which just debuted on VOD this Tuesday and comes to select theaters Friday.
Emile Hirsch (Into the Wild) and Stephen Dorff (Blade) star in The Price We Pay, which looks like a genre fusion of an action-thriller and a slasher movie all in one crazy package.
The film is rated R for “strong horror violence, gore and pervasive language.”
“After an intense holdup at a pawnshop, Grace is taken hostage by the thieves. Forced to take refuge at a remote farmhouse late at night, they discover a secret dungeon with evidence of sadistic violence—and when “Grandfather” comes home, all hell breaks loose. Can Grace muster the courage to escape the gut-wrenching fates that befall her criminal companions?”
The cast also includes Gigi Zumbado (Grace), Tyler Sanders (Danny), Erika Ervin (Jodi), Jesse Kinser (John), Sabina Mach (Carly), Vernon Wells (The Doctor) and Tanner Zagarino.
The first day at a new job can be hell, but for Human Resources, it’s downright bloody. The indie horror movie released On Demand on Tuesday as well, so you can watch this one now.
In the film, “After starting a job at a creepy hardware store, Sam Coleman uncovers a shocking mystery involving a missing employee. With the help of Sarah, a cynical coworker, Sam plunges into the dark corners of the store and is forced to confront the terrifying forces that lurk just behind the walls.”
Human Resources is the debut feature from up-and-coming young director Braden Swope, who helmed the feature at 19 years old! He co-wrote the screenplay with producer Evan Swope. Kendall Huff also produces.
The film stars Hugh McCrae, Jr. as Sam Coleman, Anthony Candell, Sarah José, Tim Misuradze, Michael Kammerer, and Angel Hilton.
Following its fall festival run (including Fantastic Fest, Beyond Fest, and Telluride), The Offering will hit theaters in 20+ US Markets (and VOD) on January 13th from DECAL.
Starring Nick Blood (“Euphoria”), Paul Kaye (“Game of Thrones”), and Emily Wiseman (Winchester), The Offering was directed by Oliver Park and written by Hank Hoffman.
In the film, “In the wake of a young Jewish girl’s disappearance, the son of a Hasidic funeral director returns home with his pregnant wife in hopes of reconciling with his father.
“Little do they know that directly beneath them in the family morgue, an ancient evil with sinister plans for the unborn child lurks inside a mysterious corpse.”
In the wake of the festival hit’s viral success on social media, the ultra creepy Skinamarink was acquired by Shudder for streaming premiere and it’s also getting a theatrical release.
Beginning January 13, 2023, Skinamarink will come to theaters in the United States from IFC Midnight. Variety reports that the film will then be available on Shudder later in 2023.
In Skinamarink, “Two children wake up in the middle of the night to find their father is missing, and all the windows and doors in their home have vanished. To cope with the strange situation, the two bring pillows and blankets to the living room and settle into a quiet slumber party situation. They play well worn videotapes of cartoons to fill the silence of the house and distract from the frightening and inexplicable situation. All the while in the hopes that eventually some grown-ups will come to rescue them.
“However, after a while it becomes clear that something is watching over them.”
Lucas Paul, Dali Rose Tetreault, Ross Paul and Jaime Hill star.
Kevin Williamson (Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer) returns to the slasher movie arena with Sick, which we’ve learned is being surprise-released by Peacock this week.
Sick is premiering only on Peacock on Friday, January 13, 2023!
John Hyams (Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning, “Black Summer”) directed Sick from a story by Williamson, and it’s being described as a “lean, mean, and wickedly timely slasher.”
In the film, “As the pandemic steadily brings the world to a halt, Parker and her best friend Miri decide to quarantine at the family lake house alone—or so they think.”
Joe Lipsett wrote in his review for BD, “Thankfully the rest of the film is so strong that this is an easy recommendation. Sick feels like a welcome home party for Williamson: fans of Scream will find plenty of callbacks to his most famous work, especially the opening scene when college student Tyler is harassed by threatening texts before he’s attacked in his home.”
From Blumhouse and Miramax, Sick is written by Kevin Williamson and Katelyn Crabb, and stars Gideon Adlon (Blockers, The Craft: Legacy), Bethlehem Million (And Just Like That), Marc Menchaca (The Outsider, Ozark) and Jane Adams (Twin Peaks, Poltergeist, Hacks).
And finally, Dark Sky Films will release Night of the Bastard on Friday the 13th as well, “a brutal take on the ’70’s action thriller” that comes to theaters, VOD and Digital platforms.
Erik Boccio (Funny or Die’s Weirdfellas, Brutal Realty, Inc. Blood Bath) directed.
“Disgruntled hermit Reed lives a solitary life in the desert. After chasing away a group of youths trying to party near his home, Reed’s peaceful life is violently upheaved when a goup of savage cultists lay siege to his house.
“Forced to partner up with one of the party-goers, Reed and his newfound colleague must defend themselves into the night, all while long-buried and disturbing secrets are revealed to him as part of the cult’s evil plan.”
London May (The Dark Knight Rises, Verotika), Mya Hudson (A Wall Away, F*ck, Kill Mary), Hannah Pierce (Flock of Dudes, The Hunted), and Henry Mortensen (Crimson Tide) star.
