Horror Turns Up the Heat - A Look at Upcoming Horror Releases in August

August might be heating up, but horror fans won’t be cooling off any time soon. This month’s line-up is lean, but what it lacks in quantity, it more than makes up for in potential. From unnerving hauntings to alien chaos and backwoods possession, these titles bring something fresh and fearsome to the table. 

As there are so few, we’ve rounded up every horror release hitting screens this August, and for once, most of them look like they could be winners. 

Together

When Maddie and Jamie retreat to a remote coastal house for a much-needed break, they hope to reconnect and repair their fractured relationship. But isolation isn't always the answer and when cracks in their bond re-appear and their arguments intensify, strange phenomena begin to occur hinting at something more sinister within the house itself  The couple realise they face a terrifying question: is it just them or is something else living with them?

If the trailer's anything to go by, this looks wild, intense and terrifying and just a little bit bonkers. Rue Morgue Daily says “Couples therapy meets pure terror.”

Runtime: Approx. 98 mins

Limited release on the 1st of August.

Sketch

  

Following the tragic loss of his wife, Daniel Hale moves with his young daughter, Lucy, to a quiet village in hopes of starting over. But  Daniel becomes concerned when Lucy begins to spend hours sketching strange figures and eerie places she’s never seen. His worry turns to horror when the things Lucy draws start appearing in real life - watching and moving ever closer. Daniel must confront the terrifying possibility that his daughter’s imagination is no longer her own - and whatever is feeding it is far from human.

Described as “A chilling portrait of loss, love, and the monsters we create.”  by The Dread Journal, Sketch has the look of an adventure horror with a liberal dose of humour, while exploring darker themes.

Runtime: Approx. 99 mins

Limited release on the 6th of August.

Weapons

When an entire class of 17 schoolchildren vanishes during a routine field trip, a grieving town is left desperate for answers. Years later, the only survivor - Mara, now a teenager - returns with fragments of memory and terrifying visions. As she begins to uncover the truth behind what really happened that day, she realises that the children weren’t just taken, they were used by forces beyond anyone's control.

Dark secrets, psychological manipulation, and something far worse are buried beneath the surface - and someone will do anything to keep them hidden.

With a comment like “Weapons feels like Event Horizon met The Thing in an arms lab.”  from Horror Vault, we can't imagine what there's not to like about this.

Runtime: Approx. 104 mins

Cinema release on the 8th of August

Strange Harvest

Seasoned detectives Joe Kirby and Lexi Taylor are drawn into the reappearance of a serial killer known as Mr. Shiny, and uncover more than just bodies. This sadistic murderer, dormant for two decades, has returned and this time, his crimes show hints of a darker, possibly supernatural influence.

Viewed through the lens of a mock true‑crime documentary, Strange Harvest blends gritty detective work with uncanny horror as the fabric of reality unravels around the investigation. As Kirby and Taylor piece together cryptic clues, the murderous rampage escalates into a deeply disturbing cosmic nightmare. Found footage mockumentary fans (think Poughkeepsie Tapes) will be salivating at the thought of this release.

“An impressively gruesome display of crime scenes… pushes the found‑footage subgenre forward” – Bloody Disgusting.

Runtime: Approx. 94 mins 

Limited release on the 8th of August

Shaman

When the Caldwell family - American missionaries seeking a fresh start - arrive in a remote village deep in the Ecuadorian rainforest, they are met with suspicion and silence. Determined to bring hope and healing, they press on with their mission. But the jungle holds older beliefs and an ancient spirit that does not take kindly to outsiders. As strange events begin to plague the family they discover that the local shaman once bound something powerful beneath the earth. Now, through their presence, that bond is weakening.

Early indications are that Shaman is a slow-burning supernatural thriller which delivering a disturbing story that’s as haunting as it is unnerving.

“Visceral, haunting, and rooted in terrifying folklore.” – Savage Reel

Runtime: Approx. 101 mins

Limited release on the 8th of August

Witchboard

When a group of friends renovate an old New Orleans mansion into a trendy café, they uncover a mysterious antique spirit board. One of them, intrigued by its craftsmanship, begins to experiment - unaware that this version of the game isn’t just for play.

As the board unlocks a dark gateway between worlds, strange occurrences escalate into deadly manifestations. A seemingly innocent pastime turns into a battle for survival as the friends confront the malevolent entity they’ve unleashed - one that feeds on secrets, guilt, and fear.

All indications point toward Witchboard being a bold reimagining of the 1986 cult classic, blending sleek modern horror with supernatural suspense.

“Slick, scary, and reverent. The remake fans have been waiting for.” - Night Terrors Weekly

Runtime: Approx. 101 mins

Cinema Release on the 15th of August

Jimmy & Stiggs

Down-on-his-luck indie filmmaker Jimmy Lang is spiralling after a series of career and personal disasters. Convinced he’s been abducted by aliens, Jimmy teams up with his old friend Stiggs to prepare for an extra-terrestrial showdown. What starts as one hell of a conspiracy theory soon descends into neon‑drenched, blood-spattered alien chaos as the pair face off against something not of this world.

Shot on 16mm over the course of four years, Jimmy and Stiggs has the makings of a gritty horror-comedy packed with raw energy, practical gore and utter mayhem. 

“Insane, like old‑school Peter Jackson and early Sam Raimi.” – Eli Roth comparing Begos’ style - Dread Central.

Runtime: Approx. 79 mins 

Cinema release on the 15th of August

Went Up the Hill

When Jack travels from Australia to the remote South Island of New Zealand for the funeral of his estranged birth mother, he expects closure. Instead, he's met by Jill, the widow who barely recalls naming him in her invitation. As grief and long-buried secrets surface in the isolated hilltop home, Elizabeth’s presence begins to take hold - first through Jill, then Jack - pulling them into a dark spiral of possession and memory. 

Filmed in New Zealand’s freezing wilderness, Went Up the Hill is a slow-burn Gothic ghost story that explores loss and the scars we carry, where the past refuses to stay buried.

“One of the most startlingly original ghost stories in years.” – Bloody Disgusting.

Runtime: Approx. 100 mins

Cinema release on the 25th of August 15

Hell House LLC: Lineage

Haunted by visions and recurring nightmares following a near‑death experience, Vanessa Shepherd returns to the cursed town of Abaddon, only to find that the darkness has followed. When people around her begin dying under mysterious and brutal circumstances, Vanessa races against time to trace the sinister lineage of the Abaddon Hotel, the Carmichael Manor and a blood‑soaked curse stretching back decades.  

Lineage sees the return of familiar faces and eschews the franchise's found‑footage roots in favour of a full cinematic narrative. I'm hoping for a jubilant Hell House return but the trailer gives little away although, according to Macabre Daily, this is a “A triumphant addition to one of modern horror’s most beloved franchises… might just be the scariest instalment yet!”

Runtime: Approx.1h 48m (108 mins) 

Limited release on the 20th of August

Leave a comment below about what you're looking forward to the most.