New Year, New Nightmares- A Look at Upcoming Horror Releases in January 2026

 Introduction

January may not be overflowing with horror releases, but the few films hitting screens this month show plenty of promise. From psychological thrillers and survival horrors to creature features and supernatural tales, the lineup offers a strong mix of tension, atmosphere, and character-driven scares. While the selection is modest, each title has something distinctive to offer — whether it’s a chilling return to a classic franchise, a fresh take on folk or cosmic horror, or a tightly wound survival nightmare. Here’s a look at what horror fans can expect this month.

We Bury the Dead

 

In the aftermath of a sudden global collapse, a small civilian task force is assigned to recover bodies from a quarantined zone. What begins as a grim logistical operation soon turns nightmarish when signs emerge that the dead are not staying buried.

As isolation deepens and trust erodes, the team must confront a horrifying truth about what remains of humanity — and what is rising to replace it. A zombie survival thriller with emotional depth, Midnight Reviews describes it as “Relentlessly tense and quietly devastating.” 

Runtime: 94 mins

Limited cinema release on the 2nd of January 2026

Primate

What begins as a relaxed family reunion takes a disturbing turn when a long-domesticated pet chimpanzee begins to display unpredictable and violent behaviour. As fear replaces familiarity, those trapped with the animal are forced to confront the danger they have long chosen to ignore — and the brutal consequences of blurring the line between companion and wild creature.

Everything points towards a primal survival horror in the vein of Cujo, where humans and animal alike are forced to reckon with their place in the natural order.

“A tightly wound animal horror that builds dread through inevitability rather than excess.” — Night Screen

Runtime: 89 mins

Cinema release on the 9th of January 2026

Sleepwalker

 

After the sudden death of her husband, Anna is left raising her young son while struggling with bouts of insomnia and vivid, disorienting dreams. When her son begins talking about late-night visits from his father, Anna dismisses it as grief and imagination—until small details emerge that she never shared with anyone.

As strange occurrences around the house start to mirror moments from their past, Anna is forced to question whether she’s losing her grip on reality or whether her husband has somehow returned. 

“A chilling descent into fractured consciousness.” — Psych Horror Monthly

Runtime: 90 mins

VOD/Digital release on the 9th of January 2026

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

 

Decades after the Rage Virus devastated civilisation, a research team enters a long‑abandoned quarantine zone and discovers a massive structure built from human remains. As they investigate its origins, they realise the area isn’t as uninhabited as they expected. As the group explore, they uncover evidence that challenges everything previously believed about the virus and those who endured it.

The Bone Temple expands the world of the original outbreak, focusing more on tension and discovery than spectacle, Expect a darker, weirder, and more philosophical sequel that shifts from immediate survival to exploring the nature of evil and human cruelty.

“A brutal expansion of the franchise’s mythology.” — Empire

Runtime:109 mins

Cinema release on the 16th of January 2026

Night Patrol

An LAPD officer returns to the housing projects where he grew up and uncovers a disturbing secret behind a specialised police task force whose presence places the local residents in grave danger.

Determined to expose the truth, he is forced into an uneasy alliance with rival street gangs, leading to a confrontation with a threat far more monstrous than corruption alone. As the line between law enforcement and the supernatural begins to blur, survival becomes a nightly struggle — and stopping the violence means breaking every rule he once swore to uphold.

“Stylish and ferociously entertaining.” — Fangoria

Runtime: 104 mins

Limited cinema release on the 16th of January 2026

Return to Silent Hill

Drawn back to Silent Hill by a message he never expected to receive, James returns to the town he once fled in search of answers about the woman he lost. As he wanders its fog-shrouded streets, terrifying manifestations shaped by his own buried memories begin to emerge. Guided by the town’s quiet, oppressive strangeness, Silent Hill demands a personal reckoning — and escape may not be possible.

Billed as a faithful adaptation of the beloved game Silent Hill 2, this new entry promises a darker, more modern interpretation that leans heavily into psychological horror and emotional complexity.

“Faithful, atmospheric, and deeply unsettling.” — Game to Screen

Runtime: 106 mins

Cinema release on the 23rd of January 2026

Send Help

After a corporate retreat ends in disaster, Linda Liddle, an overworked employee finds herself stranded on a remote island with her demanding, insufferable boss, Bradley, who’s now badly injured and entirely dependent on her. With no quick rescue in sight, the two are forced into an uneasy partnership as they navigate the island’s hazards and their own long‑standing resentment. The film turns into a survival scenario where isolation breeds paranoia, and survival demands impossible choices.

Directed by Sam Raimi and described as a darkly comedic psychological thriller, Send Help promises a tense descent into savage power struggles and escalating madness as Linda and Bradley try to survive.

“Raimi delivers pressure-cooker suspense.” — Screen Rant

Runtime: 113 mins

Cinema release on the 30th of January 2026

Iron Lung

In a future where humanity has been pushed to the edge of extinction, a convict pilot is sealed inside a cramped, rusted submarine and sent into a blood‑red ocean on a distant moon to seek resources for humanity. With no windows, limited oxygen, and only a grainy camera feed to navigate, he’s ordered to document whatever lives in the depths.

As the vessel creaks under the pressure and strange shapes move just beyond the frame, it becomes clear that something out there is watching—and getting closer. Iron Lung relies on claustrophobic slow‑burining dread, with indications that this could be a tense, immersive, and gritty sci-fi/horror experience.

“Claustrophobic cosmic horror at its finest.” — Sci-Fi Horror Vault

Runtime: 127 mins

Limited cinema release on the 30th of January 2026