Frightening Strikes

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...

Summer might be heating up, but so is the horror. The short nights and hot weather might not feel like horror season but this July’s release slate says otherwise. From brutal reboots and eerie folklore to tight psychological thrillers and slashers, there’s no shortage of chills to cut through the heat. Here’s a quick look at the most talked-about horror films landing in July. Which ones are you excited about? Let us know in the comments. Brick Tim and Olivia wake up in their apartment to the discovery that a solid brick wall has appeared overnight, sealing them and the entire apartment building off from the outside world. With water cut off, no phone service and attempts to break-out fruitless, they and their neighbours must join together to survive and unravel the mystery of who or what has trapped them.   Described by   Tom’s Guide   as  “A mind‑twisting claustrophobic thriller. You’ll feel the walls closing in.”   Brick  promises to   build the ten...

I love a good found-footage film and Butterfly Kisses ticks all the boxes with the added bonus that the narrative unfolds using documentary-style storytelling combined with supernatural horror, making for a suspenseful and unsettling experience. Gavin York is a struggling filmmaker who stumbles upon a collection of old video tapes shot by student filmmakers Sophia and Feldman in 2004. The tapes chronicle their investigation into the urban legend of "Peeping Tom," a sinister entity said to haunt an abandoned train tunnel. According to the lore, staring down the tunnel without blinking for an hour will summon Peeping Tom, who draws ever closer each time you blink until he's up-close and personal - and not in a good way. Gavin is fascinated by the tapes and becomes obsessed with proving their authenticity, seeing a chance to become the filmmaker he's always wanted to be as well as securing financial stability along the way. However, his determination soon spirals into ...

Richard Walters writes, directs and stars in  Distort,  a found footage horror film that taps into familiar themes while crafting its own unique experience. Drawing inspiration from classics like The Blair Witch Project , it manages to pay homage without becoming a mere impersonator. Richard is a musician who ventures into the remote forests of County Wicklow, Ireland, to rekindle his creativity. Set against the backdrop of the pandemic lockdown, his solitary journey begins as an artistic escape - camping in the wilderness and recording an album, stripped of digital conveniences. But his retreat soon takes a sinister turn. Growing Unease A restless first night filled with strange sounds and the sense that a stray dog is nearby, gives way to an eerie discovery the next morning - an old cassette tape hidden beneath a pile of leaves. Intrigued but not alarmed, Richard decants to a nearby ruin to continue recording, only to be interrupted again by the sound of stones being throw...