Frightening Strikes

February is shaping up to be a busier month for horror releases than either January’s cautious trickle or December’s end-of-year slowdown. After a quiet start to the year, February welcomes a slew of new titles spanning studio sequels, indie thrillers, and high-concept supernatural stories. To make sense of the congestion, I’ve split this month’s releases into two groups. The "Looking Good" titles are the films currently generating the most attention — whether through trailers, familiar franchises, or early word of mouth — while "Hmm, Not So Sure" gathers projects that may still surprise, but are arriving with fewer indicators to a standout debut. It’s not a verdict, just a way of navigating a crowded release slate. Looking Good The Morrigan   When Fiona, an American archaeologist, travels to rural Ireland to excavate an ancient burial site, the dig unleashes an ancient force tied to Celtic mythology — The Morrigan, a vengeful war goddess bound to blood, prophecy,...

Fréwaka is a slow-burning Irish-language folk horror that deftly weaves ancient fairy folklore and family trauma with part of Ireland's past that haunts to this day. At its centre is Shoo, a woman caught between her personal history and the unseen forces that still command respect in remote corners of the country. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that Shoo is not just visiting a haunted place - she is part of its story. From Celebration to Tragedy The film opens with a wedding celebration in rural 1970s Ireland, gate-crashed by masked strangers. The bride, unsettled by their appearance, mysteriously vanishes without trace, setting an eerie tone for the strange tale that follows. Fast-forward to the present and we are introduced to Shoo and her fiancée, Mila, arriving at Shoo’s late mother’s flat to clear it out after her suicide. There is tension between them: Shoo is short-tempered and pragmatic, keen to dispose of the contents of the flat without sentiment, while Mila ...

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...