The Horror Feed

Van Life Turns Into a Nightmare in New Horror Movie Passenger

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 22:39:12 GMT

The freedom of the open road sounds great until your home on wheels becomes part of the nightmare.

The new horror movie Passenger is heading to Paramount+, and the premise takes one of the biggest lifestyle trends of the last several years and turns it into something much darker.

During the day, van life looks pretty great. You wake up next to a mountain, make some coffee, open the door, and get the kind of photo that makes everyone else question why they are not traveling full time.

Then the sun goes down.

Now you are sitting inside a metal box on the side of some random road, there are no neighbors around, and every little noise outside suddenly feels suspicious.

That is where Passenger starts to make a lot of sense.

Van Life Was Basically Asking for a Horror Movie

Horror works best when it takes something normal and makes you realize how vulnerable it actually is.

Campgrounds, hotels, cabins, road trips, Airbnbs, and isolated houses have all been turned into horror settings over the years. Van life feels like a natural addition to that list.

You are constantly traveling through places you do not know. You are parking in unfamiliar areas. Sometimes you are miles away from anyone who could help you.

And if something goes wrong, there is not exactly a front desk to call.

That is a pretty solid horror setup.

Instagram Van Life and Horror Movie Van Life Are Two Different Things

Online, van life usually looks incredible.

Beautiful sunsets. National parks. Dogs hanging out beside the van. Somebody making breakfast while looking at the ocean.

What you rarely see is the part where it is 2:13 in the morning and you hear something hit the side of the van.

Now you have to decide whether you are brave enough to look outside.

Take away the music, sunlight, and drone footage and the whole thing starts feeling a lot less relaxing.

An empty road. No streetlights. No neighbors. No idea who might be nearby.

That is horror territory.

This Is the Kind of Streaming Horror That Works

Not every horror movie needs a massive budget or a famous franchise attached to it.

Sometimes a good premise is enough.

A road trip in a van turns into a nightmare.

That is easy to understand, and it is exactly the kind of movie that can work well on streaming.

You might not rearrange your whole weekend to see something like Passenger in a theater, but if you are sitting at home on a Friday night and see it on Paramount+, it becomes an easy click.

That is where smaller horror movies can find an audience.

The Idea Is Scarier Than It Sounds

The appeal of van life and the danger of it come from the same place.

You can go almost anywhere.

But that also means you can end up somewhere completely unfamiliar with very little protection around you.

There is something unsettling about going to sleep knowing that anyone could walk up to the vehicle while you are inside.

And horror movies have permanently ruined the phrase “middle of nowhere.”

Nothing good ever happens in the middle of nowhere.

That is usually where the movie starts.

The Horror Feed Take

We do not know yet whether Passenger will be great, terrible, or somewhere in the middle.

But the concept works.

If the movie can capture that uncomfortable feeling of being alone somewhere unfamiliar and not knowing what is outside, it has something.

It does not need complicated mythology or a giant monster.

Keep it simple.

An isolated van. A dark road. Something outside.

That is enough.

Would you spend the night alone in a van parked in the middle of nowhere?

Scream Star Skeet Ulrich Is Playing a Cult Leader in New Psychological Horror Movie Deify

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 04:15:14 GMT

Skeet Ulrich is heading bac k into horror, and this time he is stepping into a very different kind of villain role.

The Scream star has signed on to play an enigmatic and manipulative cult leader in the upcoming psychological horror film Deify. Neal McDonough will star opposite him as the prosecutor trying to bring him down.

And based on the premise, this one could get dark fast.

What Is Deify About?

Deify centers on a cult leader who is put on trial after his devoted followers are burned alive. Ulrich plays the leader at the center of the case, a man who pleads insanity and claims that the commands he followed came directly from God.

McDonough plays the assistant attorney general and prosecuting attorney, described as someone who strongly believes in the criminal justice system.

That setup gives the movie an interesting mix of courtroom thriller and psychological horror.

Instead of simply watching a cult unravel from the outside, the story appears to put the audience directly into the aftermath and the question of whether Ulrich’s character is insane, manipulative, genuinely convinced of his beliefs, or some combination of all three.

Skeet Ulrich as a Cult Leader Feels Like a Good Fit

Ulrich is still best known to horror fans as Billy Loomis from the original Scream, but this is a very different kind of role.

Billy was dangerous because he could hide in plain sight.

A cult leader works in a similar way.

Charm matters.

Trust matters.

Control matters.

The scariest part is not always what the character does himself. Sometimes it is what he can convince other people to do for him.

Ulrich has always had the ability to play characters who are likable one minute and unsettling the next, which makes this casting especially interesting.

The Story Has Real-World Inspiration

According to reporting on the project, parts of the screenplay were inspired by events surrounding the 1993 Waco standoff involving members of the Branch Davidians and federal law enforcement.

That does not mean Deify is a direct recreation of Waco.

Instead, the real event appears to have influenced elements of the story and its exploration of belief, control and the consequences of following a charismatic leader.

That kind of real-world inspiration could give the movie a much heavier tone than a traditional supernatural horror film.

Who Is Making Deify?

The film comes from brothers Carmelo Chimera and Nicholas Chimera, with Nicholas Chimera writing the screenplay.

The project is set to shoot in Chicago, although a production start date has not yet been announced.

Producers include Jordan Gianeschi, Jacob Rice and Mike Manning. Neal McDonough and Ruvé McDonough are also attached as executive producers.

At this point, there is no confirmed release date.

The Horror Feed Take

This one has our attention.

Cult horror works best when the threat is not just some monster hiding in the dark.

It is the idea that one person can convince an entire group of people to surrender their judgment and follow them into something terrible.

Putting Skeet Ulrich in the center of that kind of story makes a lot of sense.

Add in Neal McDonough on the opposite side of the courtroom and Deify could end up being one of those smaller psychological horror movies that sneaks up on people.

There is still a lot we do not know about the film, but the casting alone is enough to put it on our radar.

‘American Horror Story’ Season 13 Sets September Premiere With Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters and More Returning

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 02:25:37 GMT

New Trailer for AHS 13

FX has officially unveiled the first major details for American Horror Story Season 13, confirming an all-star crossover featuring some of the anthology’s most recognizable actors and characters.

Officially titled American Horror Story: 13, the new season will premiere Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 9 p.m. Eastern and 6 p.m. Pacific on FX and Hulu. The season will begin streaming internationally on Disney+ in announced markets on September 25.

Season 13 will consist of 13 half-hour episodes released over six weeks. The first three episodes will arrive on September 24, followed by another three on October 1. Two episodes will then be released on October 8, October 15 and October 22, with the season finale airing on October 29.

The new season is being presented as a “greatest hits” crossover that will bring together characters from throughout the show’s history. Co-creator Ryan Murphy told Vogue that the story will revisit memorable heroes and villains while introducing a new central storyline.

Despite the return of several witches from Coven and Apocalypse, Murphy has clarified that Season 13 is not simply another Coven sequel. Characters connected to Murder House, Freak Show and Cult are also expected to play significant roles as the ensemble confronts what Murphy has described as an “ultimate evil.”

Jessica Lange’s return is among the announcement’s biggest surprises. Lange, who led the first four seasons of American Horror Story, will revisit all four of her signature characters: Constance Langdon from Murder House, Sister Jude Martin from Asylum, Fiona Goode from Coven and Elsa Mars from Freak Show.

Lange previously made a guest appearance as Constance in 2018’s Apocalypse, but Season 13 marks a much larger return to the franchise. Murphy said he approached Lange early because the crossover needed a strong connection to the show’s beginnings.

Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters will also return in multiple roles. Murphy said Paulson will portray six characters from previous seasons, while Peters will play five.

Paulson has been confirmed to return as Cordelia Goode, the powerful Supreme from Coven and Apocalypse. Peters will reprise Tate Langdon and Rubber Man from Murder House, as well as cult leader Kai Anderson from Cult. The rest of their returning characters have not yet been publicly identified.

Angela Bassett will return as Marie Laveau, while Emma Roberts will once again play Madison Montgomery. John Carroll Lynch is returning as Twisty the Clown, Mena Suvari will reprise her role as Elizabeth Short, also known as the Black Dahlia, and Jamie Brewer will return as Adelaide “Addie” Langdon.

Other returning American Horror Story performers include Kathy Bates, Billie Lourd, Gabourey Sidibe, Leslie Grossman and Frances Conroy.

The larger cast also includes Avantika, Elle Chapman, Berto Colon, Alex Consani, Mat Fraser, Seth Gabel, Orlando Jones, Tig Notaro, Madelaine Petsch, Fedor Steer, Zach Villa and John Waters.

Season 13 will introduce at least two important new characters. Joey Pollari will play Ben, who has been described as the anchor of the new storyline. Paul Anthony Kelly will portray another new character whose name and background remain secret. Murphy has called Kelly’s character the “linchpin” of the season.

Ariana Grande was included in the original Season 13 cast announcement but later left the production. Murphy said the departure resulted from a scheduling conflict after filming shifted into the summer and overlapped with Grande’s Eternal Sunshine tour. She will not appear in the completed season.

FX released the first official teaser for AHS: 13 on August 13. The footage focuses on familiar characters and imagery rather than revealing the full plot. It highlights Constance Langdon, Cordelia Goode, Madison Montgomery, Marie Laveau, Rubber Man, Twisty the Clown and Kai Anderson.

The teaser confirms that the new season will draw from several different chapters of the anthology, but it does not explain how characters from different locations and time periods will be brought together. The identity of the central villain also remains undisclosed.

Murphy has only offered a cryptic clue about the threat, suggesting that it is beyond even the Antichrist’s “pay grade.” The comment has inspired speculation, but FX has not confirmed the identity or nature of the season’s antagonist.

Season 13 will also mark a major format change for American Horror Story. Previous seasons have generally used hour-long episodes, while the new installment will feature 13 half-hour chapters. The accelerated release schedule will allow the entire season to air between late September and Halloween.

Murphy and Brad Falchuk created the series, and 20th Television is producing the new season. Murphy has also returned to direct American Horror Story for the first time since Freak Show.

Although Season 13 is the final installment covered by FX’s previous multi-season renewal, it is not being presented as the end of the franchise. Murphy has said he is already developing an idea and potential cast for Season 14, although FX has not formally announced another renewal.

American Horror Story: 13 premieres September 24, 2026, on FX and Hulu, followed by its announced international Disney+ release on September 25.

What Horror Has Become & What It Is Missing.

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 02:15:25 GMT

Has Physchological Thrillers Killed Slashers?

Horror has not disappeared. If anything, it has become one of the most flexible and ambitious genres in modern filmmaking. What has changed is the kind of fear many horror movies are most interested in creating. More and more, the genre leans toward grief, trauma, obsession, social anxiety, fractured families, unreliable memories, and mysteries that unfold slowly. These films are still sold as horror, but they often feel closer to psychological thrillers with supernatural or grotesque elements layered on top.

That is not necessarily a complaint. Movies such as Weapons and Obsession are not terrible films that need to be pushed out of the genre. They are proof that horror can be inventive, thoughtful, strange, and willing to take risks. But after watching enough movies built around atmosphere, symbolism, and emotional damage, I sometimes miss the blunt thrill of a masked killer, a vulnerable group of characters, a dark location, and a chase that makes the theater hold its breath.

Horror Learned to Linger

The recent wave of horror often wants fear to stay in the mind longer than it stays on the screen. Weapons begins with the disappearance of nearly an entire classroom and builds its terror through mystery, community panic, suspicion, and shifting points of view. The horror comes not only from what happened, but from the way uncertainty poisons everyone left behind. It is a horror story, certainly, yet its engine is closer to an intricate psychological mystery than to the clean pursuit structure of a traditional slasher.

Obsession works in a similar borderland. Its supernatural premise begins with a wish meant to force romantic love, then turns desire into control, dependence, and nightmare. Even when the movie becomes bloody or physically disturbing, the central fear is psychological: What happens when affection is manufactured, consent is ignored, and fantasy becomes a prison? The genre label fits, but the movie is less interested in a killer stalking victims than in a destructive idea tightening around its characters.

There is real value in that kind of horror. It gives filmmakers room to explore complicated fears, and it gives audiences something to discuss after the credits. The problem is not that horror has become smarter. The problem is the assumption that a movie must disguise itself as a prestige drama or an elaborate puzzle before its scares can be taken seriously. Sometimes horror is allowed to be meditative, symbolic, and ambiguous. It should also be allowed to be fast, physical, vicious, and fun.

What the Slasher Gives Us

The classic slasher works because its rules are immediate. Someone is coming. The characters may not know who the killer is, why they have been chosen, or whether they can escape, but the danger has a body. It can step out of the shadows, appear at the end of a hallway, or stand silently outside a window. That physical presence creates a kind of suspense that symbolism alone cannot replace.

The great slashers understood how to turn a simple structure into mythology. Halloween made a pale mask and a slow walk terrifying. Friday the 13th transformed summer camp into a place where every cabin could hide danger. A Nightmare on Elm Street made sleep itself unsafe. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre turned isolation and relentless pursuit into something almost unbearable, while Child’s Play gave its killer a personality audiences could recognize instantly. These movies were not identical just because they involved bodies and blades. Each built a distinct world, rhythm, and monster.

Later films proved the formula could evolve without abandoning its pleasures. Scream gave the slasher self-awareness, sharp dialogue, and a mystery structure while still delivering stalking, chases, and memorable confrontations. I Know What You Did Last Summer tied its hook-wielding killer to guilt, secrecy, friendship, and the consequences of one terrible decision. The Strangers franchise stripped the premise down even further: ordinary people, an isolated home, and attackers whose lack of a satisfying motive makes them more frightening. These films have psychological ideas, but they do not forget to put danger in the room.

Done Before Is Not the Same as Dead

The usual argument against more slashers is that the genre has already done everything. We have seen the masks, the final girls, the cabins, the holidays, the prank gone wrong, and the last-minute reveal that the killer is still alive. But repetition has never disqualified another genre. Romantic comedies still bring two people together. Mysteries still begin with a crime. Action movies still build toward a confrontation. Westerns still return to lonely towns, damaged heroes, and violent reckonings. Familiar structure is not the enemy; lazy execution is.

A new slasher does not need to pretend the past never happened. It needs a strong setting, characters worth following, suspense that is allowed to build, and a killer with a visual or behavioral identity. It needs chase scenes with geography, not just frantic editing. It needs kills that serve tension rather than replace it. Most of all, it needs the confidence to be entertaining without apologizing for the fact that audiences recognize the ingredients.

There are also plenty of fresh places for the slasher to go. Technology changes how people can be watched, trapped, misled, or isolated. New social settings create new groups and conflicts. A slasher can explore celebrity, online identity, class, work culture, fandom, or the disappearance of privacy without turning into a two-hour lecture. The genre has always absorbed the fears of its moment. It can do that again while keeping the mask, the chase, and the final confrontation.

Make the Killer Memorable Again

Part of what I miss is the excitement of a new horror villain becoming recognizable. The classic killers were not frightening only because of how many people they killed. They had silhouettes, sounds, movements, weapons, and rules. You could identify them from a shadow or a few notes of music. Modern horror has produced plenty of disturbing forces, but fewer figures designed to return, evolve, and become part of the genre’s shared language.

That does not mean every new slasher must launch a ten-film franchise. It means filmmakers should think about iconography again. Give us a villain whose presence changes the temperature of a scene. Give us victims who make choices, fight back, and surprise us. Give us a final survivor whose victory costs something. Use practical effects when they make the violence feel tangible, but remember that the best slashers create dread before the weapon ever lands.

The slashers I return to are not comforting because they are harmless. They are comforting because they understand the experience they promise. They turn fear into a roller coaster: anticipation, shock, release, and the nervous laugh that comes after surviving a scene from the safety of a seat. That communal pleasure is not less meaningful than the slow ache of psychological horror. It is simply a different use of the genre.

There Is Room for Both

Horror does not have to choose between the mind and the knife. Weapons, Obsession, and other psychologically driven films can continue expanding what horror is able to discuss and how it can tell a story. At the same time, studios and independent filmmakers can make room for more direct slashers—not only remakes and legacy sequels, but original killers, new survivors, and stories built to make an audience jump, cheer, and look over its shoulder on the way home.

The slasher has been done many times because the form works. The challenge is not to abandon it. The challenge is to do it with style, patience, personality, and conviction. Horror has become broader, more psychological, and more respectable. That growth is worth celebrating. But every now and then, it would be nice for horror to stop asking us to interpret the darkness and let something unforgettable step out of it.

7 Horror Movies and Shows Worth Streaming This Weekend

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 23:54:00 GMT

Not sure what to watch? We pulled together 7 horror movies and shows currently worth adding to your weekend queue.

One of the best things about horror is that there is always something waiting to be discovered.

A new release.

A cult classic.

A forgotten movie you have somehow never seen.

Or a show you have been meaning to start for three years.

If you are scrolling through Netflix, Shudder or Hulu looking for something creepy to watch this weekend, here are seven picks worth considering.

1. The Last House

Streaming on Netflix

Netflix has been leaning heavily into thrillers this summer, and The Last House is one of its bigger recent releases.

The film stars Greta Lee and Wagner Moura and centers on a family trapped inside their own home while the outside world becomes increasingly mysterious and dangerous.

What makes the premise interesting is the sense of isolation.

This is not simply a haunted-house movie.

The house itself becomes part of the story as the family remains trapped and their surroundings begin to deteriorate over time.

If you like claustrophobic horror and slow-building tension, this is an easy weekend pick.

2. The Woman

Streaming on Shudder

If you want something considerably darker, The Woman is currently available through Shudder.

The film follows a man who captures a feral woman and brings her home, believing he can somehow “civilize” her.

As you can probably imagine, things get ugly.

Very ugly.

This is disturbing horror built around cruelty, control and the idea that the supposed monsters in the story may not be the people you initially expect.

It is definitely not a casual background watch.

3. Messiah of Evil

Streaming on Shudder

Want something older?

Messiah of Evil is one of those cult horror movies that feels strange from almost the first frame.

The 1973 film follows a young woman searching for her missing father in a mysterious seaside town.

From there, things become increasingly unsettling.

It is atmospheric, dreamlike and deeply weird in the way only certain 1970s horror movies can be.

If you enjoy discovering older horror films that influenced what came later, give this one a shot.

4. Monolith

Streaming on Shudder

Monolith takes a more modern approach.

The story follows a disgraced journalist who begins investigating a strange conspiracy.

The deeper she goes, the closer the mystery gets to her own life.

This is more psychological and mystery-driven than traditional slasher horror, but it is the kind of movie that rewards viewers who like uncovering a story piece by piece.

If your favorite horror movies are the ones that leave you asking questions, this might be the one to start with.

5. The Last Video Store

Streaming on Shudder

We have to admit, the title alone got our attention.

The Last Video Store follows a VHS tape that unleashes a curse involving B-movie villains.

That premise feels almost tailor-made for horror fans who grew up walking the aisles of video stores looking for the weirdest cover on the shelf.

This one leans into horror nostalgia, practical effects and the type of movie culture that existed long before streaming took over.

It might not be the biggest movie on this list, but it could easily be the most fun.

6. American Horror Story

Streaming on Hulu

If you are looking for a show instead of a movie, American Horror Story remains one of the easiest horror series to jump into.

Because every season tells a largely separate story, you do not necessarily have to start at the beginning.

Pick the setting that interests you.

Haunted house.

Asylum.

Coven.

Freak show.

Hotel.

Camp slasher.

Then go from there.

Some seasons work better than others, but few horror shows have managed to reinvent themselves this many times while maintaining such a recognizable identity.

If you have somehow never watched American Horror Story, this might be the weekend to finally fix that.

7. Castle Rock

Streaming on Hulu

Stephen King fans should have this one on their radar.

Castle Rock takes characters, locations and ideas inspired by King's work and brings them together inside the fictional Maine town that appears throughout his stories.

It is not a direct adaptation of one specific novel.

Instead, it feels like stepping into a larger Stephen King universe.

Season two also features a younger version of Annie Wilkes, the unforgettable character from Misery.

For fans who enjoy slow-burn television, mystery and King-style small-town horror, Castle Rock is worth revisiting.

One More to Keep on Your Radar

Netflix's The Whisper Man arrives August 28.

The thriller is based on Alex North's bestselling novel and stars Robert De Niro, Michelle Monaghan and Adam Scott.

The story follows a widowed crime writer whose young son is abducted, leading him back to a decades-old serial killer case involving a murderer known as The Whisper Man.

We will definitely be keeping an eye on that one.

The Horror Feed Pick

If you want something new, start with The Last House.

If you want something strange and classic, try Messiah of Evil.

If you want something fun and nostalgic, go with The Last Video Store.

And if you want a full weekend binge, American Horror Story gives you more than enough material.

Whatever you choose, turn the lights off.

It is better that way.

Michael Myers Is Coming Back to Gaming, and Halloween: The Game Could Be What Friday the 13th Fans Have Been Waiting For

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 23:15:52 GMT

Michael Myers is heading back to Haddonfield this September, but this time you get to control what happens.

Horror gaming is about to get one of its biggest icons.

Halloween: The Game officially launches September 8, 2026, bringing Michael Myers, Haddonfield and the atmosphere of John Carpenter’s original 1978 film into a new asymmetrical horror game from IllFonic.

And if that developer name sounds familiar, it should.

IllFonic previously worked on Friday the 13th: The Game, the cult multiplayer horror title that let one player step into the role of Jason Voorhees while everyone else desperately tried to survive.

Now they’re doing it again.

Only this time, The Shape is coming home.

Welcome Back to Haddonfield

Halloween: The Game takes players back to Haddonfield in 1978, directly embracing the look and atmosphere of the original movie.

The main multiplayer mode is a 1v4 asymmetrical showdown.

One player becomes Michael Myers.

The other four become Heroes of Haddonfield trying to save residents, raise the alarm and survive Halloween night.

Michael’s job is exactly what you’d expect.

Stalk.

Hunt.

Kill.

But survivors aren’t simply waiting around to become victims.

Players can warn residents, rescue townspeople, search for useful items and contact police to increase the pressure on Michael.

That gives the game something potentially interesting beyond simply copying the basic killer-versus-survivor formula that horror gamers have seen before.

Yes, You Can Play as Michael Myers

Let's be real.

This is the selling point.

Players controlling Michael will stalk through Haddonfield looking for victims while using his overwhelming strength and presence to terrorize the neighborhood.

There’s something almost tailor-made for gaming about Michael Myers.

He doesn't need to sprint around the map.

He doesn't need supernatural fireballs.

He just needs to disappear behind a hedge and somehow show up behind you five minutes later.

If IllFonic gets the stalking mechanics right, playing Michael could feel very different from simply controlling another multiplayer killer.

But You Don't Have to Play Multiplayer

This might be the feature that gets overlooked.

Halloween: The Game also includes a single-player experience focused on Michael Myers.

A recent trailer showed the solo mode putting players directly behind The Shape as he stalks and kills his way through Haddonfield.

That could be a huge deal for fans who loved the idea of Friday the 13th: The Game but weren't interested in relying entirely on online multiplayer.

Instead of every session depending on four other players, horror fans can jump in and experience Haddonfield on their own.

For a licensed horror game, that's a smart move.

Friday the 13th Fans Have Seen This Movie Before

There’s also an elephant in the room.

IllFonic's Friday the 13th: The Game developed an incredibly loyal following.

The concept worked.

Playing Jason was fun.

Trying to survive with friends was chaotic.

And the game captured the feeling of the movies in a way fans weren't expecting.

Unfortunately, licensing and legal issues surrounding the Friday the 13th franchise eventually complicated development and helped bring new content to a halt.

That history will naturally make some players cautious about investing heavily in another licensed multiplayer horror game.

But it also gives IllFonic something valuable.

Experience.

They already know what works about putting a legendary slasher villain into an asymmetrical game.

Now they get another chance to refine the idea.

Michael Myers Has Some Serious Competition

The horror multiplayer space is considerably more crowded than it was when Friday the 13th: The Game arrived.

Dead by Daylight has become the giant of the genre and has already featured Michael Myers as a playable killer through its Halloween content.

That means simply putting Michael into a video game isn't enough.

Halloween: The Game needs to make players feel like they’re actually inside Halloween.

The recreation of 1978 Haddonfield may be its biggest advantage.

If the developers can capture the quiet streets, suburban homes, autumn atmosphere and slow-building tension of Carpenter's movie, the game could separate itself from more traditional multiplayer horror experiences.

The Timing Couldn't Be Better

There’s something perfect about launching a Halloween game in September.

The game arrives just as horror season begins.

By October, people will already be watching the movies again, decorating their houses and arguing about which Halloween sequel is secretly underrated.

Now they’ll also be able to spend Halloween night running through Haddonfield while Michael Myers follows them home.

That sounds like a pretty good October to us.

THE HORROR FEED TAKE

We're cautiously excited about this one.

The Friday the 13th formula showed how much fun an asymmetrical slasher game can be when the developers understand the franchise.

Halloween may be an even better fit.

Michael Myers is built around stalking, suspense and the feeling that he could be watching from anywhere.

If IllFonic can capture that instead of simply creating another frantic multiplayer chase game, Halloween: The Game could become one of the most interesting horror releases of 2026.

And the addition of a proper single-player experience makes it considerably easier to recommend to horror fans who have no interest in competitive multiplayer.

Michael comes home on September 8. September 4th if you preorder the digital deluxe edition.

The only question is whether Haddonfield is ready for us. Preorder the game here .

Everyone Is Arguing About Nikki at Halloween Horror Nights. They’re Missing the Bigger Problem

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 21:51:33 GMT

Is This Going To Be A Problem for hhn?

Universal’s decision to have Nikki from Obsession roam Halloween Horror Nights has sparked plenty of controversy. But after what happened with Art the Clown last year, there may be a much more practical reason to question the idea.

Halloween Horror Nights has found itself in the middle of another horror debate.

Universal Studios Hollywood recently announced that Nikki from Obsession will appear as a roaming character during Halloween Horror Nights 2026. The version guests will encounter is reportedly Nikki from the end of the film, complete with the bloody appearance, altered dress and markings seen during her final transformation.

And almost immediately, horror fans started arguing about it.

Much of the controversy has centered around Nikki herself.

Some viewers see her primarily as a victim of what happens in Obsession, a movie built around themes of forced affection, control and consent. Because of that, critics have questioned whether turning Nikki into a character who scares guests at a theme park misunderstands what makes the movie disturbing in the first place. Others argue that Nikki's final form is one of the most memorable horror images of the year and fits perfectly at Halloween Horror Nights.

That's an interesting debate.

But I think there is another question Universal should be thinking about.

What Happens When Guests Start Treating Nikki Like They Treated Art The Clown?

Halloween Horror Nights already got a preview of the problems that can come with putting an extremely popular horror character directly into the crowd.

Last year, Art the Clown became one of the breakout attractions of Halloween Horror Nights.

Instead of remaining confined to a haunted house or traditional scare zone, versions of Art were allowed to unexpectedly appear around the park. The concept was brilliant because guests never knew when the Terrifier villain might suddenly show up.

It also created enormous crowds.

Reports and videos from the event showed guests surrounding Art, following the performer and, in some cases, touching or harassing the scare actor. Reports circulated during the event that Art's roaming appearances had been restricted after guests repeatedly crowded and touched performers portraying the character.

Even coverage from inside the event noted how difficult it could be to approach Art because of the crowds of people trying to get pictures and selfies.

That should matter when talking about Nikki.

Nikki Could Attract a Very Different Kind of Attention

There is a major difference between putting Art the Clown in the middle of the crowd and putting Nikki there.

Art is a grotesque killer in clown makeup carrying weapons.

Nikki is portrayed by Inde Navarrette as a young woman whose appearance, relationships and sexuality are central to much of the conversation surrounding Obsession.

The movie has already created months of intense online discussion about Nikki, Bear, attraction, consent, obsession and who audiences are supposed to sympathize with. That debate has become big enough that the controversy surrounding Nikki's HHN appearance has reached outlets well outside traditional horror media.

Now imagine putting a performer dressed as Nikki directly into a crowded Halloween Horror Nights environment.

Thousands of people.

Alcohol.

Phones everywhere.

People trying to create viral TikToks.

Fans wanting pictures.

Fans trying to get reactions.

Fans intentionally testing the character.

And, unfortunately, some guests who do not understand that the person underneath the costume is an employee doing a job.

That combination deserves more attention than it is currently getting.

Scare Actors Are Not Props

This is something that gets lost when Halloween Horror Nights becomes increasingly driven by recognizable movie characters.

The person playing Nikki is not Nikki.

The person playing Art is not Art.

They are performers.

They are employees working inside an extremely crowded environment while staying in character and interacting with thousands of strangers.

There is already an understood boundary at Halloween Horror Nights. Scare actors do not touch guests, and guests are expected to keep their hands off performers.

Yet we saw last year how quickly those boundaries can disappear when a character becomes popular enough.

The more viral the character becomes, the worse that problem can potentially get.

Nikki may be one of the most talked-about horror characters of 2026.

That is exactly why Universal needs to be prepared.

The Idea Itself Is Actually Pretty Cool

Here's the strange part.

From a purely creative standpoint, Nikki roaming Halloween Horror Nights makes sense.

Obsession has become one of the biggest horror conversation pieces of the year, and Nikki's final appearance is instantly recognizable to people who have seen the movie.

Inde Navarrette herself has expressed excitement about Nikki appearing at Halloween Horror Nights and has even talked about wanting to portray the character there personally.

So this isn't an argument that Nikki should be removed because the character doesn't belong at HHN.

She does.

The problem is how Universal handles the interaction.

There is a huge difference between Nikki appearing in a controlled scare zone with handlers nearby and Nikki freely moving through massive crowds of guests who are desperate to get a reaction from her.

After what happened with Art, Universal has reason to know how quickly a roaming character can become overwhelmed.

Universal Should Learn From Last Year

There are ways to make this work.

Give performers playing Nikki adequate security and character attendants.

Create clear boundaries when crowds form.

Move the performer when an area becomes too congested.

Remove guests immediately when they touch or harass scare actors.

And make it extremely clear that interaction does not mean permission to put your hands on the performer.

Halloween Horror Nights works because scare actors are willing to put themselves directly into the experience.

Protecting those performers should matter more than getting another viral video.

THE HORROR FEED TAKE

The biggest question surrounding Nikki at Halloween Horror Nights shouldn't be whether she is technically a villain, victim or appropriate horror character.

Horror fans can argue about that all night.

The bigger concern is much simpler.

Can Universal let one of 2026's most talked-about horror characters roam through a crowded theme park without the performer becoming the attraction in all the wrong ways?

Last year's Art the Clown situation should be the warning.

Nikki could be an incredible addition to Halloween Horror Nights.

Universal just needs to make sure the person underneath the blood and makeup is protected too.

What do you think?

Should Nikki roam freely around Halloween Horror Nights, or should Universal keep her appearances in a more controlled area?

‘Insidious: Out of the Further’ Arrives Next Week — Here’s Everything Horror Fans Need to Know

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 21:02:56 GMT

Get Ready for The newest installment

The Further is opening again. The sixth Insidious movie hits theaters August 21 with a new family, a dangerous new ability and the return of franchise favorite Elise Rainier.

The Insidious franchise is heading back into The Further.

Insidious: Out of the Further arrives in theaters August 21, 2026 , introducing a new group of characters while bringing back one of the franchise’s most recognizable faces.

With the release just days away, here’s what you need to know before heading back into The Further.

A New Story Begins

Rather than simply continuing the Lambert family’s story from Insidious: The Red Door, Out of the Further shifts the focus to a new protagonist named Gemma , played by The Haunting of Bly Manor star Amelia Eve .

Gemma is a young mother raising her daughter in the same house where she grew up.

But there’s a problem.

Gemma discovers that she has the ability to enter The Further — the dark supernatural realm that has been at the center of the Insidious franchise since the original movie.

And her connection to it comes with a dangerous twist.

Gemma doesn’t just have the ability to enter The Further. She can bring things from it back with her .

Once the entities living there discover what she can do, the barrier between their world and ours suddenly becomes a lot less secure.

Lin Shaye Is Back as Elise

New characters don't mean the franchise is completely leaving its past behind.

Lin Shaye returns as paranormal investigator Elise Rainier.

Elise has become one of the defining characters of the Insidious series, appearing throughout the franchise despite her character's death in the original film.

Her continued connection to The Further has allowed the series to bring her back in different ways, and Out of the Further continues that tradition.

For longtime fans, Elise's return provides a major connection between this new story and the movies that came before it.

Who Else Is in the Cast?

Alongside Amelia Eve and Lin Shaye, the new movie features Brandon Perea , who horror fans may recognize from Jordan Peele's Nope.

The cast also includes Maisie Richardson-Sellers, Sam Spruell and Laura Gordon .

It's largely a fresh group of characters entering the Insidious universe — which could make this a relatively accessible starting point for viewers who haven't followed every chapter of the Lambert family's story.

A New Filmmaker Enters The Further

Insidious: Out of the Further is written and directed by Jacob Chase , the filmmaker behind the 2020 supernatural horror movie Come Play.

But two names that helped create the franchise are still heavily involved.

James Wan and Leigh Whannell return as producers , alongside Jason Blum and Oren Peli.

Whannell created the characters and wrote the original Insidious, while Wan directed the first two films.

That gives the sixth installment a new filmmaker behind the camera while keeping several of the people responsible for establishing the franchise involved.

Do You Need to Watch the Other Insidious Movies First?

Probably not every one.

Out of the Further introduces a new central character and story rather than simply picking up where the Lambert family left off.

However, knowing who Elise Rainier is and understanding the basic concept of The Further will certainly give longtime fans more context.

For anyone wanting the full experience, the franchise currently includes:

Insidious (2010)

Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013)

Insidious: Chapter 3 (2015)

Insidious: The Last Key (2018)

Insidious: The Red Door (2023)

And now:

Insidious: Out of the Further (2026)

When Does Insidious: Out of the Further Come Out?

Not long now.

Insidious: Out of the Further opens exclusively in theaters August 21, 2026.

Sony has also released a final trailer giving fans their latest look at Gemma, Elise and what appears to be an increasingly dangerous version of The Further.

Whether this new chapter can deliver something genuinely fresh six movies into the franchise remains to be seen.

But giving a new character the ability to bring entities out of The Further and into our world certainly opens up some interesting possibilities.

And we're ready to see what's waiting on the other side.

Watch The Official Trailer HEre

Franchise vs. Franchise: Halloween vs. Scream Which Horror Series Is Better?

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 19:02:43 GMT

Which Horror Franchise is Better?

Michael Myers helped define the slasher. Ghostface reinvented it. But if only one franchise can walk away with the crown, which one deserves it?

Few horror franchises have left a mark quite like Halloween and Scream.

One gave us Michael Myers, the silent Shape who turned an ordinary suburban street into nightmare fuel. The other unleashed Ghostface, a killer who could be terrifying one minute and arguing about scary movies the next.

They're separated by nearly two decades, but both changed the slasher genre.

So it's time to put them head-to-head.

Welcome to Franchise vs. Franchise.

Today: Halloween vs. Scream.

ROUND 1: The Killer

Halloween: Michael Myers

Michael Myers doesn't need much of an introduction.

The white mask. The mechanic's coveralls. The slow walk. The heavy breathing.

Michael rarely speaks because he doesn't need to.

He's frightening precisely because we don't completely understand him. You can shoot him, stab him, burn him and seemingly defeat him — and somehow The Shape keeps coming.

Michael also has one major advantage in this matchup:

There is only one Michael Myers.

Scream: Ghostface

Ghostface works completely differently.

Ghostface isn't one person. The costume and identity are passed from killer to killer, meaning every Scream movie comes with a built-in mystery:

Who's behind the mask this time?

That gives Scream something Halloween can't really replicate.

Ghostface can call you. Taunt you. Make mistakes. Trip over furniture. Get hurt.

Underneath the costume is a human being — and sometimes it's someone the characters trust.

But if we're judging purely on horror icon status?

Winner: Halloween

Michael Myers takes Round 1.

HALLOWEEN 1 — SCREAM 0

ROUND 2: The Final Girl

Now things get interesting.

Jamie Lee Curtis' Laurie Strode is one of the most important final girls in horror history.

Laurie helped establish the template generations of horror films would follow, and her relationship with Michael became the backbone of multiple versions of the Halloween story.

But Scream gave us Sidney Prescott.

Sidney wasn't simply trying to survive Ghostface. Across multiple films, audiences watched her learn the rules, fight back and refuse to allow the killers targeting her to define her life.

Laurie is legendary.

Sidney is legendary.

This might be the hardest category of the entire matchup.

Winner: Draw

HALLOWEEN 2 — SCREAM 1

ROUND 3: Supporting Characters

This one isn't nearly as close.

Halloween has memorable supporting characters throughout the franchise, particularly Dr. Samuel Loomis.

But Scream built an ensemble.

Dewey Riley.

Gale Weathers.

Randy Meeks.

And that's before getting into the long list of suspects, killers, victims and newer characters introduced throughout the series.

Part of the fun of Scream is spending time with these characters before Ghostface starts eliminating them.

Winner: Scream

HALLOWEEN 2 — SCREAM 2

We're tied.

ROUND 4: The Original Movie

This is brutal.

John Carpenter's Halloween remains one of the defining films of the slasher genre.

The atmosphere. The music. Michael standing silently in the distance. The simplicity of the story.

Then Scream arrived in 1996 and did something completely different.

Wes Craven and writer Kevin Williamson took an audience that already understood horror-movie clichés and made that knowledge part of the movie itself.

The characters knew the rules.

So did the audience.

And Ghostface used those expectations against both of them.

Scream was incredibly influential.

But without movies like Halloween, there probably isn't a Scream as we know it.

Winner: Halloween

HALLOWEEN 3 — SCREAM 2

ROUND 5: Consistency

And here's where Michael gets into trouble.

The Halloween timeline is… complicated.

Sequels. Retcons. Alternate continuities. Reboots. A movie without Michael Myers. Multiple attempts at concluding Laurie and Michael's story.

There are Halloween movies horror fans absolutely love.

There are also entries that can start an argument simply by mentioning their titles.

Scream hasn't been flawless either, but the franchise has maintained a remarkably recognizable identity across its different eras.

Ghostface changes.

The victims change.

The motives change.

But the fundamental formula remains:

Someone puts on the mask. Everyone becomes a suspect. And we're trying to solve the mystery before the characters do.

Winner: Scream

HALLOWEEN 3 — SCREAM 3

FINAL ROUND: Cultural Impact

This decides it.

Walk into almost any Halloween store and you'll probably find both masks.

Michael Myers is one of the faces of horror.

Ghostface has become one too.

But Halloween helped establish the language that countless slashers followed afterward.

Michael Myers didn't invent every element of the slasher genre, but the success and influence of Halloween helped establish a blueprint that filmmakers spent decades copying, modifying and eventually parodying.

Then Scream came along and helped breathe new life into that same genre.

That's what makes this matchup so interesting.

Halloween helped build the house.

Scream showed everyone how to renovate it.

For sheer historical influence, though, we're giving the final round to Michael Myers.

Winner: Halloween

FINAL SCORE

�� HALLOWEEN — 4

�� SCREAM — 3

THE HORROR FEED VERDICT: HALLOWEEN

By the narrowest possible margin, Halloween wins our first Franchise vs. Franchise showdown.

Scream may have the stronger overall ensemble and arguably the more consistent series, but the original Halloween, Michael Myers and the franchise's enormous influence on the slasher genre give it the edge.

But a 4–3 score tells you everything you need to know.

This one is close.

And we're pretty sure plenty of horror fans are going to disagree with us.

Good.

That's the point.