Horrors to Watch
As horror trends ebb and flow, reflecting the ever-changing reality from which it emerges, moments of intersection and flux become increasingly apparent. Horror that pushes the boundaries of subtext and horror that cuts to the core of our fears coexist in a chaotic landscape of dread and madness. The past few years have been a time of confinement and uncertainty, and our fears have been expressed in a variety of ways. Self-reflection has been a common theme, while spectacle has returned to the big screen. Throwbacks to simpler times have been weaponized, rather than relying on nostalgia. Horror in 2022 has been a reflection of growth in the face of pain, something it has always thrived on. Jordan Peele's blockbuster return, Ti West's ambitious double-whammy, and the showstoppers from indie voices like Chloe Okuno, Phil Tippett and Jane Schoenbrun have created a sordid assortment of horror that is as much a bag of Halloween candy as it is a snapshot of a society in transition.