May 2026 Is Shaping Up to Be One of the Best Months in Horror in Years

May is shaping up to be one of the best months in horror in a long time.

We’ve got four theatrical horror releases hitting this month, all backed by strong buzz from the festival circuit and early screenings, along with some interesting backgrounds from the filmmakers themselves, but we’ll get to that.

What stands out is the variety. The sub-genres span folk horror and psychological dread to altered reality concepts. This lineup feels like a real showcase of where the genre is right now.

Here’s what to keep an eye on.

Hokum (May 1)

Hokum comes from Damian Mc Carthy, the director behind Caveat and Oddity, two films I absolutely loved.

If you’ve seen either of those, you already know what he brings to the table. Mc Carthy has a unique ability for grounding his stories in reality while slowly introducing supernatural elements that build into a tense, unsettling, and inventive tale of terror.

This time, he seems to be leaning further into folk horror. The story centers on a witch that is haunting an isolated hotel in Ireland, as Adam Scott’s character arrives intent on spreading his parents’ ashes, where he quickly finds himself in over his head. The trailer is genuinely creepy, with imagery that feels reminiscent of Osgood Perkins and Longlegs.

Early reactions have been overwhelmingly positive. This one feels like a must-watch right out of the gate.

Obsession (May 15)

Next up is Obsession from Curry Barker.

If you’ve spent any time on YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram, there’s a good chance you’ve come across his work. Barker built an audience with short-form horror and comedy, eventually releasing Milk & Serial, a found footage horror feature directly to YouTube.

Obsession looks like a major step up in scale and intensity.

The premise is simple but effective: a guy stuck in the friend zone makes a wish for the woman he loves to “love him more than anything.” As with any monkey’s paw scenario, the wording matters, and this version of “love” quickly spirals into something brutal and terrifying.

The buzz has been strong enough that Barker has already been tapped to direct a new The Texas Chainsaw Massacre reboot for A24.

That alone should tell you everything you need to know.

Passenger (May 22)

Of the four, Passenger looks the most traditional, but that’s not a bad thing.

If you told me this existed somewhere in the orbit of The Conjuring or Insidious, I wouldn’t be surprised. The trailer leans into familiar imagery and structure, but there’s an interesting twist underneath it.

The story follows a couple on a cross-country trip who unknowingly pick up a demonic entity that attaches itself to them, slowly pushing them toward a breaking point. There’s also a psychological element at play, with some moments suggesting the characters may be trapped in ways that aren’t immediately obvious, similar to the disorientation in The Blair Witch Project or the maze of changing hallways in Grave Encounters.

The film comes from the director of The Autopsy of Jane Doe, The Last Voyage of the Demeter, and Trollhunter, which is a strong track record.

This one looks creepy, grounded, and effective.

Backrooms (May 29)

Finally, there’s Backrooms.

This might be the most intriguing of the group.

The film stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve, and Mark Duplass, and is directed by Kane Parsons, whose viral YouTube series inspired the project.

The premise taps into that “altered reality” space. A mysterious doorway appears beneath a furniture showroom that appears to lead to an endless maze of corridors. As the characters explore deeper, it seems inevitable that they become lost one by one. As an added layer of terror, I’m predicting there will be some sort of sinister force or entity hidden in the deep corridors.

It brings to mind stories like From a Buick 8, Southbound, and The Endless (which is well-regarded but I’d venture to say underseen), all of which lean heavily on atmosphere, mystery, and existential dread.

This is just the type of creative horror that I’ve come to love, and if this lands, it could easily be one of the most memorable horror films of the year.

Final Thoughts

May is shaping up to be one of the strongest months for horror in a long time. I’d venture to say at least a couple of these won’t have happy endings, so be prepared, but enjoy.

Let me know what you’re most excited for and which ones you’re planning to check out.

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