Like it or not the critic aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes is the place where films come to live or slowly die. Professional critics are the voice of opinion and that can sometimes be a weapon so mighty it can kill the biggest of dreams unintentionally.
Still, there are user reviews that can nefariously sway the numbers too. There is nowhere to hide. And yet the fact remains, those who want to read what others think before they dole out their cash for a movie seek out Rotten Tomatoes for advice.
Here are the horror movies Rotten Tomatoes thinks are the best of the year so far.
The Innocents (97%)
Children are creepy. At least the kids in this film are. Perhaps even more than being a top-rated horror movie this year, The Innocents is just a top-rated movie period. With a very unique twist and message, these children are evil film gets more disturbing as it moves along. With excellent acting by the pint-sized cast, this moderately paced chiller has a lot to say about the power of innocence.
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Synopsis: During the bright Nordic summer, a group of children reveals their dark and mysterious powers when the adults aren’t looking. In this original and gripping supernatural thriller, playtime takes a dangerous turn. Available on Prime VOD.
Hellbender (97%)
Mother and daughter try to figure out the power of their relationship and who will survive it in this which witch is which creepfest streaming on Shudder.
Synopsis: A teen and her mother live simply in a home in the woods, spending their time making metal music. A chance encounter with a fellow teen causes her to uncover a connection between her family and witchcraft, which causes a rift with her mother. Available on AMC+.
X (95%)
The film industry is a dangerous place. It’s also ageist. So it would seem making an adult movie with young stars would be a safe bet. But not in X. This loving homage is deep-rooted in 70s horror, especially the Tobe Hooper classic The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Even though all the tropes are there, the industry standard isn’t. The acting is so great in this film you can identify with most of its characters which sadly means director Ty West thinks us banal. Still, their reactions are believable and their intentions innocent despite the subject matter of their film.
With a prequel on the way and perhaps another on the way, X is a fun ride that doesn’t go gentle into that good night.
Synopsis: A group of actors sets out to make an adult film in rural Texas under the noses of their reclusive hosts, but when the elderly couple catches their young guests in the act, the cast finds themselves in a desperate fight for their lives. Available to rent on VOD.
You Won’t Be Alone (93%)
Take about elevated horror. You Won’t Be Alone has such a lofty story it transcends into the stratosphere. This intelligent and sublime fairy tale is so hypnotizing you won’t notice the nearly two-hour run time.
Synopsis: Set in an isolated mountain village in 19th century Macedonia, You Won’t Be Alone follows a young girl who is kidnapped and then transformed into a witch by an ancient spirit. Curious about life as a human, the young witch accidentally kills a peasant in the nearby village and then takes her victim’s shape to live life in her skin. Her curiosity ignited, she continues to wield this horrific power in order to understand what it means to be human. Available on Peacock.
Prey (92%)
Officially the most watched movie premiere on Hulu, Prey is nothing like you have seen before. As a prequel to the 1987 action/horror movie Predator, it works because the premise is so original. Take one part Comanche warrior with only her hatchet and her dog to protect her then pit her against an advanced alien species who hunts living things for sport. Pack that all into a non-stop 99-minute movie and you have a mold-breaking sci-fi powerhouse.
Let’s not forget the introduction of Amber Midthunder who deserves to take a bow after her industry breakthrough performance. Come for the action, stay for the David and Goliath moral.
Synopsis: The origin story of the Predator in the world of the Comanche Nation 300 years ago. Naru, a skilled warrior, fights to protect her tribe against one of the first highly-evolved Predators to land on Earth. Available on Hulu.
Hatching (92%)
Ooey and gooey, Hatching is a viscous nightmare. Taking several cues from the creature features of the 80s, this Finnish import had everyone talking at Sundance. Filled with practical effects, this film isn’t for the squeamish. It’s also not for people who don’t understand maternal instincts. As weird as it is intriguing, Hatching is an honorable debut for director Hanna Bergholm.
Synopsis: A young gymnast, who tries desperately to please her demanding mother, discovers a strange egg. She hides it and keeps it warm, but when it hatches, what emerges shocks them all. Available on Hulu.
Mad God (92%)
Thirty years in the making Mad God is quickly rising to the top of critics’ top ten lists. Stop motion animation and technological wizardry, this stunning film gets high marks for detail. Although some might get lost in its storytelling, there is no shame in reading the Wiki plot if only to better enjoy the labor of this masterwork.
Synopsis: A corroded diving bell descends amidst a ruined city and the Assassin emerges from it to explore a labyrinth of bizarre landscapes inhabited by freakish denizens. Available on Shudder.
Bodies Bodies Bodies (90%)
At first, the title evokes a beach full of hardbodies on spring break. If only that were the case. This A24 submission kind of snuck up on everybody, but it has since become a critical success. Directed by renowned actress Halina Reijn, Bodies Bodies Bodies puts yet another spin on the genre with tongue firmly planted in cheek.
Synopsis: When a group of rich 20-somethings plan a hurricane party at a remote family mansion, a party game turns deadly in this fresh and funny look at backstabbing, fake friends, and one party gone very, very wrong. Only in theaters.
The Sadness (91%)
Vile and utterly repulsive, The Sadness is not a background movie to play at dinner. Although too campy to fit into the extreme horror genre, this film isn’t afraid to push boundaries or exploit your triggers. There is enough depravity that it should come with an emergency alert, and a free BetterHelp account.
Still this over-the-top gross-out is going to flood some fans with dopamine, and to others, regret.
Synopsis: A young couple trying to reunite amid a city ravaged by a plague that turns its victims into deranged, bloodthirsty sadists. Available on Shudder.
We Are All Going to The World’s Fair (90%)
Creepypasta for the soul. This coming-of-age fantasy is more daydream than dreadful. This was another buzzworthy entry at Sundance. And if you can’t tell what’s going on from the trailer join the rest of us. With eerie visuals and an ineffable storyline, We Are Going to The World’s Fair makes for a memorable experience.
Synopsis: Alone in her attic bedroom, teenager Casey becomes immersed in an online role-playing horror game, wherein she begins to document the changes that may or may not be happening to her. Available on VOD.
There you have it, the horror movies Rotten Tomatoes think are the best of 2022 so far. What do you think? Are they right or wrong? And as always, let us know your opinion, and if there is one that should be higher on their list. Comment about this article on FB here or on Twitter here.
