We're only a few days away from wrapping up 2024, so I think it's time that we start looking ahead at what's to come next year. One of our favorite indie production and distribution companies will be releasing several new horror movies in 2025.
No, we're not talking about A24. However, this indie film giant will release the horror-comedy flick Death of a Unicorn, starring Jenna Ortega and Paul Rudd. I don't know if you saw the gripping trailer for that film, but it's definitely not a movie you want to miss next year!
The indie powerhouse that we'll be talking about in this article is Neon. Neon had an amazing 2024, with the release of horror flicks such as Immaculate, Handling the Undead and Cuckoo. However, it saw the most success with the supernatural horror film Longlegs, which became Neon's highest-grossing film in the domestic market.
We hope the indie company can achieve the same success in 2025, and honestly, it just might with the four horror films that have already been confirmed to come out next year. Don't worry. We'll most likely see Neon acquiring more horror content in the future, especially after the success of Longlegs. But for now, these are the four horror movies set to be released by Neon in the new year.
Presence
This movie is for you, fans of the haunted house subgenre. After premiering at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, Neon quickly snapped up the global rights to the film for $5 million. The indie company then set a Jan. 24, 2025, theatrical release in the U.S. Tickets should be going on sale soon since the release date is approaching.
Academy-nominated filmmaker Steven Soderbergh (Kimi, Unsane) directed the horror feature from a script that was written by David Koepp. They had previously worked together on the thriller Kimi, where Koepp wrote the script and Soderbergh directed. Recently, they worked together again on an upcoming spy thriller titled Black Bag, which is now in post-production.
Presence centers on a suburban family who is haunted by a ghost after moving into their new home. However, this film isn't your typical haunted house movie. What sets it apart from others is the way in which the story unfolds. The film is shot entirely from the ghost's perspective, offering a fresh and chilling experience. You'll likely recognize cast members such as Lucy Liu, Chris Sullivan, and Julia Fox. The rest of the cast includes Callina Liang, Lucas Papaelias, West Mulholland, and Eddy Maday.
The Monkey
While we're looking forward to seeing all the Neon horror movies on this list, the one that we're most excited to see is The Monkey. For starters, it's an adaptation of one of Stephen King's best short stories, The Monkey (1980). Secondly, the casting department cast some amazing actors to play the characters. Third, Osgood Perkins not only directed the film but also wrote the screenplay. If you aren't aware of who Perkins is, he's the creative behind Longlegs. I'd say this movie is in good hands!
The plot revolves around two twin brothers, Hal and Bill, who must find a way to destroy their father's old toy monkey, which is believed to be cursed and causing tragic deaths. Theo James, who you may recognize from his starring role in Netflix's The Gentlemen, takes on the dual role of Hal and Bill. Tatiana Maslany, Elijah Wood, Christian Convery, Colin O'Brien, Rohan Campbell, and Sarah Levy are also cast members. Perkins even has a role in the film!
Hopefully, you'll not be busy on Feb. 21, 2025, because that's when Neon will release this buzzed-about horror film. If so, you'll just have to move some things around. Like any other film on this list, you don't want to miss out on it!
Shelby Oaks
So, the next two films we've listed do not have official release dates yet. However, Neon has confirmed that they will be released sometime in 2025. Shelby Oaks is a supernatural horror film backed by Mike Flanagan, often referred to as a "modern master of horror." He is an executive producer of the movie. Chris Stuckmann wrote, produced, and directed the film in his feature directorial debut.
After her younger sister Riley mysteriously disappears while filming her investigative series in an abandoned town, Mia believes she might still be alive and sets off on a desperate search to find out what happened to her. But as she continues her search, she starts to suspect that something sinister is at play in Riley's disappearance. The cast includes Camille Sullivan, Brendan Sexton III, Michael Beach, Robin Bartlett, Keith David, Charlie Talbert, Emily Bennett, and Sarah Durn.
The film has garnered largely favorable reviews from critics, so I'm looking forward to seeing if it's any good.
Hell of a Summer
Most people know Finn Wolfhard from his role as Mike Wheeler in the popular Netflix series Stranger Things. Well, he's more than just an actor. For Hell of a Summer, he decided to not only star in it but also step behind the camera a bit and take on the additional roles of writer and director. He co-wrote the script for this horror comedy film with Billy Bryk. They both shared directing duties as well.
Based on the movie's plot, it seems like more of a slasher. It follows a group of camp counselors at a summer camp who begin to be picked off one by one by a masked killer. Bryk also joins Wolfhard in the cast. Other cast members include Fred Hechinger, Abby Quinn, and D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai.
As mentioned earlier, Hell of a Summer doesn't have an official release date. All that is known is that it will be released next year. Since the movie takes place during the summer, it would be fitting for it to be released then. Don't you think? With Presence and The Monkey coming out at the beginning of the year, it would be a strategic decision for Neon to delay Hell of a Summer's release to a later date. No later than the summer, though.
As soon as we have the release dates for both Shelby Oaks and Hell of a Summer, we'll update you right away.