For a month typically dedicated to holiday movies and lighthearted fare, this December is packed with excellent horror movie offerings. There are several notable titles on streamers like Peacock, Screambox, and Shudder this week, like a new installment of The Last Drive-In and a Richard Ramirez documentary series. Plus, we must remember the Dexter prequel series releasing this weekend!
Another unique thing to note about this week is that this Friday is the 13th, so multiple horror movies should be coming out then, like The Man in the White Van, What Lurks Beneath, and Mudbrick. And those who missed out on Heretic in theaters will get the chance to watch it at home this Tuesday.
Keep reading to learn more about the scary movies and shows released this week.
Deus Irae (Screambox, Dec. 10)
Prepare yourself for an unrelenting, brutal nightmare in this new Argentine exorcism horror movie, marking filmmaker Pedro Cristiani's feature directorial debut. Based on the short film of the same name, Deus Irae follows Father Javier, a man with an intriguing double life.
In addition to assisting families who believe they've witnessed miracles, Javier also works alongside excommunicated priests with unorthodox methods of exorcizing the possessed, a technique that includes fire and shotguns. When faced with the ultimate challenge of defeating the Devil, Father Javier must decide just how much of his humanity he will sacrifice to accomplish his goal.
Start your 7-day free SCREAMBOX trial today.
The Soul Eater (VOD, Dec. 10)
Based on the novel by Alexis Laipsker, The Soul Eater centers on a dark fable about a creature of legend known for eating souls, as you might have guessed.
An investigation into multiple gruesome deaths in a small village all seemingly connected to the ancient tale about this monstrous figure. It was distributed by Dark Sky Films and directed by Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo, whose previous credits include The Deep House, Inside, and Leatherface.
Heretic (PVOD, Dec. 10)
Watch Hugh Grant's Golden Globe-nominated performance for yourself when Heretic comes home this week. Starting Tuesday, Dec. 10, you can rent or purchase the movie on demand.
Buying the film will cost you $24.99, and renting it is usually $19.99 from digital retailers like Apple, Amazon, and Vudu. Heretic follows two Mormon missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who fall victim to the diabolical Mr. Reed (Grant) and his twisted games.
Richard Ramirez: The Night Stalker Tapes (Peacock, Dec. 10)
Peacock is releasing another documentary series about the infamous murderer Richard Ramirez, also known as "The Night Stalker," who killed more than 15 victims during his crime spree in the mid-1980s. The new true crime doc includes exclusive audio interviews with Ramirez from his time on Death Row. We'll also hear from some of his family members and wife, with the streamer teasing that many of these interviews have never been heard before.
1992 (Netflix, Dec. 13)
A Spanish miniseries from acclaimed director Álex de la Iglesia premieres this Friday. 1992 revolves around a series of murders, all following the same pattern. Each victim is left burned and left beside a Curro doll, the mascot of Seville's Expo '92. It soon becomes apparent that all of these deaths are connected. A grieving widow and an ex-cop work together to solve the mystery.
The Activated Man (VOD, Dec. 13)
Several genre icons will star in this supernatural thriller set for a world premiere this Friday, including the late Tony Todd, Kane Hodder, Sean Young, and more. The story revolves around Ors (Jamie Costa), who is struggling with grief due to losing both his best friend and his dog.
Coping with the trauma causes his mind to fracture from reality, and he begins to question what is real and what isn't, complicated further when there is a rise in murder-suicides across the city, leading Ors to wonder whether it's all in his head or happening. The film will play in select Los Angeles theaters and be released digitally this Friday.
Dexter: Original Sin (Paramount+ with Showtime, Dec. 13)
Dexter Morgan is back! A prequel to the award-winning Showtime series Dexter: Original Sin takes place in 1991 Miami and follows a much younger Dexter as he slowly turns into the serial killer we all know him as.
The series will focus on the special relationship between Dexter and his father, Harry (Christian Slater), who helps teach Dexter the fabled "Code" designed to turn his murderous urges toward those who deserve it while avoiding being discovered by the police. Michael C. Hall returns to narrate. The series premieres first on the Paramount+ with Showtime app on Friday, followed by the on-air debut on Sunday, December 15.
Joe Bob's Christmas Carnage (Shudder, Dec. 13)
Joe Bob's annual holiday special returns this Friday and will debut on Shudder TV and the AMC+ TV feeds starting at 9 p.m. ET. Fans can also watch the special on demand on Sunday, December 15, through Shudder and AMC+ if you aren't available to watch live on Friday night. Joe Bob and Darcy will host two holiday horror flicks this year, featuring a charity auction with one-of-a-kind props and exclusive merch.
The Man in the White Van (VOD, Dec. 13)
Set in 1975, Florida, a young girl feels threatened when she sees an ominous white van following her all over the place, but her parents dismiss her fears even though various news outlets have reported a recent spate of disappearances with concerns about an active serial killer on the rise. Based on actual events, the film stars Brec Bassinger, Skai Jackson, Ali Larter, and Sean Astin.
What Lurks Beneath (VOD, Dec. 13)
Part evil mermaid movie and part claustrophobic submarine tale, What Lurks Beneath promises to be a unique horror experience. As teased in the trailer, the film was entirely shot from the submarine, heightening the film's tension. The crew aboard the underwater vessel are shocked when they discover a woman in one of the torpedo tubes who seems to be able to communicate directly with some of the people onboard telepathically.
Mudbrick (VOD, Dec. 13)
Fans of folk horror and occult movies will want to watch Mudbrick, the story of a man who inherits a home in Eastern Europe and discovers a dark secret in his past that connects him to a pagan Slavic cult.
Digging into his past will bring forth all sorts of unsettling truths dealing with ritualistic choices, totems, frightening reveals, and the aftermath of a pact. The Gravitas Ventures film stars Philip Brodie, Andrew Howard, Kamka Tocinovski, Dusica Nastova, Joakim Tasic, Predrag Momcilovic, Lauren Sivan.
Forever Mine (VOD, Dec. 13)
A psychological thriller by D.C. Hamilton (The Midnight Man, Forever Mine) is a film about a complicated marriage. Vincent (Trevor Algatt) marries Erica (Brinna Kelly), believing she will be an easy victim. Still, he has no idea what he's in for when it is slowly revealed that Erica is a secret black widow with a string of dead husbands. The pair embark on a deadly game of cat-and-mouse to survive their marriage.