[Editorial] Ghouls’ Top 33 Horror Films of 2022

We have reached the end of another year, and some are saying that this was one of the best year’s we’ve had for horror films. And it certainly seemed that way with an abundance of horror from some of the best directors to new and emerging filmmakers making their mark. 

But what were the best of the best amongst this bloody pile of gore and viscerality? Well, we’ve asked the Ghouls Team for their top picks and created a Frankenstein’s monster of sorts from the results. Here are our favourite horror films from 2022…

(Just a note that some of these films were seen at film festivals and might not be released until 2023)

10. The Leech

It’s Christmas time and the season of joy is all around. Father David (Graham Skipper) gives a sermon to his dwindling devotees about opening their hearts to those who need help, and in turn helping them face God himself. So when Terry (Jeremy Gardner) lands on his pew-step, Father David sees this as the opportunity to help someone else. But when Terry’s girlfriend Lexi rocks up and they both move into Father David’s home, he realises sin has been sent into his home. 

Caitlyn Downs: “Perfect chemistry between the three main performers with a justifiably angry streak and an excellent grasp on comedy and dips into darkness and debauchery, this is the kind of Christmas movie you won’t want to keep just until December.” Read Caitlyn’s review!

Ygraine Hackett-Cantabrana: “The Leech is a hilarious yet festive look at the hypocrisy of the Catholic church, perfect Christmas viewing!”

9. Fresh

If there was ever a warning to dating then Fresh would be it… Noa (Daisy Edgar-Jones) has the perfect meet-cute in a supermarket over candyfloss grapes, with the handsome and charming Steve (Sebastian Stan) and quickly starts dating him. When he takes her away for a weekend at his ridiculously secluded home, all seems too good to be true- until it is. Noa soon learns that Steve is actually Brendan, who has an appetite for eating the women he dates and selling their meat as his side-hustle. Those dating apps really need more pre-screening questions about appetite. 

Liz Bishop: “Sebastian Stan, cannibalism and strong female friendship - what more could you ask for?”

Zoë Rose Smith: “Cannibalism has long been a taboo in films, so seeing a fresh take on this gruesome, grisly and underused trope got me hungry for more!”

Read Ariel Baska’s exploration of the portrayal of Disability & Horror in Fresh

8. Something in the Dirt

Our favourite twosome are back for some more mind-bending horror with Something in the Dirt. John (Aaron Moorhead) and Levi (Justin Benson) are just two normal guys who happen to bump into each other at their apartment block, finding a quick neighbourly friendship. But when the two experience what can only be described as some form of paranormal or supernatural phenomenon in the apartment, they quickly realise they need to document this and make their fame and fortune. 

Caitlyn Downs:  “Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead have done it again. Magnetic central performances and a narrative that constantly wrongfoots the audience in the most pleasingly playful way. It still finds time to probe emotional depth and throw a ton of theories at the screen also. Apparently there was a three and a half hour cut of this at one point and honestly, sign me up for that!”

Alix: “Benson and Moorhead's best film yet in my opinion, with imagination, visuals and an immense scope to defy the lockdown they made it in.”

7. NOPE

The master of modern day horror brought us back to some of the roots that have built the foundations for various sub-genres, and gave audiences something completely unique. Haywood Jr. (Daniel Kaluuya) runs his father’s ranch out in the desert after his father has a bizarre death. When his sister Emerald (Keke Palmer) comes to stay, they start to experience situations that could be caused by aliens. The two decide to capture this on video, but soon realise there is more to the tale when they begin to make discoveries about Jupe who runs the local family attraction.

Kim Morrison: “I have two very specific fears that get under my skin - being eaten alive and being attacked by a chimp. And Nope managed to cover both of them while being visually stunning and hilarious at the same time!”

Sarah Miles:  “A fantastically fresh take on a UFO movie that highlights the effects of exploitation and trauma in the entertainment industry. Also, Keke Palmer doing the Akira slide gives me life.”

6. X

With a throwback to the sleazy 70s and days of high-end porno productions, X takes a slice of smut and adds a slashing of gore. A group of filmmakers head to a small barn on a private farmland to make their latest film, The Farmer’s Daughters. But whilst they are shooting they begin to notice that the elderly couple that live in the house and are renting out the barn from, seem to be a little strange. Soon enough they learn that the woman in the house might have a taste for the macabre. 

Amber T: “A much-needed return to smut in horror, a poignant take on the invisibility of the ageing woman, and the importance of living without regrets. Watch in tandem with PEARL and feel it hit even harder.”

Sarah Miles: “I was expecting a schlocky cheesy quasi-grindhouse pastiche with maybe some creative gory kills. What I got was an unexpectedly fun and thoughtful look at the way we moralise sex with genuinely likeable characters and definitely some creative gory kills.”

Read Liz Bishop’s review of X (2022)

5. Piggy

If you’re looking for a pairing film that sits within the New French Extremity world, and feels like a love-letter to Catherine Breillat’s Fat Girl then Piggy is it. Sara (Laura Galan) is bullied by all of the other teens in her school and neighbourhood for her weight. They call her piggy, teasing her constantly and making her life a living misery. So when Sara witnesses a violent kidnapping by an unknown man she is conflicted as to whether or not she should alert the authorities or let him have his viscous way with the bullies that torment her. 

Alix Turner: “Tense and complex film about bullying, responsibility and female autonomy; with amazing actors and memorable cinematography too.”

Iona Smith: “A film that looked at its subject matter sensitively, and with empathy and understanding. It was heartwarming in its own twisted way, tackling subjects such as bullying, fat-shaming, love, obsession, and of course murder. The final act of this film had me on the edge of my seat for so many reasons, but the catharsis I received had me wanting to watch it again immediately.”

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4. Men

One of the more controversial films from 2022, with its portrayal of toxic masculinity in a heightened, graphic and disturbing way. After going through a traumatic and devastating event, Harper (Jessie Buckley) resorts to taking a break from life in a remote house located in a rural British village. Harper encounters the men of the village, who all seem to have an uncanny resemblance to one another, and she soon realises that there is something truly awful about the male population she is surrounded by. 

Caitlyn Downs: “Incredible imagery and a compelling individual story. I think this one has been much-maligned because it doesn’t really do what people were expecting from the title. As a story of one woman confronting her own history this is near-perfect. As a weird folk-horror, also near-perfect. Jessie Buckley is excellent, providing a real anchor for the true immersion the design demands.”

Amber T:  “The most divisive and misread horror of the year; a beautiful and unsettling unravelling of the cycles of misogyny that effect both women AND men, culminating in 2022's best body horror.”

Read Jerry Sampson’s review of Men (2022)

3. Barbarian

Everyone has their own horror stories from staying in bizarre places, but Barbarian could be the downfall of places like AirBnB with its twisted opening. Tess (Georgina Campbell) turns up at her rental home only to discover it’s already being rented by a guy (Bill Skarsgard) she doesn’t know. They decide to resolve the situation but very quickly everything takes a dark path down into a basement full of historical secrets. 

Iona Smith: “It was buck wild. I'm glad I went in blind with no knowledge of what I was about to witness. I'm a big Justin Long and Bill Skarsgard fan so this was a double win for me. Not going to say anymore, I just encourage everyone to go and see it to form their own judgments.”

Liz Bishop: “The most surprising film of the year. Completely misleading, terrifying, hilarious, sad, and frustrating. Huge fun in the cinema with a crowd, and the film I have recommended the most to people in 2022.” Read Liz Bishop’s review of Barbarian (2022).

2. Hypochondriac

Will (Zach Villa) has had his struggles with mental health and traumatic childhood, but he is now a potter and leads a peaceful life. But one day his mentally ill mother comes back into his life and brings with her a storm of emotions and trauma that cannot easily be pushed away. Will begins to spiral into darker places and must confront his emotions. 

Caitlyn Downs: “Hypochondriac is emotionally devastating, yet funny and able to hit a jump scare with the best of them. Will is one of the most well-written characters I’ve ever seen (not just this year) and Zach Villa’s performance is utterly captivating. Every time I see this film it reduces me to an emotional wreck. I love it.”

Iona Smith: “This film RUINED me. It was terrifying but not in the jumpscare sense. It was traumatic, sad, and thought-provoking, and it spoke to everyone who saw it in their own personal way. A great conversation about mental health, that portrayed the director's experience for all the world to see. I will be shouting about this film for the rest of my life, I just hope it gets a more general release so that more people can experience it!”

Liz Bishop: “I was lucky enough to meet Director Addison Heimann this year, and he is the most outgoing, bubbly, joyful, hilarious person I have ever met. This only makes his feature debut even more impressive - its a heartbreaking, emotional, queer horror about generational trauma with an incredible performance from the lead.”

Ygraine Hackett-Cantabran: “A heartbreaking journey into one man's experience with parental abuse stemming from mental illness and his own reaction to the trauma that resurfaces years later. Addison Heimann has laid his soul bare onto the screen and the result is an emotional practice in personal horror.”

1. Speak No Evil

The film that had everyone talking this year, bringing the bleaker and more disturbing side of cinema into the limelight. Whilst on holiday in Tuscany, Italy, a Danish family become friendly with a Dutch couple and their young son. After a year of no contact they receive a postcard inviting them for a weekend away. The family head to stay with their friends only to discover that everything they thought to be true isn’t quite as it seems. 

Ariel Baska: “Chilling and deeply affecting, this story explores the boundaries of civilized life in a shocking revelation of a movie through the eyes of a family on vacation.”

Iona Smith: “Everyone should see this film to learn to stop being so polite to people! Especially when the welfare of your child is involved. (Honourable mention to Who Invited Them which doubled down on my theory that I should just tell everyone to fuck off in case I'm being too nice and getting myself in dangerous situations).”

Liz Bishop: “Polar opposite to my other choices this year, there is not a single second of joy to be found here. Speak No Evil made it to my top 5 because no film has ever hit me quite so hard in its final act. Powerful, disturbing and genuinely terrifying.”

Zoë Rose Smith: “Seeing the extremer side of horror slip into the mainstream gives me a disturbing sense of joy, so I loved that Speak No Evil got so much attention and destroyed a lot of people’s days. A great example of how to force the audience to feel as though they have been hit by a tonne of bricks without having to rely on shock tactics or pure violence, instead focusing on the nihilistic nature of humans.”

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That might be our top 10 horror films of 2022, but we unanimously agreed that this year has truly been a banger when it comes to the quality and quantity of films we’ve been given. So here are some others that we thought deserved a mention too. 

The Harbinger

Ariel Baska: “Brilliant pandemic horror that has seeped somehow into my nightmares and still refuses to let me go.”

A Wounded Fawn

Caitlyn Downs: “A Wounded Fawn feels like a really rare kind of film in that it is absolutely drowning in mythology, yet doesn’t require any prior knowledge from the audience. It is stunningly beautiful, occasionally brutal and more than happy to head off the rails. Includes the most memorable credit sequence of the year. Josh Ruben and Sarah Lind are ideal for their roles.”

New Religion

Alix Turner: “The one FrightFest feature this year which truly blew me away, a sombre, chilling horror that called to mind Pulse.”

Crimes of the Future

Alix Turner: “Absolute Cronenberg, but very much now. Long live the very new flesh.”

Read Caitlyn Downs’ review of Crimes of the Future (2022).

Moloch

Alix Turner: “Stunning modern folk horror (no, that's not an oxymoron) that combines intelligence with real chilling horror.”

Incantation

Amber T: “A hugely creepy mix of found-footage, mockumentary and Taiwanese folk horror that directly involved the audience in a way no other film did this year.” Read Amber’s review of Incantation (2022)

Sarah Miles: “I love how this Taiwanese found footage film plays with the fourth wall, meaning that at times it almost feels as though you yourself are watching something cursed.”

We’re All Going To The World’s Fair

Amber T: “Achingly melancholic and imaginative, We’re All Going To The World’s Fair manages to capture a sense of internet-induced isolation in a way that hasn't been touched since Kurosawa's Pulse. Essential viewing for those who grew up with the internet as their only friend.”

The Sadness

Amber T: “This movie pissed people off. So of course, I loved it.”

Want to know more about this controversial film? You can watch director Rob Jabbaz chat to Ariel Baska and Rabia Sitabi about the film!

Terrifier II

Iona Smith: “Chaos. Ridiculous, silly, gory chaos. Nowhere else will you witness a clown spooning mashed potato into the caved-in skull of a mother... and I loved every second of its almost 2 and a half hours runtime! Certainly not for everyone, but definitely for me (hilarious how quiet the men went in the audience too when a severed penis was wiped across a car window...).”

Torn Hearts

Ariel Baska: “Katey Sagal slays in this suspenseful and twisty story of a country duo living the dream.”

Candyland

Liz Bishop: “I had no idea what to expect from this going in, but not only is it a mix of gritty sex and violence, and religious horror - it's also about chosen family and finding people who accept and love you for who you really are. It's a hard watch at times, but it has a TON of heart and all of the characters are really endearing. I cared for them a lot by the end. The lead actress is also phenomenal, and I would love to see her in more horror.”

Prey

Kim Morrison: “I always have a lot of fun with movies in the Predator (1987) franchise, but Prey knocked it out of the park. The new setting and time period made the whole story feel fresh, and seeing Naru outsmart everyone around her and eventually walk away victorious was the icing on the cake.”

Werewolf by Night

Kim Morrison: “Werewolf by Night is much shorter than your average addition to the MCU, but it may be my favourite thing that Marvel has put out in a long time. The black and white gave it an old-timey horror feel, the monster design is brilliant, and the main character did nothing to dampen my werewolf crush.”

Smile

Kim Morrison: “Smile had exactly the right amount and the right type of jumpscares to leave me giggling nervously through most of my viewing of it. While the pass-on curse story feels quite familiar in the horror genre, Smile manages to create something new and interesting. Plus it's always nice to see Kyle Gallner make it to the end of a horror movie!”

Zoë Rose Smith: “This was a film I went in with low expectations and came out feeling overwhelmed with emotions. It’s horrifically dark look at mental health and how despair and depression can overtake our lives, leaving us with nowhere to turn but suicide. Smile hit me incredibly hard and really resonated with me on a deeper personal level.”

Have a read of Melanie Moyer’s interview with director Parker Fin all about his psychological horror film Smile (2022).

Huesera

Ariel Baska: “Children are terrifying but pregnancy even more so in this hand-crafted and absolutely stunning body horror from Mexico.”

Don’t Worry Darling

Kim Morrison: “Is Don't Worry Darling technically horror? I don't care, because the levels of uncomfortableness and horrified I felt while watching this movie definitely fall under the horror umbrella for me. Florence Pugh is fantastic, it's gorgeous to look at, and even though I thought I had the story figured out, the ending was still a huge surprise!”

Zoë Rose Smith: “A gorgeous blend of sci-fi and horror from Wilde. Pugh is captivating, and hard to take your eyes off. Reeling in its look at toxic masculinity and the objectification that women are put through on a daily basis.”

You Are Not My Mother

Ygraine Hackett-Cantabrana: !A darkly terrifying exploration of a mother's mental illness through the eyes of her daughter, You Are Not My Mother is heavily steeped in Irish folklore, without alienating international audiences, and is a tour de force, carrying the torch for the recent boom of Irish horror.”

Have a listen to Ygraine and Zoë chatting about this Irish folklore horror film and how it tackles motherhood and mental illness. Listen to the Ghouls Magazine podcast episode now!

Scream

Sarah Miles: “Beloved old characters and fun new ones blend together seamlessly, the fun kills and whodunnit element still work great, and the meta commentary is nicely brought into the currently fan landscape. Wes, your baby is in good hands.”

The Feast

Ygraine Hackett-Cantabrana: “The Welsh language film The Feast is a folk horror with Welsh folklore at its heart. Combining dinner party horror with smatterings of body horror, The Feast is a chilling example of what happens when the natural world is exploited.”

Bones and All

Zoë Rose Smith: “Cannibal coming-of-age love story. Yes please and thank you. I wanted a little more gore and violence, but as a mainstream film about cannibals this was happily devoured. Timothee Chalamet and Taylor Russell are beautiful covered in blood and falling in love. A nice accompaniment to Julia Ducournau’s Raw.”

Next Exit

Sarah Miles: “A thoughtful supernatural road trip movie that looks at life, death, and what gives those things meaning, with grounded central performances from Rahul Kohli and Katie Parker that make this a gem to uncover.”

The Menu

Ariel Baska: “Tightly shot with a taut script and delightful performances, a delicious confection and meditation on the creative enterprise.”

Megalomaniac

Ygraine Hackett-Cantabrana: “As part of the New French Extremity Movement, Megalomaniac is a gritty and nihilistic examination of the cyclical nature of abuse and the horrors of the patriarchy. With flecks of  the supernatural enhancing the film, Megalomaniac is an assault on all the senses.”

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