Welcome to Horror Explorer, a curated column showcasing the month’s best movies, series, books and everything else spooky worth checking out. I’m William Earl, the editor of Variety.com and the publication’s resident horror enthusiast. Please drop me a line at wearl@variety.com if there’s something I should check out for next month’s missive.
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Marquee Madness
Image Credit: Neon Wolf Man (In theaters Jan. 17 via Universal Pictures) — Leigh Whannell’s “The Invisible Man” follow-up is another retelling of a Universal Monsters classic, and early footage looks as kinetic as his other work. With a killer cast, including Christopher Abbott and Julia Garner, it’s sure to be an early highlight of the year’s horror slate.
Presence (In theaters Jan. 17 via Neon) — Steven Soderbergh gets experimental in this unique first-person ghost story. The camera is roaming through the house as a family in grief, led by Lucy Liu and Chris Sullivan, faces a tragic mystery. Horror fans looking for a creative take on the genre will be drawn into this unique storytelling exercise. (Read Variety’s full review here.)
Companion (In theaters Jan. 31 via Warner Bros. Pictures) — Drew Hancock’s sci-if thriller is filled with jaw-dropping moments, so it’s great to go in as blind as possible. Suffice it to say that the game cast (including Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage and Harvey Guillén) adds depth to the twists and turns along the way.
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Off the Beaten Path
Image Credit: Iconic Events Releasing Screamboat (In theaters Jan. 24 via Iconic Events Releasing) — Beware, Disney: After the copyright for the original Mickey Mouse design “Steamboat Willie” lapsed, this slasher went into development. “Terrifier” star David Howard Thornton is playing the bloodthirsty rodent who attacks the passengers of a ferry ride. Isn’t the public domain fun?
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Bloodcurdling Books
Image Credit: Courtesy of Penguin Random House Strange Pictures by Uketsu (Out Jan. 14 via HarperVia) — Already a sensation in Japan, this unconventional story details nine simple drawings and the dark secret that ties them together. This thin volume is as creative as it is fleet and offers a whirlwind ride.
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix (Out Jan. 14 via Berkley) — Hendrix is one of horror’s buzziest writers, with hits such as “The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires” and “The Final Girl Support Group.” The genre-hopper takes on witches in his latest book, bringing his signature remix of classic tales fueled by characters with dimension and heart.