Horror Explorer: Your Guide to the Best in Spooky Content
Welcome to Horror Explorer, the monthly column bringing you the latest and greatest in horror movies, TV shows, books, and more. I'm William Earl, Variety's resident horror enthusiast, and I'm thrilled to share my top picks for your viewing, reading, and streaming pleasure. If you have any recommendations for next month's column, feel free to drop me a line at my email address below!
Marquee Madness
* Heart Eyes (February 7th via Screen Gems): A Valentine's Day-themed rom-com slasher starring Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding. Watch them battle the infamous Heart Eyes Killer, who targets only couples.
* The Gorge (February 14th on Apple TV+): Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy headline this action-horror-romance from Scott Derrickson. They play snipers guarding against an unknown creature in a dangerous gorge.
* The Monkey (February 21st via Neon): Director Osgood Perkins adapts Stephen King's short story in this wild and bloody tale. Theo James, Tatiana Maslany, and Elijah Wood face terror from a toy monkey that brings death wherever it goes.
Off the Beaten Path
* Bystanders (VOD): A rape revenge film that follows a group of women seeking vengeance after an assault. It's a shocking and daring debut from Mary Beth McAndrews.
* Y2K (VOD): Kyle Mooney's genre-bending comedy/sci-fi/horror that invites you to catch up on a missed apocalyptic masterpiece.
* Red Rooms (Shudder and VOD): An examination of true crime culture that leaves you with goosebumps. A young woman investigates a trial for a man accused of murdering women in "red rooms" on the dark web.
Bloodcurdling Books
* Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito (Liveright): A period novel about a governess struggling to suppress her murderous impulses. It's a captivating premise for an A24 film adaptation starring Margaret Qualley.
* Old Soul by Susan Barker (G.P. Putnam's Sons): A spine-tingling tale of mysterious deaths linked to a mysterious woman. Barker delivers an eerie atmosphere and haunting prose.