Best Horror of July 2025: ‘Together,’ ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer,’ a Western ‘Dracula’ Sequel and More
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.
“I Know What You Did Last Summer” (Opening in theaters on July 18 from Sony Pictures Releasing) — This new chapter in the slasher series brings together another group of young adults who share a deadly secret. Luckily, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. return in order to help them survive.
“Together” (Opening in theaters on July 30 from Neon) — Real-life spouses Alison Brie and Dave Franco play a couple whose bodies gradually start fusing. Body horror delights and a growing mystery add texture to the NSFW concept, with plenty of cringey gore in between.
“Sugarcane” (Available on VOD from Postmortem Films) — Pat Baker’s indie serial killer feature blends a psycho in a bunny mask with a more somber tale of an abducted teenage girl. Squeezing some strange and dreadful moments out of a small budget, it’s a compelling watch in a sea of slasher fare.
“Push” (Debuting on Shudder on July 11) — David Charbonier and Justin Powell follow “The Djinn” and “The Boy Behind the Door” with a spooky real estate tale — and it’s not just about how high interest rates are! Alicia Sanz stars as a pregnant agent who shows a house to a killer (Raúl Castillo), and things quickly spiral out of control.
“Abraham’s Boys: A Dracula Story” (Opening in theaters on July 11 from RLJE Films and Shudder) — This unique sequel to the classic vampire story places an older Abraham Van Helsing (Titus Welliver) in the American West with his two sons. But, of course, darkness isn’t far behind. Largely a daytime-set Western, Natasha Kermani’s bold take on Joe Hill’s short story is a treat for genre fans. “Don’t Log Off” (Opening in theaters on July 11 from DREAD) — This screenlife horror feature stars “Modern Family” alum Ariel Winter in a story about a group of besties who start disappearing while searching for their missing friend.
“Ick” (Opening in theaters on July 24 from Fathom Entertainment) — Joseph Kahn’s ooey-gooey tribute to classics like “The Blob” and “The Stuff” stars Brandon Routh as a dorky high school teacher who has to save the world from a biological alien invasion. Kahn’s frantic filmmaking takes a minute to settle into, but the well-paced plot and satirical elements taking on COVID culture keep things fleet, fun and funny.“Bambi: The Reckoning” (Opening in theaters on July 25 from ITN Distribution) — Believe it or not, this is the fourth (!) film in the Twisted Childhood Universe saga, which includes “Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey” and “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare.” Your results may vary with these quick and dirty takes on public domain children’s tales, but if a killer Bambi isn’t your speed, “Pinocchio: Unstrung” is expected before the year’s end. “The Home” (Opening in theaters on July 25 from Lionsgate) — “The Purge” creator James DeMonaco recruits Pete Davidson to star in his latest horror movie. The comedian gets serious as the new handyman at a retirement home filled with secrets. A compelling third-act twist kicks the film up a notch, and Davidson is a compelling audience surrogate for all of the madness. “Monster Island” (Debuting on Shudder on July 25) — Mike Wiluan wrote and directed this taut thriller about a Japanese soldier and British prisoner of war in 1942 who are stuck on a desert island and must team up to escape a malevolent beast. Dean Fukjioka and Callum Woodhouse elevate the tale as the men trying to escape the so-called Orang Ikan.
“The Institute” (Premiering July 13 on MGM+) — The latest Stephen King adaptation brings his 2019 book of the same name to life with some heavy hitters in front of and behind the camera. Ben Barnes and Mary-Louise Parker star with a group of talented young actors who are trapped in a facility that harnesses the supernatural gifts of kidnapped kids. The series is a sharp adaptation from “Lost” director Jack Bender and Benjamin Cavell, who created the recent series take on King’s “The Stand.”
“One Yellow Eye” by Leigh Radford (Set to release July 15 via Gallery Books) — This emotional spin on the undead genre concerns a doctor whose husband falls victim to a catastrophic virus, but she’s determined to find the cure to bring him back to life. Haunting and human, Radford dives into both the scientific and emotional aftermath of this large-scale tragedy in ways not often discussed in horror literature.“Killer on the Road/The Babysitter Lives” by Stephen Graham Jones (Set to release July 15 via S&S/Saga Press) — The prolific author of “My Heart Is a Chainsaw” delivers this two-novel set which features grindhouse thrills, including a haunted house tale focused on keeping the children safe and a serial killer behind the wheel. These breezy tales come together for the perfect read on a hot afternoon, a beach book for gorehounds with great taste. “The Library at Hellebore” by Cassandra Khaw (Set to release July 22 via Nightfire) — This slice of dark academia follows a school for magic that caters to evil, powerful monsters. Yet things get even more wild once the faculty takes control to try to take down all of the students. A lean, mean volume, “The Library at Hellebore” is a fantasy gateway for horror fans, yet bonkers enough to keep genre enthusiasts gasping at the danger on each page.
Fantasia International Film Festival (Jul. 16 – Aug. 3 in Montreal, Quebec) — The packed Canadian genre festival includes some great selections from around the world, in both feature and short film form. Plus, plenty of the year’s most discussed titles are screening early, including “Together,” “Lurker” and opening night selection “Eddington.”
“I Know What You Did Last Summer” (Opening in theaters on July 18 from Sony Pictures Releasing) — This new chapter in the slasher series brings together another group of young adults who share a deadly secret. Luckily, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. return in order to help them survive.
“Together” (Opening in theaters on July 30 from Neon) — Real-life spouses Alison Brie and Dave Franco play a couple whose bodies gradually start fusing. Body horror delights and a growing mystery add texture to the NSFW concept, with plenty of cringey gore in between.
“Sugarcane” (Available on VOD from Postmortem Films) — Pat Baker’s indie serial killer feature blends a psycho in a bunny mask with a more somber tale of an abducted teenage girl. Squeezing some strange and dreadful moments out of a small budget, it’s a compelling watch in a sea of slasher fare.
“Push” (Debuting on Shudder on July 11) — David Charbonier and Justin Powell follow “The Djinn” and “The Boy Behind the Door” with a spooky real estate tale — and it’s not just about how high interest rates are! Alicia Sanz stars as a pregnant agent who shows a house to a killer (Raúl Castillo), and things quickly spiral out of control.
“Abraham’s Boys: A Dracula Story” (Opening in theaters on July 11 from RLJE Films and Shudder) — This unique sequel to the classic vampire story places an older Abraham Van Helsing (Titus Welliver) in the American West with his two sons. But, of course, darkness isn’t far behind. Largely a daytime-set Western, Natasha Kermani’s bold take on Joe Hill’s short story is a treat for genre fans. “Don’t Log Off” (Opening in theaters on July 11 from DREAD) — This screenlife horror feature stars “Modern Family” alum Ariel Winter in a story about a group of besties who start disappearing while searching for their missing friend.
“Ick” (Opening in theaters on July 24 from Fathom Entertainment) — Joseph Kahn’s ooey-gooey tribute to classics like “The Blob” and “The Stuff” stars Brandon Routh as a dorky high school teacher who has to save the world from a biological alien invasion. Kahn’s frantic filmmaking takes a minute to settle into, but the well-paced plot and satirical elements taking on COVID culture keep things fleet, fun and funny.“Bambi: The Reckoning” (Opening in theaters on July 25 from ITN Distribution) — Believe it or not, this is the fourth (!) film in the Twisted Childhood Universe saga, which includes “Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey” and “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare.” Your results may vary with these quick and dirty takes on public domain children’s tales, but if a killer Bambi isn’t your speed, “Pinocchio: Unstrung” is expected before the year’s end. “The Home” (Opening in theaters on July 25 from Lionsgate) — “The Purge” creator James DeMonaco recruits Pete Davidson to star in his latest horror movie. The comedian gets serious as the new handyman at a retirement home filled with secrets. A compelling third-act twist kicks the film up a notch, and Davidson is a compelling audience surrogate for all of the madness. “Monster Island” (Debuting on Shudder on July 25) — Mike Wiluan wrote and directed this taut thriller about a Japanese soldier and British prisoner of war in 1942 who are stuck on a desert island and must team up to escape a malevolent beast. Dean Fukjioka and Callum Woodhouse elevate the tale as the men trying to escape the so-called Orang Ikan.
“The Institute” (Premiering July 13 on MGM+) — The latest Stephen King adaptation brings his 2019 book of the same name to life with some heavy hitters in front of and behind the camera. Ben Barnes and Mary-Louise Parker star with a group of talented young actors who are trapped in a facility that harnesses the supernatural gifts of kidnapped kids. The series is a sharp adaptation from “Lost” director Jack Bender and Benjamin Cavell, who created the recent series take on King’s “The Stand.”
“One Yellow Eye” by Leigh Radford (Set to release July 15 via Gallery Books) — This emotional spin on the undead genre concerns a doctor whose husband falls victim to a catastrophic virus, but she’s determined to find the cure to bring him back to life. Haunting and human, Radford dives into both the scientific and emotional aftermath of this large-scale tragedy in ways not often discussed in horror literature.“Killer on the Road/The Babysitter Lives” by Stephen Graham Jones (Set to release July 15 via S&S/Saga Press) — The prolific author of “My Heart Is a Chainsaw” delivers this two-novel set which features grindhouse thrills, including a haunted house tale focused on keeping the children safe and a serial killer behind the wheel. These breezy tales come together for the perfect read on a hot afternoon, a beach book for gorehounds with great taste. “The Library at Hellebore” by Cassandra Khaw (Set to release July 22 via Nightfire) — This slice of dark academia follows a school for magic that caters to evil, powerful monsters. Yet things get even more wild once the faculty takes control to try to take down all of the students. A lean, mean volume, “The Library at Hellebore” is a fantasy gateway for horror fans, yet bonkers enough to keep genre enthusiasts gasping at the danger on each page.
Fantasia International Film Festival (Jul. 16 – Aug. 3 in Montreal, Quebec) — The packed Canadian genre festival includes some great selections from around the world, in both feature and short film form. Plus, plenty of the year’s most discussed titles are screening early, including “Together,” “Lurker” and opening night selection “Eddington.”