The biggest horror movies of August come with a delightfully gory supply of various types of scares. With the major franchises of the genre taking a break it’s time for new properties and smaller films to seize the limelight. If you’re looking for inspiration for you next horror night then you can’t go wrong with one of this month’s selection. There are a number of feminist and female led/created movies this month, so you can also continue the Barbie vibes.
As always if you are after more horror content then check out the articles below!
Meg 2: The Trench
Meg 2: The Trench releases on the 4th August in theatres.
Now whilst this one focuses more on action, the terror of a behemoth monster lurking in the dark of the ocean is a recurring horror theme. The series comes from the 90s Meg novel series by Steve Alten. The first Meg sought to embody the cheesy b-movie fun that a ridiculous premise comes with, to middling success. This time around it looks to double down on the insanity if the trailer is a sign of things to come.
Jason Statham reprises his role as rescue diver Jonas Taylor who once again heads beneath the ocean into the Mariana Trench. However this time the megalodon isn’t alone, coming with even more prehistoric terrors such as a kronosaurus. With the budget, star power and bizarre premise to match, The Meg 2 is definitely one of the biggest horror movies of August.
Til Death Do Us Part
Til Death Do Us Part releases on the 4th August in theatres with a limited release.
With Timothy Woodward Jr directing and the creator of Final Destination Jeffrey Reddick as a producer, Til Death Do Us Part is a wedding revenge film about the darker endings to relationships. Judging from the trailer and released details it’s a bit of a Kill Bill meets Scot Pilgrim vibe.
The film follows a bride, played by Natalie Burns (The Enforcer, Love Hurts) who runs away from her wedding. Her husband, acted by Jason Patric (The Lost Boys, Speed 2), his best man, Cam Gigandet (Twilight, Never Back Down) and their seven deadly groomsmen seek revenge, but she has no intention of going quietly.
Elevator game
Elevator Game release on the 11th August on Shudder.
For the uninitiated, the elevator game is an urban legend with it’s origins in Japan and Korea. The tale goes that if you follow the correct sequence of actions in an elevator you can travel to another realm, often described as eerie, strange and sometimes evil. It’s a popular legend thriving amongst the creepypasta genre.
Elevator Game brings this scary game to life. Ryan Keaton, played by Gino Anania (Safehaven, The Porter) is a awkward teen with a missing sister. When he finds out she disappeared after performing the titular ritual he resolves to follow her. He gets more than he bargained for when the many warnings to turn out to be true.
Bad Things
Bad Things releases on the 18th August on Shudder.
The latest film by Stewart Thorndike is the upcoming Bad Things. The director has embraced the comparison of the film to a feminist/queer version of The Shining. The film takes a familiar story and reshapes it through different perspectives. It’s certainly an interesting direction to take and thus has to land on the biggest horror movies of August list.
The film stars Gayle Rankin (The Greatest Showman, Glow), Molly Ringwald (The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles), Hari Nef (Barbie, Transparent) and Rad Pereira (Betty, Fernanda) to name just a few. Bad Things is about a group of friends who’s weekend vacation goes off the rails when the hotel they go to hosts women who do bad things.
Heir of the witch
Heir of The Witch release on the 4th of August on all streaming services.
The Heir of the Witch is the work of Writer-Director and star Victoria U Bell. Her comments on the story shows it to be a deeply personal film about family, legacy and trauma, with inspiration from her own life. With a powerful motivation behind the film and an intriguing premise it has to make the list of biggest horror movies of August.
A struggling seamstress with a dark family past and twisted roots struggles to fit in with high society. She had left her homeland for America for a new beginning and to find love and acceptance. However the past is not so easily left behind, and not just with her mother inspiring her passion as a seamstress.
