Closely Watched Films

Tag: new films

  • Upcoming Horror Releases May 2026

    Upcoming Horror Releases May 2026

    Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

    We’ve been treated to some excellent horror so far this year but here are five more upcoming horror releases for May that I’m excited to see. Are any of these also on your radar?

    Table of contents

    Passenger

    A young couple witnesses an accident on the highway and is subsequently followed by a demon named the Passenger. This demonic presence won’t stop hounding them until he claims both their lives.

    Road trips, especially in remote places, are exciting but can take a turn for the terrifying. This film seems to capitalise on that fear of the unknown and the rational fear of road accidents.

    The trailer promises stomach-churning make-up, horrifying road scenes and jump scares galore.

    Image shows a still from upcoming horror release, Passenger. In the still, a demon is holding someone by the shoulder.
    Image Source: Rotten Tomatoes

    Corporate Retreat

    Icebreakers are the worst part of any job but corporate retreats? They’re the icing on the cake.

    This film is a dark horror-comedy that follows a group of young employees on a luxury corporate retreat. What begins as a team-building experience quickly descends into chaos as the retreat leader has other, bloody, ideas.

    Out of this selection, I would say this is the one I’m least excited for but I’m still intrigued by the trailers.

    The image shows a still from Corporate Retreat. One of the characters is screaming and holding their eye, with blood pouring down their face and hand.
    Image Source: Bloody Disgusting

    Saccharine

    Most of us have tried a weird diet fad or two but medical student Hana takes it a step further. When she eats human ashes as part of a weight-loss craze, the ghost of the person she’s eaten begins to haunt her.

    Recently, I’ve been enjoying media that considers the wellness industry and its various issues. From the trailer, Saccharine looks like it’s going to contain commentary about weight loss initiatives, fads and the rhetoric surrounding them.

    From this selection, I’m definitely most excited about this one just because I’ve loved books like Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang and Rouge by Mona Awad that discuss similar topics.

    The image is a still from upcoming horror release, Saccharine. In it, Hana looks into a spoon fearfully as though she is looking for something.
    Image Source: Variety

    Backrooms

    Backrooms is about what happens when a strange doorway opens up in the basement of a furniture showroom. This is an intriguing premise exploring liminality in a space that, to me, is already liminal. I have strong memories of being in furniture showrooms and carpet shops and feeling like I’d been lost to time.

    Liminal spaces have become a popular theme in horror media, including Backrooms and Exit 8, a recent release that explores a similar premise.

    The image is a still from Backrooms. It shows a bright-yellow liminal space that has office ceiling tiles, chevron wallpaper and a carpet.
    Image Source: The Mercury News

    Speed Demon

    In Speed Demon, a nun who has lost her faith must perform an exorcism on a possessed passenger before disaster strikes the train. This intersection between horror and religion is one of my favourite themes in film.

    Many of my favourites, including The Devils (1971) are older so it’s exciting to see a new release tackle similar themes and issues.

    The image is a still from Speed Demon. It shows a nun in the carriage of a train holding a statue of Christ towards something off-camera. She looks scared but determined.
    Image Source: Macabre Daily

    How many of these films are you excited for? Will they make audiences faint in fear or be vague disappointments?

    If you want to read about horror films that are already out, check out my reviews of Thrash and Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen.