3 Disturbing Real-Life Stories That Inspired ‘The Strangers’

Numerous eagerly awaited horror films are slated to premiere later this year, specifically during the chilling Halloween season. So we prepared highlights of these fall releases we think may be worth the watch. 

The Nun 2 (September 8^th)

            A surprising sequel for sure but a welcome one. We now get to dive deeper and explore even more lore in the Conjuring universe. This sequel is set in 1956 and is set 4 years after the first one. The film follows Sister Irene as she once again as she comes face-to-face with the demon Valak after a priest is found murdered in France and evil seems to be spreading.

The Nun 2 is being directed by Michael Chaves (The Curse of La Llorona and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It). It will be starring Taissa Farmiga (The Nun, American Horror Story) as Sister Irene and Bonnie Aarons (The Nun, The Conjuring) as the terrifying Demon Nun Valak.

This is going to be a creepy ride and one that will have us covering our faces for jump scares. While we don’t have a trailer just yet, we should be expecting one within the next month.

A Haunting in Venice (September 15^th)

            This spooky tale is being directed by Kenneth Branagh who’s directed many amazing films such as Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile, Thor, Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein, and many more.

This will be the third movie in the Kenneth Branagh Hercule Poirot series. It is based on the book titled “Hallowe’en Party” by Agatha Christie. It will follow the story of the Belgian Sleuth Hercule Poirot as he investigates a murder while attending a Halloween séance at a haunted palazzo in Venice, Italy.

This movie stars Kenneth Branagh (Murder on the Orient Express, Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein) as Hercule Poirot, Kelly Reilly (Yellowstone, Eden Lake), and Jamie Dornan (50 Shades of Grey Trilogy). From just the amazing director and cast this should be a must-see for horror fans. 

Sister Death

(October 5^th Sitges Festival and Netflix release slated in October)

            From the director Paco Plaza (Rec, Veronica) we are getting a prequel to the terrifying Netflix film Veronica. This film will follow the story in post-war Spain of Narcisa, a young woman with supernatural powers, who arrives at a covenant for girls to become a teacher.

As her days of being a teacher go on, she begins to witness strange events and disturbing situations that start to take a toll on her. She eventually begins to unravel the terrible secrets that surround this covenant and haunt its inhabitants. Sounds like there is more to this covenant than meets the eye. This movie stars Almudena Amor (The Grandmother, Muted) as Hermana Socorro and Aria Bedmar (Muted, Heirs to the Land) as Hermana Narcisa. 

Si cruzas esta puerta, solo te queda santiguarte. #HermanaMuerte, el regreso de @paco_plaza al universo de ‘Verónica’, inaugurará el @sitgesfestival de este año. pic.twitter.com/Qpu7R7XAbz

— Netflix España (@NetflixES) May 18, 2023

The Exorcist: Believer (October 13^th)

This sequel/reboot to the original Exorcist film is something to keep our eye on. It’s being directed by David Gordon Green (The Halloween Trilogy/Reboot) and will follow the same idea as the latest Halloween films did.

It is said to be the first film of the trilogy and is a direct sequel to the original 1973 film. It will ignore all the sequels and prequels that have come out so far. Little is known about this film, but the story follows 2 parents seeking help when their daughters show signs of demonic possession.

This film will be bringing back Linda Blair (The Exorcist, The Exorcist II: The Heretic) to reprise her role as Regan MacNeil and Ellen Burstyn (The Exorcist, Interstellar) to reprise her role as Chris MacNeil. This film will be held to a higher standard than most films as the original is considered one of the scariest films of all time. We should be expecting a poster and teaser trailer within the next 2 months. 

Saw X (October 27^th)

            Little is known about this film other than it is the tenth installment in the Saw franchise. This film is being directed by Kevin Greutert (Saw VI, Saw 3D). He has worked on every film in the Saw franchise as either an editor, director, or executive producer. So, it’s safe to say this movie is in good hands.

The film will be starring and bringing back Tobin Bell (Saw, Saw II, Saw III) as the infamous Jigsaw killer. One thing we do have to look forward to is the new twisted and gory traps that will make our skin crawl. We should be expecting a trailer or official poster within the next 2 months. 

Five Nights at Freddy’s (October 27^th)

One of the most highly anticipated horror films for both gamers and horror fans alike, Five Nights at Freddy’s is a film that has a lot of hype and is being talked about a lot. It’s directed by Emma Tammy (Into the Dark, The Wind).

This film is based on the infamous video game series of the same name. It is the first film in the trilogy. The story follows a troubled security guard who begins to work at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria. While spending the night on the job, he realizes the late shift at Freddy’s won’t be so easy to make it through.

This film stars Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games, Journey to the Center of the Earth) as Mike Schmidt and Matthew Lillard (Scream, Scooby Doo) as the infamous game character William Afton. With a solid cast and massive fanbase, this film is going to be a big hit. We will definitely be looking forward to the famous jump scares, creepy vibes, and the famous animatronics. 

Thanksgiving (November 17^th)

This is one idea that nobody thought would see the light of day. This movie is based on a fake trailer from the movie Grindhouse. It’s being directed by Eli Roth (Hostel, Cabin Fever) who was one of the original directors of the movie Grindhouse that came out back in 2007.

The story is about a serial killer who comes to a small town in Massachusetts with the intention of creating a Thanksgiving carving board out of the town’s inhabitants. The fake trailer in the Grindhouse movie gives us an idea of what we should expect.

The film stars Addison Rae (Social Media Personality) and Milo Manheim (Zombies 1, 2, and 3). This will be a fun gory ride knowing Eli Roth’s use of excessive blood and gore in his films. No trailer or official poster has been released yet, but we should see something within the next couple of months. 

Which horror movie are you most excited about this Fall? Let us know in the comments below.