May 2022 Horror Preview
This month, an iconoclast returns with another horror freakout, and one of our best filmmakers has another headscratcher at the ready. Oh, and another Stephen King adaptation is coming to streaming — because we can’t go too many months without one of those.
Here’s a look at what’s in store for us in the horror realm:
May 6th
What was supposed to be a 15-minute commercial for Yves Saint Laurent turned into a 50-minute horror mockumentary about a witch movie shoot gone wrong. It’s also an self-reflexive essay on the filmmaking process and the careers of its leads, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Béatrice Dalle. I guess that’s what happens when Gaspar Noé gets involved. (It’s worth noting Noé did actually complete the requested assignment.)
Following his brilliant and/or terrible Climax (depending on the individual), Noé has had to two films release in the last two weeks, Vortex and now Lux Æterna. The latter sees the filmmaker returning to some of his shock tactics, this time led by a barrage of strobes lights.
Much has already been made of the film’s final moments since its premiere at Cannes a few years ago. If it’s anything like Noé’s other pointed attempts to prod and jab, expect it to be a lot.
Lux Æterna will be in limited theaters on May 6th.
May 13th
Stephen King adaptations have been a mainstay in Hollywood for the last few decades, but King fever has kicked into maximum overdrive (sorry) since IT in 2017.
The latest adaptation of King source material is Firestarter, which has me creeped out not because of its chilling details, but rather because Zac Efron is now old enough to play father figures in movies. Let that sink in for a sec.
The actual plot of Firestarter — a shadowy group tracking down a young girl with dangerous gifts — isn’t anything new or noteworthy, so I can’t say I’m super excited to check this one out.
Firestarter will be available in theaters and streaming on Peacock on May 13th.
May 20th
A film I’m very excited to check out is Alex Garland’s Men — his follow-up to Annihilation and Ex Machina — in which Rory Kinnear plays multiple characters that terrorize Jessie Buckley in their own ways following her partner’s suicide. Garland’s latest is shrouded in mystery, though if it’s anything like his other works, you can imagine it’s bold… and also deeply nihilistic.
Men will be available in theaters on May 20th.
Other Releases
The Twin – May 6th (Theaters and Shudder)
Suicide for Beginners – May 6th (VOD)
The Ravine – May 6th (VOD)
Escape the Field – May 6th (VOD)
Shepherd – May 6th (Theaters; VOD on May 10th)
Thar – May 6th (Netflix)
Dark Knight of the Scarecrow 2 – May 10th (Blu-ray and DVD)
The Cursed – May 10th (Blu-ray and DVD)
World Ends at Camp Z – May 10th (Blu-ray and DVD)
Midnight – May 10th (VOD and Blu-ray)
The Sadness – May 12th (Shudder)
Homebound – May 13th (Theaters and VOD)
The Last Victim – May 13th (Theaters and VOD)
Monstrous – May 13th (Theaters and VOD)
The Innocents – May 13th (Theaters and VOD)
Shark Bait – May 13th (Theaters and VOD)
Morbius – May 17th (VOD)
Death Valley – May 17th (VOD and Blu-ray)
Cyber Hell: Exploring an Internet Horror – May 18th (Netflix)
The Found Footage Phenomenon – May 19th (Shudder)
Torn Hearts – May 20th (Epix)
Trip – May 20th (VOD)
Machination – May 20th (VOD)
Captors – May 24th (VOD)
Umma – May 24th (VOD and Blu-ray)
X – May 24th (Blu-ray and DVD)
A Banquet – May 26th (Shudder)
Row 19 – May 31st (VOD and Blu-ray)
