The final week of January is also the first week of February, and it’s a slow week for the horror genre in terms of new releases. But that doesn’t mean we’re not getting new horror this week.
Here’s all the new horror releasing January 29 – February 4, 2024!
For daily reminders about new horror releases, be sure to follow @HorrorCalendar.
Real-life serial killer John Wayne Gacy has been the subject of a handful of horror movies over the years, played by Brian Dennehy in To Catch a Killer (1992), Mark Holton in Gacy (2003), and William Forsythe in Dear Mr. Gacy (2010). Quiver Distribution brings their own Gacy movie to the table this week, with Gacy: Serial Killer Next Door now available on VOD.
In director Michael Feifer’s horror movie, “A teenager’s life in a quiet suburb changes drastically when John Wayne Gacy, a famed serial killer, becomes his neighbor. His curiosity leads to dark secrets and a frightening journey from innocence to a dire clash with evil.”
Ryker Baloun, Shelby Janes, Mason McNulty, Ashley Ray Keefe, and John Omohundro star.
Giallo Maestro Dario Argento gets the spotlight in Dario Argento Panico, a documentary retrospective that’s headed exclusively to streaming service Shudder on Friday, February 2.
Here’s the doc’s official synopsis: “In the secluded ambiance of hotel rooms, Dario Argento crafted his greatest cinematic creations, seeking solace from the outside world to delve into his nightmares. Now, he finds himself in a hotel room to return to the very setting that ignited his creative fervor to conclude his latest script and participate in an intimate interview, all while being followed by a film crew documenting his life for a movie about his illustrious career.”
Simone Scadfi directed. Scadfi also helmed the Lucio Fulci biopic Fulci for Fake.
Look for exclusive interviews with Dario Argento himself, Asia Argento, Guillermo del Toro, Franco Ferrini, Gaspar Noé, Nicolas Winding Refn, and more.
The final new horror release for the week is a slasher courtesy of Dark Sky Films. Departing Seniors slashes its way onto VOD outlets – and select theaters – on Friday, February 2.
From director Clare Cooney, Departing Seniors is said to “put a fresh spin on teen slasher movies like Scream and Freaky, updating them by putting its queer protagonist and characters of color front and center.” The official press release also previews, “It’s a horror-comedy with a sarcastic, whip-smart edge and appealingly complex characters.”
In the upcoming slasher, “After being bullied, high school senior Javier develops psychic abilities which he must use to stop a mysterious killer targeting his classmates.”
Here’s the full plot synopsis: “Mexican-American and queer, high school student Javier doesn’t exactly fit in with the popular kids. But he might be the only one who can save them. After an act of bullying sends Javier to the hospital, he begins experiencing visions that foresee glimpses of shocking murders at his school right before they happen. Now, in between navigating the social hierarchies and prejudices of clique culture, Javier and his best friend Bianca must try to unmask a serial killer before he strikes again.”
Ignacio Diaz-Silverio (“Primo”), Yani Gellman (Pretty Little Liars), Lorena Diaz (Chicago Med), Ireon Roach (Candyman), and Cameron Scott Roberts (The Walking Dead) star.
Jose Nateras wrote the script for Departing Seniors.