Whether it’s in theaters or from the comfort of home, April has a slew of horror content ready for release. Along with the return of Creepshow Season 2 on Shudder, there are plenty of new scary stories coming to the big and small screen, featuring the likes of vampires, werewolves, demons and terrible neighbors. Whether it’s a feature film or an anthology series, here are some upcoming horror films and shows to keep an eye out for this April.
Boys From County Hell
When done right, horror and comedy blend well together, which is hopefully the case for Boys From County Hell, which was part of the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival. The film follows the misadventures of Irish road workers who’ve accidentally unleashed the likes of an ancient vampire; however, this vampire is unlike the ones seen in popular films, shows and novels. Along with a fresh approach to this monster, the film is in the vein of Shaun of the Dead as its protagonists react to the horrors in their lives like actual people, which is usually a great formula for comedy in a scary movie.
Click the button below to start this article in quick view.
Directed by Chris Baugh, Boys From County Hell stars Jack Rowan, Louisa Harland, Fra Fee and Michael Hough and will premiere April 22 on Shudder.
Jakob’s Wife
Another vampire flick this month, Jakob’s Wife is a more serious take on this classic monster. A woman who’s married to a pastor goes through a midlife crisis, which leads to her transformation into a vampire. Exploring the trapped and bored feelings associated with a loveless marriage through a monster who’s both liberated and restricted by immortality is a clever concept, and pairing that with a couple whose power dynamics shift could lead to a tense film about empowerment, love and sacrifice.
Directed by Travis Stevens, Jakob’s Wife stars Barbara Crampton, Larry Fessenden and Bonnie Aarons and will premiere April 16 in theaters and on VOD.
Bloodthirsty
Shifting away from the vampires, Bloodthirsty is all about werewolves. A singer and her girlfriend head out to a music producer’s remote home, and the musician starts to experience a dangerous transformation. Along with original music, this film seems to be delivering a provocative story about the stresses of working in this industry, highlighted by the protagonist’s transformation into a powerful monster, and she must decide if she wants to be the predator or prey in this narrative.
Directed by Amelia Moses, Bloodthirsty stars Lauren Beatty, Greg Bryk and Katharine King So and will premiere April 23 in theaters and on VOD.
Separation
For fans of the Babadook, Separation seems to be touching on similar themes and imagery. The film is about a widower and his daughter grieving over the loss of his wife; however, the daughter seems to make a new friend in a demonic being, who feels reminiscent of the Crooked Man from The Conjuring 2. Prior to her death, the marriage was not stellar, so this film is set up to be a compelling exploration of what it’s like to be a child in the midst of major family changes, which can be a confusing and terrifying experience on its own.
Directed by William Brent Bell, Separation stars Rupert Friend, Mamie Gummer, Madeline Brewer, Violet McGraw, Simon Quarterman and Brian Cox and will premiere April 30 in theaters.
The Banishing
For some classic haunted house scares, The Banishing will likely be the best bet. Similar to The Haunting of Bly Manor, this film is a period horror movie set in 1930s England. Along with the suspicious activity going on in the family’s new home, the father has the additional task of trying to get the village to renew their faith in the church as their new reverend; however, the last man who had this job lost his family, which bodes poorly for the new reverend and his loved ones.
Directed by Christopher Smith, The Banishing stars Jessica Brown Findlay, Sean Harris, Anya McKenna-Bruce and John Heffernan and premieres April 15 on Shudder.
Honeydew
Another film from the Tribeca Film Festival, Honeydew is combining some classic horror tropes, like a camping trip gone wrong and suspicious country folk, for a stylish movie that feels like it could fit in with horror films like Midsommar, It Follows and The Witch. The movie follows a couple who’s trip goes south, forcing them to stay with a peculiar elderly woman and her son, and this leads to a nightmare that makes one think twice before accepting kindness and food from strangers.
Directed by Devereux Milburn, Honeydew stars Malin Barr, Barbara Kingsley and Sawyer Spielberg and will premiere April 13 on VOD.
Them
Departing from the horror films, there are a few new horror television and streaming series coming out this April, including Them, which is about a Black family moving into all-white neighborhood in 1950s America. Along with the torment the racist neighbors inflict on the Emorys, the trailer reveals there’s more to the story than just bigoted, nosey neighbors. Like Lovecraft Country, this series appears to be exploring the real life atrocities of the past through a horror lens.
Created by Little Marvin, Them stars Deborah Ayorinde, Ashley Thomas, Alison Pill, Shahadi Wright Joseph, Melody Hurd and Ryan Kwanten. The series premieres April 9 on Amazon Prime Video.
Deadhouse Dark
Where Them is a horror anthology set to tell a new story each season, similar to American Horror Story, Deadhouse Dark is telling a new narrative each episode, similar to The Twilight Zone. Like Black Mirror, this Shudder series is connected by the theme of technology, with a focus on the dark web. The series will have six unique stories told by six directors, and in each entry, a woman will receive a mysterious box from the dark web, thus kicking of their personal horror stories.
Directed by Enzo Tedeschi, Rachele Wiggins, Rosie Lourde, Megan Riakos, Denai Gracie and Joshua Long, Deadhouse Dark stars Nicholas Hope, Barbara Bingham, Lauren Orrell, Anni Finsterer, Naomi Sequeira, Gemma Bird Matheson, Eliza Nicholls, Akosia Sabet, Ryan Morgan, Jenny Wu and Adam Sollis and premieres April 29 on Shudder.
About The Author
