Kult-Zilla’s – Essential Summer Movies (2025)

1. // Weapons

Comedy writer Zach Cregger made his mark on the Horror scene back in 2022 with Barbarian starring Georgina Campbell (Bird Box: Barcelona), Bill Skarsgård (It) and Justin Long (Drag Me To Hell). His reputation following this release was sky-high, and there was a bidding war when he delivered and pitched his screenplay for Weapons to the market in January 2023. New Line Cinema put up a reported $38 million to secure the rights, with $10 million going to Cregger as writer / directer. And he brought together a fine cast to bring this unique Horor-mystery to life, including Julie Garner (Wolf Man), Josh Brolin (No Country For Old Men) and Alden Ehrenreich (Solo: A Star Wars Story).

Weapons is best viewed blind and as spoiler-free as possible. It has done incredibly well for a movie with so much hype to keep its cards close to its chest and for the most part managed to keep its Horror sub-genre a secret. Pre-release it only teased the one inciting incident which lays down the premise for the mystery; “When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance.” (IMDB). And well, Weapons delivers on just about every level. The mystery is thoroughly absorbing, the Horror is tense, the narrative is dark yet often funny. And when it finally shows it’s hand to the audience in the final act … it absolutely goes for it! KZ

2. // Superman

Superman represents a fresh start for the DC movie universe. As the jewel character in the comic book crown, Superman on the silver-screen will most fondly be remembered for Christopher Reeve’s iconic four movie portrayal in the late 70s and 80s. Following a largely forgettable legacy sequel in Superman Returns (2006) with Brandon Routh stepping into the tights, it would then be director Zach Snyder (Watchmen) who would revolutionise the character with a far darker take in Man Of Steel (2013) starring Henry Cavill. This polarising version would return to complete Snyder’s trilogy in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (2017) and Justice League (2017).

But as a collective movie world, the DCEU would fail to rival the wildly successful Marvel Universe, and Warner Bros took the decision to revitalise their film-series with a clean sweep and a fresh start under the oversight of James Gunn. And it would prove to be the Guardians Of The Galaxy film-maker who would launch this new era by directing this colourful, cosmic and thoroughly comic-booky interpretation of Superman. The movie starring David Corenswet (Pearl) in the heroic role provides a version of the character and a world he inhabits quite unlike anything we have seen before. It is certainly an intriguing and unique take, with a tone that couldn’t be any further away from Snyder’s … and it absolutely works! KZ

3. // Together

So 2025 is proving to be another fine year for Horror movies, with Sinners, Weapons and Bring Her Back all massively hitting the right spot. And Indie-Horror flick Together is another excellent darker movie to add to the list. The supernatural Body-Horror was written and directed by Michael Shanks in what is his debut feature length film. It stars real-life couple Dave Franco (Love Lies Bleeding) and Alison Brie (Glow), as fictional couple Tim and Millie. The film joins the pair some years into their relationship and at somewhat of a crossroads, as they relocate from the city to a new life in the countryside, where it is fair to say things quickly spiral out of their control.

Together plays out as an intriguing look at the dynamics of a slowly fading long-term relationship, while introducing a unique concept which leans heavily into the Body-Horror, a particular sub-genre which was thrust into the mainstream conscious with the success of last years The Substance and its subsequent Oscars exposure. Together is sick and twisted but with a healthy dollop of dark humour. It premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival back in January, and created a nice buzz with strong word of mouth, before securing a deal with Neon and hitting the silver-screen this July. KZ

4. // Predator: Killer of Killers

In 2022 director Dan Trachtenberg (10 Cloverfield Lane) revitalised the Predator franchise with the release of Prey. A movie which took the concept back to basics with the story of a Comanche warrior pitting her skills against the alien hunter, across the plains and in the forests of eighteenth century North America. Prey was a success, and the foundations were laid for further stories to be told of various Predators visiting different time periods of Earth to face off against the best fighters from each era. Trachtenberg fully immersed himself in the Predator world, and in between Prey and working on Predator: Badlands – due for release later in 2025 – he dropped this animated anthology movie, which absolutely runs with the concept.

Predator: Killer of Killers essentially tells four stories. The first being that of a Viking shield-maiden as she embarks of a mission of revenge to destroy the chief who murdered her father. The second follows two seventeen-century Japanese brothers, sons of a Samurai warlord who must fight in order to be crowned his successor. And the third follows the adventure of a US navy fighter pilot in the midst of WW2. The twist of course, is that in each story a Predator appears in order to hunt each hero. A fourth story then provides a climax, as each survivor awakens on a mysterious planet where they are forced to battle for sport in a giant Predator colosseum. The animation is absolutely gorgeous throughout Killer of Killers, and it finishes on a highly satisfying note which links back to the iconic films of the series. KZ

5. // Dangerous Animals

Dangerous Animals is an Australian / American co-production, set and filmed in the town of Surfers Paradise on the Aussie Gold Coast. Written by Nick Leppard who has also penned the forthcoming Osgood Perkins movie Keeper, and directed by Sean Byrne (The Devil’s Candy), Dangerous Animals tells the tale of psychotic shark obsessed serial-klller Bruce Tucker (Jai Courtney – Terminator Genisys). Tucker masquerades as a legitimate ocean tour guide, taking tourists out onto the sea in order to spot and cage dive with sharks. But his real motives are much more sinister …

Zephyr (Hassie Harrison – Yellowstone) is the free-spirited American traveller, abducted by Tucker when she ventures to the beach alone for a quiet surf at dawn. Incapacitated, she wakes up on Tucker’s boat in the middle of the ocean, handcuffed to a bed in a dingy room alongside Heather (Ella Newton – Girl At The Wondow) – another captive caught in Tucker’s web. And she must fight for survival as it transpires Tucker has a very unique and unusual method of torture. Dangerous Animals is a tense Thriller, with a great performance from an incredibly feisty Harrison, while Courtney plays a mean psychopath. The film also delivers extremely well in the shark attack gore! KZ

6. // The Life of Chuck

2025 is proving to be a big year for Horror-Master Stephen King. The author who turns 78 on the 21st September released a new novel Never Flinch, and saw an adaptation of his short story The Monkey by Osgood Perkins (Longlegs) hit the cinema. He also has further adaptations to come including The Long Walk and The Running Man, which were both written over 40 years ago under his Richard Bachman pseudonym. In between all of that, a series based on his 2019 novel The Institute hit MGM+, while this adaptation of his novella from the 2020 Collection If It Bleeds has also been released.

Directed by Mike Flanagan who has previously tackled King with Gerald’s Game (2017) and Doctor Sleep (2019), The Life Of Chuck is one of those rarer non-Horror Stephen King yarns. In fact it is a charming fantasy-drama tale, told in reverse order over three chapters, recounting key moments in the life of Charles ‘Chuck’ Krantz. A seemingly ordinary man who appears to have had somewhat of a profound effect on those around him. The non-linear narrative which begins with his death alongside the end of the universe, creates an engaging mystery element to the story, which stars Tom Hiddleston (Crimson Peak) as the adult version of Chuck, alongside a supporting cast which includes Jacob Tremblay (Good Boys) and Mark Hamill (Star Wars). KZ

Words by Mark T. Bates

Love Horror movies !? Enjoy Horror Fiction !?

Check out the fourth short story in our Horror flash-fiction series – The Curious Dark:

‘Lake Oblivion’ – By Mark T. Bates (The Curious Dark #4)