Kult-Zilla’s – Essential New Movies – Spring 2026!

1. // Obsession

Obsession is a Horror flick which has arrived with much hype since it premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in Sep 2025 … and righty so! Written and directed by YouTube sketch star Curry Barker, it is the follow up to his online Indie-hit Milk & Serial (2024), and puts him firmly in the up and coming Horror filmmakers to watch category; alongside the likes of Zach Cregger (Weapons / Barbarian) and Danny & Michael Philippou (Talk To Me / Bring Her Back). Obsession tells the story of Bear (Michael Johnston), a shy and awkward young adult who is infatuated with his colleague and close friend since childhood Nikki (Inde Navarrette).

However, the infatuation is turned on its head and dialled up to extreme levels when Bear uses a magic One Wish Willow novelty toy, to wish that Nikki would love him him more than anyone else in the world. What plays out in the ensuing Obsession, takes their relationship to some crazy and terrifying places; with Nikki’s body now seemingly nothing more than an empty vessel for the curse to play out in. Barker builds creepy suspense with explosions of extreme violence, gore and Body-Horror, which will have you squirming in your seat … but in the best possible way! KZ

2. // Lee Cronin’s The Mummy

Writer / Director Lee Cronin made his mark in the Horror scene when he was handed the keys to the Evil Dead franchise by Sam Raimi; and released the excellent Evil Dead Rise in 2023. Prior to that, the Irish filmmaker’s most notable work was the 2019 Indie-Horror The Hole In The Ground. With the Atomic Monster / Blumhouse co-production of The Mummy, Cronin wanted it to feel completely separate to the popular Stephen Sommer’s Action / Adventure franchise of the late 90s / early 2000s; as well as the unpopular 2017 Universal Dark Universe reboot starring Tom Cruise … hence his name being added to the title – John Carpenter style.

And Cronin’s take on a Horror tale that goes all the way back to Universal’s 1932 Karl Freund directed classic starring Boris Karloff; certainly has a completely fresh feel and tone. And it takes as much influence from The Exorcist (1973) and the Evil Dead series, as it does the plethora of Mummy movies we’ve seen over the last 90 odd years. Cronin takes the creepy young possessed girl trope, soaks it in ancient Egyptian demon mythology, and creates a really gory and over-the-top melting pot of a Horror spectacle. Derivative of the sum of its parts, but also satisfying and highly enjoyable in its own right. KZ

3. // Hokum

Another Irish Director currently making waves is Damian McCarthy, whose solid tale of psychological dread – Caveat (2020) – was a fine feature length debut. His follow up – Oddity (2024) – was incredibly well received and one of the best Horrors that year; a really well crafted psychological mystery. And now he delivers Hokum, which premiered at the 2026 Southwest Film Festival before being released by Neon in May. Hokum stars Adam Scott (Severance), as Ohm Bauman, a Horror author who after seeing the ghost of his mother, travels to the hotel in Ireland his parents honeymooned in to lay their ashes.

At its heart, Hokum is a Folk-Horror story laced with the kind of psychological dread that McCarthy has become known for. Ohm discovers the various superstitions of the hotel staff and locals, overhearing the story of a witch who abducts children. And he is told that the honeymoon suite of the hotel has been locked and is off limits due to it being haunted by the witch who has been trapped inside. McCarthy creates a nuanced main character, and as he decides to investigate the mysteries of the hotel we learn more about his own dark past and familial ties to the area. And as the mystery deepens … so does the Horror. KZ

4. // They Will Kill You

They Will Kill You is the latest popcorn-Horror movie from Russian filmmaker Kirill Sokolov (Why Don’t You Just Die! / No Looking Back). A multi-genre flick what takes in action and dark comedy, and stars Zazie Beetz (Deadpool 2 / Joker) as Asia, an ex-convict who takes a job as a housekeeper in a mysterious New York high rise. Things quickly turn south as Asia is attacked in her room on her first night by a gang of masked Satanists. She soon realises she is trapped, and is the latest in a long line of human sacrifices lured to the building in order to maintain the residents immortality.

But her motive for visiting the Satanic temple may just be linked to the events of her own past. Released the same weekend as the Radio Silence directed Ready or Not 2, and drawing natural comparisons due to its style and tone; They Will Kill You blends dark comedy with over-the-top gore. And the type of martial arts action inspired by Kill Bill (2003) and The Raid (2011). Beetz puts in a decent lead performance, while a fine supporting cast includes the likes of Tom Felton (Harry Potter), Heather Graham (From Hell / Suitable Flesh), and an excellent scenery chewing Patricia Arquette (True Romance / Stigmata). KZ

5. // Wasteman

Two of the finest movies released in the last few decades are prison set dramas. The Shawshank Redemption (1994) and The Green Mile (1999) were American films directed by Frank Darabont and based on stories by Horror-Master Stephen King. But we probably haven’t seen a really great British prison drama since 1979s Scum starring a young Ray Winstone … until now! Because Wasteman – from director Cal McMau – is truly excellent. A bold, gritty, provocative, and highly realistic take on modern life behind bars in England, with a superb cast including David Jonsson (Alien: Romulus / The Long Walk), and Tom Blyth (Billy The Kid).

Taylor (Jonsson) is a prison cook and barber to various inmates who has been banged up for thirteen years. He learns that due to overcrowding in the prison system, he will be eligible for an early release so long as he keeps his head down and stays out of trouble. Seems easy; that is until he is assigned a psychotic new drug-dealing cell mate; Dee (Blyth). Although Taylor and Dee somewhat become friends, Taylor soon finds himself in the middle of a violent drug war between Dee and the current dealers on the wing he has muscled in on. And as the violence begins to spiral out of control, Taylor is faced with the reality that staying out of trouble so he can be released and reunite with his estranged teenage son, is going to be no easy feat. KZ

6. // The Mandalorian and Grogu

It’s been seven years since we last saw a new Star Wars film land in the cinema. Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker completed a disjointed sequel trilogy, one which failed to ignite the spark lit by either the original vintage films, or the prequel trilogy of the late 90s / early 2000s. Instead, the modern Disney owned Star Wars franchise has focused on producing televised content for its Disney+ streaming service. The shows it’s produced have been somewhat of a mixed bag, but highlights have included the excellent and gritty Andor, as well as the first couple of seasons of The Mandalorian. And it is The Mandalorian and Grogu which spearheads a new assault on the big screen from Disney.

An unexpected choice when the film was announced, but one which may just work in its favour as the series moves into a new age. The Mandalorian and Grogu continues the adventures of the famed bounty hunter and his little green sidekick, as they navigate the time period following the fall of the Empire in the largely lawless years following The Return of the Jedi. Mando hunts former imperial officers, and finds himself embroiled in a scheming plot involving the son of Jabba The Hut and his villainous family. The movie is fast paced, with a multitude of absorbing locations and a host of colourful characters and monsters. It provides a solid action packed standalone adventure … which should appeal to Star Wars fans of all ages. KZ

Words by Mark T. Bates

Check out our Horror short story series:

‘The Curious Dark (Vol. 1)’

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‘The Curious Dark (Vol.1)’ – By Mark T. Bates