9 new (and new-ish) horror movies you can stream on HBO Max
- Carla Davis
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
It seems like HBO Max knows the cure for this year’s already hot summer: Watching horror movies in the comfy AC. If you are like me, and just want to (literally) chill out this summer, there is plenty of horror content to keep us couch-bound.
Let’s talk about some of the newer horror that is available to stream on HBO Max right now.
The Bride – Maggie Gyllenhaal’s re-imagining of the Bride of Frankenstein story takes us back to 1930s Chicago, when a scientist (played by the sublime Annette Benning) is approached by Frankenstein’s monster. He asks her to create a companion for him, after which he and his new “bride” go on a crime spree.
Bring Her Back – One of my favorite horror movies from 2025 is both a heart-wrenching exploration of grief and loss, and a horrifying possession tale. The Philippou brothers have crafted an engaging story that manages to make us sympathize with a manipulative woman (expertly played by Sally Hawkins) who just wants her dead daughter back.
Companion – Iris is a young woman in love with her boyfriend Josh, and the two seem to have a great relationship on the surface. But during a vacation trip with some friends, Iris discovers that she is not actually real, and Josh has paid for a “companion” robot.
HBO Max knows that horror can also be fun, as in Dust Bunny
Dust Bunny – Written and directed by Hannibal’s Bryan Fuller, Dust Bunny is an action-packed fantasy/action/horror mashup featuring great performances by Mads Mikkelsen and young Sophie Sloan. Aurora (Sloan) contacts a hit man (Mikkelsen) to help her get rid of the monster that lives under her bed. Spoiler alert: the monster is real.
Heretic – Two young women who are Mormon missionaries knock on the wrong door, where they encounter Mr. Reed. The two are soon involved in a nightmarish scenario, as they are forced to make their way through a maze-like basement.
The Substance – An aging star (Demi Moore) is devastated after being fired from her long-running exercise show. When she is involved in a car crash, a nurse at the hospital slips her a flash drive, which introduces her to “the substance”, which promises to bring about a younger version of herself. Things don’t go well.
They Will Kill You – This action-filled comedy/horror is an absolute blast, one of my favorite film experiences of the year so far. Zazie Beets is Asia, a woman who sets out to find her sister after being released from prison. She tracks her to a hotel called The Virgil, which is, as it turns out, inhabited by a Satan worshipping cult. Lots of fighting and blood ensue.
Undertone – Let me just say that I absolutely LOVED this film…and it genuinely gave me the full body chills during the final ten minutes. Evy is caring for her comatose mother, and co-hosts a podcast with her friend Justin. The two discuss supernatural events, and Justin is sent ten audio files, which the two listen to while recording their podcast. The sound files are said to have been recorded by a couple named Mike and Jessa, and some of the files consist of Jessa talking in her sleep. The files become progressively more disturbing, and Evy’s mental state goes downhill quickly.
Weapons – Zach Creggar’s follow-up to Barbarian is this brilliant WTF film, which follows the aftermath of the disappearance of 17 third graders, all students of Justine Gandy. When the town becomes suspicious of her, Justine is placed on leave, and begins to drink heavily. We are given the same story from several different vantage points, and that’s all I want to say for the benefit of anyone who hasn’t watched Weapons yet. It is best experienced with as little explanation as possible.