Best Horror of July 2026: ‘Evil Dead Burn,’ Nicolas Winding Refn Returns, a Bloodthirsty Pinocchio and More

Marquee Madness

Evil Dead Burn (In theaters July 10 via Warner Bros. Pictures) — The stomach-churning franchise returns with another blood-soaked installment, as a family reunion gets grim when everyone starts turning into Deadites. “Infested” director Sébastien Vaniček helms this chapter, and early footage looks appropriately wild and, dare we say, groovy? 
 
Her Private Hell (In theaters July 24 via Neon) — After focusing on television for nearly a decade, Nicolas Winding Refn returns with his first feature since 2016’s “The Neon Demon.” Sophie Thatcher, Charles Melton, Kristine Froseth and Havana Rose Liu star in the futuristic serial killer tale, which received plenty of hate in mixed-negative reviews at its Cannes debut. But is there anything more exciting than a divisive movie from an audacious auteur?

Off the Beaten Path

Thingy (Debuting on Screambox on July 21) — This mysterious Screambox original is part of a Joe Swanberg package the streamer acquired, which makes it an intriguing blind watch. 
 
Pinocchio Unstrung (In theaters July 24 via Viva Pictures) — The fifth movie in the Twisted Childhood Universe looks a bit more promising than the previous killer “Winnie-the-Pooh” films that Rhys Frake-Waterfield helmed, but is that enough? Unfortunately, the franchise — which also includes twisted stories about Peter Pan and Bambi — hasn’t pushed absurd concepts far enough, and the films devolve into cheapo slashers. But maybe having the participation of horror icons like Robert Englund and Richard Brake in “Unstrung” will amp things up?
 
Nightborn (Debuting on Shudder on July 31) — This parenting nightmare stars Seidi Haarla and “Harry Potter” alum Rupert Grint as new parents who begin to think something is terribly wrong with their baby. Any more details spoil the spooky mystery, which is directed by “Hatching” helmer Hanna Bergholm. 

Killer Series

Human Vapor (Now streaming on Netflix) — The first season of this high-concept thriller is about the pursuit of a serial killer who can turn into a gaseous form and explode people. Gnarly! From there, there’s a secret society and cops in pursuit, as well as crazy gore. 

Bloodcurdling Books

Frightening Festivals

Fantasia Film Festival (July 16-August 2 in Montreal) — The massive genre festival has many intriguing world premieres, including Corrin Evans’ “Corpus,” The Adams Family’s latest film “The Glorious Dead” and Nick Taylor’s documentary “Rubberhead: The Life & Monsters of Steve Johnson.”