Jay Creepy’s Top 5 Horror Films of 2025
At the end of 2024, I put up my top 5 flicks of the year on Facebook and Instagram (the only two social media platforms I tolerate and understand) they were Longlegs, Terrifier 3, Pater Noster and the Mission of Light, Alien: Romulus, and Exorcist: Believer. Yeah, I acknowledged that the Exorcist one was actually a 2023 movie, but I saw it in 2024, so I included it anyhow. The latter did get a lot of hate at the time of its release, but I really liked the fact it tried something different and, far as I’m concerned, it worked.
Anyhow, this time ‘round, for a bit of lighthearted fun, I figured I’d put my top 5 of 2025 on Severed Cinema because other sites do it so why not? I’m not trying to be a snob, controversial or whatever, I’m simply a 51-year-old rabid horror hound that has been obsessed with the genre since the age of 7-8. My decades of choice have usually been the ‘70s and ‘80s, so it’s a true honest pleasure to do something like this about modern horrors as many feel (including me) that the world of terror, horror, and gore have been making a wonderful comeback these last couple of years with so many original ideas escaping the gates running.
So, let’s see, which film hit me and floored me with the force of a sledgehammer this year? Damn, it must be Sinners. This one made it into my top 13 of all time, so it got right under my skin. I read and hear that the positives in reviews worldwide outweigh the negatives which generally state it’s too long and boring, not original, and so on.
Sinners is a slow burner that allows you into the characters, even the supposed bad guys. By the end you totally sympathise with the supposed lead bad and his reasons. The additional mid-credit scene solidifies something you guess all along (see, I’m trying my best not to spoil anything) When the shit hits the fan, the action, gore and thrills are plentiful, just be patient.
Sinners has a marvellous soundtrack, and the film simply oozes depth and atmosphere. In fact, my youngest son, Kane, after we all viewed it, summed it up perfectly, “That was true cinema!” Michael B. Jordan, Jack O’ Connell, and Miles Caton were my trio of shining stars of the year, I don’t care what anyone says. Simply sublime.
Megan 2.0 took me totally by surprise. I enjoyed the first entry for its believable horror concept which reminded me of an updated ‘70s computer on a rampage warning film. So, with the sequel, rather than go the same route, it hits the accelerator with a ton of action and an over-the-top story. Brilliant.
To hell with anyone who disagrees with me adding Final Destination: Bloodlines (see my review, Tony Todd’s Last Whisper in Final Destination: Bloodlines – A Fitting Farewell to a Horror)! Some folks take horror too seriously, y’know. This one is for sheer fun bloody ridiculous entertainment. I laughed so much in the cinema and again whilst watching it on DVD. It attempts something refreshing and new to add to the ongoing and renewed saga. Did it work? Yes. Was it over-the-top and stretching its own laws? Probably. Could I watch it a third time? Definitely, and I will. The late legendary Tony Todd had a beautiful and eye watering send off, which honestly puts icing on the cake plus finally reveals who his character is.
Rob Ceus’s Cement (see Cement: The Final Brick in the Wall’ Review – A Psychotic Love Story Drenched in Blood and Metal) was his long promised masterpiece and it delivers shovels loads of crimson stuff, violence, sleaze, madness, and death metal into your hungry faces. This is like the ultimate killer couple movie. I’ll leave you all to check my review to read up on it. It should be out on DVD, etcetera, next year some time, but meanwhile just dream of how insane this one is, and guess what? You’ll be right. Pushes the envelope into a cesspool of shit.
Last but absolutely not least has to be Weapons. Oh my lord, talk about unpredictable. I went in expecting maybe two causes for what was happening and received neither. The concept is old school and original at the same time. A simple effective pure horror for these modern days. Well acted, and using a similar story run as Pulp Fiction, it achieves more than many films released in the last few years.
Near misses — Together and Lilith.
Biggest let downs — 28 Years Later. It was a waste of potential good characters, predictable and tedious. The infamous ending didn’t bother me as it did so many because I’d given up by then. Great Bone Temple design though. The Conjuring: Last Rites — I’m a big fan of the others (not so much the splinter side projects) but this was unfortunately a quiet little whimper to end the series. Had this occurred mid way, would have been cool, as a finale, not so cool. The Birdwatcher (The Birdwatcher Review: When Birdwatching Turns to Bloodshed) is not even worth mentioning mainly due to the director, Balraj (aka Blarg) Khan and his attitude to so many people. He’s burnt so many bridges in the UK and abroad now! Fuck him!
I still need to watch The Monkey, The Long Walk, Clown in a Cornfield, The Ugly Stepsister, and Predator: Badlands. One of ’em will probably cheekily slide into my top 5 of 2026.
