Summers always give birth to fun and creative horror stories. 2025 brings a mixture of lighthearted comedy/thrillers, an iconic sequel and more intense psychological and haunting horrors. But summer’s still here for a little longer so follow along for more upcoming trending titles!

1. “I Know What You Did Last Summer” – Directed by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson

Directed by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson and co-written with Sam Lansky, the anticipated sequel released in theatres in July 2025, continuing the 30-year-old franchise. 

The original stars, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr., return as Julie James and Ray Bronson for a legacy sequel, or “legacyquel”, while adding new stars Madelyn Cline, Chase Sui and Sarah Pidgeon. This new instalment honours the original while bringing in fresh energy, humour, and more intense kills. 

Critics praised the mix of slasher scares with self-aware parody and dark humour, while reviews emphasized the film’s humour and strong chemistry among the cast. Set in a coastal town, the film follows four young women who are connected by a shared secret and overwhelming guilt. This time, the killer is not just seeking revenge.

2. “F*** Marry Kill” – Directed by Laura Murphy

This movie about dating with a killer twist, was released in March 2025 and has already established itself as one of the freshest comedy/thrillers of the year.

Laura Murphy directs Lucy Hale as a young woman trying to find a new love. But of course, she realises that one of her loves might be a serial killer. True-crime enthusiast Eva Vaughn is pushed into the crazy idea of online dating by her besties on her 30th birthday, and she soon finds herself in a murder case. As she hears new details of the murders being uncovered on her favourite podcast, she realises one of the three men she is dating is possibly the infamous “Swipe Right Killer”, who has been wreaking havoc and terror on the city.

3. “By Design” – Directed by Amanda Kramer

Amanda Kramer directs “By Design”, which puts a spin on the body-swap genre. The movie stars Juliette Lewis, Mamoudou Athie, and Samantha Mathis, wrapped in a story that presents a fresh perspective on identity and change and explores the complexity of daily life. 

The movie takes an unexpected turn when Camille switches bodies with a chair. In her new form, she faces jealousy; while people admire a piece of furniture, they ignore her human body. This dreamlike adventure combines Lynch-style fades and jokes, setting a pace that’s all Kramer. 

4. “Inconceivable” – Directed by Lauren Black

In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, 38-year-old college professor Sydney Drake has only one goal: to have a baby. She’ll stop at nothing to make this happen. Her path crosses with a student who has no idea what’s coming when they’re pulled into Drake’s wild journey to get pregnant. 

But there’s a twist – a secret from decades ago connects their lives, a secret that could ruin everything for both of them. Written by Lauren Black and based on her own experience of becoming a mother in her 40s, the thriller challenges misconceptions about female fertility and women’s “biological clock.”

5. “I Live Here Now, directed by Julie Pacino 

In the surreal landscape of “I Live Here Now”, struggling actress Rose (Lucy Fry) finds her life upended by unexpected news. She’s suddenly forced to confront a future she never thought possible, just as a major career opportunity with top agent Cindy Abrams (Cara Seymour) comes into view. Things spiral further when her casual boyfriend, Travis (Matt Rife) brings his overbearing mother (Sheryl Lee) into the fold, pushing Rose to the brink. 

She flees to The Crown Inn, a crumbling motel at the edge of nowhere, where time fractures and reality bends. Haunted by sleep paralysis, splintered memories, and eerie motel dwellers, especially the enigmatic Lillian (Madeline Brewer), Rose begins to unravel. To move forward, she must confront the buried truth of her past that her body has never forgotten.

”I Live Here Now” is Pacino’s debut feature, and she does it with a bang.