June’s Journey into Terror: Top Picks on Watchlist

Get ready to mark your calendars! June is set to be an epic month for horror movie releases. 

From evil to the edgy, paranoid to paranormal, you find something to satisfy your horror fix. 

No matter if you’re drawn in by classic horror scares or hoping for a new, chilling romp, this summer is poised to deliver a terrifying, filmatic thrill ride.

Let’s delve into these films and find out why June looks like a summer of screams. 

Here’s a list of horror films I’ll likely see and why. 

The Boogeyman (June 2 – Theaters)

Based on a Stephen King short story, The Boogeyman is about high school student Sadie and her younger sister Sawyer who are dealing with the recent death of their mother. Their depressed father, Will, a therapist, is so depressed from his wife’s death that he’s unable to function, even for the sake of his girls.

If that isn’t bad enough, one of Dad’s patients unexpectedly shows up at their home – and it gets worse – this patient unleashes an evil entity that feeds off of the family’s misery. 

The Boogeyman sounds like a horrifying combination of psychological and supernatural horror that explores the fallout of a family in the depths of despair. 

It’s likely to be an excellent film simply because it was not scheduled for a theatrical debut. According to a Gizmodo article, it was slated for a streaming release on Hulu. But positive test screenings led it to be released on the big screen, a choice that only amplifies the anticipation surrounding this film. 

Not only that, it’s directed by Rob Savage, who led the 2020 horror film Host, one of that year’s best, in my opinion, and it’s been brought to life by the writing team Scott Beck, Bryan Woods, and Mark Heyman.

This horror film could be the summer’s best. 

Brooklyn 45 (June 9 – Shudder)

The title doesn’t sound like a horror film, but Brooklyn 45, brought to us by horror streaming platform, Shudder, is a supernatural thriller set in a Brooklyn brownstone at the end of World War II. 

According to the trailer, four friends come together to comfort another friend, who is dealing with the grief of his wife’s recent suicide, just six weeks ago, so of course, somebody suggests they hold a séance where a supernatural presence emerges and won’t let them leave the room. 

It purported to be a slow-burning horror film that instills fear during a gritty time in American history – the 1940s. We don’t see many horror films set in this time or space, which already sets this film apart. 

But that’s not the only interesting part of this film. Inverse reports that the film’s director Ted Geoghegan wrote the screenplay with his father, an air force veteran who has since passed away. The pair likely penned a film that captured the historical nature of the time that most of us can never truly understand.

Horror Fuel reports it’s coming to Shudder on June 9.

Jagged Mind (June 15 – Hulu)

A new horror film from director Kelley Kali, Jagged Mind, produced by 20th Digital Studio and Hulu Originals, streams exclusively on Hulu starting June 15, according to Variety Magazine

The story revolves around Billie, a woman plagued by inexplicable blackouts and bizarre visions. She soon comes to believe she’s trapped in a series of time loops that begin after she meets her new, mysterious girlfriend.

With a unique and compelling plot and interesting characters, Jagged Mind may stand out among this year’s horror summer offerings. 

The Blackening (June 16 – Theaters) 

So, mark your calendars and ready yourself for an unusual Juneteenth weekend with The Blackening. 

If you like horror and comedy, this film is for you. Director Tim Story, known for his work in Think Like A Man and Barbershop, brings us The Blackening, where, according to the trailer, a group of Black friends reunites for a Juneteenth weekend getaway, but their happy vacation takes a wrong turn when they find themselves in the crosshairs of a sadistic killer in a remote cabin, who insists they play a deadly game together. 

So if you like horror, comedy, or both, this film looks like it will in equal measure amuse, horrify and make us think as this group of friends fight for survival in a game they never expected to play.

Unwelcome (June 23 – Shudder)

This horror tale follows Maya and Jamie, a couple looking to get away from the hustle of city life. Little did they know, they were trading one nightmare for another.

Saying goodbye to urban chaos, the couple finds themselves enraptured with the beauty of the Irish countryside, but it doesn’t last long as they soon realize there’s a disturbing presence lurking in the ancient forest that borders their newfound home.

Unwelcome juxtaposes the serenity of rural life with sheer terror, turning an idyllic retreat into a chilling fight for survival. Maya and Jamie uncover a horrifying truth that in their idyllic Garden of Eden hides monstrous predators. Staying alive against the evil I the forest forms the crux of this terrifying story.

Based on the trailer, the film warns against disturbing that which is better left undisturbed and that sometimes evil lurk even in some of the most beautiful of places.

Run Rabbit Run (June 28 – Netflix)

Directed by Daina Reid, Run Rabbit Run closes the month on a high note, bringing a fresh twist about the creepy kid horror trope. 

 According to the trailer, divorced mom Sarah, a fertility treatment doctor, notices her 7-year-old daughter, Mia, is exhibiting some disturbing behavior. She claims she’s Sarah’s dead sister, Alice, who also died at seven years old – and that is never good. 

Run Rabbit Run is a 2023 Australian psychological horror film that first greeted audiences at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, according to USA Today. 

It stars Sarah Snook, known for her time-bending role in HBO’s Succession, alongside Lily LaTorre, Damon Herriman and Greta Scacchi. 

Based on the trailer, I have a strong suspicion of where this story will go, so I’m interested in seeing if I’m right. We’ll see. 

Final Thoughts

June promises to be a thrilling month for horror fanatics. The spectrum of fear explored in this month’s releases is broad and wonderfully diverse, keeping the adrenaline high and the nerves on edge. 

From the disturbing story set up in The Boogeyman to the creepy kid terror of Run Rabbit Run, there’s a plate of horror for everyone.

I find myself particularly drawn to the quiet, atmospheric terror of Brooklyn 45, but I’m partial to seances, so maybe that’s why.

Yet, I’m equally excited to see the unnerving depiction of childhood fear in The Boogeyman. Childhood fears never die as they are deeply embedded in our minds, always waiting to be resurrected, so it’s interesting to see how filmmakers bring these out.

There’s much to look forward to this June – a plate of terror and a side of suspense just waiting to be devoured. 

Let me know what interests you most, seeing as I’d like to hear from other horror-philes.