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The best streaming services have added plenty of new movies in May, including some huge horror hits.
Considering we've got a stacked lineup in cinemas this month, including new releases like Backrooms and Obsession, horror fans are eating very well this month.
But if you'd prefer to get your frights at home instead, you won't be missing out, as I've found some great titles that you can watch on demand. Here are my seven top horror picks arriving across streaming services this May…
Article continues belowHeresy
When: May 1
Where: Shudder, AMC+ (US, UK)
Heresy is the directorial debut of Didier Konings, a concept artist who's worked on Stranger Things, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and Doctor Strange. Here, he's at the helm of a new folk horror, and I'm interested to see how he handles the popular sub-genre.
The movie follows a young woman who finds herself caught between her faith, fanatical townsfolk, and the dark forces that are lurking in the woods. It's a familiar setup, but one that can be very effective.
Scary Movie 5
When: May 1
Where: Paramount+ (US); rent or buy (UK, AU)
It's been 13 years since the last Scary Movie. With a new addition to the comedy-horror franchise arriving in June, why not watch the most recent one in May?
Admittedly, it is the worst-rated one of the franchise, but it does have its defenders. It also spoofs some great movies like the Paranormal Activity franchise, Mama, Sinister, Evil Dead, Inception, Black Swan and Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
Jennifer’s Body
When: May 1
Where: Netflix (US); Disney+ (UK, AU)
Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried star in this iconic horror comedy, which follows a demonically possessed high-schooler with an appetite for human flesh — said humans being her male classmates.
In recent years, Jennifer's Body has become a cult favorite, especially amongst women, and it's easy to see why, thanks to the strong central performances. It also has a great pop / punk soundtrack, and an enviable wardrobe. I'm definitely on board with the Jennifer's Body's resurgence era.
Insidious: The Last Key
When: May 1
Where: HBO Max (US); Netflix (UK); rent or buy (AU)
With Insidious: Out of the Further heading our way in August, now is the perfect time to watch The Last Key. Since horror timelines do get confusing, I should explain that this one is the fourth in the franchise but the second chronologically.
The movie follows parapsychologist Elise Rainier as she investigates a haunting in her childhood home. It's filled with plenty of tension and jumps, as we've come to expect from the long-running horror series.
We Bury The Dead
When: May 8
Where: Disney+ (US); rent or buy (UK, AU)
We Bury The Dead follows Daisy Ridley as a woman who takes on grief, and the undead, in Tasmania. Yes, it's another zombie movie, but this one does seem to offer something different from what we're used to.
As Ridley's character enters a quarantine zone to search for her missing husband, she discovers that the undead are growing more violent and more dangerous — a far cry from the propaganda which claims they're harmless.
Black Phone 2
When: May 16
Where: Netflix (US); rent or buy (AU)
Black Phone 2 is the anticipated follow-up to the 2021 movie, set four years after Finney Blake killed The Grabber. But the horrors aren't over, as The Grabber's ghostly presence now haunts the camp that Finney and his friends visit over winter.
What was meant to be an investigation into The Grabber's crimes ends up bringing Finney back into his clutches again, and the story definitely has echoes of Friday the 13th, what with the whole camp vibe. Definitely worth a go if you enjoyed The Black Phone, as much of the cast reprise their roles here.
This Is Not a Test
When: May 22
Where: Shudder, AMC+(worldwide)
Finally, This Is Not a Test is the second zombie movie on this month's round-up, but has different vibes to We Bury The Dead. Based on the book of the same name, it's a very intense watch,
The story follows Sloane Price, a suicidal and abused teen girl. She's reluctantly surviving alongside a group of other damaged teenagers in the aftermath of an apocalypse, and recalling the mental torment she suffered at the hands of her father. Despite the bleakness of the plot, there's hope at the heart of it, as we examine what humans will do to stay alive.
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