“Temple of Bones,” “Obsession,” and “Hokum”: Five Famous Publications Pick the Best Horror Films of the Year

JustWatch, Tom’s Guide, MEGA, Creepy Catalog and Variety have published their own selections of the best horror films of 2026. The lists include sequels to famous franchises, psychological horrors, thrillers and stories about the supernatural.

The films most often mentioned in various lists are “28 Years Later: Temple of Bones”, “Obsession”, “Hokum” and “Help!”. At the same time, each publication has formed its own selection, so the list of films and their positions differ.

JustWatch

There are 10 films in the JustWatch selection . First place went to “Obsession” – a story about a young man whose desire to win a girl’s heart turns into dangerous consequences.

1. “Obsession.” A young man uses a mysterious object to fulfill his desire to win a girl’s heart. However, the fulfillment of his dream sets off a chain of dangerous events and turns a romantic infatuation into horror.
2. “Backrooms.” A furniture store owner discovers a strange space that defies the usual laws of reality, then disappears. His therapist tries to find her husband, but finds herself trapped in a mysterious maze.
3. “Infirmary.” The plot is presented in the format of found footage from chest cameras and surveillance systems. They document a security guard’s first night in an abandoned hospital, where a mysterious intruder appears and unexplained events occur.
4. “Whistle.” A group of teenagers discover an Aztec death whistle. After one of them blows it, the characters become targets of a supernatural force linked to their impending doom.
5. “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.” A young Spike is recruited by Jimmy Crystal’s gang, who are terrorizing the survivors of the rage virus that has spread across the world. Meanwhile, Dr. Kelson studies the infected, hoping to find a way to better understand the disease.
6. “Primate.” A group of people’s vacation turns into a struggle for survival due to the dangerous behavior of a chimpanzee. The film uses the situation of an isolated location to develop tension around the threat from the animal.
7. “Frankie, Maniac Woman.” Frankie Ramirez strives to build a music career, but faces humiliation because of her appearance and obstacles in the industry. Gradually, psychological pressure turns her story into a bloody horror with elements of black comedy.
8. “Undertone.” A paranormal podcast host receives audio recordings of strange events. She begins to notice disturbing parallels between the recordings and her own life, and the sound becomes a major source of tension.
9. “Hokum.” Writer Om Bauman travels to a remote Irish hotel to scatter his parents’ ashes. There, he learns of a legend of a witch who supposedly resides in one of the rooms, and gradually encounters unexplained phenomena.
10. Pinocchio: Unstrung. In this horror version of the famous fairy tale, a wooden puppet becomes an independent being who tries to protect his new human friend. The story reimagines familiar characters in a dark way, combining fairy tale motifs with slasher elements.

Tom’s Guide

Tom’s Guide ranked “28 Years Later: Temple of Bones” in first place – a continuation of the post-apocalyptic story about the world after the spread of the rabies virus.

1. “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.” The sequel explores life after the spread of the Rage Virus and the dangers posed not only by the infected but also by other people. Separate storylines between Spike and Dr. Kelson reveal different ways to survive in this world.
2. “Obsession”. A young man seeks reciprocity from a girl and uses a mysterious method to fulfill his desire. But when his desire becomes reality, the consequences turn out to be much more terrible than he expected.
3. “Hokum.” A writer travels to an Irish hotel connected to his parents’ story. A local legend of a witch forces him to question his own perception of reality.
4. “Send Help!” (Send Help). After a plane crash, a manager and his subordinate find themselves on a tropical island with no way to quickly return to civilization. Former work roles are reversed, and the struggle for survival exacerbates the conflict between them.
5. “Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma.” A young director takes on the task of rebooting a slasher franchise that has lost popularity after numerous sequels. She tries to convince the former star of the first film to return to the role, but the acquaintance develops into a strange psychological story.

MEGA

The film “28 Years Later: Temple of Bones” also took first place on the MEGA list . Second place went to the film “Help!”.

1. “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.” Spike is drawn into Jimmy Crystal’s brutal group, while Dr. Kelson continues to investigate the infected. Both storylines take place in a world where survival depends not only on fighting the virus, but also on meeting other people.
2. “Send Help!” (Send Help). Two colleagues survive a plane crash and find themselves on a deserted island. The lack of rescue forces them to cooperate, but the struggle for control and mutual distrust complicate the situation.
3. “Hokum.” A writer arrives at a remote hotel in Ireland to fulfill a family’s last will. Tales of a witch who supposedly haunts guests gradually turn his stay into a terrifying adventure.
4. “Obsession”. The hero wants to win the love of a girl and resorts to an unusual way to make his wish come true. However, events take a dark turn when he realizes the cost of his decision.
5. “Backrooms.” A shop owner finds a space that seems endless and devoid of familiar landmarks. Trying to figure out what happened leads him and his therapist into a dangerous maze.
6. “Leviticus.” Two teenagers are targeted by a supernatural being who takes on the form of a person they have strong feelings for. They must flee their pursuer and find a way to escape.
7. Resident Evil: The new franchise story follows a courier who finds himself at the center of a cataclysmic event as he struggles to survive as the world around him becomes increasingly dangerous.
8. “Hope.” A mysterious creature appears in a Korean village and wreaks havoc. A policeman, a policewoman, and a group of hunters team up to track it down and stop the threat.

Creepy Catalog

Creepy Catalog ranked “Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma” in first place.

1. Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma. The director takes on the reboot of the slasher series and seeks to bring back the actress from the original film. Their interaction goes beyond the usual professional collaboration and takes on a surreal character.
2. “It Ends.” A group of friends on a nighttime hike accidentally turns onto a seemingly endless forest road. The ordinary journey turns into an existential horror as the characters can’t find a way out.
3. “Obsession.” A young man tries to fulfill his desire to be with a girl he likes. However, interfering in someone else’s feelings has dangerous consequences.
4. “Send Help!” (Send Help). After a plane crash, two colleagues are left alone on an island. They have to adapt to new conditions, and their personal conflicts become an additional obstacle to rescue.
5. Leviticus. Two teenagers try to escape from an entity that takes on the form of a human to whom they each feel attracted. The film combines supernatural threat with a story of relationships and the fear of persecution.
6. “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.” In a world ravaged by the Rage Virus, Spike faces a brutal group while Dr. Kelson investigates an infected person. The sequel focuses on the dangers posed by both the infected and the humans.
7. “Hokum.” A writer arrives at a hotel in Ireland and hears a legend about a witch living in the honeymoon suite. The events that follow force him to confront unexplained phenomena and his own fears.
8. “We Bury the Dead.” After a military disaster, the dead begin to come back to life. A woman named Ava joins the search, hoping to find her missing husband, but must enter a dangerous zone.

Variety

Variety presented a separate selection of 5 films. In first place was “Other Mommy”.

1. “Other Mommy.” A young girl encounters a mysterious presence that resembles her mother. Over time, this being begins to pose a threat to the child and her family.
2. 2. Whalefall. Diver Jay Gardiner sets out to find his father’s remains, but ends up inside a sperm whale. With limited oxygen, he must find a way to escape before it’s too late.
3. 3. Clayface. Actor Matt Hagen attempts to repair his disfigured face with an experimental substance. The procedure triggers terrifying changes that threaten his appearance and identity.
4. “The Cycle.” After the body of a man who disappeared 36 years ago is discovered, his estranged daughter begins to investigate the family’s dark past. A crime mystery gradually turns into a story with elements of supernatural horror.
5. “Christmas at the Kringles.” The Severson family moves to the suburbs and meets neighbors who celebrate Christmas all year long. When the father of the family learns of their sinister intentions, he tries to protect his loved ones.

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