January is kicking the new year off as strong as you could hope for with a handful of theatrical releases from some of the genre’s most exciting directors. Both Oz Perkins (The Blackcoat’s Daughter) and Nicolas Pesce (The Eyes of My Mother) have new films out this month, so you won’t see any complaining from me. Pesce, who has two wonderfully twisted films under his belt already, is taking on The Grudge franchise—I’m curious (and excited) to see how much of his indie talents carry over into a big studio project like this one. Oz Perkins, also with two directed films to his name, has shown that he can do slow-burning terror as good as anyone in horror, so I can’t wait to see his take on the Gretel & Hansel fable. There’s even more than that to look forward too, though, so dig into January’s releases below!
January 3
The Grudge (Theaters)
Director: Nicolas Pesce
Cast: Tara Westwood, Junko Bailey, David Lawrence Brown
A house is cursed by a vengeful ghost that dooms those who enter it with a violent death.
January 10
Underwater (Theaters)
Director: William Eubank
Cast: Kristen Stewart, T.J. Miller, Jessica Henwick
A crew of aquatic researchers work to get to safety after an earthquake devastates their subterranean laboratory. But the crew has more than the ocean seabed to fear.
The Sonata (VOD)
Director: Andrew Desmond
Cast: Freya Tingley, Simon Abkarian, James Faulkner
A young violinist unravels her long lost father’s past, triggering dark forces that reach beyond her imagination.
January 24
The Turning (Theaters)
Director: Floria Sigismondi
Cast: Mackenzie Davis, Finn Wolfhard, Brooklynn Prince
A young governess is hired by a man who has become responsible for his young nephew and niece after the deaths of their parents. A modern take on Henry James’ novella “The Turn of the Screw”.
January 31
Gretel & Hansel (Theaters)
Director: Oz Perkins
Cast: Sophia Lillis, Alice Krige, Jessica De Gouw
A long time ago in a distant fairy tale countryside, a young girl leads her little brother into a dark wood in desperate search of food and work, only to stumble upon a nexus of terrifying evil.
January Highlights
themissingreel.com 
Mackenzie Davis and horror? Yes please. Stunning in Always Shine.
Underwater…Leviathan anyone? Can’t wait.
Gretel & Hansel. LOVED Blackcoat’s Daughter (or whatever name it goes by now). Can’t wait.
I know Grudge has some pretty bad reviews – but wow, The Eyes Of My Mother was an extraordinary tale. Will be watching Grudge without prejudice.
Yeah, I’ll watch Davis in just about anything. She’s fantastic in Always Shine! Definitely a lot of good stuff this month from some exciting directors!