The last episode of the year for Grave Tone didn’t waste any time getting to the good stuff: the horror films that stuck with us, surprised us, gutted us emotionally, and maybe even had us laughing inappropriately.
Meaghan and Arthur took a look back at the horror movies released in 2025, narrowing down their top 10 picks from the 50 or so they managed to watch throughout the year. That includes everything from big studio releases to indie darlings and obscure gems they stumbled across at film festivals like Fantasia.
What makes this roundup even better? They hadn’t shared their lists with each other beforehand. So everything was a surprise, which, let’s be honest, adds the kind of chaos horror fans live for.
The Struggle of Ranking Horror
Let’s get real: ranking horror movies is hard. Arthur banged his list out in about 20 minutes. Meaghan, on the other hand, labored over hers for days. And we get it. Once you hit a certain number of great films, it’s not about what’s “better”, it’s about what stuck with you. What made you think, what made you feel, and what you can’t stop recommending to friends?
They both agreed that even 25 picks wouldn’t feel like enough, so each brought along a few honorable mentions to round things out. But first, they jumped into their personal top 10 countdowns, without spoilers, thankfully, just solid reasons why each film earned a spot.
10 to 6: Surprises, Sequels, and Killer Monkeys
The countdown started with a few unexpected entries.
Meaghans #10
For Meaghan, number 10 was Together, a late-in-the-year watch that landed because of the character dynamics and standout performance by DeFranco.
Arthur’s #10
Arthur chose The Monkey, a Stephen King adaptation that he found hilarious, thrilling, and a personal redemption for years of bad King adaptations.
Meaghan’s #9
At number nine, Meaghan picked The Black Phone 2, which she didn’t expect to like at all. But it surprised her with emotional depth and clever writing.
Arthur’s #9
Arthur picked Good Boy, a festival favorite starring a literal good boy, yes, a dog, that melted his heart and turned his expectations upside down.
Meaghan’s #8
By number eight, Meaghan leaned into her love for twisted fairy tales with The Ugly Stepsister, a dark Norwegian spin on the Cinderella story.
Arthur’s #8
Arthur highlighted Borderline, praising Ray Nicholson’s acting so hard that he demanded an Oscar for the guy. The themes of obsession and stalking were pulled off with just the right amount of unhinged intensity.
Meaghan’s #7
Meaghan’s number seven was Influencers, a sequel to Influencer, and a sharp satire about red pill culture and social media gone wrong. She loved its balance of clever commentary and psychological thrills.
Arthur’s #7
Arthur’s pick was Frankenstein, Guillermo del Toro’s latest, which he described as a stunning technical achievement even if the story itself was familiar territory.
Meaghan’s & Arthur’s #6
Both hosts landed on Bring Her Back somewhere in their top six. The film’s emotional weight and moral complexity stuck with them long after the credits rolled. It was a horror film that hit hard, not just in scares but in the feels.
Arthur’s #6
And we can’t forget Hold the Fort, Arthur’s number six, which he and Meaghan agreed was one of the funniest horror-comedies of the year. This was the one with the crazy HOA neighborhood defending itself from an annual supernatural invasion. A cult classic in the making.
5 to 2: Heavyweights and Emotional Gut Punches
As we got into the top five, the emotional stakes ramped up. Meaghan’s number five was Frankenstein, which she called a dark fairy tale and a visual feast.
Arthur’s #5
Arthur doubled down on Predator: Badlands, praising its lore-building and departure from typical Predator tropes.
Meaghan’s #4
Sinners, a vampire epic with killer music and layered cultural commentary, landed at number four for Meaghan.
Arthur’s #4
For Arthur, that spot went to Bring Her Back, confirming how deeply that one resonated.
Meaghan’s #3
When it came to number three, Meaghan chose Dust Bunny, Brian Fuller’s beautifully bizarre tale of a girl hiring a hitman to kill the monster under her bed. It was equal parts horror, dark comedy, and fantasy, and featured standout performances from Mads Mikkelsen and Sigourney Weaver.
Arthur’s #3
Arthur, meanwhile, went with Weapons, a much-hyped film that he felt lived up to it. He was blown away by the structure, the narrative twists, and the promise of a prequel about the unforgettable Aunt Gladys.
Meaghan’s #2
At number two, Meaghan named Good Boy, raving again about how much heart the film had despite being told from a dog’s point of view.
Arthur’s #2
Arthur’s runner-up was Sinners, which nearly clinched the top spot thanks to its emotional depth and cinematic scope.
Number One: No Contest
Both Meaghan and Arthur agreed that the best horror film of 2025 was, without a doubt, The Long Walk.
They both sat stunned after seeing it in theaters. It’s a deeply emotional and philosophical horror story that left them reeling. Arthur noted how rarely he gets that affected during a film, and Meaghan agreed; the film’s message, execution, and performances were unforgettable.
Based on a Stephen King novel written when he was just a teenager, the film adaptation made some changes, especially in the ending, but those changes only enhanced it. It’s not a horror film you throw on for a quick thrill. It’s a slow, thoughtful burn that sticks to your ribs.
They couldn’t believe how little attention it’s gotten from major awards circuits despite its 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and strong critical reviews. It was a shared frustration: horror continues to be underappreciated by the mainstream. But The Long Walk? That’s the kind of film that makes all of us horror fans proud to be in the genre.
Honorable Mentions and Final Thoughts
Both Meaghan and Arthur had plenty of honorable mentions. Arthur shouted out:
- Terrestrial – A genre-bending dark comedy with sci-fi and horror vibes.
- Shelby Oaks – A found footage slow-burn that improved on rewatch.
- The Toxic Avenger – Just plain fun and gory.
- Dangerous Animals – A surprise standout with great performances.
Meaghan added:
Weapons – Just missed her top 10 but is still highly regarded.
- Companion – A clever AI horror-thriller.
- It Ends – More sci-fi than horror, but thoughtful and eerie.
- Bone Lake – A fun, relationship-focused horror trip.
- Witchboard – A supernatural reboot she’d love to rewatch.
- Pitfall – A solid survival horror indie from director James Connelly.
And both hosts agreed on how exciting it is to be part of the horror community. As fans, podcasters, and critics, they feel lucky to be connecting with people who love this stuff as much as they do.
They’re pumped for what’s coming in 2026, and they’ve got big plans to expand their reach; interviews, collaborations, reviews, and all.
Until then, they’re signing off for the year, but not before telling us all to “stay scared and stay tuned.”