Hollywood is ringing in the summer, and for fans of genre cinema, the menu looks as rich and bloody as ever. The surprise? While some major franchises are making their anticipated return, May 2026 is dominated by original works.
New filmmakers, fresh concepts, and a fierce willingness to reinvent terror on the big screen are all on display. Let’s take a look at the wave of freshness (and terror) coming to Quebec in the weeks ahead.
Deep Water | May 1
Finnish director Renny Harlin, known for the cult classic “Deep Blue Sea,” returns with a survival thriller set in the Pacific Ocean. The story centers around a commercial flight crash and the survivors’ struggle to escape the wreckage while fending off a frenzy of sharks.
Hokum | May 1
The independent studio NEON releases the new film from Irish director Damian McCarthy, a psychological thriller featuring Adam Scott as a reclusive novelist haunted by local folklore in an Irish inn.
At the Place of Ghosts | May 8
Canadian filmmaker L’nu Bretten Hannam offers a supernatural thriller deeply rooted in Mi’kmaq culture, following two brothers confronting a malevolent spirit in a primordial forest.
Mortal Kombat II | May 8 (BONUS)
The highly anticipated sequel to the video game franchise adaptation promises to deliver the brutal action and famous fatalities that fans love, as Johnny Cage and other fighters battle to overthrow the tyrant Shao Kahn.
Obsession | May 15
A young man’s desperate attempt to win his crush’s heart through a mysterious artifact takes a dark turn in this horror film promising a visually cruel narrative.
Corporate Retreat | May 22
This horror-comedy follows young executives at a team-building retreat that spirals into a deadly survival game led by a sadistic host.
Passenger | May 22
A Norwegian director’s tense thriller introduces a young couple pursued by a demonic stalker after witnessing a fatal accident during their van life adventure.
Backrooms | May 29
A24 and producer James Wan bring the internet phenomenon of the Backrooms to life, exploring a terrifying labyrinthine dimension accessed through a strange door in a furniture store basement.
(Source: Horreur Québec)
