As a genre, horror shines brightest when it approaches a story on many levels, delivering both scares and a thematic throughline. Written and directed by Alex Goyette, approaches the niche in this very manner, with the final product being a thought-provoking dissection of terror.

Twisting the mundane into the obscene has long been fertile ground for the horror genre. Attempting to do just that, Buddy takes childhood nostalgia and attempts to bend it to its breaking point. Directed by Casper Kelly and co-written with Jamie King, this film offers a thoroughly enjoyable experience that is, unfortunately, sometimes disappointing due to its restrained approach to horror.

Style can carry a film far, but without substance beneath it, you will never get a well-rounded experience. Written by Simon Barrett and directed by Adam Wingard, Onslaught is a movie that chooses spectacle over story. Visually stunning and always interesting, most viewers will still find it to be too ordinary for its own good.

While some films offer an expansive narrative, others choose a simple premise in an effort to explore their characters. It Ends, a movie from writer/director Alexander Ullom, picks the latter. A beautiful journey of humanity, this is a great film for those able to connect to its enchanting existential atmosphere.

In a world where many films appear identical, it is incredibly refreshing to witness a release that cares little for the “rules” of cinema and unabashedly delivers a strange yet satisfying movie. Written and directed by Simon Glassman, Buffet Infinity is the perfect example of this, as it conveys a narrative that most viewers will never have experienced before.