Horror movies to look forward to in 2017

Seems a long time since we last had a really iconic big screen bogeyman - could this be a contender? Seasoned creature actor Doug Jones takes the title role as a mythic monster with a nasty habit of possessing people and compelling them to commit murder. Naturally, some meddling teenagers cross paths with him. Stacy Title directs, and the supporting cast includes some big hitters in Faye Dunaway and Carrie-Ann Moss. (Picture credit: Entertainment Film Distributors)

After 14 years, the PVC catsuit still fits perfectly. Kate Beckinsale returns as the undead warrior Selene for the fifth instalment in the action-horror franchise following the centuries-spanning feud between the vampires and the lycans. As a new breed of hybrid monsters emerges, Selene herself attains new powers that take her to hitherto unseen heights of badassery. It's the feature debut of director Anna Foerster, and the supporting cast includes Charles Dance and Theo James. (Picture credit: Sony)

Ready to get excited about a new M Night Shyamalan movie again? Seems like it's been forever, but the 'Sixth Sense' writer-director may finally be back on form, as early word on his latest is very positive. James McAvoy stars as a man with multiple personalities who abducts three young women. Already sounds sinister enough, but - this being Shyamalan - we can expect a twist or two. Anya Taylor-Joy, Betty Buckley, Jessica Sula, and Haley Lu Richardson co-star. (Picture credit: Universal)

Yes, another action-horror franchise returns to the big screen - and as the title suggests, this particular saga is reaching its end. Milla Jovovich returns for the sixth and last time as zombie killer extraordinaire Alice, bringing the post-apocalyptic video game adaptation series full circle with a final assault on Raccoon City, where it all began. Writer-director Paul WS Anderson returns once more, along with series regulars Ali Larter, Shawn Roberts and Iain Glen. (Picture credit: Sony)

After 12 years (and 16 months on from its original November 2015 release date), the dreaded Samara returns in 'Rings.' This second sequel to the Hollywood remake of the hugely influential Japanese horror hit is said to delve into the origins of that dreaded VHS tape. F Javier Gutiérrez directs, and the cast includes 'The Big Bang Theory' star Johnny Galecki. (Picture credit: Paramount)

Having already gone down a storm on the 2016 horror festival circuit, director Anna Biller's colourful homage to 1960s romantic melodrama (shot on 35mm film for added authenticity) reaches a wider audience this spring. Samantha Robinson stars as the titular witch Elaine, whose potent love spells wreak havoc on a series of unsuspecting men. (Picture credit: Icon)

Jordan Peele may be best known for his comedy work with Keegan-Michael Key (recent stars of 'Keanu'), but his debut film as writer-director looks to be something far more sinister. British actor Daniel Kaluuya stars as a young black man whose first visit to meet his white girlfriend's parents turns out to be an even scarier experience than expected. Allison Williams, Catherine Keener and Bradley Whitford co-star, and modern horror maestro Jason Blum produces. (Picture credit: Universal)

After several years of directing mega-budget blockbusters ('Pirates of the Caribbean,' 'The Lone Ranger'), Gore Verbinski scales it back with something which looks considerably creepier and weirder. Dane DeHaan stars as a young corporate executive sent out to an exclusive health clinic in the Swiss Alps, but there is a sinister secret behind their 'treatments.' (Picture credit: 20th Century Fox)

Done right, home invasion tales are among the scariest horror movies out there; will the feature debut of director Sean Carter measure up? Bella Thorne stars as a troubled teen forced to fight for her life and that of her family when they come under attack from a trio of masked maniacs. Ioan Grufford, Chandler Riggs ('The Walking Dead') and Leigh Whannell ('Insidious') co-star. (Picture credit: WENN)

"Welcome to a new world of Gods and Monsters…" Intended as the launch pad for Universal's long-planned revival of their classic monster movie universe, this dark fantasy reboot pits Tom Cruise (seemingly resurrected from the dead?) against Sofia Boutella as the mummy of the title, reawakened in the present day and ready to quite literally raise hell. Annabelle Wallis and Russell Crowe co-star. (Picture credit: Universal)

We might debate whether or not this one's strictly speaking horror, but it's the long-awaited big screen adaptation of one of legendary author Stephen King's best-loved tales, so genre fans will still be interested. Idris Elba takes the lead as enigmatic gunslinger Roland Deschain, on a quest to defeat Matthew McConaughey's sinister Man in Black, in a bizarre fantasy crossing time and space which should be set to launch a series. (Picture credit: Sony)

They still can't hear you scream in space - but all being well, the screams should still resonate in the cinema. Legendary director Ridley Scott follows up the divisive 'Prometheus' with a second prequel to his 1979 classic 'Alien,' which sees a new crew arrive at a dark planet where they find Michael Fassbender's android David - but something tells us he's not alone. New cast members include Katherine Waterston and Billy Crudup. (Picture credit: 20th Century Fox)

Another epic Stephen King story comes to the big screen after a lengthy period in development hell. Bill Skarsgård takes the pivotal role of the demonic clown Pennywise (memorably played by Tim Curry in the 1990 TV mini-series), an immortal evil caught in a decades-spanning battle with the children of a sleepy small town. Andrés Muschietti ('Mama') directs. (Picture credit: New Line Cinema)

A good day to die…? This new take on Joel Schumacher's 1990 chiller - which, according to returning star Kiefer Sutherland, is more of a sequel than a remake - will see a new bunch of medical students entering into a series of dangerous experiments involving near death experiences. New cast includes Ellen Page and Nina Dobrev, whilst Niels Arden Oplev (the original 'Girl with the Dragon Tattoo') directs. (Picture credit: Sony)

Take this one with a big pinch of salt at this point, as we've lost count of how many times this film has been rescheduled. The long-awaited follow-up to 2009's reboot of the classic 1980s slasher series has had an astonishingly troubled development period, and whilst a new director is attached in Breck Eisner, there seems no confirmation yet that this will actually be made by October. Fingers crossed, Jason fans! (Picture credit: Paramount)

It seems the game is not quite over. Seven years on from 'Saw: The Final Chapter,' the gore-heavy series is getting a revival, courtesy of directorial duo Michael and Peter Spierig ('Predestination,' 'Daybreakers'). Tobin Bell is expected to return as Jigsaw, but nothing else is known about the film at present. However, we'll go out on a limb and say it's safe to expect a few grisly traps, not to mention that creepy puppet. (Picture credit: Lionsgate)

The supernatural series continues, as Lin Shaye's spirit medium Elise returns for a fourth misadventure in the Further, and word is that this one will delve deeper into the heroine's origins. Series newcomer Adam Robitel directs, whilst new cast members include Josh Stewart, Spencer Locke and Bruce Davison. (Picture credit: Sony)

Originally set to hit screens in January 2015, this long-delayed reboot of the classic haunted house saga opens in the US in January, so hopefully a UK release isn't far behind. Franck Khalfoun ('Maniac') directs, whilst Jennifer Jason Leigh and Bella Thorne ('Keep Watching') star. (Picture credit: Dimension Films/TWC)

'Battle Royale' in an office, anyone? This seems to be the basic premise of this collaboration between writer James Gunn and director Greg McLean (the 'Wolf Creek' movies), which sees the employees of a corporate building trapped inside and ordered to kill one another. Naturally, this promises to be a blackly comedic and brutally violent affair. Cast includes Gunn regulars Michael Rooker and Sean Gunn, and many more. (Picture credit: MGM/Orion)

Anne Hathaway takes the lead in what promises to be a very unconventional take on the giant monster movie, in which a troubled New York alcoholic comes to the shocking realisation that her own emotional problems are somehow connected to a colossal kaiju terrorising Japan. Dan Stevens and Jason Sudekis co-star, whilst Nacho Vigalando writes and directs. (Picture credit: Film & TV House)

Notorious for reports of aghast audience members passing out, this unconventional cannibal tale has been one of the most talked-about and acclaimed horror films on the festival circuit in 2016, and earned a spot on Sight & Sound's best of the year list. It's the debut feature of French writer-director Julia Ducournau. (Picture credit: Wild Bunch)