Vanessa Maki’s Favorites of 2025

The end of the year has finally approached, and there was no shortage of horror media that knocked everyone’s socks off. We saw original horror, horror sequels, the return of franchises, and more. Personally, I haven’t seen everything that came out this year, nor have I seen all the popular releases. Though, from what I have been able to see, there’s much to discuss as to which films or shows will be contenders for the top of 2025.

However, we’re not here to talk about what the wider horror world thinks. We’re here to dive into my favorites, folks. Instead of focusing on major releases, I’m going in a different direction. This time around, my list will focus on my favorite indie horror films from this year. Try not to wag your fingers if you don’t see a specific film on this list (it’s possible I haven’t seen the film or show they’re in).

Big kudos to all the films I decided to include, and keep in mind that these don’t all have perfect scores from me. They are the indie horror films that I’ve been able to watch this year that I most enjoyed one way or another. 

Film: The Ugly Stepsister

Director:  Emilie Blichfeldt

Flipping the tale of Cinderella on its head and making it a satirical body horror film is actually a genius move. The Ugly Stepsister follows Elvira (Lea Myren), who is actively trying to compete against her stepsister, but her efforts come at a cost to her own body. The film has a lot of comedic beats, but it also focuses on beauty standards and other concepts that are continuously relevant that many of us appreciate. It’s an ambitious film in terms of how gross it is, and how committed it is to making its audience uncomfortable. And that’s part of why it deserves to be mentioned.

Film: Don’t Peek

Director: Kyle Tague

Influencers being thrust into a perilous situation is occasionally entertaining. Don’t Peek follows a married couple who makes the grave mistake of continuing to live in the former home of a serial killer. There’s a lot of unease throughout this found footage film, and the characters make so many mistakes when they know they’re in danger. Don’t Peek makes you wonder what’s going to happen next while subverting your expectations. As a lover of found footage films, something about it really works for me.

Film: Dangerous Animals

Director: Sean Byrne

A very human serial killer is something we’ve been needing to see again in horror. Dangerous Animals follows a woman who ends up thrust into a bad situation when she’s kidnapped by a shark-obsessed serial killer. Jai Courtney's commitment to playing the unhinged Tucker is great, Zephyr (Hassie Harrison) is a fantastic final girl, and there are more than a few great sequences. This is one of those films that reminds horror fans that regular humans are just as deadly, if not more. Overall, it’s a horror film that certainly deserved the hype this year.

Film: It Needs Eyes

Director: Zack Ogle and Aaron Pagniano 

Queer horror has always been here, but it’s refreshing when these stories are given to us from queer filmmakers. It Needs Eyes follows Rowan (Raquel Lebish), who moves to live with her aunt and soon becomes tangled up with internet videos that lead her down a strange path. This one features an authentic queer romance, adds to the digital horror canon, and Raquel Lebish delivers in her performance as Rowan. The film is noticeably indie, but there’s nothing wrong with that inherently. All in all, It Needs Eyes is a gem with an ambiguous ending and a lot of charm.

Film: Takeout

Director: Jem Garrard

Single location horror films don’t always get as much shine, and that needs to change. Takeout follows workers at a diner who start to suspect that one of their customers is a wanted serial killer.  One aspect of this that’s very different from usual is the fact that the main character is a Black woman, and thus adds to the Black final girl list. You get enough twists that it’s not a dull watch, and there are also some gruesome kills for such a small budget. Plus, it’s a Tubi horror film that once again proves they aren’t all bad. 

Film: V/H/S/Halloween

Directors: Bryan M. Ferguson, Casper Kelly, Micheline Pitt-Norman, R.H. Norman, Alex Ross Perry, Paco Plaza, and Anna Zlokovic

The V/H/S franchise is still going strong, and this entry has a fair amount to appreciate. V/H/S/Halloween doesn’t have a strict plot, instead focusing on separate segments set on Halloween. Each segment has something different to offer, but you’ll surely find something that you'll enjoy. It might not be the most perfect entry in the entire franchise, though several of the segments are entertaining, and there’s more than enough creepiness and practical effects that’ll have your skin crawling. 

Film: Affection

Director: BT Meza

If you ever doubted Jessica Rothe’s horror chops, Affection reminds us how great she is in the genre. Affection follows a woman who is experiencing intense memory loss, but she has no idea what’s really going on. There are a lot of themes going on in this film, and without spoiling, it’s an intense watch once everything unfolds. Rothe’s performance is so committed, especially her physical performance throughout the film. Leave your expectations at the door, as this might not be what you think.

Film: Influencers

Director: Kurtis David Harder

Horror sequels sometimes dial things up more than the original film, and this is one of those cases. Influencers follows CW (Cassandra Naud), who is living in France with her girlfriend, but their anniversary trip slowly becomes a disaster when an influencer begins to ruin their plans. There are a fair amount of twists and turns in this film, a lot of chaotic moments, and it’s quite queer on top of it all. Influencers is absolutely worth any hype it has received, and it takes things up a notch from the first film, especially with its smaller budget. 

Film: The Serpent’s Skin

Director: Alice Maio Mackay

The ambitious and still quite young Alice Maio Mackay is back with another very queer and trans horror film, folks. The Serpent’s Skin follows Anna, a trans woman with supernatural abilities who moves to start a new life in the city with her sister, and finds herself becoming drawn to a tattoo artist who has powers like her. The film has a lower budget and a lot of charm because of Mackay’s commitment to being authentic. There’s a lot of chemistry between the two leads, and that’s a noteworthy thing because nothing feels forced between their characters. Overall, this is one of those queer indie horror films that will feel like a warm bath, and it’s certainly deserving of a spot on my list.


Film: Queens of the Dead

Director:  Tina Romero

Unapologetically queer horror is very much needed in this timeline, let me tell you. Queens of the Dead follows a group of drag queens, club workers, and other folks who are forced to survive together in a zombie apocalypse. Tina Romero takes clear influence from her father, the late George A. Romero, but she does craft her own style in this very glittery and queer film. The humor is fun, we have a few standouts in terms of the cast, and it bears a lot of similarities to the Tubi Original Slay. It’s not the most perfect film, and there are things you could nitpick, but it’s such a good time and that’s partially why it made the cut.

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