2025's First Horror Movie Release Debuts With Very Strong Rotten Tomatoes Score

The first horror movie of 2025 has been released in theaters, and it is debuting to a strong Rotten Tomatoes score. 2024 was a good year for horror movies, with A Quiet Place: Day One, Smile 2, and Alien: Romulus leading the way with critical acclaim and box office success. Each turned a profit by thrilling audiences and using strong word-of-mouth to draw viewers to theaters. Notably, every one of these releases was also related to a pre-existing franchise. That happened to track with other genre trends, as the rest of the box office faced similar sequel and prequel success.

As Hollywood prepares for 2025, box office expectations could change. The lingering effects of the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes should be behind the industry. Depending on the impact of streaming services and pandemic-related disdain for theaters, theatrical success could continue to be restrained to event movies. Still, the success of horror movies indicates that audiences still have a taste for some quality original theatrical releases. One new horror movie could be preparing to capture that success.

The Damned’s Rotten Tomatoes Scores Are Exceptional

The Strong Reviews Should Draw Notice

The first horror movie of 2025, The Damned, has earned an exceptional response from critics. An international movie, it stars Odessa Young (A Million Little Pieces) as Eva, a widow looking after her late husband’s fishing site. After coming across a shipwrecked crew, Eva and her own workers kill the hateful sailors and are swiftly haunted by their former enemies. At nearly an hour and 30 minutes, this short horror movie tackles psychological terror and severe moral questions.

Some praise the writing and acting, while others argue that the pace was simply too slow to remain entertaining.

In tackling these serious topics, the movie has achieved renown. On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the movie secured an 86% Tomatometer score. The audiences have been somewhat less favorable. While there have not been enough reviews from general audiences, their individual responses indicate a divisive release. Some praise the writing and acting, while others argue that the pace was simply too slow to remain entertaining. Most do reflect on the beauty of the setting and the skilled cinematography.

Our Take On The Damned’s Rotten Tomatoes Score

This Is A Great Sign For Horror In 2025

Having seen such positive responses from critics, The Damned should join the ranks of Longlegs and Alien: Romulus as a successful release with immense respect from professional reviewers. There is a risk of failure, of course. Original properties have struggled at the box office in recent years, and this movie does not have the name recognition that Nicolas Cage afforded Longlegs. Fortunately, good word-of-mouth could help the movie secure a strong run. While Nosferatu remains strong competition, success is a distinct possibility, especially when it heads to streaming someday.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes