August is overflowing with haunted places, cursed bloodlines and monsters that thrive in the shadows of the past. From folk horror and apocalyptic nightmares to slasher, supernatural romance and gothic mysteries, this month’s releases prove that some secrets refuse to stay buried — and some horrors are only just waking up.
The Unknown by Riley Sager
When an actress travels to a remote island to research a film about a century-old disappearance, the island’s deadly history begins repeating itself. As cast members vanish one by one, she must unravel the truth behind a haunted séance and a decades-old mystery before she becomes the next to disappear.
Small Town Slasher by Stephanie Rose
A disabled horror superfan heads to a slasher-themed vacation rental hoping to conquer her anxiety—only to find herself trapped in a real-life killing spree tied to the town’s blood-soaked past. Packed with meta horror references and brutal twists, this love letter to slasher proves that surviving the movie is much harder than watching one.
Them by W.H. Chizmar
After a catastrophic government experiment unleashes an otherworldly horror that brings civilization to its knees, a lone survivor treks through the shattered remnants of New England searching for hope — and anyone still human. Blending post-apocalyptic dread with relentless creature horror, this is a grim journey into a world where humanity is no longer at the top of the food chain.
Dreamland by Olivie Blake
When an aspiring actress is drawn into the glamorous, secretive world of Hollywood’s most powerful family, ambition and desire lure her toward an ancient curse lurking behind the mansion gates. As murders mount across Los Angeles, she must decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice to make her dreams come true.
Devil Inside by Clay McLeod Chapman
After surviving a near-fatal accident, a man falls for a mysterious woman who seems to change faces as easily as identities, drawing him into a romance haunted by possession, obsession, and the supernatural. Blending horror and heartbreak, this dark love story asks just how much of yourself you’re willing to surrender for happily ever after.
Stay Buried by Jennifer McMahon
Spanning a century, this haunting folk horror follows two generations drawn back to an isolated Vermont town where superstition, grief, and an ancient evil have shaped the community for decades. As long-buried family secrets come to light, they must uncover the truth behind a mysterious illness and a mother’s dead before history claims them, too.
Tapeworm by A.P. Thayer
When a group of friends reunites for a weekend getaway in a remote California desert, they discover an ancient hunger lurking beneath the town — one that feeds on desire, repression, and fractured relationships. Blending vampire horror with visceral body horror, this unsettling debut explores the monstrous cost of finally giving in to what you’ve always wanted.
The Calamities by Chuck Wendig
Born into a dynasty of half-human, half-demon elites who build their power by buying human souls, a reluctant heir must choose between embracing his family’s monstrous legacy or helping dismantle it. Blending dark fantasy with supernatural horror, this epic tale explores power, identity, and whether redemption is possible for those born into evil.
And the Sea Gave Up the Dead by William Friend
When a woman returns to her family’s decaying seaside chateau after her aunt’s desperate plea for help, she uncovers a legacy of shifting rooms, vanished loved ones, and ancient sea legends that refuse to stay buried. As the house’s hunger turns toward her children, she must confront the truth behind her family’s past before it claims another generation.
