February horror movie picks: Studio 666, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Cosmic Dawn, Hellbender

As we ease into the coldest month of the year, this is the perfect time to catch up on movies, either at home or on the big screen (if you feel safe doing so). While the noisiest February releases may be tailored towards Valentine’s Day-appropriate rom-coms (don’t miss our Marry Me review!) there are a number of exciting new horror films debuting on streaming and in theatres this month.

This month’s releases include the grand return of Leatherface in a new Texas Chainsaw Massacre film (hitting Netflix on February 18), the Foo Fighters come face-to-face with a demonic possession in Studio 666 (in theaters February 25), a woman gets lured into a mysterious UFO cult in Cosmic Dawn (on VOD February 11), and a young woman embraces her inner magical powers in Hellbender, and more.

Check out our horror picks for February 2022 below. What are you checking out this month? Let us know in the comments below!

Cosmic Dawn (On VOD February 11)

Here’s one for the edibles crowd. Directed by Jefferson Moneo, Cosmic Dawn is a sci-fi/horror hybrid about a young woman (Camille Rowe) who believes she witnessed her mother being abducted by aliens when she was a child. Years later, she falls in with the group The Cosmic Dawn, a UFO cult led by the mysterious Elyse (Antonia Zegers). But is Elyse only telling her followers what they want to hear, or does The Cosmic Dawn truly have a connection to the extraterrestrial encounters that have affected the members of the small but devout group? With the film’s dreamlike pacing and pulsing electronic score (courtesy of MGMT), Cosmic Dawn is a film of big ideas that never loses sight of the human drama at its center. It may bite off more than it can chew, but this is a ride to the cosmos worth taking.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre (On Netflix February 18)

Leatherface has fueled up the ol’ chainsaw one more time for Texas Chainsaw Massacre, the first Chainsaw film in five years. The latest film injects some youthful vitality into the mix when a group of young friends disturbs Leatherface’s peace and quiet after 50 years (we’re on Team Leatherface on this one). Based on a story from Fede Álvarez (Don’t Breathe), Texas Chainsaw Massacre looks like an attempt to modernize a character that dates back half a century, without sacrificing the terror that made Tobe Hooper’s original 1974 film such a revelation.

Hellbender (On Shudder February 24)

The Adams Family acts, writes, directs, produces, and even scores their films, creating singular works completely outside of the traditional studio ecosystem. Following 2019’s chilling The Deeper You Dig, Hellbender is their most accomplished film yet, a gripping coming-of-age tale imbued with folk horror that features a riveting lead performance from Zelda Adams. Read our interview with the Adams Family on how their unique filmmaking process works and how Hellbender came together here.

Studio 666 (In theaters February 25)

The Foo Fighters continue their quest to conquer all media with the upcoming Studio 666, a full-on horror film that looks like an unholy cross between The Evil Dead and VH1’s Behind the Music. Based on a story from Dave Grohl, the film revolves around a rock band (played by the Foo Fighters) who decamp to a mansion to record their new album, only to discover that a demonic presence has taken control of Grohl. Based on the wild new red band trailer, Studio 666 looks like a blood-soaked midnight movie filled with enough nods to real rock n’ roll mythology to make horror fans and Foo Fighters diehards alike bang their heads with satanic joy.