Content note: This article includes plot details and discusses films containing substance use, eating disorders, suicide, sexual violence and graphic violence.
The spooky season is upon us once again, and nothing captures the spirit of this time of year quite like getting cozy on the couch, grabbing a big bowl of popcorn, and settling in for a good horror movie.
Horror movies have no shortage of ways to scare us, from monsters and ghosts to animals and the walking dead. They prey on our fear of the unknown and the things we cannot control. But beyond these supernatural frights, some horror films explore something far more real: addiction. The fear, obsession, and loss of control at the heart of these stories are things many of us have experienced in our own lives. When addiction collides with supernatural horror, the result is a disturbing combination of real-world suffering and otherworldly terror—a reminder that sometimes the most frightening horrors are the ones we carry within ourselves.
Last year, I put together a list of my top horror movies of 2025. This year, I decided to take a different approach. Rather than ranking the best films of the year, I want to explore horror movies that blend otherworldly frights with the all-too-real terror of addiction. Some of these films are recent releases, while others have been around for years, but they all explore the unsettling intersection of supernatural horror and the struggles of addiction.
The Shining (1980): An alcoholic father struggling to maintain his sobriety takes a job as the winter caretaker of a remote hotel, bringing his family along with him. But the hotel is haunted, and as its dark forces begin to prey on his alcoholism, he slowly descends into madness, eventually turning against the very people he is meant to protect. The hotel wants his family dead, their spirits destined to join the others trapped within its walls. Widely regarded as one of the greatest haunted-house films of all time, The Shining is a must-see for horror fans and a chilling portrayal of addiction, isolation, and the terrifying loss of control.
MOVIE NIGHT WITH THE SOBER CURATOR SOBEES SCORE: 5 out of 5 Sobees
Doctor Sleep (2019): A sequel to The Shining, Doctor Sleep follows the son, now grown up, as he struggles with the same alcoholism that consumed his father. After attending an AA meeting, he begins to turn his life around and commits to a path of recovery. As he embraces sobriety, he reconnects with the supernatural abilities he has long buried, just in time to help a young girl who possesses similar powers and is being hunted by a group of psychic vampires. Doctor Sleep offers a compelling look at how recovery can help us reclaim the strength we thought we had lost and discover a renewed sense of purpose in our lives.
MOVIE NIGHT WITH THE SOBER CURATOR SOBEES SCORE: 4.5 out of 5 Sobees
Obsession (2026): A man purchases a special item from a store that grants him a single wish, which he uses to make the woman of his dreams love him more than anyone else. But his desire soon spirals into an all-consuming obsession, blurring the line between love and control as his wish takes a terrifying turn. Obsession explores extreme codependency and the destructive effects it can have on both people in a relationship when love becomes an unhealthy need to possess and control another person. (3.5 Sobees)
MOVIE NIGHT WITH THE SOBER CURATOR SOBEES SCORE: 3.5 out of 5 Sobees
Saccharine (2026): A woman struggling with an eating disorder searches for any way to lose weight and is introduced to a miracle cure in the form of a single pill. But when she discovers what the pill contains, she decides to create her own version, setting off a series of horrifying events. As she battles her relationship with food and the ghosts that begin to haunt her, her life twists further and further out of control, blurring the line between physical and psychological horror.
MOVIE NIGHT WITH THE SOBER CURATOR SOBEES SCORE: 3 out of 5 Sobees
Smile 2 (2024): A pop star in recovery following a car accident that claimed the life of her significant other finds herself haunted by a sinister, smiling entity after visiting a friend one night. As the terrifying encounters become more frequent, her life begins to spiral out of control, leading those around her to question her sobriety rather than believe what she is experiencing. Her struggle to maintain her recovery becomes even more difficult as she fights to convince others that something far more sinister is at work. I found this sequel to be even better than the original, and you don’t need to watch the first movie to enjoy this one. (4 Sobees)
MOVIE NIGHT WITH THE SOBER CURATOR SOBEES SCORE: 4 out of 5 Sobees
Bug (2006): An alcoholic, drug-addicted waitress becomes entangled with a paranoid Gulf War veteran who is convinced their motel room is infested with bugs as part of a government experiment. As their relationship swirls deeper into paranoia and substance abuse, the film explores the terrifying interplay between addiction and mental illness, showing how each can feed the other and push people further into chaos. By the time the credits roll, you may find yourself itching and checking your own skin. (3.5 Sobees)
MOVIE NIGHT WITH THE SOBER CURATOR SOBEES SCORE: 3.5 out of 5 Sobees
Backrooms (2026): A lonely alcoholic discovers a sprawling network of mysterious rooms hidden behind the basement wall of his store, seeking solace in a place that grows increasingly unsettling with every visit. Creepy, eerie, and utterly unique, this film explores how addiction can drive a person deeper into isolation, making solitude feel safer and more comfortable than the world beyond it. It’s a haunting portrayal of how easily we can retreat from life when we’re struggling to face it. Without a doubt, one of the best horror movies to come out this year . (4.5 Sobees)
MOVIE NIGHT WITH THE SOBER CURATOR SOBEES SCORE: 4.5 out of 5 Sobees
Hellraiser (1987): Pleasure. The insatiable pursuit of it lies at the heart of many addictions, driving people to seek increasingly extreme ways to satisfy their desires. In Hellraiser, that search for the ultimate pleasure leads a man to a mysterious puzzle box that opens a gateway to a world where pleasure and pain become indistinguishable. What awaits him is a group of demonic beings who offer unimaginable sensations through unspeakable torture, dragging him into a living nightmare. But once trapped in their hellish world, he becomes desperate to escape, no matter how many lives he must destroy along the way. With its gruesome practical effects and wince-inducing scenes of torture, Hellraiser delivers a uniquely disturbing take on the dangers of pursuing pleasure without limits. And if you enjoy the film, there’s even a Hellraiser game released this month that lets you descend into hell yourself as you fight to save another soul.
MOVIE NIGHT WITH THE SOBER CURATOR SOBEES SCORE: 5 out of 5 Sobees
Requiem for a Dream (2000): Although it isn’t a traditional horror film, Requiem for a Dream captures the horrors of addiction in a way few movies can. Following the lives of a couple, one of their mothers, and their friend, the film explores addiction in its many forms, from drugs and pills to the destructive pursuit of weight loss. It reveals how addiction can take hold of anyone, sometimes through substances society condemns and other times through medications prescribed by doctors. What makes this film so disturbing is how painfully real it all feels as we watch each character’s life slowly unravel. I remember seeing it in theaters and walking out with a gut-wrenching feeling, unsure of what to think or how to process what I had just witnessed. It’s the kind of film that stays with you long after the credits roll.
MOVIE NIGHT WITH THE SOBER CURATOR SOBEES SCORE: 5 out of 5 Sobees
Raw (2016): A lifelong vegetarian begins her first year at veterinary school, where a hazing ritual forces her to eat raw meat for the first time. What begins as an unpleasant experience awakens a disturbing craving that quickly spirals out of control, eventually leading her to develop a taste for human flesh. As she struggles to resist her growing urges, she finds herself caught between the person she has always been and the darker impulses taking over her life. Raw is a visceral exploration of addiction, desire, and what happens when our cravings become stronger than our ability to control them.
MOVIE NIGHT WITH THE SOBER CURATOR SOBEES SCORE: 3 out of 5 Sobees
These are just a few of the movies that came to mind while putting this list together, each exploring addiction and horror in its own unique way. And there are plenty more out there. I didn’t even include the countless vampire and zombie movies that could be viewed through the lens of addiction, with their insatiable cravings for blood or flesh. That’s part of what makes horror so fascinating—there are so many different ways to explore fear, obsession, and compulsion. What are some of your favorite movies that connect addiction and horror that didn’t make the list? I’d love to hear your suggestions!
MOVIE NIGHT WITH THE SOBER CURATOR: 2025 – The Best Year of Horror?
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