2025 Must-Watch Horror Films: Five Spine-Chillers + a Gentle Finale with The Return in July 

As summer peaks, many prefer cooling off their nerves with a good scare—watching horror movies that range from eerie hospital corridors and religious taboos to psychological tension and the fear of returning home. In 2025, the Asian and Chinese Must-Watch Horror Films are thriving with diverse new releases, each exploring humanity’s deepest anxieties. Here’s a curated list of five must-see 2025 horror films—plus KTSF’s gentle closing feature, The Return in July, perfect for soothing your psyche afterward. 

2025 Must-Watch Horror Films

1. Wishing You Happiness 

A wedding that turns ominous. A couple about to marry discovers their families uphold an ancient blessing ritual—but the bride switches bodies with a spirit. Director flips joy into terror by contrasting bridal whites and vows with blood-soaked ceremonies, making this more than a haunted tale—it’s a chilling exploration of “happiness worn as a mask.” 

2. Ghost Clinic 

A supernatural hospital thriller. A medical intern notices mysterious midnight patients showing no signs of life—but they died years ago. With empty corridors echoing, machines activating by themselves, and files combusting spontaneously, this film destroys the notion of hospitals as safe havens—subverting medical rationality into sheer horror. 

3. The Dark Priestess 2: Nun of Darkness 

The Korean horror sequel dives into religious exorcism and spiritual warfare. A nun breaks church law to save a possessed girl using forbidden rites. Underground rituals, chaotic prayers, and holy water rituals escalate tension. With faith as a weapon and a threat, this installment tests moral lines and spiritual boundaries—an absolute must for religious horror aficionados. 

4. Werewolf 

This psychological supernatural hybrid follows a man who loses time and wakes stained in blood under the full moon. As he investigates, he uncovers deep trauma and beastly instincts lurking within. With handheld camerawork and reflective imagery, the film probes identity fragmentation and the clash between civilization and savagery in a haunting narrative on self-control. 

5. The Genius Must Return Home 

A literary editor returns home to care for his sick mother—only to find household items moving mysteriously and old photos hiding unfamiliar faces. Haunted by family secrets, this slow-burning film blends psychological thriller with supernatural dread, layering tension through familiar domestic spaces. It is a rare and powerful example of “household horror.” 

KTSF’s Serene Closing Recommendation: The Return in July (2023, Hong Kong) 

Starring Bowie Tsang and Bai Ling, this gentle ghost story explores spirits, family wounds, and return. Bowie Tsang’s character returns to care for his mother in Hong Kong’s public housing—unpacking generational fear and broken intimacy. Lauded as “this year’s gentlest horror,” the film doesn’t rely on jump scares but slowly seeps into your psyche through emotion-filled storytelling and sound design. 

KTSF will re-air The Return in July on Friday, July 4, 8–10 PM. If you seek emotional depth after a scare, this is your must-see nightcap. 

More than a Scare: Horror with Heart 

Horror films aren’t just about the fright—they’re emotional outlets and mirrors to our subconscious. From hospital dread and marital oppression to identity crises and haunted homes, 2025’s best horror movies project human anxieties onto screen—yet the most successful ones still leave a flicker of hope or understanding. 

The Return in July is precisely that—a soothing nightcap in our post-scare era. Its calm narrative and heartfelt moments remind us: after the fear, there’s still space to be heard, understood, and willingly say goodbye. This July, let it escort you home from the darkness.