Blumhouse co-founder Jason Blum kicked off the event by celebrating the diverse range of recent horror hits. "Everybody has a different idea about what’s scary, and that is what I love about horror," Blum stated, emphasizing the studios' commitment to collaborating with filmmakers who consistently surprise audiences. This ethos, he noted, allows them to take more creative risks, a promise that resonated throughout the evening's announcements.
One of the most anticipated reveals was the directorial attachment of Noel to the film adaptation of James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera’s popular comic, Something is Killing the Children. Creator James Tynion IV (referred to as Dickinson in the source, but widely known as Tynion IV) teased the expansive world-building, confirming fan-favorite elements like Octo and protagonist Erica Slaughter's "powerful badass" nature, complete with her bone-dry humor. Tynion also confirmed that, true to its title, the film would feature children dying on screen, a core element he discussed with Blum.
Franchise faithful were treated to the debut trailer for The Exorcist: Martyrs, set for a March 12 release. Director Mike Flanagan and star Chiwetel Ejiofor promised a film unlike any previous entry, aiming to take the franchise in a "completely different direction" while remaining undeniably scary. Flanagan acknowledged the intimidating task of building on such a monumental legacy, citing The Exorcist III as a personal favorite and highlighting the series' history of diverse storytelling approaches.
The 2027 calendar proved to be particularly busy for the horror powerhouses, with a full slate of releases announced, including River (January 15), The Revenge of Llorona (February 26), Anything but Ghosts (May 7), a new Paranormal Activity entry (May 21), The Blair Witch Project (September 24), and Sleepover and Seasons (November 12), alongside an untitled August release.
Several projects received dedicated attention. Violent Night 2 brought stars David Harbour and Kristen Bell (joining as Mrs. Klaus) alongside director Tommy Wirkola. Harbour credited fervent fan demand for the sequel, promising more insight into Santa's backstory. Bell shared insights into her character's "elven history" and intense stunt training, teasing a film that mixes "Miracle on 34th Street with an enormous bloody hammer," drawing inspiration from Home Alone and Die Hard.
Lakeith Stanfield, returning to Blumhouse Atomic Monster after Get Out, discussed his role in Rob Savage's upcoming subterranean horror Molepeople. Savage described it as a film that will "scare the living shit out of you," in the vein of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and The Hills Have Eyes. Stanfield noted his attraction to projects that blend engaging action with social commentary. Producer James Wan also teased Seasons, a new film from Companion director Drew Hancock, based on a "No Sleep" subreddit story and featuring Ron Perlman, set to unfold over four seasons.
Beyond films, the studios revealed a Happy Death Day comic series from IDW Dark, penned by Tim Seeley, designed to expand the slasher's mystery ahead of a potential third movie. Matthew Patrick (MatPat) of YouTube's "Theory" Channels announced a partnership to develop films based on indie games and horror channels, with a feature film adaptation of DreadXP’s Amanda the Adventurer being the first project. Additionally, a RoboCop series is in development for Amazon Prime, with original writer Edward Neumeier and Dan Stevens attached.
Long-running franchises are also getting new life. A new Paranormal Activity entry, directed by Ian Tuason, was a particularly emotional announcement for Jason Blum, who called the original film the genesis of Blumhouse. "I hate the idea that you keep making movies and then drive it into the ground, so we stopped making them for a long time," Blum explained, crediting James Wan's involvement with revitalizing his enthusiasm for the franchise. Dylan Clark is set to helm The Blair Witch Project.
The event also highlighted new talent, with multimedia horror storyteller Heidi Wong securing a development deal for a horror short film inspired by Eastern mythology and folklore, with potential for feature film expansion. Blum underscored the importance of finding "original voices and a fresh point of view" in today's horror landscape.