Horror Movie Review: New Fears Eve (2025)

Do you know what we really don’t have enough of? It is, of course, New Years themed horror films. In fact, it’s one of the more underrepresented themes with only the likes of New Year’s Evil and Bloody New Year standing out as some of the more famous titles.

So few and far between are New Years horrors, that I’ve all but given up writing fresh reviews for films based around the celebratory time of the year and then along comes P.J. Starks to warm my blackened heart with New Fears Eve. A New Years slasher horror with a comedic edge and one hell of high body count.

Written and directed by P.J. Starks (co-directing with Eric Huskisson), New Fears Eve is a violent, bloody, sometimes silly, but mostly entertaining flick that stars Felissa Rose, Dave Sheridan, Hannah Fierman, Lily Claire Harvey, Turner Vaughn, Jeffrey Reddick, Roni Jonah, Matthew Tichenor, Jason Crowe, Mason Roberts, Sonya Delormier, and Emily McAnulty.

The story surrounds a killer. One given the nickname of ‘The Doctor’ because of the plague mask the person wears and the surgical precision and intensity of their kills. In fact, we get to see just how dangerous this killer is at the start as the film sets a bloody, practical effects focused, bar quite high.

Not only has the killer’s rampage terrorised the town of Owensboro, but the authorities are having a nightmare trying to catch the person. Especially as who the killer targets seems to be random. Which is unlucky for a group of workers and friends ‘enjoying’ their mandatory New Years party thrown by their douchebag boss as they all become the killer’s next target.

Why? That’s a good question and it’s not one that the film really tries to answer. Whereas you might expect the film to follow conventional slasher rules, and it does to some degree, it often delights in upending expectations. Even if that isn’t always the most satisfying result.

It’s not about the destination though, right? It’s about the journey and this is a journey slick with blood and guts. Whatever problems New Fears Eve’s story has, which extends to some of the characters and acting, it makes up for with kills. You won’t remember tons about the film, but you will remember each and every time The Doctor makes a house call. Especially as the direction wants us to experience the visceral nature up close where we can revel in an impressive array of practical effects.

I was entertained, and while New Years isn’t the focal point (how could it be?), the event is incorporated well enough to make this a new favourite. Not just for me, but for many others who enjoy their New Years festivities to come drenched in blood.