Horror has been a space to explore fear, suspense, and the unknown for decades. Yet much of the modern genre has leaned on familiar patterns and easy jump scares. Recently, though, filmmakers began pushing boundaries, experimenting with storytelling, style, and subject matter in ways that felt fresh and urgent.

Ralph Fiennes believes these bold efforts have revitalized horror. The genre’s survival, he argues, now depends on films that are brave enough to challenge expectations and take risks.

Ralph Fiennes, who plays Dr. Ian Kelson in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, believes bold new horror films are giving the genre new life. In an interview with Discussing Films, the actor pointed to movies like Sinners and his own as examples of horror being taken to fresh places.

“You have to keep reinventing and discovering and putting new elements and devices into the horror genre, otherwise everyone gets it—we are quick to smell the cliché,” he said, highlighting why innovation is key to keeping horror exciting.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple hits theaters today, January 16, 2026. Directed by Nia DaCosta and written by Alex Garland, the film stars Alfie Williams, Jack O’Connell, Erin Kellyman, and Chi Lewis-Parry alongside Fiennes in a story that pushes survivors into darker, stranger threats than ever before.

The movie expands on the Rage Virus world with intense performances, chilling visuals, and unexpected twists, building on the franchise’s legacy. Alternatively, taking a look at Sinners’ success amid Ralph Fiennes’ commentary becomes essential.

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The Michael B. Jordan starrer hit theaters early last year, dominating the box office and becoming one of the biggest post-COVID horror hits.

Michael B. Jordan’s Sinners was a major commercial hit, earning $279.9 million in the US and $88.3 million internationally, for a $368.3 million worldwide total on a $90–100 million budget. Directed by Ryan Coogler, who was in disbelief following the film’s success, it featured Jordan in a dual role as twin brothers who return to their Mississippi hometown in the 1930s, only to confront a violent, supernatural force. With a strong supporting cast including Hailee Steinfeld and Delroy Lindo, the film was praised for its story, atmosphere, and fresh approach.

Together, Sinners and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple point to a genre finding its footing again by refusing to play it safe. As audiences continue to respond to risk-taking stories and filmmakers push horror into new emotional and creative territory, the appetite for something different only grows stronger.

Whether through large-scale franchise entries or original hits like the Ryan Coogler film, horror’s future looks less defined by formula and more by ambition. If this momentum continues, the genre may once again become one of cinema’s most daring and exciting spaces.

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Do you agree with Ralph Fiennes’ statement on horror revival? Let us know in the comments below.