20 Most Anticipated Upcoming Horror Movies

19. Annihilation

Alex Garland - a screenwriter with some horror kudos to his name, thanks to 28 Days Later - takes the helm on this adaptation of Jeff VanderMeer's dark science fiction novel, with an impressive, largely female cast.

Black Swan Oscar-winner Natalie Portman takes the lead as a biologist who joins an expedition with three other women (Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson and Gina Rodriguez) into a mysterious wilderness region, where previous explorers have either failed to come out alive, or have emerged in some way traumatised or critically ill: the latest such poor soul being the biologist's husband (Oscar Isaac).

Garland's directorial debut Ex Machina proved him to be a filmmaker worth keeping an eye on, and the trailer suggests something strange, atmospheric and nightmarish; and the strength of the cast certainly inspires confidence.

Release: 23 February.