The official trailer for “Passenger” (2026) was released to the public last week. People all across the internet were raving about how excited they were for a “good” horror movie release, which is slated for May. What makes a horror movie good? And why have fans awarded “Passenger” this title after seeing only its trailer?
On the surface, what makes a horror movie arguably good is how clever it can be about scaring you. Sure, a horror movie can have a good plot and aesthetically pleasing shots, but if you don’t spill your popcorn a little, is it worth it? Horror is a unique genre where its most important quality, its fear factor, is intertwined in almost every component of the film itself. A sad movie can not make you cry and still be a good movie, but a horror movie must scare you to keep its title.
“Passenger” has given horror fans what they’ve been missing: that popcorn-spill moment. Since horror has been a fairly popular genre, fans have learned when to prepare themselves for a big scare. The camera holds on a frame too long, the music swells and something loud and scary pops on screen. “Passenger” seems to play with that sound cue that audiences are used to waiting for. When you remove the music swelling from a scene, audiences sense when something is going to pop out, but they won’t know exactly when to brace themselves.
I think horror movies have been missing the mark lately because of the role films play in society. For many audiences, films act as forms of escapism, and with all of the scary stuff going on in the world today, no one wants to make a horror film that could just be the news.
The plot of “Passenger” seems to be obscure enough to set itself apart from other possession-based films, while still maintaining relatability to audiences. It follows a couple on a road trip who witness an accident that binds them to a negative energy. While not everyone in the theater may be about to embark on a cross-country road trip with their partner, they will probably be in a car or in the dark, and will be hauntingly reminded of the film when they do either. “Passenger” appears to be doing a good job at making the audience relate to what they’re watching, in turn making them feel unsafe and scared.
Although “Passenger” is not in theaters until May, the trailer is terrifying. I can’t give my official ranking, but I can say that I haven’t jumped at a trailer like this in a long time, and that’s a good sign. “Passenger,” don’t disappoint me.
