A 5-minute single-take where the protagonist washes her face, and the mirror reflection slowly smiles differently. 3. Kampanalu (October 2025) – Folk Horror on a Budget Genre: Rural legend / Body horror Where to watch: Prime Video (Telugu with subs)
A team of three YouTubers investigates a haunted zamindar mansion in Kurnool. The first hour is pure mimicry of Gonjiam and Grave Encounters —but the last 30 minutes go completely off the rails. The entity doesn’t just kill; it mimics the team’s voices to call their real family members, and the final shot suggests the footage we watched has been altered by the ghost itself.
No jump scares for the first 40 minutes. Instead, the film uses silence, long takes, and the oppressive heat of the Indian summer. Critics called it “ The Wailing meets Telangana folklore.” 2. 36 Vayadhu… Chivaraku (December 2025) – Psychological Terror Genre: Home invasion / Memory loss Where to watch: Netflix (Telugu original) latest horror movies in telugu
Gone are the days when Telugu horror meant only clanging doors and screechy Devullu . Over the last 18 months, the industry has delivered a fresh wave of terror—mixing folk legends, psychological dread, and high-concept thrills. Here’s your guide to the latest horror movies from Tollywood that are haunting audiences. 1. Nireekshana (March 2026) – The Sleeper Hit Genre: Slow-burn supernatural / Grief horror Where to watch: Theatrical release (streaming from May 2026)
Set in the Agency area of Andhra, Kampanalu (translates to The Tremors ) introduces Rathapisaachi —a demon that latches onto villages during land disputes. The horror is visceral: victims hear bells under their skin, then begin to walk backward, then… melt. The film’s low budget works in its favor, using practical effects and real tribal performance art. A 5-minute single-take where the protagonist washes her
Nireekshana surprised everyone with its atmospheric dread. It follows a pregnant woman who moves into her late grandmother’s isolated farmhouse in Telangana’s cotton belt. A local folk spirit— Pilli Jogamma (a cat-faced guardian)—begins to appear not as a monster, but as a protector. The horror lies in whether the spirit is saving her from or preparing her for something darker.
It avoids the “urban skeptic vs. rural belief” cliché. Instead, the heroine is a local forest officer who half-believes the myth, making the dread feel earned. 4. Mukha Mukhamuga (August 2025) – AI Horror Genre: Tech-horror / Doppelgänger Where to watch: Disney+ Hotstar The first hour is pure mimicry of Gonjiam
And if you’re a fan of experimental found footage, Uruku will stay under your skin for days.