As temperatures drop and nights grow longer, October presents the perfect opportunity to indulge in horror films. Major streaming services are bolstering their libraries with spooky selections, offering a mix of genre classics and new releases across various subgenres, including zombies, slashers, body horror, and even romantic horror.
Bones and All (2022)
Available on Pluto, this film offers a gory take on young love, centering on the romance between two cannibals. Maren (Taylor Russell) embarks on a cross-country journey to find her mother and understand her cravings, encountering Lee (Timothée Chalamet), another cannibal, with whom she attempts to build a life. The film explores themes of enabling aberrant behavior and the difficulty of entering the world when protected.
Doctor Sleep (2019)
Set 31 years after The Shining, Doctor Sleep follows Danny Torrance (Ewan McGregor) as he grapples with his past. The adaptation of Stephen King's novel emphasizes Danny's psychic abilities as he forms a connection with a girl who also possesses "the Shining" and attempts to protect her from a sinister force.
From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)
This cult classic, written by Quentin Tarantino, begins as a crime drama before shifting into grindhouse horror. Bank robbers Seth (George Clooney) and Richie Gecko (Tarantino) flee across the Mexican border to a strip club, only to discover the patrons are vampires. They must then fight for survival until dawn.
It Follows (2014)
A cult hit that made a significant impact with a small budget, It Follows tells the story of college student Jay Height (Maika Monroe). After a sexual encounter, she finds herself relentlessly pursued by a supernatural entity that can only be passed on through intercourse. Jay seeks answers while trying to evade the force only she can see.
Hokum (2026)
Available on Hulu, this film follows American author Ohm Bauman (Adam Scott) as he travels to an Irish hotel where his parents honeymooned. He uncovers secrets about the honeymoon suite, which is rumored to be haunted by a witch, forcing him to confront his past and the hotel's mysteries.
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
This iconic film, directed by Wes Craven, instills a fear of sleep by following teenagers stalked by Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund), an undead killer who attacks in their dreams. Considered a landmark horror film, it spawned numerous sequels.
Psycho (1960)
Alfred Hitchcock's classic established the slasher genre. The film follows Marion Crane (Janet Leigh), an embezzling secretary who seeks refuge at the remote Bates Motel, only to encounter a sinister presence. The film is famous for its shocking shower scene.
Scream (1996)
Wes Craven and writer Kevin Williamson satirize slasher tropes in Scream, where knowledge of horror movie conventions can mean the difference between life and death. A group of high school students must use movie logic to survive a masked killer. The streaming service also offers the film's sequels for a marathon viewing.
Freaks (2019)
This genre-bending film centers on Chloe (Lexy Kolker), a young girl confined to her home by her father, Henry (Emile Hirsch), who claims dangerous people are outside. As Chloe's curiosity grows, the mystery of their situation unfolds, leading to a struggle for control over their lives.
The Sixth Sense (1999)
M. Night Shyamalan's suspense thriller follows child psychologist Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis) as he attempts to help Cole Sear (Haley Joel Osment), a boy who can see ghosts. Together, they work to bring peace to the spirits haunting Cole. The film is renowned for its impactful twist ending.