October continues its tradition as a prime month for horror releases, with a diverse slate of films hitting theaters and streaming platforms. This year's lineup includes everything from creature features and psychological thrillers to a significant re-release of a controversial 1970s classic.
Kicking off the month on October 2 is "Beware Boiúna," a monster movie centered on a team of young doctors in the Amazon rainforest who encounter a mythological serpent. Also arriving on October 2 is "Verity," an erotic thriller based on a Colleen Hoover novel, directed by Michael Showalter. The film stars Dakota Johnson as a struggling ghostwriter hired to complete the work of a reclusive and ailing author, played by Anne Hathaway. "The Influencer Project," produced by "The Blair Witch Project" filmmakers Eduardo Sanchez and Gregg Hale, uses a found-footage approach to explore the darker side of influencer culture as a social media personality encounters a dangerous stalker in Copenhagen. Another October 2 release, "Appofeniacs," directed by Chris Marrs Piliero, delves into the chaotic potential of generative AI through a series of interconnected vignettes, featuring an ensemble cast including Sean Gunn.
Rounding out the early October releases is "Other Mommy," which gained viral attention for a disturbing trailer. Starring Jessica Chastain and directed by Rob Savage, the film is based on the book "Incidents Around the House" and follows a little girl haunted by a supernatural entity resembling her mother.
The latter half of October brings a mix of the familiar and the unsettling. On October 16, audiences can experience a 4K director's cut of Ken Russell's 1971 film "The Devils." Based on Aldous Huxley's novel, the controversial film depicts a 17th-century priest accused of seducing a convent and features performances from Oliver Reed and Vanessa Redgrave.
Also arriving on October 16 is "Crawlers," a creature feature about an apartment building quarantined due to a venomous spider infestation. Directed by Ángel Gómez Hernández, the film stars Matilda Lutz as the building's manager, who must navigate the crisis despite her own arachnophobia.
"Breeder," which had a limited release following a Tribeca Film Festival premiere, follows a college student who accepts a position at a remote ranch owned by a poodle breeder, only to find himself entangled in more ambitious and sinister projects. Dot Marie Jones stars as the breeder.
"Hallowarrior," also presented at Tribeca and available on Shudder, is set in a post-apocalyptic world and follows a young girl named Pumpkin, played by Milly Shapiro, who finds her solitary existence threatened by scavengers.
Finally, "Whalefall," based on Daniel Kraus's novel, centers on a scuba diver, portrayed by Austin Abrams, searching for his father's remains at sea when he is swallowed by a sperm whale. The film is written and directed by Brian Duffield.