October’s arrival means peak Halloween Season is officially underway, and horror is everywhere you look. AMC is back with another stacked annual FearFest event, and streaming channels like Criterion Channel and Peacock are filling their catalogs with horror for your October watchlists. Then there’s the new release slate; October is absolutely packed for new horror […]
Also, keep an eye out for Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein as it makes its way to select theaters ahead of its Netflix debut this November. Black Phone 2 and Shelby Oaks aim for big box office scares, but there’s no shortage of indie, VOD, and streaming releases to ensure that you won’t even have time to sleep this Halloween season.
Here are the 30 horror movies you don’t want to miss in October 2025!
Bone Lake – October 3 (Theaters)
Credit: Bleecker Street and LD Entertainment
A couple’s romantic vacation at a secluded lakeside estate is upended when they are forced to share the mansion with a mysterious and attractive couple. Their dream getaway spirals into a nightmarish maze of sex, lies, and manipulation, triggering a bloody battle for survival. Mercedes Bryce Morgan (Spoonful of Sugar) directs from a screenplay by Joshua Friedlander (Holly Slept Over). Marco Pigossi (“Gen V”), Maddie Hasson (Malignant), Alex Roe (Rings), Andra Nechita (“Fatal Attraction”), Eliane Reis, and Clayton Spencer star.
Coyotes – October 3 (Theaters)
Together isn’t the only horror comedy starring an off-screen couple arriving this year; the latest from director Colin Minihan (What Keeps You Alive, Grave Encounters) stars Justin Long (Barbarian, House of Darkness) and Kate Bosworth (Barbarian, House of Darkness). As for plot, the horror comedy follows a family trapped in their Hollywood Hills home who must fight for survival as a pack of savage coyotes closes in. Mila Harris (Mary), Brittany Allen (Dexter: Original Sin), Katherine McNamara (Shadowhunters), and Norbert Leo Butz (A Complete Unknown) also star. Our review.
Good Boy – October 3 (Theaters)
A dog’s sixth sense leads to terror when his owner relocates to a haunted house in Good Boy, the feature debut by director Ben Leonberg. Indy the dog finds himself on a new adventure with his human owner—and best friend—Todd, leaving city life for a long-vacant family home in the country. But poor Indy is vexed by an eerie presence straightaway. When Todd begins succumbing to the dark forces swirling around the house, Indy must battle a malevolence intent on dragging his beloved Todd into the afterlife. The film stars Indy, Leonberg’s real-life canine, as well as indie horror stalwart Larry Fessenden, Shane Jensen, and Arielle Friedman.
Killing Faith – October 3 (Theaters)
Photographer Michael Moriatis
Guy Pearce (The Brutalist), DeWanda Wise (Jurassic World Dominion), and Bill Pullman (Independence Day) star in a haunting exploration of belief and fear—and the lengths one will go to protect a child the world believes is cursed. Ned Crowley writes and directs this genre-bending supernatural western. Raoul Max Trujillo (Sicario), Jamie Neumann (“The Deuce”), Jack Alcott (“Dexter: New Blood”), Joanna Cassidy (Blade Runner), and Emily Ford (“Outer Range”) round out the cast.
Match – October 3 (Tubi)
Director Danishka Esterhazy (Level 16, Slumber Party Massacre) is back this Halloween with Match, a Tubi Original horror movie that dives into the dark side of online dating. After Paola is matched with a handsome online suitor, she arrives for a first date to discover a house full of dark and terrifying secrets. Humberly González, Shaeane Jimenez, Dianne Simpson, Jacques Adriaanse, and Luke Volker star in Match, which was written by Jon Kaplan and Al Kaplan (Lowlifes).
Scared Shitless – October 3 (Theaters & Digital)
A plumber and his germophobic son find themselves dealing with a vicious killer creature that’s swimming through the pipes, killing the building’s tenants in an increasingly grisly fashion. Scared Shitless is directed by Vivieno Caldinelli and written by Brandon Cohen. Steven Ogg (“Grand Theft Auto,” The Walking Dead, Westworld), Daniel Doheny (Alex Strangelove, The Package, Syfy’s Day of the Dead), Chelsea Clark (Degrassi: Next Class, Tokens, Ginny & Georgia, The Protector, Life with Luca), and Mark McKinney (The Kids in the Hall) star.
Scurry – October 3 (VOD)
Up next from director Luke Sparke (this year’s Primitive War) is the underground horror movie Scurry, centered around genetically altered spiders. What’s more is that Sparke and his team shot the film “in real-time using a single continuous take.” Two strangers find themselves trapped underground when an unimaginable attack leaves their city in ruins. As they fight to survive in a narrowing underground tunnel, their injuries worsen, and their chances of escape dwindle when something ravenous begins to prowl. Jamie Costa stars alongside singer/songwriter/actress Emalia.
She Loved Blossoms More – October 3 (Select Theaters & VOD)
Three brothers build an unusual time machine in order to bring their long-dead mother back to life. When their delusional father comes into the picture, the experiments go awry, and they descend into a psychedelic hellscape where the past and present fuse in a comedic yet disturbing exploration of grief. Director Yannis Veslemes forgoes conventional narratives in favor of a tactile mood piece that leans into the psychotronic. Panos Papadopoulos, Julio Giorgos Katsis, Aris Balis, and Dominique Pinon star.
Shell – October 3 (Select Theaters & Digital)
Desperate to reclaim her career, once-beloved actress Samantha Lake (Elisabeth Moss) is drawn into the glamorous world of wellness mogul Zoe Shannon (Kate Hudson) —only to uncover a monstrous truth beneath its flawless surface. Director Max Minghella helms from a script by Jack Stanley, the scribe behind last year’s thriller The Passenger. Arian Moayed, Este Haim, Elizabeth Berkley and Kaia Gerber also star. Watch the trailer here.
V/H/S/Halloween – October 3 (Shudder)
The eighth installment in the found footage anthology franchise themes itself around the best holiday of the year. While plot details are under wraps, the new class of directors include Bryan M. Ferguson (Pumpkin Guts), Casper Kelly (Too Many Cooks), Micheline Pitt-Norman & R.H. Norman (Grummy), Alex Ross Perry (Her Smell), Paco Plaza (REC), and Anna Zlokovic (Appendage). Watch the trailer here.
Stay – October 8 (Hulu)
Kiara, a PhD author of African spirituality, and Miles, a former MMA fighter, are facing the end of their once beautiful marriage when they begin to encounter soul-shaking supernatural forces. The supernatural thriller is directed and written by Jas Summers and stars Megalyn Echikunwok and Mo McRae. Stay leads Hulu’s annual Huluween programming this year. Watch the trailer here.
Beast of War – October 10 (Theaters, Digital & VOD)
[L-R] Mark Coles Smith as “Leo” and Joel Nankervis as “Will” in the thriller film BEAST OF WAR
. Photo courtesy of Well Go USA Entertainment
Deathstalker – October 10 (Theaters)
Director Steven Kostanski (Frankie Freako, PG: Psycho Goreman) reboots Roger Corman’s cult favorite with a newly reimagined installment of the cult sword and sorcery series. The Kingdom of Abraxeon is under siege from The Dreadites, a mysterious horde of warriors, whose sudden appearance are rumoured to foretell the return of Nekromemnon, an ancient sorcerer long thought dead. Deathstalker unknowingly recovers an enchanted amulet, igniting a perilous quest of good and evil. Daniel Bernhardt (John Wick, Nobody, Barry) stars as the warrior Deathstalker, with Patton Oswalt (Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire) voicing benevolent wizard Doodad.
Vicious – October 10 (Paramount+, Digital)
When Polly receives a mysterious box from an unexpected late-night visitor, it comes with a simple instruction: place three things inside – something you need, something you hate, and something you love. What begins as a strange ritual quickly unravels into a waking nightmare in the latest from director Bryan Bertino (The Dark and the Wicked, The Strangers). Dakota Fanning stars with Kathryn Hunter, Mary McCormack, Rachel Blanchard, Devyn Nekoda, Klea Scott, and Emily Mitchell. Our review.
The Mannequin – October 14 (Digital)
Liana Rojas (Isabella Gomez), a creatively starved stylist assistant, discovers that the historical downtown Los Angeles factory building where her fashion designer sister mysteriously died is haunted by a serial killer in the latest from director John Berardo (Initiation). Krystle Martin (The Mean One), Lindsay LaVanchy (Predator: Killer of Killers), Jack Sochet (Smile) and Maxwell Hamilton (I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore) also star.
Black Phone 2 – October 17 (Theaters)
(from left) Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) and The Grabber (Ethan Hawke) in Black Phone 2, directed by Scott Derrickson.
Four years ago, 13-year-old Finn (Mason Thames) killed his abductor and escaped, becoming the sole survivor of The Grabber (Ethan Hawke). But evil never truly stays buried and the phone is ringing for Finn once more. The Grabber seeks vengeance from beyond the grave by menacing Finn’s younger sister, Gwen (Madeleine McGraw). The siblings must face a killer who’s grown even more dangerous after death. Scott Derrickson returns to direct from a script he co-wrote with C. Robert Cargill. Joe Hill, author of the short story on which the 2021 film was based, executive produces. Our review.
Frankenstein – October 17 (Limited Theaters)
FRANKENSTEIN. (L to R) Mia Goth as Elizabeth and Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein in Frankenstein. Cr. Ken Woroner/Netflix © 2025.
The patron saint of monsters, Guillermo del Toro, gives his spin on Mary Shelley’s literary classic this Fall for Netflix. “Monsters have become my personal belief system,” the visionary recently said of his adaptation, one that aims less to scare and more to dig into the emotional aspect of Shelley’s famous tale. We can expect a breathtaking feature ahead. Oscar Isaac (Dune) stars in Del Toro’s movie as mad scientist Victor Frankenstein, with Jacob Elordi (Saltburn) as Frankenstein’s monster, Mia Goth (MaXXXine) as Elizabeth Lavenza, and Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds) as Dr. Pretorius. Watch the teaser now, and look for the film to debut on Netflix on November 7.
Other – October 17 (Shudder)
Alice returns to her childhood home after her mother’s death, only to find the house is rigged with surveillance tracking her every move, as a sinister presence lurks, driving her towards a terrifying revelation. Olga Kurylenko (Thunderbolts, Quantum of Solace) stars in the film from writer/director David Moreau (The Eye, MadS). Jean Schatz, Lola Bonaventure, and Jacqueline Ghaye round out the cast.
R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead – October 17 (Tubi)
Not to be confused with that Pumpkinhead. A feature adaptation of the same-titled episode from the television series “R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour,” R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead centers on teenage Sam, whose family’s move to Redhaven is made worse when his brother Finn disappears — and no one else remembers that he existed. Sam teams with friends to end the curse before Halloween ends. Bean Reid, Adeline Lo, Kevin McNulty, Bob Frazer, Matty Finochio and Seth Isaac Johnson star. Jem Garrard (Slay) directed Pumpkinhead and also wrote the screenplay.
What Happened to Dorothy Bell? – October 21 (Digital & VOD)
A local urban legend unleashes a sinister presence in this found footage horror movie from writer/director Danny Villanueva Jr. Ozzie Gray (Asya Meadows) is a young woman confronting her own mental health struggles who must confront the past as well as a dark supernatural force. Lisa Wilcox and Michael Hargrove (Nia DaCosta’s Candyman) star alongside Steven Alonte (The Cathedral), Sargon Odicho, Arlene Arnone, Yera Constable, and J. Anthony Ramos. Watch the trailer here.
The Hand That Rocks the Cradle – October 22 (Hulu)
Mary Elizabeth Winstead stars as Caitlin Morales, an upscale suburban mom who brings a new nanny, Polly Murphy (Maika Monroe), into her home, only to discover she is not the person she claims to be in a fresh new take on the classic 1990s thriller from director Michelle Garza Cervera (Huesera: The Bone Woman). The Hand That Rocks the Cradle is written by Micah Bloomberg based on a screenplay by Amanda Silver. Raúl Castillo, Martin Starr, Mileiah Vega, Riki Lindhome, and Shannon Cochran also star.
The Elixir – October 23 (Netflix)
Abadi Nan Jaya. Donny Damara in Abadi Nan Jaya. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2025
The Queen of Black Magic and Dancing Village: The Curse Begins director Kimo Stamboel is back this Halloween season with Netflix’s The Elixir, an Indonesian zombie movie. An elixir unleashes the undead in a village. A family at odds with one another must unite and fight to survive as their hometown collapses. The Elixir stars Donny Damara, Mikha Tambayong, Eva Celia, Dimas Anggara, Kiki Narendra, and Marthino Lio. Stamboel directs from a script co-written with Agasyah Karim and Khalid Kashog.
In Our Blood – October 24 (Limited Theaters)
Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker Pedro Kos (Lead Me Home) makes his narrative feature debut from a script by Mallory Westfall (“Fear the Walking Dead,” “Chucky”). A woman gets embroiled in a nightmare when she sets out to make a documentary about her estranged mother, who suddenly vanishes and leaves behind sinister clues of foul play. Brittany O’Grady (It’s What’s Inside), E.J. Bonilla (Gemini Man), Alanna Ubach (“Euphoria”), Krisha Fairchild (“Channel Zero”), Leo Marks, Bianca Comparato (3%), and Steven Klein star.
Dream Eater – October 24 (Theaters)
A found footage chiller from Eli Roth’s new company The Horror Section. It follows Mallory (Mallory Drumm), a documentary filmmaker, who heads to a remote cabin in the mountains with her boyfriend Alex (Alex Lee Williams) to document his violent parasomnia. As his condition worsens, Mallory suspects something more sinister may be at play. As the nightmares escalate, so do the scares, right through the final frame. Dream Eater is co-written and co-directed by Jay Drakulic, Mallory Drumm, and Alex Lee Williams and starring Williams and Drumm.
Queens of the Dead – October 24 (Limited Theaters)
Tina Romero, the daughter of late horror master George A. Romero (Night of the Living Dead), makes her own mark on the zombie genre with Queens of the Dead. A zombie apocalypse breaks out in Brooklyn on the night of a giant warehouse party, where an eclectic group of drag queens, club kids, and frenemies must put aside their drama and use their unique skills to fight against the brain-thirsty, scrolling undead. Katy O’Brian, Jaquel Spivey, Tomas Matos, Nina West, Quincy Dunn-Baker, Jack Haven, Cheyenne Jackson, Dominique Jackson, and Margaret Cho star.
Shelby Oaks – October 24 (Theaters)
Who took Riley Brennan? YouTube film critic Chris Stuckmann makes his feature debut with Shelby Oaks, a traditional narrative that incorporates found footage elements. It centers on a woman searching for her missing sister, a paranormal investigator, who disappeared over a decade ago. Camille Sullivan (Hunter Hunter), Brendan Sexton III (Don’t Breathe 2), Michael Beach (If Beale Street Could Talk), Robin Bartlett (Shutter Island), Keith David (The Thing), Charlie Talbert (The Big Short), Emily Bennett (Alone With You) and Sarah Durn (Where the Crawdads Sing) star. Watch the red band trailer here.
Stitch Head – October 29 (Theaters)
Animated family film Stitch Head, described as “Frankenstein meets Monsters, Inc.,” is based on the first story in author Guy Bass’s book series. It follows the tale of a small, forgotten creature living in a long-abandoned castle. Awoken by a Mad Professor, Stitch Head is tasked with protecting the professor’s other wildly inventive creations from the suspicious townspeople of Grubbers Nubbin. Directed by and adapted for the screen by Steve Hudson, the film’s voice cast includes Asa Butterfield (Flux Gourmet, Choose or Die), Joel Fry (In the Earth, Cruella), Alison Steadman (“Inside No. 9“), Rob Brydon (Barbie), Fern Brady, Tia Bannon, and Jamali Maddix.
Bugonia – October 31 (Theaters)
Poor Things director Yorgos Lanthimos reunites with star Emma Stone on a reimagining of 2003’s Korean genre-bender Save the Green Planet!, an off-beat, black comedy-sci-fi feature written and directed by Jang Joon-Hwan. Bugonia follows two conspiracy-obsessed young men who kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company, convinced she is an alien intent on destroying Planet Earth. Jesse Plemons (Civil War, Antlers), Aidan Delbis, Stavros Halkias (Let’s Start a Cult), and Alicia Silverstone (The Lodge) also star. Lanthimos directs from a screenplay by Will Tracy (The Menu). Bugonia gets a limited theatrical release on October 24 before expanding wide on October 31.
Hallow Road – October 31 (AMC Theatres Double Feature)
Photo credit: Julie Vrabelova
Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl) and Matthew Rhys (“The Americans”) star as two parents who receive a distressing late-night call from their teenage daughter, who has just accidentally hit a pedestrian. They jump in their car, racing to get there before anyone else stumbles across the scene, but they soon realize they may not be alone. Bafta-winning director Babak Anvari helms the Halloween-set psychological thriller penned by William Gillies. Megan McDonnell (“Normal People”) co-stars. This Halloween-set thriller is getting a rare double feature release with Vincent Must Die.
Vincent Must Die – October 31 (AMC Theatres Double Feature)
In this thriller, an ordinary man finds himself under siege when strangers suddenly start attacking. Vincent will have to rethink his entire existence when the phenomena grows more intense. Described as a “nerve-shredding, ground-breaking” horror movie, Vincent Must Die stars Karim Leklou and Vimala Pons. Stéphan Castang directs. The horror movie is getting a special release on Halloween, paired in an AMC Theatres double feature with Hallow Road.