7 Biggest Horror Movies Releasing October 2021

It’s always high season for horror fans in October, and 2021 is no different. Offering something for everybody, the biggest movies releasing this Halloween season range from Hollywood blockbusters to eerie indies.

While there are some big movie sequels releasing in October 2021, the month also boasts a lot of original content. Ordered by their release date, these seven varied horror offerings should be on everybody’s to-watch list.

If you’re after some other great movie suggestions, make sure to check these out:

• 5 Great Movies to Watch in October 2021
• 6 Biggest Horror Movies Releasing September 2021
• The 10 Best Movies on Shudder

7. Venom: Let There Be Carnage

Releases October 1 in US theatres.

The Venom sequel is a PG-13 Sony blockbuster, so it’s not exactly going to be the scariest film releasing this month. However, it will feature some slick gross-out visuals to accompany its superhero action.

Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) and his symbiote frenemy, Venom, are back. Except this time they have to deal with serial killer Cletus Kasady (Woody Harrelson) and his own symbiote, Carnage. The trailers promise the same sort of zany comedy and action as the original. However, it has a brisk 90-minute runtime (the shortest of any Marvel movie so far). Director Andy Serkis says this is to make it more of a “thrill ride”.

The sequel should be on any Marvel and horror fan’s radar if they found the action-comedy and slimy symbiote visuals appealing in the first entry of the series.

6. There’s Someone Inside Your House

Releases October 6 worldwide on Netflix.

At first glance, There’s Someone Inside Your House looks like any other modern teen slasher. A ridiculously good-looking cast paired with a Scream-inspired murder-mystery doesn’t sound like it’s going to change the face of horror anytime soon. However, the talent behind the camera might turn some heads.

Shazam! Director Henry Gayden is responsible for the slasher’s screenplay, and Patrick Brice (Creep) serves as director. Additionally, two of the producers attached to the project are James Wan and Shawn Levy. Wan is of course known for creating many modern horror classics like The Conjuring, and more recently, the love-it-or-hate-it Malignant. Levy has been an executive producer for Stranger Things on all three seasons.

All that talent means a story about a killer who stalks their prey wearing a model of their future victim’s face might not turn out as ridiculously camp as it sounds. Or, it might turn out even more ridiculously camp as it sounds, and be all the better for it!

However it ends up, the movie is included at no extra cost for those with a Netflix subscription. It might be the exact type of fun slasher-horror some are after this Halloween season.

5. V/H/S/94

Releases October 6 worldwide on Shudder.

The original V/H/S is something of a cult classic for found-footage fans, and its third sequel, V/H/S/94, looks to shake the anthology formula up a little. Instead of having one story that serves as a narrative frame for other small spooky tales caught on tape, it will tell one overarching plotline.

The film initially follows a SWAT team as they investigate a mysterious VHS tape that leads them to raid a remote warehouse. They unravel a strange conspiracy by watching five tapes that they find in the compound. It features segments from franchise alumni Simon Barrett and Timo Tjahjanto in addition to directors Jennifer Reeder (Knives & Skin), Ryan Prows (Lowlife), and Chloe Okuno (Slut).

The trailer has an authentic 90’s filter and showcases a lot of horror imagery without giving too much away. What is obvious are the 90’s video game references, including a SWAT team resembling Umbrella’s special forces from Resident Evil, and the first-person perspective of a Doom-style rampage.

It looks like a wild ride flavored with nostalgia. If it delivers even half of that energy, it’s sure to please a lot of horror fans.

4. Lamb

Releases October 8 in US theatres.

It’s an A24 distributed folk horror tale starring Noomi Rapace raising a precious little lamb-child, what’s not to like?

Horror fans know A24 for producing or distributing titles like Midsommar and The Witch, but they have also helped productions like Lady Bird, The Green Knight, and Moonlight get off the ground. The company’s name is synonymous with quality independent films, and Lamb looks to have just the right amount of low-budget weirdness that will please audience expectations.

Set in rural Iceland, the film is co-written and directed by Valdimar Jóhannsson, with Bjork lyricist and collaborator, Sjón, as the other screenplay writer. It tells the story of a childless couple who discover a lamb-human hybrid baby and decide to raise it as their own. Interestingly, first-time director Jóhannsson said in an interview with Variety that he doesn’t consider it horror. It’s inspired more by the Icelandic folktales he grew up with.

The movie certainly gives off an eerie, supernatural tone. However, horror fans should keep the director’s comments in mind while watching. It might look like a crazy premise suited to shlock, but the movie seems to have been handled with more delicacy.

3. Halloween Kills

Releases October 15 in US theatres, and on Peacock in the US.

The world’s most famous fictional serial killer is at it again! It’s hard to call the Halloween franchise a generic slasher series, seeing as it started the genre’s popularity when the first film in the franchise was released in 1978. It’s even harder to say after its direct sequel Halloween was released to wide praise. It explored Laurie Strode’s (Jamie Lee Curtis) psyche and damaged relationship with her daughter Karen (Judy Greer) in a surprisingly delicate fashion for a slasher movie.

It’s tough to tell from the trailers if director and co-writer David Gordon Green can catch this lightning in a bottle for the second time in Halloween Kills. He is reunited with co-writers Danny McBride and Jeff Fradley, who also penned the 2018 Halloween with Green. A returning cast and crew does look promising for the sequel that focuses on Laurie taking the fight to Michael this time.

However, unless something truly mind-blowing happens in the movie, the trailer’s announcement that this is the end of Michael does fall a little flat. Halloween Kills is the second film in a planned trilogy, with Halloween Ends still to come. There’s also the fact nearly every other movie in the franchise was supposed to be the end of Michael Myers.

However his fate turns out, Halloween rarely disappoints fans in one particular area. Audiences are sure to get a plethora of new slasher kills to recoil and rejoice over this October.

2. Last Night in Soho

Releases October 29 in US theatres.

Edgar Wright turns his talents to psychological horror, adding a sci-fi twist. The Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and Baby Driver writer and director is a big fan of horror films, but his only foray into the genre with his movies has been the horror-comedy Shaun of The Dead. While it’s certainly a classic, Last Night in Soho has a completely different tone and style.

Eloise (Thomasin McKenzie) is a young fashion student who moves to present-day London for her studies. She soon starts to experience the glamorous and exciting life of Sandie (Anya Taylor-Joy), a 1960’s nightclub performer. This glamour soon turns to psychedelic terror for both women, and Eloise tries to help Sandie by using her ‘gift’ of experiencing other people’s lives.

The trailers showcase a delightfully eerie tone contrasted with the swinging 60’s style of Sandie’s world. It looks to be just as much a thriller as a horror offering. It also has some beautiful and creepy imagery on display. 

An interesting concept, beautiful set and costume design, and a solid cast and crew make Last Night in Soho a must-see for all, not just horror fans.

1. Antlers

Releasing October 29 in US theatres.

It’s had a few scheduling issues due to the pandemic, but Antlers is finally coming to US theatres at the end of October, just in time for Halloween.

Directed and co-written by Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart, Black Mass), and produced by Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth, The Shape of Water), the story follows school teacher Julia (Keri Russell) and police officer Paul (Jesse Plemons). Throughout the movie, they investigate the connection between one of Julia’s young students and the brutal deaths occurring in their small Oregon town.

Any del Toro project tends to have excellent creature design. Even though short glimpses of the monster were seen in the trailer, it’s unlikely to be its final form. This central folktale figure combined with the creepy kid gives off major The Babadook vibes. That turned out to be one of the greatest horror films ever made, so if Antlers turns out to be even half as good, then viewers are in for a terrific delight.

Are you looking forward to these horror films releasing in October 2021? What one are you most excited about? Let me know in the comments below!