October has finally arrived and unsurprisingly, there are a lot of horror movies releasing this month. Unlike the previous month, October horror movies come from different places. Netflix, Shudder, Hulu, and Max are all releasing horror movies at the start of the month. As always, this list only includes 5 films. Some honorable mentions before we start include Hold Your Breath (Hulu), Outside (Netflix), Daddy’s Head (Shudder), and MadS (Shudder). The synopsis of some of these movies as well as the glimpses we get from some of the trailers is exciting.
Those who enjoy the cinematic experience have a variety of films to choose from including some that were released last month. Would you rather stay home? There is plenty to see on the streaming giants as well. With such an extensive list of films, even moviegoers not entirely sold on the horror genre will find something to appreciate here. Let’s take a look at the top 5 horror movies releasing in October.
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The Platform 2 (Netflix)
| Release Date | October 4th |
| Director | Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia |
| Main Cast | Natalia Tena, Oscar Jaenada |
| Duration | 99 minutes |
Confined to an evil system
Synopsis:
A new ruler with new laws is governing over The Platform, a large vertical building housing criminals. When laws are not followed, death ensues.
Overview:
The Platform, which was released in 2019, was a huge surprise for many people. It was an interesting and twisted idea where people had to survive based on the food that remained from those who ate before them. The Platform 2 looks to build up further the world they have established. Although it probably won’t be the scariest horror movie in October, The Platform has some incredibly dark and twisted ideas that are sure to satisfy fans of the genre.
V/H/S Beyond (Shudder)
| Release Date | October 3rd |
| Director | Jay Cheel, Jordan Downey, Christian Long, Justin Long, Justin Martinez Virat Pal, Kate Siegel |
| Main Cast | Phillip Andre Botello, Dane DiLiegro, Alanah Pearce, Dominque Star, Braedyn Bruner, Namrata Sheth, Mitch Horowitz |
| Duration | 114 minutes |
What will they find?
Synopsis:
V/H/S Beyond is an anthology of short horror films. A few of the stories included in this installment involve Stork, Stowaway, Fur Babies. Stork follows a police unit that is investigating baby disappearances in a decrepit house. Fur Babies follows two activists that illegally enter a taxidermist’s house and find dark secrets. And lastly, Stowaway is about a woman who sets out to document strange lights appearing in the desert.
Overview:
The V/H/S franchise has been going on for years now and always include a variety of talent and stories in each installment. Because the talent is different for each story, nothing ever feels too repetitive or safe. Additionally, enjoyment will change from story to story. If you don’t like one section, hit play on the next and you might end up loving that story. What is also great about the franchise is that they’re keeping the found footage genre alive. V/H/S Beyond deserves a watch for anyone interested in horror and sci-fi.
Terrifier 3
| Release Date | October 11th |
| Director | Damien Leone |
| Main Cast | David Howard Thornton, Lauren Lavera, Jason Patric |
| Duration | 125 minutes |
Seems more like a Christmas film
Synopsis:
Terrifier 3 picks up with the same cast as the previous film. Art the clown is back during the Christmas season this time around and unleashing havoc in what should be a jolly time.
Overview:
Terrifier is another one of these films that surprised many people back when it was released in 2016. It is a film that slowly started to get popular over the years, having released a sequel in 2022 and now another in 2024. There has been a lot of buzz around this film and some of its gory kills so those more interested in gorey horror movies won’t want to miss this.
Salem’s Lot (Max)
| Release Date | October 3 |
| Director | Gary Dauberman |
| Main Cast | Lewis Pullman, Pilou Pilou Asbæk, Spencer Treat Clark |
| Duration | 114 minutes |
Synopsis:
An author in search of inspiration returns to his old home only to discover a vampire that is preying on his hometown.
Overview:
The synopsis itself doesn’t sound like the craziest premise to be honest. What pushes this film to second on the list is what the writer had to say about vampires. He thinks they have recently been portrayed to be romanticized. He wants to make them frightening again. On top of that, the director has had their hands on many different franchises over the years including IT and The Nun. They are experienced and are sure to deliver an exciting horror movie.
Smile 2
| Release Date | October 18th |
| Director | Parker Finn |
| Main Cast | Naomi Scott, Kyle Gallner, Ray Nicholson |
| Duration | 132 minutes |
Synopsis:
A pop star begins to experience strange and disturbing events forcing her to confront her dark past in order to gain control of her life.
Overview:
There is just something creepy about random smiles. The longest movie and most anticipated on this list goes to Smile 2. Parker Finn returns to direct the sequel to the surprisingly creepy and well-made film that came out in 2022. There aren’t a lot of details here that give us an idea of whether or not this takes place after the first movie or before. But judging from the fantastic trailer and the talent behind the camera, this is sure to be one of the scarier horror movies of October, if not the year.
