By Nell Geraets
Horror films have long dominated the spooky season, but this Halloween’s streaming slate seems particularly spine-chilling.
The number of horror films released on Binge has steadily increased since its launch in 2020. Since 2023, the platform has released more than 120 horror films, more than half of which landed this year. Horror viewership increased by 90 per cent in October compared to the previous three months.
Whether you enjoy laugh-out-loud horror or genuine fright-fests, there’s plenty to stream this Halloween.
Elsewhere, Netflix released five horror films last October as part of its annual “Netflix & Chills” period. This year, it nearly doubled that, releasing eight new scary films. Horror has become so popular among streaming viewers that Amazon Prime Video struck a deal with horror studio Blumhouse for exclusive streaming programming.
There are a few reasons why horror is having a home-theatre boom. The COVID-19 lockdowns encouraged many to spend more time on the couch than in the cinema. Theatrical runs have shortened, with new films reaching on-demand faster than ever. More recent streamers, especially those dedicated solely to horror, such as Shudder and Screambox, offer an impressive array of classic, independent, and international horrors, all of which draw broader audiences.
The theatrical horror line-up has also been robust this year: Late Night with the Devil, I Saw the TV Glow, Longlegs, just to name a few. But there’s plenty of spooky content to watch in the comfort of your own home. From jump-scare horrors to genuine fright-fests, here are six new movies to stream this Halloween.
It’s What’s Inside
Netflix
A group of mostly estranged friends gather in a remote mansion on the eve of one of their weddings to play a game that entails literally switching consciousnesses. What could possibly go wrong?
Greg Jardin’s debut feature is a neon-lit, hilarious, and oftentimes baffling horror that has you constantly guessing who’s who. Combining the buzzy energy of Bodies Bodies Bodies and the disturbing risk-taking at the heart of Talk To Me, this film demonstrates what it truly means to be uncomfortable in your own skin.
Apartment 7A
Paramount+/Binge
This has certainly been the year for pregnancy horror, with unsettling tales such as Immaculate, The First Omen and Alien: Romulus leaving any viewer with a uterus queasy. Natalie Erika James’ film examines similar anxieties around motherhood, a topic that for some may hit too close to home following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022.
Intended as a prequel to Ira Levin’s book and Roman Polanski’s film, Rosemary’s Baby, it follows a stage actor (Julia Garner) who, upon injuring herself, is invited to live with a wealthy couple in their New York apartment. As her stay becomes increasingly peculiar, viewers are tormented with new and familiar beastly entities.
House of Spoils
Amazon Prime Video
If you love The Bear, but want to lean into the spooky spirit, look no further. A chef (played by Oscar-winner Ariana DeBose) opens her own restaurant in a remote location after leaving her job at a high-end city venue. However, something evil haunts her new digs, and it won’t stop until her dream is shattered.
It’s essentially a foodie show sprinkled with jump scares and several decently funny gags (about “chef-y” things like prosciutto), while also interrogating the impact of crushing workplace pressures.
Salem’s Lot
Binge
Stephen King, the king of horror, has inspired yet another film adaptation, one that satisfies bloodthirsty vampire lovers. Based on King’s 1975 novel and directed by Gary Dauberman (Annabelle, The Nun), it follows a writer who returns to his small hometown only to realise most of its residents are mysteriously transforming into deadly fanged creatures.
Though not quite as visually brilliant as It or as terrifying as Misery, this film is still classic eerie Halloween fodder.
Carved
Disney+
Psychotic killer pumpkin. Need I say more? Sometimes, a good horror will make you laugh as much as it makes you jump. Carved sees a group of teens battle a sentient pumpkin, which is slashing its way through a historical reenactment village on Halloween. Think Gremlins with a hint of Zombeavers. Actually, when it comes to this movie, it’s probably best not to think at all.
Daddy’s Head
Shudder
Grief has long been a mainstay of horror – remember The Babadook and Pet Sematary? Benjamin Barfoot’s living nightmare is a worthy addition, following a young boy and his stepmother who are tormented by a creature that appears disturbingly similar to the boy’s recently deceased father.
Combining genuinely grotesque creatures, science fiction, and themes like undesired motherhood, Daddy’s Head is a nuanced horror that has you continuously peeling back the layers to reveal newfound terrors.
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