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Here Are the Best Halloween-themed Movies Available on Streaming!

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Terror Films Hell House LLC

October is definitively the best month of the year.  It’s the month where you can find horror movie programming just about everywhere you turn, from the big screen to cable TV. There’s so much to choose from it can be a little overwhelming. Netflix has already previewed its offerings of frights this Halloween season, but what about the rest of the streaming services? The list of films being added across the board is vast, but for those looking for something new or different we have you covered.

Here are all the new release highlights we can expect from Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Shudder throughout October.


Amazon Prime Video

Hell House LLC

In 2009, a haunted house attraction befell a horrific tragedy that claimed the lives of 15 people on opening night. Every single member of the crew died, save one who went missing shortly after. A documentary crew found her, and decide the best plan of action is to head back to the scene of the crime to find out what happened. Ok. So this is a found footage horror. But give it a chance anyway. It’s themed around a haunt attraction around Halloween, but more importantly, it manages to craft well-executed scares that work.


Jigsaw

Jigsaw Review

What’s Halloween without a Saw movie? The latest, released last Halloween season, marks the return of the Jigsaw killer, further muddying one of horror’s most convoluted timelines ever. But if you’re seeking fun and a whole lot of intricate killer traps, than Jigsaw succeeds and then some. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it’s a lot of fun. This is the perfect movie to watch while carving pumpkins, right?


Pet Sematary II

Pet Sematary Two

Yes, I’m still defending this maligned sequel. It’s over the top and bonkers, not unlike Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II. It also is set over Halloween, with Halloween night factoring into the plot in a major way. Starring Edward Furlong and Anthony Edwards as the father-son duo dealing with their own loss, the real reason to watch is for Clancy Brown’s scene-chewing performance. It’s pure madness in the best way. If you’re still not convinced, then rest assured Pet Sematary is also available on Prime Video.


Scarecrows

One of Fall’s major icons is the scarecrow, and one of horror’s best movies about killer scarecrows is, well, Scarecrows. When a group of robbers are making their getaway by plane and forced to land in an abandoned field, they find themselves facing killer scarecrows. The plot doesn’t always make sense, but the atmosphere and great effects more than make up for the flaws. This is a fun one.


Slice – October 18

When a pizza delivery driver is murdered, the city is on the hunt for the murdered. A disgraced werewolf is the prime suspect, but in a town full of ghosts, witches, and humans there’s more to this mystery than pizza. An irreverent horror comedy by first time feature director Austin Vesely, Slice stars Chance the Rapper, Zazie Beetz, Hannibal Buress, Joe Keery, and more. If you want something more lighthearted this Halloween season, this might be for you (our review). It’s the equivalent of a spooky Saturday morning cartoon.


“Lore” Season 2- Available October 19

A unique anthology series based on Aaron Mahnke’s podcast that explores folklore-based horror in a sort of documentary/live-action podcast format returns for a second season with a new showrunner at the helm. Some of the new episodes will harken back to familiar episodes of Mahnke’s podcase, and some will feature wholly new stories.


Hulu

[REC] series

Hulu has dropped not one, but all four movies in the REC franchise. Which makes for a perfect Halloween movie marathon. The first two films, written/directed by Paco Plaza and Jaume Balaguero, are two halves of a whole, giving a unique twist to the outbreak sub-genre. More importantly, they both deliver on the scares in spades. Paco Plaza went solo for the third entry, REC 3: Genesis, dropping the found footage format for a spinoff story that deserves more love and recognition than it’s received so far. Jaume Balaguero returns to close the series out with REC 4: Apocalypse, but it’s not nearly as strong as everything that came before. Even still, this is one of the best modern horror franchises, and for a night of spooky fun you can’t go wrong with REC.


Into the Dark “The Body” 

This anthology series is unlike any that’s come before; each episode is a feature length film. Beginning October 5, a new episode airs every month on the first Friday of the month and will run year-round. The movie-a-month series will revolve around that month’s holiday, beginning with the Halloween themed episode “The Body.” Starring Tom Bateman, “The Body” follows a hitman who carries out his latest victim in plain sight on Halloween, pretending it’s simply a Halloween prop. When groupies latch on, it becomes a battle of will and wits.


Pyewacket – Available October 6

The latest by Adam MacDonald (Backcountry) sees a young girl performing a ritual to summon a witch to kill her mother after a devastating fight. But when they make up soon after, it may be too late to revoke the spell. A brooding, atmospheric coming of age story, Brad called this an instant indie gem that should make its way onto many best of the year lists. Thanks to Hulu, Pyewacket is less likely to slip under the radar as of October 6. And witches are, of course, a major Halloween staple.


Light as a Feather – Available October 11

This 10-episode supernatural series revolves around a group of teen girls being picked off one by one after a game of “Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board.” The surviving girls then must determine why they’re being targeted, and whether an evil presence is the one behind the murders. This is the first Hulu project to be based on a Wattpad story, and stars Ajiona Alexus, Liana Liberato, Peyton List, and more.[/caption]


Shudder

Satan’s Slaves 

A remake of an ‘80s film of the same name, this Indonesian horror film has consistently been touted as the scariest horror film during its run on the festival circuit. Written and directed by Joko Anwar, Satan’s Slaves follows a family that begins experiencing paranormal activity shortly after the matriarch passes away. Effective jump scares and unnerving atmosphere grounded by the endearing family dynamics makes for a spooky Halloween movie to add to your watchlist.


True Horror 

The hit U.K. horror series is coming to Shudder to elicit chills. A docudrama series that opens with a disclaimer of true terror, True Horror presents based on true story encounters with the paranormal by combining on camera interviews and dramatizations. The series is by the producers of 2015’s The Enfield Haunting. This series sounds like a great pairing option with WNUF Halloween Special or Ghostwatch.


Terrified – Available Oct 11

This Argentinian horror film from the mind of Demian Rugna only has one true purpose; to scare the crap out of you (our review). It succeeds in its goal and then some, delivering several memorable scares that will leave you wanting to sleep with the lights one. Set in a neighborhood in Buenos Aires, a group of paranormal experts and a soon-to-be-retired cop investigate a series of creepy events happening on the block. Turn all the lights out, turn the volume up and prepare for scares. Even better? Pair this with Satan’s Slaves and forget about ever sleeping again.


The Witch in the Window – Oct 18

Written and directed by Andy Mitton (YellowBrickRoad, We Go On), this small scaled chiller follows a father who brings his son, Finn, to a rural home in Vermont to flip, and the pair encounters the malicious spirit of the previous owner. The longer they stay, the stronger she gets. Kalyn called this horror film one of the most exciting horror movies of the year.


Channel Zero: Butcher’s Block – Available October 25

Just the day before season four of this beloved horror series makes its debut on Syfy, Shudder gives you a chance to catch up with season 3, Butcher’s Block. Based on Kerry Hammond’s “Search and Rescue Woods,” Butcher’s Block follows a young woman that works with her sister to find out what’s happening to the city’s residents after moving there and discovering a string of disappearances. It stars Rutger Hauer and was directed by Arkasha Stevenson.

Horror journalist, RT Top Critic, and Critics Choice Association member. Co-Host of the Bloody Disgusting Podcast. Has appeared on PBS series' Monstrum, served on the SXSW Midnighter shorts jury, and moderated horror panels for WonderCon and SeriesFest.

Editorials

‘Leprechaun Returns’ – The Charm of the Franchise’s Legacy Sequel

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leprechaun returns

The erratic Leprechaun franchise is not known for sticking with a single concept for too long. The namesake (originally played by Warwick Davis) has gone to L.A., Las Vegas, space, and the ‘hood (not once but twice). And after an eleven-year holiday since the Davis era ended, the character received a drastic makeover in a now-unmentionable reboot. The critical failure of said film would have implied it was time to pack away the green top hat and shillelagh, and say goodbye to the nefarious imp. Instead, the Leprechaun series tried its luck again.

The general consensus for the Leprechaun films was never positive, and the darker yet blander Leprechaun: Origins certainly did not sway opinions. Just because the 2014 installment took itself seriously did not mean viewers would. After all, creator Mark Jones conceived a gruesome horror-comedy back in the early nineties, and that format is what was expected of any future ventures. So as horror legacy sequels (“legacyquels”) became more common in the 2010s, Leprechaun Returns followed suit while also going back to what made the ‘93 film work. This eighth entry echoed Halloween (2018) by ignoring all the previous sequels as well as being a direct continuation of the original. Even ardent fans can surely understand the decision to wipe the slate clean, so to speak.

Leprechaun Returns “continued the [franchise’s] trend of not being consistent by deciding to be consistent.” The retconning of Steven Kostanski and Suzanne Keilly’s film was met with little to no pushback from the fandom, who had already become accustomed to seeing something new and different with every chapter. Only now the “new and different” was familiar. With the severe route of Origins a mere speck in the rearview mirror, director Kotanski implemented a “back to basics” approach that garnered better reception than Zach Lipovsky’s own undertaking. The one-two punch of preposterous humor and grisly horror was in full force again.

LEPRECHAUN

Pictured: Linden Porco as The Leprechaun in Leprechaun Returns.

With Warwick Davis sitting this film out — his own choice — there was the foremost challenge of finding his replacement. Returns found Davis’ successor in Linden Porco, who admirably filled those blood-stained, buckled shoes. And what would a legacy sequel be without a returning character? Jennifer Aniston obviously did not reprise her final girl role of Tory Redding. So, the film did the next best thing and fetched another of Lubdan’s past victims: Ozzie, the likable oaf played by Mark Holton. Returns also created an extension of Tory’s character by giving her a teenage daughter, Lila (Taylor Spreitler).

It has been twenty-five years since the events of the ‘93 film. The incident is unknown to all but its survivors. Interested in her late mother’s history there in Devil’s Lake, North Dakota, Lila transferred to the local university and pledged a sorority — really the only one on campus — whose few members now reside in Tory Redding’s old home. The farmhouse-turned-sorority-house is still a work in progress; Lila’s fellow Alpha Epsilon sisters were in the midst of renovating the place when a ghost of the past found its way into the present.

The Psycho Goreman and The Void director’s penchant for visceral special effects is noted early on as the Leprechaun tears not only into the modern age, but also through poor Ozzie’s abdomen. The portal from 1993 to 2018 is soaked with blood and guts as the Leprechaun forces his way into the story. Davis’ iconic depiction of the wee antagonist is missed, however, Linden Porco is not simply keeping the seat warm in case his predecessor ever resumes the part. His enthusiastic performance is accentuated by a rotten-looking mug that adds to his innate menace.

LEPRECHAUN RETURNS sequel

Pictured: Taylor Spreitler, Pepi Sonuga, and Sai Bennett as Lila, Katie and Rose in Leprechaun Returns.

The obligatory fodder is mostly young this time around. Apart from one luckless postman and Ozzie — the premature passing of the latter character removed the chance of caring about anyone in the film — the Leprechaun’s potential prey are all college aged. Lila is this story’s token trauma kid with caregiver baggage; her mother thought “monsters were always trying to get her.” Lila’s habit of mentioning Tory’s mental health problem does not make a good first impression with the resident mean girl and apparent alcoholic of the sorority, Meredith (Emily Reid). Then there are the nicer but no less cursorily written of the Alpha Epsilon gals: eco-conscious and ex-obsessive Katie (Pepi Sonuga), and uptight overachiever Rose (Sai Bennett). Rounding out the main cast are a pair of destined-to-die bros (Oliver Llewellyn Jenkins, Ben McGregor). Lila and her peers range from disposable to plain irritating, so rooting for any one of them is next to impossible. Even so, their overstated personalities make their inevitable fates more satisfying.

Where Returns excels is its death sequences. Unlike Jones’ film, this one is not afraid of killing off members of the main cast. Lila, admittedly, wears too much plot armor, yet with her mother’s spirit looming over her and the whole story — comedian Heather McDonald put her bang-on Aniston impersonation to good use as well as provided a surprisingly emotional moment in the film — her immunity can be overlooked. Still, the other characters’ brutal demises make up for Lila’s imperviousness. The Leprechaun’s killer set-pieces also happen to demonstrate the time period, seeing as he uses solar panels and a drone in several supporting characters’ executions. A premortem selfie and the antagonist’s snarky mention of global warming additionally add to this film’s particular timestamp.

Critics were quick to say Leprechaun Returns did not break new ground. Sure, there is no one jetting off to space, or the wacky notion of Lubdan becoming a record producer. This reset, however, is still quite charming and entertaining despite its lack of risk-taking. And with yet another reboot in the works, who knows where the most wicked Leprechaun ever to exist will end up next.


Horror contemplates in great detail how young people handle inordinate situations and all of life’s unexpected challenges. While the genre forces characters of every age to face their fears, it is especially interested in how youths might fare in life-or-death scenarios.

The column Young Blood is dedicated to horror stories for and about teenagers, as well as other young folks on the brink of terror.

Leprechaun Returns movie

Pictured: Linden Porco as The Leprechaun in Leprechaun Returns.

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