With spooky season finally upon us, it’s only natural that horror fans are preparing for a tidal wave of genre releases meant to flood October with Halloween-appropriate delights. Of course, with so many horror flicks set to come out during a brief thirty-day window, keeping up with all these scary stories is no easy task.
That’s why I’ve taken it upon myself to once again organize a list highlighting ten of the most anticipated horror movies releasing in October. This way, our readers might have an easier time planning their Halloween movie marathons without the need for impersonal recommendations from automated algorithms. Like last time, there are sure to be a couple of surprise announcements later this month (as well as unexpected bumps to release dates), so be sure to check back for updates as we find out more.
As usual, don’t forget to comment below if you think we missed a new release that you’re excited to see.
Now, without further ado, here are ten new horror movies releasing in October of 2026, presented by Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group.
Beware Boiúna – In Theaters October 2
From the fire serpent Boitatá to black reptiles that steal milk from newborn babies, rural Brazil boasts quite a few memorable legends involving freaky snakes. With Mike P. Nelson’s Beware Boiúna, one of our most famous snake myths is finally hitting the big screen as an over-the-top creature feature!
Telling the story of a humanitarian mission that accidentally awakens a gigantic predator in the Amazon rainforest, Nelson’s film stars genre veterans Jessica Rothe and Kiana Madeira as potential snacks for the titular Boiúna.
Beware Boiúna will be available in theaters everywhere starting October 2.
V/H/S Mixtape – Streaming on Shudder October 9
From Ghost’s Tobias Forge to the Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA, V/H/S Mixtape appears to be betting on celebrity directors and punk-rock storytelling in this latest edition of the found footage anthology. From the look of the trailer, their investment might just pay off with one of the most insane entries in the long-running series so far.
That being said, there’s only way to know how Mixtape measures up to the previous films (V/H/S Beyond is a very high bar to clear, after all), and that’s by watching the flick when it finally releases on Shudder on October 9.
Other Mommy – In Theaters October 9
Josh Malerman’s Incidents Around the House took the horror world by storm back in 2024 with the author’s unflinching depiction of childhood trauma and the emotional consequences of American poverty. That’s why it’s no surprise that this freaky story is finally making its way to theaters via an adaptation helmed by none other than Rob Savage.
Retitled to Other Mommy, this long-awaited adaptation stars Jessica Chastain as both a loving mother attempting to keep her daughter safe from a not-so-imaginary friend as well as the titular doppelganger attempting to take her place. While Savage appears to have taken some liberties with the source material, we’re still very excited to see how this one turned out!
Other Mommy will be available in theaters everywhere starting October 9.
Creature of the Pines – Steaming Exclusively on Screambox October 13
The Jersey Devil is one of my personal favorite cryptids, so it’s only natural that Chris Ruppert and Tyler Transue’s found footage thriller about the infamous creature of the Pine Barrens would be one of my most anticipated films of October.
Presented as a documentary investigating mysterious disappearances within New Jersey’s most infamous patch of wilderness, Creature of the Pines may very well turn out to be the definitive Jersey Devil flick that cryptozoology nuts like myself have been waiting for.
Creature of the Pines will be available exclusively on Screambox starting October 13.
Crawlers – In Theaters October 16
Matilda Lutz (Revenge) stars as Serena, the overworked and underappreciated manager of the Paradiso Palms apartment complex who finds herself inundated by lethal eight-legged critters. The trailer below even unlocks a new fear: accidentally swallowing them while you sleep. Angel Gómez Hernández (Don’t Listen) directs from a script by Jayson Rothwell (Polar, Silent Night).
Crawlers seems poised to make your skin crawl, and honors the recent trend of deadly spiders laying siege to apartment buildings seen in recent films like Infested and Sting.
Find out when Crawlers hits theaters on October 16.
Whalefall – In Theaters October 16
Daniel Kraus’ 2023 hit Whalefall trapped readers in one of the most anxiety-inducing maritime horror stories ever told. Now, award-winning filmmaker Brian Duffield, who previously helmed the underrated alien invasion thriller No One Will Save You, is set to bring the book’s claustrophobic story to life on the big screen.
Telling the surprisingly plausible story of an unfortunate scuba-diver who finds himself in the belly of a careless sperm whale, Whalefall promises to be one of the most memorable theatrical experiences of the year. The trailer alone was already giving theater-goers nightmares when it was released back in June, so imagine how folks will feel after spending a whole hour inside the whale!
Look for it in theaters everywhere on October 16.
Clayface – In Theaters October 23
James Gunn’s take on the DC Universe may not appeal to everybody, but if there’s one project on this collaborative slate that nearly every cinephile can get behind, it has to be James Watkins’ Clayface. Adapting one of Batman’s most iconic villains in a straight-up body-horror flick may sound like a risky idea on paper, but almost everything we’ve seen about this production so far points to it being one of the most interesting comic-book adaptations in years.
With a script co-authored by Mike Flanagan, I think it’s safe to say that Matt Hagen’s horrific descent into shapeshifting madness is set to be a memorable night at the movies when it finally releases in theaters on October 23.
A Possession in Lincoln County – Streaming on Found TV October 23
Found TV’s first-ever in-house production, Louie La Vella’s A Possession in Lincoln County tells the story of a cameraman who makes an ill-advised deal with otherworldly forces in order to save his wife from a fatal cancer diagnosis. What follows is a deeply disturbing possession story crafted by someone who knows a thing or two about quality found footage frights!
A Possession in Lincoln County will be streaming exclusively on Found TV starting October 23, though the film will also be available one day early for Found TV+ subscribers – so keep that in mind if you’d like to see this one a little sooner.
The Cycle – Streaming on Shudder October 23
A moody crime procedural that eventually descends into practical-effects-driven mayhem, Jordan Downey’s The Cycle has been praised by critics and horror creators alike as one of the most effective scary movies of the year – with even Stephen King comparing it favorably to both The Thing and Silence of the Lambs.
In fact, our own Meagan Navarro claims that the movie is one of those rare slow-burning mysteries that actually earns its deliberate pacing by rewarding patient viewers with an all-out monster movie during the blood-soaked latter half of the experience.
That’s why I’m counting the days until I can finally check this one out when it hits Shudder on October 23.
Breeder – Streaming on Shudder October 26
Dog breeding is one of those subjects that gets more disturbing the more you learn about it (especially where cute yet controversial breeds like Pugs and French Bulldogs are concerned), so it’s surprising that it took so long for horror creators to come up with a story about someone applying these genetic horrors to human beings.
That’s why I’m excited to see Alex Goyette’s Breeder this month, as this Eugenics-themed thriller promises to guide viewers down an unsettling rabbit hole about a deranged Poodle breeder who decides to use his talents for a much more sinister purpose.
Breeder will make its streaming debut on Shudder starting October 26th, but it’ll also be available to watch in select theaters as a part of the 59th Sitges Film Festival.
Looking for a scare beyond the silver screen? Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group produces world-class immersive events across the country. From Dark Harbor on the Queen Mary in Long Beach, to Old Joliet Prison in Illinois, to a New Orleans Nightmare, to Jason taking over Austin’s House of Torment, the scares are everywhere. Find your local haunt this season.
