The best new horror movies to watch this Halloween
It’s almost Halloween, and quite frankly, if you haven’t been watching as many horror movies as possible across the month, you’ve been doing October wrong. However, if you haven’t, there’s still time to cram in a few scary movies before Halloween is over, and why not pick some new releases if you’re bored of rewatching the classics?
There are only so many times that you can watch iconic horror movies like Halloween, Scream, and The Exorcist before they lose their fear factor. When we know what twist is coming, who is going to survive, and who is going to meet their tragic demise, it’s hard to feel terrified. Luckily, 2024 has been a good year for horror, with many titles emerging across subgenres. From body horror to sci-fi, comedy, and supernatural horror, there is a scary movie for everyone – even those who get easily perturbed.
If you haven’t already seen Longlegs, one of the most talked about horror movies of the year, perhaps Halloween is the right time to catch it. The movie, starring Nicolas Cage and Maika Monroe, sees the latter play an FBI agent who must investigate a strange series of murders across Oregon. She soon gets caught up in a serial killer’s web as she receives a birthday card from the mysterious ‘Longlegs’, played terrifically (and terrifyingly) by Cage. It is now available to rent on most streaming platforms.
Another one of the most popular horror movies of the year has been The Substance, a body horror about female ageing and stardom featuring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley. Directed by Coralie Fargeat, the movie takes a satirical approach to its complex themes of femininity and Hollywood, and it has been highly praised as a result. The movie will be coming to MUBI on October 31st, just in time to watch the gory scenes from the comfort of your own home.
In keeping with the theme of stylish horror movies, Strange Darling, a thrilling film about a ruthless serial killer that subverts expectations and plays with unconventional narrative structure, might be your perfect Halloween watch. The neon-soaked I Saw The TV Glow, which sees two teenagers lose their grasp on reality as they get consumed by their favourite show, is also one of the most inventive, intriguing and visually impressive horror movies of 2024.
That’s not the only great horror movie released by A24 this year, though. If you enjoyed X and Pearl, why not finish the trilogy with MaXXXine? It was released in July, with Mia Goth reprising her role as the porn star with dreams of becoming a Hollywood actor.
Similarly, on the theme of sequels, there have been quite a few strong ones this year that are worth adding to your Halloween watchlist if you haven’t already seen them. From Smile 2 and Terrifier 3 to the long-awaited Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and the sci-fi-themed A Quiet Place: Day One and Alien: Romulus, as far as horror sequels go, 2024 has delivered some solid ones.
Finally, if you fancy seeing two beloved British actors take dark turns after inviting people into their home, look no further than Speak No Evil starring James McAvoy and Heretic featuring Hugh Grant. While the former film is already in the cinema, Heretic will be available to watch from October 31st onwards.
The best new horror movies to watch this Halloween:
- Strange Darling
- The Substance
- A Quiet Place: Day One
- Smile 2
- Terrifer 3
- Longlegs
- I Saw The TV Glow
- Speak No Evil
- Heretic
- Alien: Romulus
- MaXXXine
- Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
