The pumpkin spice flows free, and streaming services have begun to unveil their densely packed Halloween programming. That means the Halloween season is officially here, at least as far as horror is concerned. To help you prepare for the onslaught of horror, here’s a helpful Fall 2023 Horror Preview Guide.
It’s a densely packed slate this Halloween, and trust us, this is only the tip of the iceberg for what’s ahead. Expect plenty of surprise release announcements in store as more streaming services debut their seasonal releases, schedules, and beyond.
Here are 31 horror releases coming soon to help you get into the spooky spirit!
#ChadGetsTheAxe – September 1 (VOD)
Influencers get more than they bargained for in this horror comedy based on a short. The film “follows four social media influencers as they live-stream their trip to Devil’s Manor, the former home of a Satanic Cult. Things don’t go well. And as the violence ramps up… So do the views.”
All Fun and Games – September 1 (Theaters and VOD)
Childhood games get a horror twist in the upcoming feature starring Natalia Dyer (“Stranger Things”) and Asa Butterfield. “When a group of teens find a cursed knife in the woods, they unleash a malevolent demon that will not rest until it’s claimed all of their lives and souls in a terrifying deathmatch.”
Beaten to Death – September 1 (Theaters)
Photo Credit: Welcome Villain Films
Filmmaker Sam Curtain delivers on his nihilistic horror movie’s title and then some. “Stranded in the middle of nowhere after barely surviving a horrific assault, Jack encounters one local after another and quickly learns that a sick game of cat and mouse is about to begin. Battling the deranged country psychos and the harsh landscape, Jack must go to extreme lengths to survive.”
Perpetrator – September 1 (Shudder)
Up next from Jennifer Reeder (V/H/S/94, Night’s End, Knives and Skin) is a horror-noir coming-of-rage tale. In the film, “Jonny Baptiste (Kiah McKirnan) is a reckless teen sent to live with her estranged Aunt Hildie (Alicia Silverstone). On her 18th birthday, she experiences a radical metamorphosis: a family spell that redefines her called Forevering. When several teen girls go missing at her new school, a mythically feral Jonny goes after the Perpetrator.”
Zombie Town – September 1 (Theaters)
The next R.L. Stine adaptation headed our way is Zombie Town, a tale of teens battling the undead that’s based on a 2012 book written by Stine and stars Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase. In the film, “Amy (Madi Monroe) and Mike (Marlon Kazadi) uncover a centuries-old secret when they decide to watch an exclusive film reel. Before they know it, their town has been turned to the undead before their eyes. The duo must track down an infamous filmmaker (Dan Akroyd) and navigate a town of hungry zombies to break the curse before it’s too late.”
Good Boy – September 8 (Theaters, Digital, VOD)
Humans can lick, too, in the horror thriller Good Boy from up-and-coming director Viljar Bøe. “Sigrid thinks she’s met her perfect match with the charming and handsome Christian, but there is one catch- he lives with a man who acts like his pet dog. Trying to be open-minded, Sigrid continues the relationship but soon notices an insidious under-tone to Christian. Maybe ‘puppy play’ isn’t as innocent as it seems.”
Megalomaniac – September 8 (Limited)
Megalomaniac supposes the atrocious Mons Butcher serial killer had offspring that carried on his heritage. Adult siblings Martha (Eline Schumacher) and Felix (Benjamin Ramon) live alone in the spacious yet crumbling Gothic manor. Felix dedicates himself wholly to following his father’s footsteps, modus operandi and all, while the timid Martha works nights as a janitor at a factory. Their unconventional way of life seems to unravel once Martha suffers a series of grotesque assaults at work. Writer/Director Karim Ouelhaj blends nihilistic, extreme horror with an arthouse psychological descent to capture the unraveling of Martha. It’s a doozy.
My Animal – September 8 (Select Theaters), September 15 (Digital)
Heather (Bobbi Salvör Menuez) struggles more than most teens her age in her small Northern town. That includes the pesky problem that requires Heather to be shackled every full moon, inherited from Dad (Stephen McHattie). Then she meets town newcomer Jonny (Amandla Stenberg), a rebellious figure skater. The chemistry between the pair escalates, giving Heather a reprieve from the oppressive forces in her life. It also forces her to reckon with her inner animal in this genre-bending werewolf tale.
The Nun II – September 8 (Theaters)
Michael Chaves (The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It) helms the sequel that’ll reunite Valak (Bonnie Aarons) and Sister Irene (Taissa Farmiga). The pair will battle once more, this time in 1956 France. We can expect The Nun II to fit into the larger Conjuring Universe in some way.
Satanic Hispanics – September 14 (Theaters)
Photo credit: Epic Pictures
This horror anthology assembles a Murderers’ Row of talent. Mike Mendez (Big Ass Spider), Alejandro Brugués (Juan of the Dead), Gigi Saul Guerrero (Culture Shock), Eduardo Sanchez (The Blair Witch Project), and Demian Rugna (Terrified) unite in the first all-Latino horror anthology.
A Haunting in Venice – September 15 (Theaters)
A scene from 20th Century Studios’ A HAUNTING IN VENICE. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Hercule Poirot hits the high seas for a terrifying horror adventure in A Haunting in Venice, a supernatural horror movie from Oscar® winning filmmaker Kenneth Branagh (“Belfast”) that adapts Agatha Christie’s novel Hallowe’en Party. It’s a murder mystery with a horror twist.
El Conde – September 15 (Netflix)
El Conde. Jaime Vadell as El Conde in El Conde. Cr. Pablo Larrain / Netflix © 2023
Director Pablo Larraín (Spencer) helms a dark horror comedy that portrays Augusto Pinochet, a symbol of world fascism, as a vampire who lives hidden in a ruined mansion in the cold southern tip of the continent. The vampire can no longer bear his lackluster reputation.
Elevator Game – September 15 (Shudder)
Based on the online phenomenon of the same name, Rebekah McKendry (Glorious) is playing the Elevator Game with her next horror movie. It follows socially awkward teenager Ryan, who ingratiates himself into a group of recent high school graduates who run an online web series debunking urban legends. Things go awry when he convinces them to play the game responsible for his sister’s disappearance.
Shaky Shivers – September 21 (Theaters)
Shaky Shivers is an 80s-inspired horror comedy that hails from celebrated Fast & Furious actor Sung Kang, making his directorial debut here. The modern creature feature stars Brooke Markham and Vyvy Nguyen as two friends whose wild night at an abandoned summer camp gets a whole lot weirder when werewolves, zombies, and cultists arrive on the scene.
It Lives Inside – September 22 (Theaters)
Get ready for a refreshing new spin on demonic horror. In It Lives Inside, “Sam is desperate to fit in at school, rejecting her Indian culture and family to be like everyone else. When a mythological demonic spirit latches onto her former best friend, she must come to terms with her heritage in order to defeat it.”
No One Will Save You – September 22 (Hulu)
Kaitlyn Dever as Brynn Adams in 20th Century Studios’ NO ONE WILL SAVE YOU, exclusively on Hulu. Photo by Sam Lothridge. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Expect a wild, unpredictable, yet extremely fun ride ahead with writer/filmmaker Brian Duffield (Spontaneous, Love & Monsters, Underwater) at the helm. The film introduces “Brynn Adams (Kaitlyn Dever), a creative and talented young woman who’s been alienated from her community. Lonely but ever hopeful, Brynn finds solace within the walls of the home where she grew up—until she’s awakened one night by strange noises from decidedly unearthly intruders.”
57 Seconds – September 29 (Theaters and Digital)
Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games) and Morgan Freeman (Million Dollar Baby) star in this sci-fi action thriller directed by Rusty Cundieff (Tales from the Hood), who co-wrote with Macon Blair (The Toxic Avenger). “When a tech blogger discovers a time-altering device, he unleashes its power to rewrite the past and seek revenge against the ruthless corporate empire that destroyed his family. But his actions soon trigger a terrifying chain of events, propelling him into a pulse-pounding battle for survival where every second counts.”
Saw X – September 29 (Theaters)
Shawnee Smith as Amanda Young in Saw X. Photo Credit: Ivan Meza
The tenth entry is poised to bring back franchise favorites, including Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) himself, just in time for Halloween. Franchise stalwart Kevin Greutert, who directed the highly regarded Saw VI and Saw: The Final Chapter and edited Saw I through V and Jigsaw, is directing the project. Set between the events of the first and second film, John Kramer heads to Mexico City for a risky medical procedure, only to discover it’s a scam. Hell hath no fury like a Jigsaw scorned.
Deliver Us – September 29 (VOD)
An ancient prophecy centered around immaculately conceived twins, one evil and one good, is poised to deliver new religious terror in Deliver Us. “When a nun in a remote convent claims immaculate conception, the Vatican sends a team of priests to investigate, concerned about an ancient prophecy that a woman will give birth to twin boys: one the Messiah, the other the Anti-Christ.”
Foe – October 6 (Theaters)
Saoirse Ronan, Paul Mescal, and Aaron Pierre star in the twisty apocalyptic marital thriller based on Iain Reid’s novel. Directed by Garth Davis, the film is described as “a haunting exploration of marriage and identity set in an uncertain world. Hen and Junior farm a secluded piece of land that has been in Junior’s family for generations, but their quiet life is thrown into turmoil when an uninvited stranger (Pierre) shows up at their door with a startling proposal.”
Pet Sematary: Bloodlines – October 6 (Paramount+)
Pam Grier in PARAMOUNT+ Presents A PARAMOUNT+ ORIGINAL MOVIE In Association with PARAMOUNT PLAYERS
A di BONAVENTURA PICTURES Production “PET SEMATARY: BLOODLINES”
This prequel is based on the novel by Stephen King. “In 1969, a young Jud Crandall has dreams of leaving his hometown of Ludlow, Maine behind, but soon discovers sinister secrets buried within and is forced to confront a dark family history that will forever keep him connected to Ludlow. Banding together, Jud and his childhood friends must fight an ancient evil that has gripped Ludlow since its founding, and, once unearthed, has the power to destroy everything in its path.”
Totally Killer – October 6 (Prime Video)
It’s The Final Girls meets Back to the Future in this retro slasher comedy. “The film follows Jamie (Kiernan Shipka), whose mom, Pam (Julie Bowen), is terrorized by the resurgence of the Sweet Sixteen Killer—a masked maniac that slaughtered a group of teenage girls in the ’80s. With the help of her friend Amelia (Kelcey Mawema), she travels back in time to 1987 and teams up with the teen version of her mom (Olivia Holt) to try and stop the killer.”
V/H/S/85 – October 6 (Shudder)
Rewind to the ’80s and partake in a killer anthology that assembles insane talent in front of and behind the camera. “Unveiled through a made-for-TV documentary, five chilling tales emerge: scientists observe an unusual boy fixated on his TV, kids embark on a lake skiing adventure, a TV crew fights to survive a natural disaster, the early days of VR awaken something terrifying, and a deadly dream is captured on tape. Sinister secrets of the 1980s come to life in a way you’ve never seen before.”
When Evil Lurks – October 6 (Theaters, October 27 on Shudder)
All you need to know about this one is that it’s from Terrified filmmaker Demián Rugna. In the film, “a pair of brothers find a mutilated corpse near their property and convene with the locals to suss it out. They soon learn that the odd happenings in their village are the cause of a spirit that’s found its way into a local man waiting for the proper protocols to rid his body of the festering demon. An escape attempt ensues as the film keeps its protagonists on edge, racing against imminent danger to shake the spirit’s relentless clutches.”
Dear David – October 13 (Theaters, VOD, Digital)
From the director of Anna and the Apocalypse, John McPhail, comes an adaptation of the viral Twitter thread by Buzzfeed comic artist Adam Ellis. “Shortly after comic artist Adam (Augustus Prew) responds to Internet trolls, he begins experiencing sleep paralysis — while an empty rocking chair moves in the corner of his apartment. As he chronicles increasingly malevolent occurrences in a series of tweets, Adam begins to believe he is being haunted by the ghost of a dead child named David. Encouraged by his boss to continue the “Dear David” thread, Adam starts to lose his grip on what is online…and what is real.”
Divinity – October 13 (Theaters)
A retro sci-fi thriller that’s Executive Produced by Steven Soderbergh. “Two mysterious brothers (Moises Arias and Jason Genao) arrive with a plan to abduct the mogul, and with the help of a seductive woman named Nikita (Karrueche Tran), they will be set on a path hurtling toward true immortality.”
The Exorcist: Believer – October 13 (Theaters)
(from left) Angela Fielding (Lidya Jewett) and Katherine (Olivia Marcum) in The Exorcist: Believer, directed by David Gordon Green.
David Gordon Green launches the first entry in a new trilogy on Friday the 13th. “When Angela (Lidya Jewett) and her friend Katherine (Olivia Marcum) disappear in the woods, only to return three days later with no memory of what happened, it unleashes a chain of events that will force Victor to confront the nadir of evil and, in his terror and desperation, seek out the only person alive who has witnessed anything like it before: Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn).”
HeBGB TV – October 13 (Screambox)
This nostalgia bomb takes you back to the ’90s as it plays like flipping through cable while evoking monstrous fun. “A multi-dimensional cable box installs itself into a neighborhood and, slowly, the world. Two siblings discover a mysterious package on their porch and are taken on a wild channel-surfing journey through a world of television mayhem. Welcomed by their new friend, The Purple Guy, this brother and sister find themselves standing up to the box’s algorithm to protect their minds.”
Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls – October 19 (Theaters)
‘Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls’ – SCREAMBOX Gets Silly With 80s-Inspired Horror-Comedy!
Aspiring occultist Onyx lands the opportunity of a lifetime when he is invited to attend a ritual at the mansion of his hero, Bartok the Great. Plans quickly go awry, however, when Bartok’s true motives are revealed—sending Onyx into a supernatural battle for his very soul. The film is written and directed by viral visionary Andrew Bowser and features performances by Horror icons Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton.
Five Nights at Freddy’s – October 27 (Theaters)
The terrifying animatronics from the horror game series get brought to life in horror movie form, courtesy of Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. Five Nights at Freddy’s is directed by Emma Tammi (The Wind, Blood Moon) and is written by Scott Cawthon, Emma Tammi, and Seth Cuddeback. In the film, “a troubled security guard begins working at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. While spending his first night on the job, he realizes the night shift at Freddy’s won’t be so easy to make it through.”
Suitable Flesh – October 27 (Theaters, Everywhere You Rent Movies)
The spirit of Stuart Gordon is alive and well in 2023. In Suitable Flesh, “After murdering her young patient, a once-esteemed psychiatrist helplessly watches her life spiral into a nightmarish maelstrom of supernatural hysteria and gruesome deaths, all linked to a seemingly unstoppable ancient curse.” Heather Graham, Barbara Crampton, Judah Lewis, Bruce Davison, Johnathon Schaech, and Jonah Ray star in the Lovecraft adaptation helmed by Joe Lynch.
Which Halloween 2023 horror titles are you most looking forward to?
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