The end of October doesn’t have a monopoly on horror movies. Nothing is stopping you from throwing on a scary movie or series at any other point of the year—but isn’t there something deliciously spine-chilling about doing so during spooky season, when there’s something mischievous and macabre in the air? Whether you’re searching for gory horror, tense thrillers, or just a touch of unearthly fun, our Halloween streaming roundup has you covered. Read on for GRAZIA’s pick of the best that streaming has to offer this October and November, from new originals to cinematic hits making their online debut.
IT: Welcome to Derry
HBO’s newest original series takes us back 27 years before the events of IT, to the hair-raising roots of Pennywise the killer clown. With Bill Skarsgard reprising his role as Pennywise, this prequel series tackles not only the clown’s terrifying origin story but also a series of deeper themes surrounding abuse, racism, and psychological trauma. The eight-episode series uses its 1960s, small-town American backdrop to shine a light on the horrors of society as much as it does on ancient cosmic beings in the form of clowns. However, deeper messages aside, the show also delivers on the straightforward spine-chilling terror and thrills that one expects from a classic horror franchise like IT, making it the perfect Halloween watch.
IT: Welcome to Derry is premiering on HBO Max on 26 October.
Frankenstein
Wake up, babe, a new Guillermo del Toro monster flick is about to drop—and this one is the story he’s been waiting to tell for his entire career. Del Toro’s take on Mary Shelley’s classic novel stars Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein, and Internet boyfriend Jacob Elordi as his monstrous creation. The film has been described as visually stunning as well as emotionally compelling, with poignant performances from Elordi and Isaac. Indie horror queen Mia Goth also makes an appearance as a supporting character, making it a horror must-watch.
Frankenstein is premiering on Netflix on 7 November.
Stranger Things 5, Volume 1
It’s hard to believe that almost a decade has passed since the premiere of Stranger Things—but when you press play on the teaser for the show’s upcoming fifth and final season, you’ll soon realise that it’s long overdue for a spectacular and grand finale. Set in the fall of 1987, the season promises to bring together the entire Hawkins gang for one final battle to close the Rifts and find and defeat Vecna. The show’s director duo is known for their cinematic approach to TV, giving each episode the narrative and visual heft of a feature film, and there’s no doubt they brought this full-on approach to the final season. Add on the fact that we’ve essentially watched the main cast of kids grow up on and off screen, and the show’s finale is imbued with all the more emotional weight, making it unmissable TV.
Stranger Things 5: Volume 1 is premiering on Netflix on 27 November.
Sinners
This Ryan Coogler-directed masterpiece makes a strong case for being the best horror movie of the year, if not the best movie of the year, period. Starring Michael B. Jordan in a double role alongside Hailey Steinfeld and newcomer Miles Caton, Sinners takes place amongst the history-rich Mississippi Delta in the 1930s, following two brothers who return to their hometown to find a mysterious new evil lurking. The film tackles blues music, African-American history, love, loyalty—and yes, vampires. If that sounds like a tall ask, rest assured that Coogler’s precise direction and heartwrenching performances from the entire cast tie the movie’s themes together masterfully. The result is a crowd-pleaser, deftly blending humour and thrills with a deeper message about community and the power of music to transcend generations. Whether it’s for a repeat viewing or a first-time watch, Sinners deserves a solid spot on your Halloween watchlist.
Sinners is now streaming on HBO Max.
28 Years Later
Director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland reunited for this critically acclaimed addition to the universe of their 2003 zombie flick 28 Days Later. Set, as the title succinctly explains, 28 years after the events of the first movie, it brings us to a post-apocalyptic zombie wasteland where a group of survivors have sequestered themselves on a remote island. One such survivor, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, journeys towards the mainland, setting off a series of chilling discoveries. 28 Years Later weaves the gore and tension of the first film with new themes of folk horror and British countryside traditions, as well as satirical elements that make for an interesting tonal shift. The fourth instalment to the series, titled 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, was also filmed back-to-back with this one and is set to be released in a couple of months—so what better time to catch up on the lore with this gory hit?
28 Years Later is now streaming on Netflix.
Drop
You might remember Meghann Fahy from her lauded role in the first White Lotus season as a sidelined wife who’s more in the know than she lets on. Drop is a tense thriller that sees Fahy bring the same acting chops to a much more high-stakes situation, as she’s bombarded with threatening AirDrops from a mysterious figure who tasks her with killing her date. The premise might sound pulpy, but this is where Drop’s appeal lies—it’s a tightly focused, exciting thriller that gives us unrelenting twists and tension throughout its 90-minute runtime. If you can get past a couple of plot holes, you’re in for some classic horror fun that Variety describes as “crisp and delicious”.
Drop is now streaming on HBO Max.
Final Destination: Bloodlines
There’s something refreshing about a franchise that sticks to its guns and doesn’t attempt to reinvent the wheel. For over 20 years, the Final Destination franchise has been consistently delivering on its central premise: watching people die grisly, horrific deaths in increasingly complex and implausible scenarios. The most recent addition to the universe continues in this vein, producing a satisfyingly bloody caper that’s sure to leave you wincing at the screen and averting your eyes. You can look forward to extended set pieces involving shards of glass in ice tubs, rogue lawn mowers, and skyscrapers with unstable floors. Final Destination: Bloodlines gives us all the gore of the series’ previous iterations while expanding upon the familiar premonition plotline—and most enjoyably, while leaning into the camp and humour of it all.
Final Destination: Bloodlines is now streaming on HBO Max.
This story first appeared on GRAZIA Singapore.
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