Some classics, some brand new movies… and also some truly, TRULY terrible releases.
October means Halloween.
Halloween means scary movies.
That is simple mathematics.
Netflix has celebrated the start of October with some brand new releases (check out that full list here), but they’ve also buffed out their library with some “classic” content, too.
Some of these are great, some of these are not-so-great, and some of these are terrible. You’ve been warned…
- Addams Family Values
Because sometimes you need something spooky but not absolutely terrifying to watch with the young members of the family. Plus, this is a rare example of a sequel being even better than the original.
- Dawn of the Dead (2004)
Featured on our recent list of the 31 best scary movies of the 21st century so far.
So you know it’s good!
- Halloween
The original and best.
- Halloween II
Jamie Lee Curtis stayed for this one, but then didn’t come back to the franchise for a couple of decades.
- Halloween III: Season of the Witch
The second-best one. Also the weirdest one. Also the one without Michael Myers.
- Halloween IV: The Return of Michael Myers
Largely disliked upon release but has picked up a cult following since then, definitely worth a look.
- Halloween V: The Revenge of Michael Myers
The worst one. Avoid.
- The Haunting (1999)
The director of Speed and Twister rounded up Liam Neeson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Owen Wilson and more for one of the worst horror movies of all time.
Definitely in the so-bad-its-good category.
Clip via MovieClips
- The Haunting in Connecticut
“Based on a true story”, this is basically the same set-up as The Conjuring, except The Conjuring did a billion times better. The Conjuring is also on Netflix, just (re)watch that instead.
- Knowing
A big action movie with some properly creepy undertones.
Usually, the end of the world is an excuse to celebrate heroes, but this Nic Cage movie definitely goes in a different direction.
- The Rite
You can see how Anthony Hopkins thought this might have been his own version of The Exorcist. All the pieces were in place. Except for a decent script.
- Scary Movie
Having recently turned 21 years old, we decided to give this a rewatch to see how the jokes held up. They didn’t.
- Scary Movie 3
If you’re asking “Hey! Where is Scary Movie 2??”, don’t worry, that was already on Netflix before this batch of new arrivals.
Three is where they really stopped trying, at least two was weird enough to still be kiiiiiiiinda funny.
- Shaun of the Dead
One of the best horror-comedies of all time. Enough said.
- Shutter Island
Martin Scorsese does his first proper scary movie since Cape Fear, amassing an incredible cast – DiCaprio, Ruffalo, Kingsley, Williams, von Sydow, Mortimer, Clarkson, Levine, Koteas – for this gothic psychological thriller.
- Sinister 2
We hate to say this, because we loved the first Sinister and this sequel is directed by an Irish filmmaker, but this is bad. Not worth your time.
- Till Death
Missing out on an Irish cinematic release, Megan Fox wakes up handcuffed to her dead husband in the middle of nowhere, only to discover this is just the beginning of her troubles. 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, so definitely worth a watch.
Clip via Screen Media
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
