Courtesy of Amazon (3); Netflix
In Part One, I previewed some of the normal new content that is coming to our screens this month. (Well, as "normal" as stuff can be in these strange and tough times.) Still, some traditions remain the same. October is the month of Halloween, and this is the time of the year that film studios reserve for their most frightening horror films. Unfortunately, given the pandemic's persistence, many theaters around the country remain closed.
Luckily for us, a few of our favorite streaming platforms have us covered. Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon are lined up with new scary movies and TV series ready to serve up the thrills that fans are craving this month—including a collection of films from one of the biggest production companies for horror projects. I'll be the first to admit that I don't often seek out shows or movies of this genre; nonetheless, I still enjoy a good entertaining scare here and there. More importantly, when the world these days is desperate for new things to watch, these upcoming new releases fit the bill in more ways than one. Let's take a look at some of the best-looking spooky stuff I've got my eye on:
Vampires vs. the Bronx
Now streaming (Netflix)
I do love good horror comedy (Shaun of the Dead is one of the greatest films ever), and this movie looks like it will provide some good laughs with a unique and original perspective: A group of young teens are in an ongoing fight to protect their neighborhood from gentrification, but the battle enters a new stage when deadly vampires begin to move in.
Books of Blood
Wednesday, Oct. 7 (Hulu)
Clive Barker's name is synonymous with the horror genre, thanks in large part to his Books of Bloods series of written short stories. Many of these tales have been adapted into a number of films, most famous of which is the Candyman series. Now, this new film, directed by Brannon Braga, takes three of those stories and weaves them together into a brand new scary adventure.
The Haunting of Bly Manor
Friday, Oct. 9 (Netflix)
Two years ago, Netflix released The Haunting of Hill House, a ten-episode series based on the novel of the same name by Shirley Jackson, and the show received wide acclaim, including from Stephen King and Quentin Tarantino. Now, the same production team returns with a brand new follow-up series. Many of the same cast from Hill House will be featured in this series, but this new installment is based on Henry James's The Turn of the Screw and will not be connected to the previous series.
Helstrom
Friday, Oct. 16 (Hulu)
From the world of Marvel Comics, this supernatural superhero series follows a brother-and-sister tandem who are the children of a powerful serial killer, as they fight off demons and hunt for the worst of humanity. Technically a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this show is the last remnant of the original Marvel Television division before it was folded into Marvel Studios.
Welcome to the Blumhouse
In November 2018, the television department of Blumhouse (the powerhouse production company known for horror releases like Paranormal Activity, The Purge, Get Out, and many more) signed a deal with Amazon Studios to produce eight feature-length films for its Prime Video streaming service. Now, the first four films are set to debut this month, and amazingly, all of them look intriguing and unique enough to differentiate from each other. Check out the trailers and log lines for all the movies below:
The Lie
Tuesday, Oct. 6 (Prime Video)
Written and directed by Veena Sud (The Killing, Seven Seconds): "When their teenage daughter confesses to impulsively killing her best friend, two desperate parents attempt to cover up the horrific crime, leading them into a complicated web of lies and deception."
Black Box
Tuesday, Oct. 6 (Prime Video)
"After losing his wife and his memory in a car accident, a single father undergoes an agonizing experimental treatment that causes him to question who he really is."
Nocturne
Tuesday, Oct. 13 (Prime Video)
"Inside the halls of an elite arts academy, a timid music student begins to outshine her more accomplished and outgoing twin sister when she discovers a mysterious notebook belonging to a recently deceased classmate."
Evil Eye
Tuesday, Oct. 13 (Prime Video)
"A seemingly perfect romance turns into a nightmare when a mother becomes convinced her daughter’s new boyfriend has a dark connection to her own past."
Any other new horror movies and shows you've got your eye on? Tell me about them in the comments below!