Which movies will you watch for Halloween 2024? Here are 10+ films to watch on the spookiest night of the year, from scary classics to new releases and hidden gems!
Halloween 2024 is coming, and if you haven’t decided which movies to watch this year, we have you covered! Whether you’re into spooky watches, terrifying horror flicks, campy films, or self-aware gems, here’s a list of 10+ movies, from new releases to all-time classics, recommended by our writers! Find them all below in alphabetical order, and scroll till the end for even more recommendations! Happy Halloween!
1. Abigail (2024)
Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett
Abigail is a bloody delight. Directors Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin deliver a heist-gone-wrong when a group of criminals kidnap the 12-year-old daughter of a powerful business mogul and hold her for ransom in an isolated mansion, unaware that she’s actually a bloodthirsty vampire.
Abigail’s tsunami of blood and gore is tailor made for genre aficionados, but the film’s razor-sharp humour and dynamic ensemble is where Abigail really shines. The use of one location pushes the characters to band-together despite using fake names to avoid personalising their operation. There’s a great scene early on where Joey (Melissa Barrera), uses her intellect to correctly guess information about her fellow kidnappers. Barrera serves steely final-girl excellence and Alisha Weir is electric as the throat-ripping, tutu-wearing vampire, but Dan Stevens’ slimy former-detective Frank is a high spot; his line deliveries tickle my brain so poignantly. Pioneered by its comical band of felons, Abigail is a bloodstained blast suitable for Halloween night. (Isabella Liistro)
2. Alien: Romulus (2024)
Fede Álvarez
The Alien franchise’s quality has fluctuated over the years, so whether you are a fan or not, I cannot blame you if you have not gotten around to 2024’s Alien: Romulus. In all honesty, I saw this on a whim with no real knowledge of the series and came out having witnessed one of my favorite releases of the year.
Directed by Fede Álvarez, Alien: Romulus takes place between the events of Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986). The film centers on a group of down on their luck space colonists who stumble upon creatures while scavenging a seemingly deserted space station and must find a way to survive. What makes this film stand out is the seemingly endless amount of tension packed into the narrative by Álvarez and co writer Rodo Sayagues. Not only that, but they make audiences feel for characters like Rain (Cailee Spaeny) and her surrogate brother, an android named Andy (David Jonsson).
You will want them to survive and be terrified alongside them throughout because Spaeny and Jonsson give performances that could move mountains. Then you have Isabela Merced as fellow colonist Kay, who is memorable in her own right and delivers one of the most ear piercing screams in recent horror history. Even if the story could have relied less on nostalgia, it still has heart and the ability to send chills up your spine this Halloween. (Branyan Towe)
3. Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)
Frank Capra
1944’s Arsenic and Old Lace, directed by Frank Capra, is a cozy, deliriously funny screwball comedy about serial killers, mad scientists, and monsters. Cary Grant delivers some of the greatest facial reaction shots in cinema history as Mortimer Brewster, a theatre critic who returns to the Brooklyn home where he was raised by two Spinster Aunts, Aunt Abby (Josephine Hull) and Aunt Martha (Jean Adair), to announce his recent marriage.
During his visit, Mortimer is shocked to discover that his Aunts have been poisoning lonely elderly men with a mix of arsenic, strychnine and cyanide in homemade elderberry wine, and then burying the bodies in the cellar. Mortimer’s problems are further compounded by the return of his homicidal brother Jonathan (Raymond Massey), recently escaped from prison and sporting plastic surgery which makes him resemble horror legend Boris Karloff.
The movie captures the spirit of the lighter side of Halloween; a theatrical, mischievous attitude toward the macabre. The aesthetic of the film is similar to that of Victorian Era Halloween post cards and Norman Rockwell Saturday Evening Post covers, all jack o’ lanterns and ghosts made out of bed sheets, but slowly the veneer of quaint Americana is peeled away to reveal murder and madness. Arsenic and Old Lace is as black as a black comedy can be, with a frenetic and acidically ironic sense of humor. Many times throughout the movie multiple jokes will occur simultaneously. Yet, it never becomes shrill or ghoulish due to the cider and crisp dead leaves atmosphere and the balletic control demonstrated by Capra and the performers. (Megan Fisher)
4. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)
Tim Burton
You knew it was coming. Tim Burton’s much anticipated Beetlejuice sequel was only released a few months ago, and yet it has already won over audiences all over the world. If haven’t watched it yet, Halloween is the perfect time to find out what our favorite “bio-exorcist” has been up to in the past 36 years. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice sees three generations of Deetz women – Winona Ryder’s Lydia, her mother Delia (Catherine O’Hara), and her daughter Astrid (Jenna Ortega) – return to Winter River after Charles Deetz unexpectedly dies. A funeral is about to take place, but a wedding might be in order too, if Lydia’s producer/boyfriend Rory (Justin Theroux) has his way. Elsewhere, our “ghost with the most” is dealing with a soul eating ex-wife (Monica Bellucci) who’s coming for him, and an afterlife detective (Willem Dafoe) trailing him.
The rest of the film isn’t revolutionary plot-wise – on the contrary, the main antagonist doesn’t even seem to have much of an impact on the overall story – but does it even matter, when the movie is so much fun? Tim Burton is back in a sequel that’s gorgeous, hilarious, and filled with nostalgia; Beetlejuice Beetlejuice will have your eyes glued to the screen from its goosebump-worthy title sequence till its very last scene. By which time you’ll be singing the Bee Gees’s “Tragedy” as you wish for another sequel. (Serena Seghedoni)
5. The Exorcist (1973)
William Friedkin
I am reminded every time I watch The Exorcist (1973) why it is still considered one of the greatest horror movies ever made. Director William Friedkin’s classic became a template for a specific type of horror. The demon possession narrative is one that has become quite popular, spawning an ungodly number of franchises and sequels. What continues to set this film apart from the others, however, is the fact that The Exorcist focuses on realistic characters (anchored by great performances from Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair, Jason Miller, Max von Sydow, and others) having genuine crises, using them to expertly explore the relationship between faith and science, the weight of grief, the burdens of parenthood, and other heavy topics. Too often these days, demon possession movies focus solely on the gimmicks and the jump scares instead of an actual story. Filmmakers wanting to make this type of horror movie should recognize why exactly The Exorcist remains relevant even after 50 years. (Joshua Stevens)
6. The First Omen (2024)
Arkasha Stevenson
Margaret (Nell Tiger Free, Servant), a devout American noviciate, arrives in Rome to initiate her lifelong service to the catholic church. What was supposed to be a time to reinforce her faith turns into a nightmare as she finds herself in the middle of a sinister plot to bring about the birth of the antichrist.
Few filmmakers manage to leave their mark when offered to play in a franchise’s sandbox, let alone when such an offer happens to be their feature debut, too. Director Arkasha Stevensoncrafts an uneasy atmosphere from The First Omen’s opening moments that is effectively disorienting and upsetting. Within mainstream horror, there are a select number of movies that embody a genuine sense of evil that could make anyone uncomfortable watching them. Rosemary’s Baby, The Exorcist, The Omen, and, most recently, Hereditary fit that criteria.
What all of these films have in common, which The First Omen shares, it’s that they tap into an evil that I find particularly terrifying: lack of control in one’s life. It’s such a simple narrative idea, yet when done right, it can be more terrifying than any slasher killer could ever be. When Stevenson focuses on the movie’s body horror elements and dives into the religious politics, it is some of the best genre filmmaking I’ve seen produced by a legacy studio. What Nell Tiger Free pulls off, especially in the third act, will have you covering your mouth if you choose to give it a shot this Halloween season. (Edgar Ortega)
7. Fresh (2022)
Mimi Cave
In one of Sebastian Stan’s darkest roles, he plays a man who abuses women, provides luxury items for the ultra-wealthy, and has an insatiable appetite for that which is not available to everyone. And in the 2022 film Fresh, Stan plays a cannibal who kidnaps and harvests women for their meat.
Noa (Daisy Edgar-Jones, Twisters) is despairing of ever meeting someone she connects with. But in a meet-cute at a local supermarket, she discovers Steve (Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice), a man who almost seems too good to be true. They have an incredible first date, and when he suggests that they go away for the weekend, Noa readily accepts, ecstatic to have finally met someone who feels like a potential soulmate. But when she wakes up chained to a bed, she realizes that Steve, just like so many other men, just sees her as a piece of meat.
Fresh is a delightfully twisted thriller that touches on some feminist themes in a truly unique way. Director Mimi Cage and writer Lauren Kahn have captured women’s fears about dating and spun them into a darkly funny yet frightening film. Stan delivers an absolutely unhinged performance, and Edgar-Jones plays Noa with heart and fear and rage that all come across beautifully. The film goes a little off the rails in the final moments, but overall, Fresh is just a lot of fun. And you’ll never hear Peter Cetera’s “Restless Heart” the same way again. (Alise Chaffins)
8. The House That Jack Built (2018)
Lars von Trier
Ever wanted to see a slasher movie turned into an art film? Well, look no further than Lars von Trier’s The House That Jack Built! It’s a gruesome look into the mind of a serial killer, Jack (Matt Dillon, of American Dreamer). The film follows Jack’s journey through five incidents, reflecting on art, morality, and violence. While deeply disturbing, it’s also darkly philosophical, with moments of black humor and artistic symbolism. This controversial film pushes the boundaries of horror and psychological drama, making it perfect for those seeking unsettling and a thought-provoking movie this Halloween.
Dillon’s chilling performance adds layers to Jack’s complex, morally bankrupt character, while von Trier’s screenplay plays with the idea of murder as a distorted form of art. The film provokes intense discomfort but also sparks existential questions, making it a polarizing yet essential horror film. If you’re looking for something that fuses violence with philosophical musings, then this is the film for you! (Roberto Tyler Ortiz)
9. In A Violent Nature (2024)
Chris Nash
In A Violent Nature is one of the most eye-catching horror movies of 2024. Writer-director Chris Nash takes the blood-and-gore of 1980s slasher horror out of American suburbia and plants it in the beautiful hills of the Algoma District of Ontario, Canada. Its mute serial killer, with his face concealed behind a weathered smoke protector mask, prowls the lush Algoma hills and picks off backpackers one-by-one with rusty dragging hooks.
Shot from the point-of-view of this killer, In A Violent Nature is a 90-minute movie that doesn’t rely on chilling music and chase sequences to generate suspense. It’s a more unnerving film that strips out the more clichéd conventions of slasher movies. Instead, Nash’s cinematography emphasises the tranquillity of the killer’s surroundings, contrasting the beauty of the natural landscape with the killer’s death-bringing presence. In A Violent Nature is a more slow, meditative look at the destructive nature of violence. It’s a beautifully shot slasher with a dark heart. (Christina Brennan)
10. It’s What’s Inside (2024)
Greg Jardin
It’s What’s Inside is the perfect movie for Halloween parties. We follow a group of friends who reunite the night before a wedding, and it’s immediately obvious that they all have a complicated history with each other. When an estranged member of the group shows up with a mysterious game, all hell breaks looseThe film has a chaotic, high-octane energy that I’ve honestly never seen before to the point where when watching, I could feel my adrenaline spiking during certain scenes.
This energy is exactly what would make watching this with a group of friends so fun. You can’t help but want to yell at the screen when something crazy happens, and, because It’s What’s Inside is so unexpected, there are plenty of opportunities to do so. All of the characters also brim with personality, so it’s fun to see which characters people align with, especially once they start playing the game. It’s What’s Inside is sure to become a sleepover Halloween classic similar to films like Bodies Bodies Bodies, Jennifer’s Body, and Happy Death Day, so do yourself a favor and watch this fantastic film as a jumpstart to your horror binging. (Jonathan Vargas)
11. Lisa Frankenstein (2024)
Zelda Williams
I recommended Lisa Frankenstein as a Valentine’s Day film when it came out. Here I am now, recommending it again as a Halloween movie. The first film from director Zelda Williams, this romance/comedy/horror flick sees a 1980s high schooler named Lisa (Kathryn Newton) befriend and form a romance with a centuries-old corpse (Cole Sprouse) that somehow comes to life. It’s a weird premise with an equally weird execution. Lisa Frankenstein is an unhinged movie that bottles up the raucous, rebellious energy of its main characters and lets it explode all over the screen. It oozes 80s camp and culture, wearing the time period like a badge of honor with the attitude of a rebellious child to match.
You sympathize with Lisa as an outcast due to her interests and personality, even as she crosses many lines trying to keep what she has, including a few instances that’ll probably cause your jaw to drop. We’ve all felt that frustrated childishness within us at some point – maybe we still do – and it’s embraced by this deranged story and off-kilter style. But the film still addresses the legitimate drama and consequences that come with certain choices, with everything landing very authentically despite the oddness. Lisa Frankenstein isn’t some perfect masterpiece of romance and spooky schlock, and it was never destined to win over everyone. But if you’re feeling like a movie with a zany, strangely relatable heart and retro atmosphere that’s perfect for this time of year, this could potentially be a new favorite for the holiday. (Joseph Tomastik)
12. The Substance (2024)
Coralie Fargeat
There have been several outstanding horror projects released this year, but The Substance stands miles higher than any other. Coralie Fargeat’s stirring thriller follows an older woman named Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore), who becomes enamoured with the titular substance that promises to transform her into “her best self”. What follows is an arresting, non-stop adventure through gripping mysteries, stylish set pieces, and biting social commentary that tears apart the modern beauty industry and offers some profound insight into the ageing process and its introspective impact on women in today’s society.
What’s most impactful about The Substance is just how bold and fearless the storytelling is; this fierce narrative takes unbelievable turns that get increasingly absurd and unpredictable, pushing this story to its absolute limit and then forcing it even further. The final act features some of the wildest, most grotesque body horror in recent memory, but the sheer nerve of Fargeat’s storytelling somehow allows the movie to be played for laughs at the same time. The Substance is a twisted fairytale that aims to tear down our increasingly toxic perceptions of beauty and youth, a modern Dorian Gray that seeks not to blame us for our vanity but instead mutate the system that caused it. (Jack Walters)
More Movies to Watch for Halloween 2024:
- A Quiet Place: Day One
- Blink Twice
- The Exorcism of Saint Patrick
- I Saw the TV Glow
- Late Night with the Devil
- Longlegs
- Lore
- MaXXXine
- Oddity
- Shaun of the Dead
- Sister Death
- Sleep
- Smile 2
- Strange Darling
- Trap
