11 horror movies coming out in cinemas and streaming this October

It’s spooky season, and that means we need to get our horror on. We’ve already recommended a whole bunch of spooky games for you to play. We’ve been banging on about Terrifier 3. And you shouldn’t miss our shortlist of the greatest ever horror villains.

But the number one attraction? We’re all out for a new horror movie we’ve not seen before, right?

We’ve scoured the release schedules of cinemas, VOD (video on demand) stores and streaming services to see what’s coming up ahead of the big day, Halloween. Here are 11 horror movies coming out this month for you to keep an eye out for.

Outside

What is it? A zombie movie from the Philippines. A family head to a farmhouse out in the country to try to survive a zombie outbreak. Unlikely as this sounds, Outside is apparently the first zombie film set in the Philippines.

When is it out? October 17 (Netflix)

Smile 2

What is it? A sequel to the 2022 viral hit in which a soon-to-be victim of an evil spirit sees people grinning at them manically. In Smile 2 our lead is a pop star about to go on tour, played by Naomi Scott, who is an actual singer. She also played Jasmine in 2019’s Aladdin.

When is it out? October 18

I Will Never Leave You Alone

What is it? A Frightfest 2024 favourite. I Will Never Leave You Alone follows the fate of a mute man released from prison but under the custody of someone who makes him stay, for six nights, in a haunted house. If he doesn’t stay, he must go back to prison. To be shown in limited cinemas, and digitally.

When is it out? October 18

Ghost Game

What is it? TheGhost Game is where people live in other people’s homes, with the aim of doing so without them noticing. But the couple who play this unusual game take a turn when they decide to target a house that is reportedly haunted. The film had its debut in April at Panic Fest 2024, but is getting a limited cinematic and VOD release this month.

When is out? October 18 (October 22 for digital release)

Rippy

What is it? A zombie kangaroo film from Australia. It’s a horror-comedy, although the trailer suggests it’s not too ridiculous a movie, at least at the outset. Fingers crossed for some Cocaine Bear-grade fun.

When is out? October 18 (VOD)

Caddo Lake

What is it? Part thriller, part sci-fi, part horror, Caddo Lake is the tale of a girl who goes missing in a lake. But when it is discovered part of the lake has a certain supernatural power, it begins to unravel mysteries of the past as well as the present. Can you tell we’re trying to avoid spoilers? This one is produced by M. Night Shyamalan, so expect some twists.

When is it out? October 20 (NOW)

Don’t Move

What is it? A woman hiking in the forest is injected with a paralysing serum that gives her just 20 minutes to try to escape from her assailant. This one comes from the direction/production duo of Brian Netto and Adam Schindler, who previously made Shut In (2015) and Delivery (2013).

When is it out? October 25 (Netflix)

All You Need is Blood

What is it? A horror comedy in which a couple of friends try to make their own horror film while an actual zombie outbreak is happening, and one of the film-maker’s fathers is turned into a zombie. One familiar face you’ll notice in this one is that of Mena Suvari.

When is it out? October 25 (VOD)

Azrael

What is it? Yet another film that cements Samara Weaving as a bit of a modern horror legend. She is Azrael, a woman kidnapped to be sacrificed to an evil entity out in the woods. And to complicate matters, this is all happening three years after the rapture. She escapes and must survive in what looks like a more ominous take on the action of Ready or Not.

When is it out? October 25 (Shudder)

Time Cut

What is it? A time travel horror film in which a teen heads back 20 years to try to stop a series of murders. One of the film’s writers, Michael Kennedy, also wrote Freaky — part of a lineage of high concept horrors Time Cut clearly wants to be part of.

When is it out? October 30 (Netflix)

Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End

What is it? A Spanish zombie movie that shows the collapse of society as the outbreak takes hold. It’s based on a novel by Manel Loureiro, which itself was part of a trilogy of books.

When is it out? October 31 (Prime Video)

• The best modern horror movies, ranked!