It’s Halloween time, and let’s be real, most of us are probably thinking about a cozy night in with some spooky movies or shows – unless we’re hitting the town in costume, of course. I’m already prepping my watchlist, and honestly, a little indoor fright-fest sounds perfect right now.
If you’re looking for something scary to watch, you’re probably curious about what’s new on TV and streaming services. Netflix has become a go-to for Halloween-themed shows in recent years, often thanks to creator Mike Flanagan, who frequently releases new adaptations just in time for the spooky season – like The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass.
This year is different, though. Netflix’s popular Halloween favorites, Wednesday and Stranger Things, won’t have new episodes released on Halloween itself. Wednesday’s latest episodes came out in early September, and while the first part of Stranger Things’ final season is coming next month, it won’t be available for the holiday.
However, a new Halloween series, It: Welcome to Derry, recently premiered its first episode on NOW (and is also available on Sky Atlantic).
Read on for our picks of the best TV shows and films showing this Halloween.
It: Welcome to Derry – Sky Atlantic and NOW
You’d be hard-pressed to find a more Halloween-appropriate show than this prequel to ‘It,’ and it definitely delivers some frightening moments. Our review highlighted that many of the scares are genuinely terrifying and will give you goosebumps.
Set in 1962, decades before the 2017 movie, this story features new characters alongside the return of Bill Skarsgård as the terrifying clown, Pennywise.
The first episode premiered on Sky Atlantic and NOW last week, and the second episode will now air earlier in the US to coincide with Halloween. We’re still waiting to hear if UK viewers will also get it at the same time, but either way, it’s perfect spooky season viewing.
Dead of Night – 4:45pm, Film4
This spooky 1954 film from Ealing Studios features five separate ghost stories, including tales written by famous authors like HG Wells and EF Benson. The stories are revealed after an architect visits a client’s house and discovers each resident has a chilling experience to share.
The five-star review praises Alberto Cavalcanti’s “The Ventriloquist’s Dummy,” highlighting Michael Redgrave’s incredible performance as a key reason the episode remains powerfully unsettling. It’s considered one of Redgrave’s finest roles.
Robert Hamer’s The Haunted Mirror is genuinely chilling, and the film’s connecting story, featuring architect Mervyn Johns, culminates in a terrifying finale.
Scream 3 – 10:10pm – BBC Three
Just in time for Halloween, the trailer for the seventh movie in the popular, self-referential horror series is here. Plus, BBC Three will be showing one of the earlier films on Halloween night.
In this third installment, Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) is forced to confront her past when a new Ghostface killer targets those involved in a movie made about her life. She emerges from hiding as the cast and crew become the latest victims.
Our review noted that while the third film isn’t as sharp as the first two, it offers an interesting and timely mystery about the underbelly of Hollywood. It builds to a thrilling climax and has a fun, campy energy that makes it enjoyable.
Don’t Look Now – 11:40pm, BBC Two
Considered one of the best British films ever made, Nicolas Roeg’s suspenseful thriller, starring Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie, is based on a story by Daphne du Maurier. It’s famous for its unforgettable and visually stunning scenes, and is a landmark achievement in horror filmmaking.
Donald Sutherland and Christie play a couple mourning the loss of their child. They journey to Venice and encounter two peculiar sisters, one of whom says she can connect with the spirit of their deceased child, which sets off a series of strange and unsettling occurrences.
Critics are calling this film a masterpiece, praising its terrifying and dreamlike depiction of winter in Venice. They highlight its consistently unsettling and isolating atmosphere, which builds to a truly memorable ending.
The Woman in Black – 12:40am, BBC One
I stumbled across another late-night horror flick on regular TV, and this one turned out to be the 2012 film based on Susan Hill’s classic gothic novel. It features Daniel Radcliffe as the main character, which was a nice surprise!
A young lawyer is tasked with reviewing the papers of a recently deceased woman, and soon uncovers a disturbing secret hidden within her house.
When it first came out, I gave it three stars. I thought it was well-made and had a certain elegance, but it definitely relied on a lot of familiar horror tropes. Director James Watkins really nailed the classic Hammer horror vibe – the atmosphere, the style – and he was good at getting quick scares with things like loud noises and jump cuts. It wasn’t groundbreaking, but it was a solid, atmospheric thriller.
Is It Cake? Halloween – Netflix
I have to say, it’s not exactly a scary pick, but Netflix’s most Halloween-themed offering this year seems to be a special set of episodes for ‘Is It Cake?’, which I absolutely love! It’s a fun, lighthearted choice for the season.
The show follows its usual format: celebrities try to guess which seemingly real objects are actually elaborate cakes. This season’s creations all have a Halloween theme.
As a big fan, I’m thrilled there are four episodes to dive into! And the guest stars are fantastic – they’ve got Chelsea Peretti from Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Harvey Guillén, who I love from What We Do In The Shadows. It’s a really exciting lineup.
Disney Twisted Wonderland: The Animation – Disney Plus
This new anime is a bit different from the usual, adapting a well-known mobile game. It tells the story of Yuu, who is suddenly pulled into a magical world through a mirror and ends up attending Night Raven College, a school for magic users.
The school has seven dormitories, and each one is themed after a different Disney villain. Yuu quickly learns to find his way around as he adjusts to life there.
The first episode has just launched, and more will be coming to Disney Plus in the coming weeks.
Read More
- Gold Rate Forecast
- Wednesday Season 2 Completely Changes a Key Addams Family Character
- The Simpsons Kills Off Marge Simpson In Shocking Twist
- 10 Most Badass Moments From Arrow
- How Mariska Hargitay’s Husband Supported Her After Sexual Assault
- Vanessa Kirby Reveals Pedro Pascal Got ‘Snappy’ During Fantastic Four Events
- Dynasty Warriors remastered title and Dynasty Warriors: Origins major DLC announced
- 7 Characters The Hulk Has Definitely Smashed
- Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition coming to PS5 on November 4
- Jimmy Kimmel Slams ‘Angry Finger Pointing’ Following Charlie Kirk Shooting After Building a Career off Angry Finger Pointing
2025-10-31 18:05