Spooky season is upon us! If you’re a binge-watcher like me, you’ll probably want some new movie and television recommendations to see this Halloween season. Every year, the same popular movies and shows are reintroduced on another Halloween “what to watch” list, so here are some to binge that you might not have seen before:
- The Twilight Zone (1959-1964)
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The Twilight Zone is a classic black-and-white sci-fi/horror television show that most people have forgotten about due to both the show’s age and the new remake starring Jordan Peele. The doll from the episode “Talking Tina” still creeps me out.
- The Mist (2007)*
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Not to be mistaken with the disappointing one-and-done series from 2017, The Mist is based on Stephen King’s novella of the same name about the Drayton family and others who get trapped in a grocery store after a thick fog envelops their town. Shocking twists and turns make it well worth the watch.
- Brightburn (2019)*
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The best way to describe this movie is that it’s kid Superman if he turned out to be an evil murderer; you can see why that’s scary.
- Before I Wake (2016)
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The movie features foster kid Cody, an 8-year-old who’s afraid to fall asleep because his dreams and nightmares become real. It is a little bit more of a slow build horror with an intriguing plot and an unexpected ending.
- DayBreak (2019)*
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Finally, this is a comedy for the easily spooked! The series mostly centers around Josh, a witty teenager prone to comedic Ferris Bueller-style narrations, navigating a post-apocalyptic LA divided into territories based on high school cliques.
- Light as a Feather (2018-2019)
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This is a Hulu original thriller series starring some pretty famous young actors—including Dylan Sprayberry (Teen Wolf), Jordan Rodrigues (The Fosters, Dance Academy), and Peyton List (Jessie). It is a surprisingly good watch that’s reminiscent of movies Triple Dog and Truth or Dare (2018).
- R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour (2010-2014)
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Think the Goosebumps TV series but a little more sophisticated and a lot more creepy; this show gave me nightmares when I was younger. The anthology is a must-watch if you’re feeling nostalgic and saw Goosebumps and Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark as a kid.
- Don’t Breathe (2016)*
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This is an excellent movie that’s continuously overlooked and reminds me of Intruders (2016). Thinking it will be easy money, a group of thieves break into a blind veteran’s house in an abandoned neighborhood. Conclusion: don’t mess with veterans.
- Black Mirror (2011-present)*
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Although this technology-gone-wrong series is technically classified as sci-fi, Black Mirror gets pretty dark and disturbing. If you’re looking for something that might leave you scarred (at least temporarily), this show is for you.
- Doctor Sleep (2019)*
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This is yet another Stephen King film that’s made it onto this list. The long-awaited sequel to The Shining stars Ewan McGregor (Star Wars, Big Fish) as Danny, now an adult, and Rebecca Ferguson (The Greatest Showman) as Rose the Hat, a villain who sucks the “shine” out of children.
Happy watching!
(Note: a lot of these contain disturbing scenes. The asterisked movies and shows on this list, in particular, do have blood and gore and are not for those with a weak stomach.)
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