It’s the spookiest time of the year, and that means it’s time to settle in for long nights of horror 🎃
We’ve rounded up a list of top horror films that will satisfy every kind of fright – from psychological thrillers to pure monster mayhem. Think you can handle suspense, jump scares, and some truly eerie storytelling? Here’s your ultimate October watchlist.
1. The Menu (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 🍅88%
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Ralph Fiennes cooks up a performance as the meticulous Chef Slowik, whose exclusive island restaurant promises an unforgettable culinary experience (just not the kind his elite guests were expecting). When a table of wealthy diners, from smug food critics to fading celebs, arrive for a night of “artful” tasting courses, things quickly descend from fine dining to full-blown nightmare. As the tension simmers and secrets are served with a side of vengeance, Margot (Anya Taylor-Joy) realises the evening’s final dish might be them.
If you love a horror with a sprinkle of comedy this is for you!
2. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Stream on BBC iPlayer
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 🍅86%
Picture this: Three student filmmakers venture into the Maryland woods to document the legend of the Blair Witch—but soon, things start going terrifyingly wrong. The suspense is relentless, and the fear of the unseen will have you gripping your blanket and questioning everythingggg…
Starring: Heather Donahue, Michael C. Williams, Joshua Leonard
3. Escape Room (2019)
Stream on BBC iPlayer
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Looking for something squeamish, a little unnerving, and some jump scares? Escape Room ticks all your boxes. A group of strangers must solve deadly puzzles or face gruesome consequences. Fast-paced and full of twists, this thriller will keep you guessing and squirming in equal measure.
Starring: Taylor Russell, Logan Miller, Deborah Ann Woll, Jay Ellis, Tyler Labine
4. The Alien (1979)
Available on BBC iPlayer
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 🍅93%
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Step into deep space and pray you never run into what’s lurking in the shadows… A crew of astronauts encounters a mysterious extraterrestrial being, and it quickly becomes clear that this isn’t a friendly visitor. Claustrophobic corridors, mysterious attacks, and creeping dread make The Alien a chilling watch.
Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt, Ian Holm, Veronica Cartwright
5. Fresh (2022)
Stream on Channel 4
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 🍅82%
When romance turns into a nightmare… Noa thinks she’s met the perfect guy, but her dreams quickly twist into a grisly reality. This satirical horror-thriller blends modern romance with terror and keeps the tension rising from start to finish.
Starring: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Sebastian Stan, Jojo T. Gibbs, Andrea Bang, Dayo Okeniyi
6. Alien: Covenant (2017)
Steam on ITVX
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The crew of the spaceship Covenant discovers a distant planet… and something far deadlier than they could imagine. Ridley Scott delivers more claustrophobic suspense, shocking alien encounters, and relentless terror in this next chapter of the legendary franchise.
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, James Franco, Danny McBride
7. Saw Collection
Stream on ITVX
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Want a classic horror? We’ve got you covered! The Saw series revolves around the twisted games of the enigmatic Jigsaw, pushing people to their limits in deadly scenarios. Equal parts gore and moral dilemmas, this franchise has kept audiences squirming for years.
Starring: Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith, Costas Mandylor
8. The Black Phone (2021)
Stream now on Channel 4
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 🍅81%
Want a bone-chilling thriller that'll keep you guessing? Young Finney is kidnapped by a sadistic killer, but a disconnected phone through which he can hear the voices of the killer’s past victims might be his only chance to survive. Nerve-shredding and suspenseful, this one will make you peek over your shoulder all night.
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies
9. The Thing (1982)
Watch now on ITVX
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 🍅85%
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When isolation meets alien terror… A research team in Antarctica encounters a shape-shifting creature that can imitate anyone it touches. John Carpenter’s classic blends paranoia, gore, and tense suspense so perfectly that you’ll find yourself questioning who’s human… and who’s not.
Starring: Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, Keith David, Richard Dysart
10. Life (2017)
Stream now on ITVX
Aboard the International Space Station, a team discovers a rapidly evolving alien organism. It’s smarter, faster, and deadlier than anyone expected. Claustrophobic tension and relentless thrills make Life a ride best watched with the lights on.
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson, Ryan Reynolds, Hiroyuki Sanada
Butttt, not every horror has to be scary, fancy some a bit spooky that doesn't require you to close your eyes? Check out these Halloween family favourites for some light-hearted haunts! 👻
