Halloween is almost here, which makes it a good time to find a horror film that will keep you on edge. A gripping mystery, an unsettling creature, or a genuinely disturbing scene can turn an ordinary movie night into a memorable evening.
This weekend’s releases have plenty of material to work with, including a missing-person mystery with supernatural elements, a family reunion gone horribly wrong, and a found-footage anthology built around music.
Whether you are planning a solo movie night or watching with friends, here are five horror movies and series to check out, along with where to find them.
Treasure Ayanfe Adetula
/1. The Cycle (2026)
A forensic investigation takes a disturbing turn in The Cycle, a supernatural horror film that begins with a discovery no one expects. The film starts streaming on Shudder on 23 October, making it one of this weekend’s new releases.
Directed by Jordan Downey, known for The Head Hunter, the film stars Deborah Ann Woll as forensic expert Dr Meg Garland. When a body discovered at a crime scene turns out to belong to her father, who disappeared 36 years earlier, Meg begins investigating the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
The investigation gradually moves beyond familiar crime-thriller territory, introducing supernatural elements and creature-feature horror. Practical effects also play a role in creating the film’s more unsettling moments.
Early reviews have been largely positive, with the film earning a strong critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes. Its combination of mystery, crime and supernatural horror makes it an appealing choice for anyone who enjoys piecing together a disturbing story before its darker secrets emerge.
Where to watch: Shudder, from 23 October. Availability varies by country.
/2. Evil Dead Burn (2026)
The Evil Dead franchise has built its reputation on graphic violence, demonic possession and inventive ways of putting characters through hell. Its latest instalment, Evil Dead Burn, continues that tradition with a family gathering that quickly becomes a nightmare.
Directed by Sébastien Vaniček, whose previous horror film Infested attracted attention for its claustrophobic creature scares, the film follows a woman grieving her husband who seeks comfort with her in-laws. Her stay takes a horrifying turn as members of the family become possessed by demonic entities known as Deadites.
The film's central premise gives the franchise another confined setting in which fear and violence can escalate. Expect gruesome practical effects, graphic imagery and the sort of relentless attacks that have become synonymous with the series.
Where to watch: Where to watch: HBO Max in the United States and Netflix in selected regions. Digital rental and purchase options vary by market..
/3. Below (2026)
A remote Newfoundland community has more to worry about than the threat of relocation when an unidentified creature begins terrorising the town. That is the premise of Below, a six-episode Netflix miniseries starring Josh Hartnett as fisherman Calvin Penney.
Calvin is already dealing with the challenges facing his community when the creature emerges from the surrounding waters. His fight to protect his family and neighbours soon becomes entangled with the town’s buried secrets and his own troubled past.
Rather than relying entirely on creature attacks, the series explores what happens when a community is forced to confront both an immediate danger and the possibility of losing its home. Environmental concerns, displacement, and family relationships give the story more to work with than its central monster does.
The atmosphere and creature sequences have earned positive critical reviews, with Below holding an 85% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes. Six episodes make this a good option for a weekend binge, particularly for viewers who prefer their horror to develop over time rather than deliver all its scares in a single sitting.
Where to watch: Netflix. The six-episode series is available to stream in supported regions.
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