Horror countdown: 31 days of Halloween

What’s your favourite scary movie? Whether you’re into creepy kid, folk, haunted house, monster, natural, psychological, slasher, supernatural, vampire or zombie horrors … there’s something to tingle just about everyone’s spine in Showmax’s epic countdown to Halloween.

Why wait to find out what goes bump when you can stay up all night with a freaky festival of razorsharp horror movies. Gather your fiendish friends, find out what happens in the end and get ready to trick or treat till the sun comes up. Go on, dare to have a bloody good time. Turn your screens into screams this October and watch as many horrors on this list as possible!

Or check out the Halloween collections on Showmax.com here.

And, for more family-friendly picks: https://www.showmax.com/watch/kids/global-home-kids-halloween-collection

1 Oct

Megan

Chucky may rule the cabbage patch when it comes to creepy toy dolls but there are new contestants on the horizon like M3GAN. Exploring the dangers of artificial intelligence, Megan tells the story of a roboticist who creates a lifelike doll named M3GAN as a best friend to protect her orphaned niece from emotional and physical harm. 

When the cutting-edge AI creation begins to behave in dangerous and erratic ways, things start to spiral out of control. While a cautionary tale, this sinister, slick and suspenseful sci-fi horror comedy is entertaining and as funny as it is scary.

2 Oct

Pinky Pinky

Pinky Pinky is a creepy and unsettling reinvention of an urban myth about an evil bathroom monster. Essentially a South African take on A Nightmare on Elm Street’s Freddy Krueger, a paedophile principal who died in a fire returns to haunt an all-girls boarding school.

Zazi Kunene stars as a young student who attempts to overcome the loss of her twin sister and becomes aware of a grotesque yet shadowy threat. Haunted by her sister and trying to escape the clutches of a real-life sexual predator, she enlists the help of a new friend.

3 Oct

Final Destination

The Grim Reaper is a symbol for impending death but what if you skipped your expiry date and Grim came looking for you? That’s the fear factor at the core of Final Destination. Spawning a series on this invisible slasher concept, the first movie literally crash-landed into pop culture at the turn of the millennium.

When Alex saves a few classmates from a plane crash, their stroke of good luck turns into a series of nightmares as death begins to hunt them down. An epic supernatural horror that pivots on the idea of everyone having a fixed day and time, Final Destination turns into a wild thrill ride as the cool kids try to cheat death.

4 Oct

Knock at the Cabin

Knock at the Cabin is a captivating psychological horror mystery thriller from the mind of M Night Shyamalan. What at first appears to be a hate-fuelled home invasion during a family’s vacation escalates along with the stakes as the true motivation of the armed and uninvited guests is revealed.

The casting of Dave Bautista and Rupert Grint helps carry the unorthodox feel of this see-sawing Shyamalan horror. Through intense drama and slow-boiling suspense, Knock at the Cabin remains edgy with a swirling doomsday prophecy driving do-or-die tensions for a sweet girl and her protective fathers. 

5 Oct

Annabelle

The Conjuring introduced a creepy possessed vintage doll named Annabelle. Now the title character in a prequel to James Wan’s popular series, this origin story reveals how the doll came to be possessed. When a couple’s home sweet home is invaded by satanic cultists, they begin to realise that their house is haunted by an evil and malevolent spirit.

This chilling prequel concocts a worthy backstory for Annabelle and conjures up an eerie atmosphere thanks to effective production design, a haunting score and slick visuals. While far from original, this patchwork horror mystery thriller knows how to shock.

6 Oct

Us

Us is the much-anticipated follow-up to Jordan Peele’s breakout hit, Get Out. This dark horror comedy-drama and surreal social commentary is funny, and smart and demonstrates his blistering debut was no one-hit wonder.

Starring the inimitable Lupita Nyong’o, Us employs a curious, incisive and original concept that makes it both frightening and thought-provoking to behold. By balancing the story precariously on an unsettling duality, Peele’s able to whip up a comic, intoxicating and unnerving nightmare.

7 Oct

Talk to Me

“I see dead people” is a famous quote from The Sixth Sense and now it’s the crux of the Australian supernatural horror mystery drama Talk to Me. The film centres on a group of teens whose devil-may-care experiments with the afterlife lead to dire consequences when they summon the dead through a possessed hand. 

Talk to Me’s smart and unique concept sets it apart as a fresh and original horror blending coming-of-age elements to engage beyond its effective scare tactics. Solid performances and sharp writing anchor the drama as it explores themes around grief and friendship.

8 Oct

Don’t Breathe

Home invasion horror is basically a subgenre. So it’s pretty epic when a film like Don’t Breathe flips the tables on a trio of burglars who try to rob a blind war veteran. Taking place at night, in dark and confined spaces makes for a claustrophobic, edgy and riveting horror as the perpetrators unexpectedly meet their match.

This intense, see-sawing horror cleverly unpacks themes around justice from a morally ambiguous perspective. A creepy and strange cat-and-mouse concoction, Don’t Breathe is full of surprises and crackles with an unsettling performance from Stephen Lang, the villain from Avatar. 

9 Oct

Crawl

Crawl is a spectacular horror, kicking off with the wide-open spaces of a devastating hurricane only to retreat to the confines of a flooded basement. This man-eating creature horror has parallels with Jaws as what lurks below the surface prepares an all-out attack.

The visual effects are extensive but there’s never any doubt when it comes to the hurricane and submerged rural town. A compact, consistent and competent dark waters horror thriller, Crawl is also well-acted with defiant performances from Kaya Scodelario and Barry Pepper.

10 Oct

Jaws

When a local sheriff, marine biologist and old seafarer walk into a bar, it’s no joke. They’re on the hunt for a massive killer shark that’s causing havoc for a beach community off Long Island in Jaws.

Before he allowed us to walk with dinosaurs in Jurassic Park, Steven Spielberg made it almost impossible to swim in the ocean with Jaws. This classic horror is infamous for its poster, score and “You’re going to need a bigger boat” sized Great White shark. While the animatronics may be a bit dated now, the terror of what lies in wait still haunts us today.

11 Oct

Get Out

Get Out echoes the classic social drama Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, revising the scenario to offer a tense horror thriller and haunting social commentary. Tackling race relations in America, this eerie horror journeys with photographer Chris Washington, who becomes alienated by a series of disturbing events on a weekend retreat to his girlfriend’s family estate.

Graduating into this increasingly awkward “meet the parents” situation, suspense builds as prickly social interactions turn sinister. Get Out is a stunning feature film debut for Jordan Peele (Us, Nope) and stars Daniel Kaluuya in a Hollywood breakthrough performance.

12 Oct

Don’t Worry Darling

There’s something about Florence Pugh (Midsommar, Oppenheimer). The star of the psychological thriller Don’t Worry Darling, she’s utterly captivating as Alice, a 1950s housewife who questions her reality and husband’s mysterious work at the Victory Project. Leading a seemingly perfect life in a utopian neighbourhood, appearances can be deceiving as ominous secrets bubble up.

Don’t Worry Darling is an intriguing, visually striking and vivid film with many surreal twists and turns. Unpacking domestic horrors in a meticulous and nightmarish fashion, Olivia Wilde’s follow-up to Booksmart offers an entertaining, surprising and thoughtful commentary.

13 Oct

The Conjuring

The Conjuring is based on real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, whose chilling experiences at a haunted Rhode Island farmhouse were documented in the early 1970s. One of the best horror movies in 25 years, The Conjuring uses effects sparingly to help immerse audiences without resorting to cheap scares.

Directed by master of suspense, James Wan (Saw, Insidious),  this disturbing and haunting horror thriller swathes itself in an eerie and unsettling atmosphere. Based on a true story, The Conjuring leverages true story authenticity and features steely-eyed performances from Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga. 

14 Oct

Midsommar

In the folk horror tradition of Wicker Man comes Midsommar, a much-anticipated film from Ari Aster on the back of his unsettling masterpiece, Hereditary. Midsommar is set in Sweden, where a group of young travellers embark on a study holiday that draws them down a cult’s dark and deep chasm of sacrificial rites. 

Artful and more even-handed, this fine production trades in dread and suspense, creating a disturbing and harrowing full-daylight horror experience. Florence Pugh is at the forefront of this waking nightmare, delivering a superb star-making performance as a woman seemingly helpless against the tide of archaic tradition.

15 Oct

Zombieland: Double Tap

Zombieland was an absolute hoot, offering many useful tips on what to do in the event of a zombie apocalypse. While advice like “nut up or shut up” can only take you so far, the sequel offers some fresh twists and reunites the original cast as they try to avoid the undead hordes some 10 years later. 

Zombieland: Double Tap sees the return of Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Abigail Breslin and Emma Stone. An entertaining reprisal with a stellar cast, it reignites the essence of the original and delivers more of the same over-the-top action, charm and creative kills.

16 Oct

Demonic

Demonic is from the creative mind of Neill Blomkamp (Chappie, District 9), who leans even further into the realm of horror after his grisly Oats Studios experiment. In this ambitious and intriguing sci-fi horror thriller, a young woman tries to communicate and reconnect with her estranged and incapacitated mother. 

Yet, when she bypasses her mother’s locked-in syndrome through experimental VR technology, their dysfunctional relationship throws up a new, more frightening challenge: demon possession. Much like The Cell, this visually striking, surreal and unnerving horror explores the dark limits of the subconscious and mother-daughter bonds.

17 Oct

The Exorcist: Believer

One of the films that regularly lands a coveted spot on top 10 scariest horrors of all-time lists, The Exorcist has been brought to new generations in The Exorcist: Believer. When two 12-year-old girls appear to be possessed, a priest from the original exorcism becomes their last hope.

Set many years after the events of The Exorcist, this entertaining and unsettling revival attempts to get back to its evil roots with many nods to the iconic original. Through solid performances and intriguing themes, the slow-creeping dread and terror seeps through 50 years later.

18 Oct

The Tokoloshe

When it comes to South African folklore, it’s difficult to escape the tokoloshe – now a stylish horror movie starring Petronella Tshuma and Dawid Minnaar. A local version of the dreaded boogeyman, this evil dwarf-like water spirit is thought to be under the control of witch doctors in an effort to torment or kill.

An atmospheric, experimental and visually striking local horror, The Tokoloshe centres on a night shift cleaner at a creepy rundown Johannesburg hospital. Trying to start over, Busi has to navigate her way past a claustrophobic environment, predatory manager and an evil presence.

19 Oct

The Conjuring 2

After the runaway success of The Conjuring, many would have expected James Wan to simply rinse-and-repeat with The Conjuring 2. Yet, this eerie and spine-tingling horror sequel manages to match the original, opting to focus on an earlier case of a haunting in North London in 1977. 

Strong performances from Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as paranormal investigators, Ed and Lorraine Warren, anchor this creepy and suspenseful sequel. A visually compelling horror, Wan’s masterful direction builds to some truly frightening moments.

20 Oct

The Loneliest Boy in the World

If you’re feeling lonely, make new friends. For Oliver, a socially awkward kid who discovers a way to reanimate the dead… it’s a way to cope with the death of his dearly beloved mother. The Loneliest Boy in the World is a curious and weird horror comedy – a perfect choice that mirrors the creepy fun of Halloween.

A unique concept with fresh brains when it comes to zombie movies, this funny and heartwarming “zomedy” recalls Warm Bodies. A modern fairytale of sorts, it taps into family values and suburban life with style – offering up a charming, entertaining and relatable story.

21 Oct

Brightburn

What if Superman was evil? Brightburn twists the classic superhero tale of a young boy who crash-lands to earth only to develop extraordinary powers. Instead of using his gift for good, the grisly sci-fi horror drama focuses on Brandon’s formative years to show his descent into darkness as he becomes a villain. 

Essentially a bizarre coming-of-age story of the devil incarnate, Brightburn journeys with a creepy teenage powerhouse who opts for sackcloth over spandex. This dark, twisted and curious spin on an errant version of Clark Kent’s childhood is entertaining, fresh and stylish. 

22 Oct

Play Dead

A young woman pretends to be dead in order to investigate her friend’s disappearance and unwittingly discovers the morgue is a front for a sordid organ trafficking business. Teetering on the edge, Play Dead crafts a creepy and suspenseful atmosphere.  

Led by Bailee Madison and Jerry O’Connell, good performances drive this fresh, engaging and intriguing cat-and-mouse horror concept. A fairly modest horror thriller, it manages to land some exciting action sequences as Chloe faces off against the twisted coroner.

23 Oct

Renfield

This action-packed dark horror comedy centres on Dracula’s tireless and tortured servant Renfield, who after centuries of toil discovers there’s more to life than doing his master’s bidding.  As entertaining and thrilling as you’d hope for it to be, it’s led by two captivating and full-tilt performances from Nicholas Hoult and Nicolas Cage. 

Essentially fresh blood for the classic horror icon, Renfield pokes fun at vampire lore and delivers a double dose of campy horror fun with blood-splattered glee. Having two charismatic and energetic stars at the helm, makes for an over-the-top horror feast.

24 Oct

The Blackening

Race and representation in horror could warrant a documentary, but where’s the fun in that? The Blackening decides to fight fire with fire through a satirical horror comedy about a group of Black friends who are forced into a do-or-die game with a killer in a remote cabin.

An insightful social commentary, The Blackening leverages horror clichés and stereotypes to engage and entertain from the dreaded Game Room. Full of heart, humour and horror, the predominantly Black cast energises this fun and thought-provoking film.

25 Oct

The Last Voyage of the Demeter

The Last Voyage of the Demeter chronicles the doomed journey of a merchant ship ferrying 50 mysterious wooden crates from Carpathia to London. The crew soon discover they are not alone on board: at night they are stalked by a hidden passenger whose monstrous thirst for blood turns the trip into a harrowing nightmare.

Based on a single chilling chapter from Bram Stoker’s classic novel, Dracula, the film has been praised by horror icons like Guillermo del Toro, who called it “gorgeous, lavish and savage,” and Stephen King, who called it “a throat-ripping good time.”. 

26 Oct

Anaconda

When it comes to classic monster movies, Anaconda falls into the so-bad-it’s-good category. The over-the-top adventure horror thriller journeys with a nature documentary film crew who are forced to change course when they’re taken hostage by a crazed hunter on the trail of a giant anaconda in the Amazon jungle. 

While the plot follows some well-worn grooves, the movie ratchets up suspense with a terrifying predator on the loose. While essentially a dumb fun escapade, it’s armed to the teeth with a once-in-a-lifetime cast featuring Jon Voight, Jennifer Lopez, Owen Wilson, Danny Trejo and Ice Cube.

27 Oct

Five Nights at Freddy’s

The terrifying horror game phenomenon Five Nights at Freddy’s comes to life as last year’s highest-grossing horror of the year globally. 

Produced by Blumhouse (M3GAN, Get Out), Five Nights at Freddy’s follows Mike (Josh Hutcherson from The Hunger Games), a troubled young man caring for his 10-year-old sister, Abby. Recently fired and desperate for work so that he can keep custody of Abby, Mike agrees to take a position as a night security guard at an abandoned theme restaurant: Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria. But Mike soon discovers that nothing at Freddy’s is what it seems as he is dragged into the black heart of an unspeakable nightmare. 

Nominated for Drama Movie of the Year at the 2024 People’s Choice Awards and for Best Creature FX for Jim Henson’s Creature Shop at the Fangoria Chainsaw Awards, Five Nights at Freddy’s already has a sequel in production. 

28 Oct

Thanksgiving

The 1980s was a cesspit for teen slasher horrors, which is what prompted Eli Roth to craft a tribute in Thanksgiving. Set at Plymouth, Massachusetts, where the infamous holiday first began, a group of one-dimensional high school students are hunted down by a mysterious killer.

Known for his violent horrors, Thanksgiving delivers buckets of blood and gore with some creative kills. Grotesque yet self-aware enough to be funny, this bloody throwback injects plenty of campy humour to offset the slasher formula.

29 Oct

Evil Dead Rise

Set in an apartment building, Evil Dead Rise centres on estranged sisters who are forced to confront their demons in a bid to survive a waking nightmare. Steeped in a bleak and claustrophobic urban space, not unlike the original’s cabin in the woods, this remains an intense and frightening horror sequel.

If you’re after scares and gore, this gruesome sequel packs a punch even though the franchise’s trademark humour is diluted in favour of maximum horror impact.

30 Oct

The Nun II

Set in the French countryside, The Nun II journeys with Sister Irene as she confronts the evil nun Valak after a priest is murdered. The Nun is known for its jump scares and The Nun II doesn’t disappoint, harnessing a sense of alienation and foreboding through its remote location. 

While familiar, this creepy horror is scarier than its predecessor and delivers on performance with sharp turns from Taissa Farmiga and Bonnie Aarons. An entertaining spectacle and thrill ride, it makes a fun addition to The Conjuring universe.

31 Oct

Saw X

The Saw franchise has come a long way, now onto its 10th installment with Saw X. Having revolved around body horror with gruesome contraptions that force victims into moral dilemma death games, the serial killer known as Jigsaw finally becomes a star with a chilling anti-hero performance from series regular Tobin Bell.

A welcome return for the franchise, Saw X is easily the best sequel yet. It shows there’s still room for more gore as John Kramer becomes part of a scam to defraud people looking for a miracle cure at a facility outside Mexico City.

Bonus: South African horror movie The Fix

Set in a dystopian future Cape Town with toxic air, The Fix follows a model who takes a new designer drug at a party and suffers a shocking transformation. Pursued by forces with competing interests in the drug’s effects, Ella discovers that her mutations could save the human race.
Grace van Dien (Chrissy in Stranger Things S4) stars as Ella, opposite Daniel Sharman (Fear The Walking Dead, Teen Wolf), SAFTA nominee Keenan Arrison (Binnelanders), Clancy Brown (John Wick 4, The Penguin), and Nicole Fortuin (Alles Malan).

The Showmax Original was the opening night film at MIPAfrica and the closing night film at Chattanooga, where it won the Dangerous Visions Awards. “When you lay your eyes on South African filmmaker Kelsey Egan’s thrilling sci-fi/action/body horror concoction, The Fix, you’ll immediately understand why we knew this had to be our 2024 Closing Night Selection,” says Chattanooga. “We love this movie, from its killer lead performance by the wonderful Grace van Dien to its wild dystopian world and fantastic mutation effects.”