As Peacock has recently branched out into horror series with “Hysteria!” and “Cup”, with two new additions, the streaming service also boasts a large library of perfect Halloween movies to watch, including classic films, essential titles, and mysterious ones like “Claws of Bermuda”, Anyone? and seasonal favorites. Here are 10 tips for setting the right spooky mood for your next horror movie night.
Abigail
Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (“Ready or Not”, “Scream 6”) created their own rendition of a Universal Monster through a ballet dancer’s tale that turns out to be a bloodthirsty vampire – much to the dismay of a gang of con artists (including Dan Stevens, Catherine Newton, and Melissa Barrera) who kidnapped her, unaware that instead of a hefty ransom, she will become their multi-course meal.
The Evil Spirit Hunter III
Mid-October, have you revisited your annual viewing of “The Evil Spirit Hunter III” yet? No? Well, lucky for you Peacock is here to refresh all your nightmares related to garden shears and hospital hallways.
Halloween III: Season of the Witch
Not all movie lovers have a Silver Shamrock spirit running through their veins, but for those who appreciate the strange turn John Carpenter took with the third installment – where Michael Myers did not kill but instead a satanic conspiracy involving a toymaker, cursed Halloween masks, and… Stonehenge? – it is an essential part of the spooky season. Will you be ready for the big twist?
Prince of Darkness
Talking about John Carpenter, one of his most underrated releases is this bizarre 1987 film that features a cast of actors from other Carpenter projects and imagines what would happen if the essence of the Devil – resembling the slimy substance inside a volcanic lava lamp – was discovered buried beneath an old church in the middle of Los Angeles. Nothing good happens to any of the characters or the world they live in as the events of the film unfold, but even with some major plot holes, the film remains highly entertaining.
The Thing
When you watch a lot of horror movies, you inevitably start to notice the similarities, allusions, and details that hover between homage and blatant rip-offs. Then there’s director Don Coscarelli’s 1979 film “The Thing”, a truly unique film, where its follow-up parts only come close to repeating its bizarre story and unsettling mood. Two brothers and their friend realize something is not right will descend into the local morgue, and things somehow get weirder from there.
Black Christmas
With “The Conjuring 3” being one of the hottest horror movie titles right now, there’s no better time to watch the writer-director Damien Leone’s favorite film: the original “Black Christmas”. What if it’s early in the calendar year? This film is extremely scary at any time of the year, with one of the scariest final scenes ever.
A Dark Night of Frights
We’re used to these days of tailored television entertainment in the context of live broadcast shows, where nothing is too gross for the audience. But it’s still amazing to consider A Dark Night of Frights aired on CBS in 1981, undoubtedly terrifying viewers with its story of hooligans’ violence in a small town without consequences… until the vengeful spirit of an innocent victim begins to seek revenge in their own way: dressed as a creepy clown, using a farm’s ready-made array of tools, including a woodchipper.
Pieces
Grotesque in a delicious way, often offensive, constantly illogical, and as bloody as possible: this is “Pieces”, a 1982 murder mystery puzzle that also features an undercover cop pretending to be a college tennis coach. It’s Juan Piquer Simón, who also made the incomparable The Rifts: The Film.
Death Becomes Her
If you recently watched and enjoyed “Death Becomes Her”, why not follow it up with Robert Zemeckis’ hilarious and diabolical tale of anti-aging wonders in a love triangle gone horribly wrong? Starring Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, Bruce Willis, and Isabella Rossellini give lovable performances, and while the 1992 special effects may look somewhat dated now, they are still impressively entertaining at that time.
The Purge: Election Year
Remember back in 2016, when you were on the edge about the upcoming presidential election, and “The Purge” dropped this unsettling franchise that dared to use the slogan “Keep America Great”? Well, here we are in 2024, and “The Purge: Election Year” is still lurking, this time evoking a creepy sense of deja vu.
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