Spooky season comes knocking at our doors again, and 2022 has been a generous year for horror fans. The year kickstarted with darkly entertaining films like Fresh and X. Both sequels (Scream) and prequels (Orphan: First Kill) made waves. Jordan Peele’s Nope was the perfect cherry on top. It’s been one hell of a ride so far, and we still have Wednesday and a brand new American Horror Story season in store.
With Halloween around the corner, now is the perfect time to see if you can digest these recently released scares. The spookiest month of the year beckons – here are five brand new horror films to watch this October.
1. Hocus Pocus 2
There was perhaps no sequel more eagerly awaited in 2022 than this hilariously spooky film. In 1993, Hocus Pocus became wildly successful as the story of three resurrected witches played by Sarah Jessica Parker, Bette Midler and Kathy Najimy. The second installment reunites this iconic trio and brings back the magic they created 29 years ago. It makes for a perfect, classic Halloween watch.
2. Smile
A smile is meant to be friendly and comforting, a pick-me-up from a loved one when you’re down. But for Dr. Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon), it turns sinister after she witnesses a traumatic incident involving her patient. Parker Finn’s psychological horror film delivers both jumpscares and genuine, blood curdling fear by turning an unexpectedly innocent concept around on its head.
3. Mr. Harrigan’s Phone
In this adaptation of a Stephen King’s novella, a young boy begins receiving text messages from dead billionaire Mr. Harrigan’s cellphone after he was buried with it. The saga that follows takes the former down a dark path littered with disturbing revelations. Seasoned horror creator Ryan Murphy (of American Horror Story, and more recently, Dahmer fame) and director John Lee Hancock pull of a successful and satisfying adaptation of a compelling story.
4. Pearl
Ti West’s psychological slasher is everything it promises to be and more. Mia Goth is brilliant as the titular character. An ambitious girl who dreams of running away from her sick father and overbearing mother to become a star finds that she must choose a murderous path to do so. The plot is gripping, and the visuals provide for a chilling experience. It is the second chapter to X, which released earlier this year.
5. Hellraiser
This iconic franchise has been ensnaring viewers since 1987. While horror film sequels and remakes are notorious for being overkills (Hellraiser has 10, and some are genuinely awful), this one might just be worth a shot. The story is a strong one to begin with, and the scares are plentiful. David Bruckner takes on the mantle from Clive Barker and manages to recreate the ambient eeriness of the original.
