Hide your children, hide your men: ‘Tis the season of thrills and chills, when the witches fly free, casting eerie spells over the television schedule and cinema showtimes. From supernatural terrors like Salem’s Lot and Smile 2 to the chilling, man-made horrors of Joker: Folie À Deux and Woman of the Hour, danger lurks from every direction. But while our picks of the best movies and TV shows to watch this October are not for the faint of heart, those who need lighter fares may find something sweet for some counter-programming.
Heartstopper (Season 3)
Premieres 3rd October on Netflix
The summer holiday is safely in the rearview mirror and our favourite heartstoppers are bracing themselves for the next chapter of their lives. Delving deeper into the budding romance of Nick and Charlie, the eight-episode series thoughtfully charts the pair’s growth with a more mature tone and themes, as they are faced with the questions of sex, mental health, ambitions and more.
Watch the trailer here.
Joker: Folie À Deux
Premieres 3rd October in Cinemas
The sequel of Joker, the billion-dollar grosser that earned Joaquin Phoenix his Oscar, is upon us and it continues the story of the anti-hero, whose clown shoes, as the trailer reluctantly reveals, are made for dancing. In Joker: Folie À Deux, Arthur Fleck prepares for trial within the confines of the Arkham State Hospital, where he meets his unexpected duet partner: Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn.
Watch the trailer here.
House of Spoils
Premieres 3rd October on Prime Video
If you like The Bear and The Menu, chances are you will love Blumhouse’s House of Spoils. Oscar-winner Ariana DeBose leads this intense thriller as the chef du jour whose will is being put to the test as she opens a restaurant on a remote estate. Here, she has to battle an unlikely saboteur, the spirit of the estate’s previous owner, on top of the kitchen chaos and her mounting self-doubt.
Watch the trailer here.
Salem’s Lot
Premieres 3rd October on HBO Go
Fans of Stephen King’s anthology, rejoice! The author’s acclaimed novel, Salem’s Lot, has been adapted into a movie and it’s coming out this month. True to the book’s narrative, the film centres on struggling writer Ben Mears whose pursuit of inspiration for his book leads him back to his childhood home of Jerusalem’s Lot. Little does he know, he would have to face a bloodthirsty vampire for it.
Watch the trailer here.
Woman of the Hour
Premieres 3rd October in Cinemas / 18th October on Netflix
Anna Kendrick’s dramatic acting chops have been so underutilised—Alice, Darling, anyone?—she has decided to take matters into her own hands. Woman of the Hour is an assured directorial debut by Kendrick, who also plays the protagonist Sheryl Bradshaw, a rising starlet who goes on a popular matchmaking show only to find herself ensnared in the lair of a serial killer.
Watch the trailer here.
Citadel: Diana
Premieres 10th October on Prime Video
Undercover agent Diana Cavalieri has been a mole in Manticore after it took down the independent spy agency Citadel. The opportunity to break free from the system arises but she is immediately thrown into a dilemma: her only option is to seek alliance with the heir of Manticore Italy Edo Zani and Ettore Zani who is vying for power over the other European families.
Watch the trailer here.
We Live in Time
Premieres 10th October in Cinemas
Feeling like bawling your eyes out? Head to the theatres for John Crowley’s decade-spanning, deeply moving drama. Starring Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield, We Live in Time is a story about appreciating life moments—the good, the bad, and everything in between—following an aspiring chef and a divorcée who are taking a chance on love and are faced with the possibility of loss.
Watch the trailer here.
Disclaimer*
Premieres 11th October on Apple TV+
Just go ahead and engrave Cate Blanchett’s name on the Emmy. Alfonso Cuarón’s latest psychological thriller promises an edge-of-your-seat viewing experience with Blanchett delivering what seems like a towering performance as Catherine Ravenscroft, a whistle-blowing journalist who is getting a taste of her own medicine when an unnamed author threatens to expose her darkest secrets.
Watch the trailer here.
Smile 2
Premieres 17th October in Cinemas
Nobody is having a worse time than the pop girlies this year. First, there’s the mousetrap massacre at a sold-out show in Trap and now, Naomi Scott’s superstar Skye Riley is forced to fight the demon just as she is about to embark on a world tour. A must-watch to welcome the spooky season, Smile 2 takes the original premise of the franchise and elevates it with a commentary on fame.
Watch the trailer here.
Venom: The Last Dance
Premieres 24th October in Cinemas
The sentient alien symbiote Venom is crash-landing on our theatres for the last time this month. Venom: The Last Dance marks the third and final film in the franchise and opens with Tom Hardy’s Eddie Brock and Venom being hunted by the enemies from both of their worlds. As the fate of humanity, their lives included, hangs in the balance, all that is left to be made is one crucial decision.
Watch the trailer here.