Movie Reviews Special: Halloween 2025

It’s time to stock up on sweet treats and prepare your witches’ brew, because Halloween is on the horizon. And if you’re a horror fan this can mean only one thing: A monstrous movie marathon.

Halloween is the perfect time to indulge in a run of horror movies, and this year should be no different. Whether it’s one scary movie every day throughout the spooky season, or a quick blast of terrifying titles on October 31st, watching horror films is a must!

So, with this in mind, this month’s edition of Movie Reviews Special is serving up some ideas for your viewing consideration. Below you will find 31 suggestions of what you could (and maybe should) watch this year, to ensure you have a great Halloween.

The suggestions include a bunch of horror movies which are new for 2025; a smattering of titles from the past couple of years which you may have missed; and a few classic offerings which are celebrating key anniversaries this year. Feast your eyes and feed your souls.

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Sinners (2025)

Director: Ryan Coogler 

Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Delroy Lindo, and Jack O’Connell

Genre/Sub-genre: Gothic vampire horror 

Tagline: We are all sinners.

Reason to watch: “Sinners is a well-thought out, carefully constructed film. This isn’t a flashy, wham-bam horror, it’s a piece with depth, which is built around a slow-burning narrative that captures the attention and holds it for well over two hours.”

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Clown in a Cornfield (2025)

Director: Eli Craig

Cast: Katie Douglas, Aaron Abrams, Carson MacCormac, Vincent Muller, Will Sasso, and Kevin Durand

Genre/Sub-genre: Slasher

Tagline: Are you a friend of Frendo?

Reason to watch: “…the cast are likeable, the script is witty, and the vibe is good! Clown in a Cornfield gets off to a solid start, maintains momentum, and ends in a satisfying way.”

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The Gorge (2025)

Director: Scott Derrickson

Cast: Miles Teller, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Sigourney Weaver

Genre/Sub-genre: Action horror

Tagline: They’re not keeping you out. They’re keeping them in.

Reason to watch: “…enjoyable and often quite creepy. The Gorge is simple stuff, but it is well-made simple stuff.”

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Ash (2025)

Director: Flying Lotus

Cast: Eiza González, and Aaron Paul

Genre/Sub-genre: Sci-fi horror

Tagline: A new mindbender by Flying Lotus.

Reason to watch: “If you like your films a little chaotic, a trifle unbalanced, and somewhat off the wall, then you will lap up Ash. While it might borrow ideas and elements from other films, it manages to do its own thing, and do it rather well.”

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Drop (2025)

Director: Christopher Landon

Cast: Meghann Fahy, Brandon Sklenar, Violett Beane, and Jeffery Self

Genre/Sub-genre: Dark thriller

Tagline: Everyone’s a suspect.

Reason to watch: “Drop delivers an enjoyable mystery, a level of intrigue worthy of Hitchcock, and some excellent cinematography courtesy of Marc Spicer. It is gripping and beautiful to look at.”

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Companion (2025)

Director: Drew Hancock

Cast: Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, and Rupert Friend

Genre/Sub-genre: Sci-fi horror

Tagline: Find someone made just for you.

Reason to watch: “Throw in a couple of short but sharp death scenes, some commentary on technological advances, and a fair amount of darkness and Companion is a twisted horror.”

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Final Destination: Bloodlines (2025)

Director: Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein

Cast: Kaitlyn Santa Juana, Teo Briones, Richard Harmon, Owen Patrick Joyner, Gabrielle Rose, and Tony Todd

Genre/Sub-genre: Supernatural horror

Tagline: Death runs in the family.

Reason to watch: “What makes the Final Destination film series work is its ability to entertain its audience. The franchise wouldn’t have come this far (25 years and counting) if it didn’t have its eye on keeping paying customers happy, and this seems to be the mantra for this latest instalment.”

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The Return of the Living Dead (1985)

Director: Dan O’Bannon

Cast: Clu Gulager, James Karen, Linnea Quigley

Genre/Sub-genre: Zombie horror

Tagline: They’re Back From The Grave and Ready To Party!

Reason to watch: Cult horror comedy, loaded with great ’80s special effects and plenty of gore. The Return of the Living Dead celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, which makes it ripe for a revisit.

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Dangerous Animals (2025)

Director: Sean Byrne

Cast: Hassie Harrison, Josh Heuston, Jai Courtney, and Rob Carlton

Genre/Sub-genre: Survival horror

Tagline: You’re safer in the water.

Reason to watch: “(Dangerous Animals) is a dark and twisted picture, and one which is confident in its approach and execution. There is a gritty realism to the elements of fantasy, and there are moments of beauty amongst the darkness.”

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28 Years Later (2025)

Director: Danny Boyle

Cast: Alfie Williams, Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jack O’Connell, Edvin Ryding, and Ralph Fiennes

Genre/Sub-genre: Survival horror

Tagline: In 28 days it began. In 28 weeks it spread. In 28 years it evolved.

Reason to watch: “28 Years Later is a great movie. The film provides plenty of thrills, some gruesome imagery, and a heartfelt story which places family and loved ones at the centre of the tale.”

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Presence (2024)

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Cast: Lucy Liu, Chris Sullivan, Callina Liang, and Eddy Maday

Genre/Sub-genre: Supernatural thriller

Tagline: In this house there is a presence.

Reason to watch: “While Presence may not be entirely original in what it does, and certainly has shades of Paranormal Activity about it (as well as the found footage genre in general), it is a thoroughly engrossing movie. The storytelling technique in play is first-rate, really capturing the imagination, while the sound, lighting, and staging of the drama keeps the investment level riding high.”

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Together (2025)

Director: Michael Shanks

Cast: Dave Franco and Alison Brie

Genre/Sub-genre: Body horror

Tagline: Join us.

Reason to watch: “(Together) gets to the heart of what ‘togetherness’ can mean, and uses the downside of relationship troubles to form an insightful horror.”

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Weapons (2025)

Director: Zach Creggers

Cast: Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Alden Ehrenreich, Benedict Wong, Amy Madigan, and Cary Christopher

Genre/Sub-genre: Supernatural mystery horror

Tagline: Last night at 2:17 a.m every child from Mrs. Gandy’s class woke up, got out of bed, went downstairs, opened the front door, walked into the dark …and they never came back.

Reason to watch: “Weapons is an impressive horror. It manages to frighten using very simple techniques, while the mystery is teased and twisted across the movie’s two hour runtime. The end result is a picture which keeps interest levels high, and nails continually bitten. It’s excellent, do take a look.”

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Casper (1995)

Director: Brad Silberling

Cast: Christina Ricci, Bill Pullman, Cathy Moriarty, and Eric Idle

Genre/Sub-genre: Supernatural family-fantasy

Tagline: Who says there’s no such thing as ghosts?

Reason to watch: Delightful spooky fantasy film, which provides perfect entertainment while pumpkin carving with the family. Casper celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2025, yet feels timeless.

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The Toxic Avenger (2023)

Director: Macon Blair

Cast: Peter Dinklage, Jacob Tremblay, Elijah Wood, Luisa Guerreiro, Julia Davis, and Kevin Bacon

Genre/Sub-genre: Superhero comedy horror

Tagline: The hero we need now.

Reason to watch: “If your idea of a great time at the cinema is watching something like Return of the Killer Tomatoes, then this latest take on Toxie will suit you fine.”

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Late Night with the Devil (2024)

Director: Colin and Cameron Cairnes

Cast: David Dastmalchian, Fayssal Bazzi, Ian Bliss, Laura Gordon, Ingrid Torelli, and Rhys Auteri

Genre/Sub-genre: Supernatural horror

Tagline: You don’t know what he sacrificed to get here.

Reason to watch: “Late Night with the Devil perfectly captures the ’70s aesthetic, as well as the overall vibe of 1970s horror. At times it plays like a homage to films of the past, yet at the same time it is very much its own thing, and is wonderfully disturbing when it needs to be.”

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The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025)

Director: Michael Chaves

Cast: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Mia Tomlinson, Rebecca Calder, and Elliot Cowan

Genre/Sub-genre: Supernatural horror

Tagline: The case that ended it all

Reason to watch: “Wilson and Farmiga are great and will be missed; the ending finds a way to pay tribute to films of the past; and if you are a fan of the series (irrespective of which movies work and which don’t) you will enjoy aspects of the film. The Conjuring: Last Rites also maintains the same consistent ominous tone of the previous entries in the series, so it definitely slots in neatly.”

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Alien: Earth (2025)

Director: Noah Hawley, Dana Gonzales, and Ugla Hauksdóttir

Cast: Sydney Chandler, Alex Lawther, Essie Davis, Babou Ceesay, Samuel Blenkin, Adarsh Gourav, Adrian Edmondson, and Timothy Olyphant

Genre/Sub-genre: TV sci-fi horror

Tagline: In 2120, Mother Earth is expecting.

Reason to watch: Slight change of pace with this one, as Alien: Earth is an eight-part television show on Disney+. Set two years before the events of 1979’s Alien, the show focuses on a space ship carrying alien specimens which has crashed into a city on Earth.

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Alien (1979)

Director: Ridley Scott

Cast: Sigourney Weaver, Ian Holm, Tom Skerritt, Veronica Cartwright, John Hurt, Yaphet Kotto, and Harry Dean Stanton

Genre/Sub-genre: Sci-fi horror

Tagline: In space no one can hear you scream.

Reason to watch: Great accompaniment to Alien: Earth, plus a milestone sci-fi horror. Even after all these years, Alien hasn’t lost any of its power to unnerve.

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Heretic (2024)

Director: Scott Beck and Bryan Woods

Cast: Chloe East, Sophie Thatcher, Topher Grace, and Hugh Grant

Genre/Sub-genre: Horror-thriller

Tagline: Question everything.

Reason to watch: “From start to finish (Heretic) holds the attention and tells a story which just keeps unravelling in strange and terrifying ways. Hugh Grant is superb, as are Chloe East and Sophie Thatcher, and the film is a must-see.”

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Speak No Evil (2024)

Director: James Watkins

Cast: James McAvoy, Aisling Franciosi, Scoot McNairy, and Mackenzie Davis

Genre/Sub-genre: Horror-thriller

Tagline: Hear no evil.

Reason to watch: “There is a continual sense of unease throughout (Speak No Evil) which keeps things interesting and you can’t help but get drawn into the story. There are also some superb performances, most notably from James McAvoy as Paddy. McAvoy brings an intensity to the role which fits both the narrative and the tone of the movie perfectly.”

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Immaculate (2024)

Director: Michael Mohan

Cast: Sydney Sweeney, Álvaro Morte, and Benedetta Porcaroli

Genre/Sub-genre: Psychological horror

Tagline: Deliver her from evil.

Reason to watch: “Immaculate is a superb horror movie, which hits all of the right notes in exactly the right order. The film uses isolation and mystery to create its story, wheels out the blood and gore to shock and surprise, and introduces a certain level of ambiguity to proceedings to prompt debate and discussion.”

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Vampire Hunter D (1985)

Director: Toyoo Ashida

Cast: Kaneto Shiozawa, Michie Tomizawa, Seizō Katō, and Keiko Toda

Genre/Sub-genre: Supernatural anime horror

Tagline: When our darkest dreams become real …reality becomes a nightmare!

Reason to watch: Marvellous post-apocalyptic vampire horror from 1985 which deserves a re-watch for its 40th anniversary year.

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Strange Darling (2023)

Director: JT Mollner

Cast: Willa Fitzgerald, Kyle Gallner, Barbara Hershey, and Ed Begley Jr.

Genre/Sub-genre: Mind-bending dark thriller

Tagline: Love hurts.

Reason to watch: “What you have with (Strange Darling) is something which explores the dark, twisted side of life, toxic relationships, and the ultimate game of cat and mouse. It has occasional flecks of Natural Born Killers and Promising Young Woman, while completely doing its own thing and doing it rather well.”

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Seven (1995)

Director: David Fincher

Cast: Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, and Gwyneth Paltrow

Genre/Sub-genre: Dark psychological thriller

Tagline: Seven deadly sins. Seven ways to die.

Reason to watch: “Thanks to its grim, rain soaked streets, its dark dank dwellings, and its generally grubby aesthetic, Seven has a way of pulling its audience into the drama and refusing to let go.” 

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Nosferatu (2024)

Director: Robert Eggers

Cast: Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Willem Dafoe, and Ralph Ineson

Genre/Sub-genre: Gothic horror

Tagline: Succumb to the darkness.

Reason to watch: “If you are after a film steeped in gothic sensibilities, enveloped in darkness, and keen to drag its audience into a nightmarish world, Nosferatu is one to watch. It may not grab everyone, but those who dig it will find it most agreeable.”

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The Long Walk (2025)

Director: Francis Lawrence

Cast: Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Garrett Wareing, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Judy Greer, and Mark Hamill

Genre/Sub-genre: Dystopian horror-thriller

Tagline: The task is simple: Walk or die.

Reason to watch: “The Long Walk is bleak and it’s brutal. It’s also very good. The film’s narrative about disheartened youths being paraded across the American landscape, all in the name of patriotism, does not get lost. Nor does its emotional core, or its harsh realism.”

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Bring Her Back (2025)

Director: Danny and Michael Philippou

Cast: Sally Hawkins, Billy Barratt, Sora Wong, and Sally-Anne Upton

Genre/Sub-genre: Supernatural horror

Tagline: Family requires sacrifices.

Reason to watch: “Bring Her Back is another triumph from the Philippous, as well as another excellent Aussie horror, following this year’s Dangerous Animals. The film is unrelenting when it comes to its story, it is incredibly atmospheric, and is highly recommended.”

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Corpse Bride (2005)

Director: Tim Burton

Cast: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Watson, Tracey Ullman, Paul Whitehouse, Joanna Lumley, Albert Finney, Richard E. Grant, Jane Horrocks, Christopher Lee, and Michael Gough

Genre/Sub-genre: Stop-motion supernatural fantasy

Tagline: Loving You Is Like Loving The Dead.

Reason to watch: Annual Tim Burton favourite which this year celebrates its 20th anniversary.

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Lisa Frankenstein (2024)

Director: Zelda Williams

Cast: Kathryn Newton and Cole Sprouse

Genre/Sub-genre: Horror-comedy

Tagline: Dig up someone special.

Reason to watch: “There’s an early Tim Burton feel to the picture, with a bit of John Hughes thrown in for good measure, and if this sounds right up your street, then I expect Lisa Frankenstein will work for you.”

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And finally…

Halloween (1978)

Director: John Carpenter 

Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasence, P. J. Soles, and Nancy Loomis

Genre/Sub-genre: Slasher 

Tagline: The night he came home.

Reason to watch: Scary, atmospheric, and easily the most iconic horror for the spooky season. Halloween is a must-watch every year.

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Thank you for stopping by It’s A Stampede! to read this edition of Movie Reviews Special. For more posts be sure to check out the recommended reads below.