It List guide to Halloween: The spooky, seasonal films and TV shows perfect for fright and delight
Check out these thrills in chills to celebrate Halloween.
Welcome to the It List Fall Guide, where we share our picks for the best in entertainment. Catch the weekly It List here for the latest releases that we can't wait to watch, stream, listen to, read and binge.
Buzzy horror movies and television shows have been rolling out all year long, and Halloween marks the perfect time to catch up on them.
There are new series still airing new episodes as well as full TV seasons ready to binge. The most talked-about scary movies of the year are just waiting for you to grab a ticket — and some are available to stream right from your couch.
Yahoo Entertainment selected our favorite new shows and movies to enjoy this season, from the laughably spooky to the downright terrifying — and assigned them jack-o-lanterns (1-5) based on just how scary they are.
TV shows to binge
????♀? Grotesquerie grosses us out
How to watch: The first nine episodes of Grotesquerie are streaming on Hulu. The tenth and final episode airs Oct. 30 on FX and streams the next day on Hulu.
What to know: The series follows Detective Lois Tryon (Niecy Nash-Betts) as she investigates a gruesome series of murders as her struggles with family and addiction mount.
Why I recommend it: Travis Kelce officially made his pivot from football player to dramatic actor in the show, in which he plays a deliciously mysterious character. His co-stars raved about his work ethic.
Rating: TV-MA
Scare factor: ??????????
?? Hysteria! Investigates a small-town mystery
How to watch: All eight episodes of Hysteria! are streaming on Peacock.
What to know: A high school heavy metal band leans into the occult aesthetic during the satanic panic, and things get complicated when mysterious happenings start to plague their small town.
Why I recommend it: Star Julie Bowen pulls off a gripping action scene in the first episode. She took on the role to break free from Modern Family typecasting.
Rating: TV-MA
Scare factor: ??????
?? Before confronts the past
How to watch: The first two episodes of Before are streaming on Apple TV+. New episodes stream on Fridays.
What to know: After his wife’s tragic death, a psychiatrist (Billy Crystal) encounters a child with a haunting connection to his past.
Why I recommend it: Rosie Perez, who plays the child’s foster mother, said her emotionally demanding scenes gave her nightmares. You know it’s good when even the actors are getting spooked.
Rating: TV-MA
Scare factor: ??????
?? What We Do in the Shadows descends into darkness
How to watch: What We Do in the Shadows Seasons 1 to 5 are streaming on Hulu, as well as the first four episodes of Season 6. New episodes stream on Mondays.
What to know: The mockumentary series follows the antics of vampire roommates, who supply a lot of levity for creatures always shrouded by nightfall.
Why I recommend it: The final season is airing just in time to set the vibe for one last Halloween. After all, what’s scarier than a beloved story meeting its end?
Rating: TV-MA
Scare factor: ????
Movies to watch
?? Trap lures us in
How to watch: Trap is now streaming on Max.
What to know: M. Night Shyamalan’s latest twisty thriller follows a dad (Josh Hartnett) who takes his teenage daughter to a pop concert, only to learn it’s a trap for a serial killer.
Why I recommend it: It’s Silence of the Lambs meets the “Eras Tour,” which means it’s perfect for costume season.
Rating: PG-13
Scare factor: ????
?? Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice shows the silly side of spooky season
How to watch: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is available for purchase through Prime Video, Apple TV and other PVOD platforms.
What to know: Winona Ryder and Michael Keaton return for another romp featuring bizarre creatures of the afterlife, old and new (as well as Jenna Ortega).
Why I recommend it: It harnesses the joyful weirdness of the original 1988 movie, which you can stream on Max.
Rating: PG-13
Scare factor: ????
?? The Substance brings unsettling body horror to the big screen
How to watch: The Substance is in theaters and starts streaming on Mubi Oct. 31.
What to know: On her 50th birthday, a fitness guru is offered a mysterious substance to unleash a better version of herself. It skewers Hollywood’s treatment of aging women while delivering unforgettable body horror.
Why I recommend it: You’ve probably heard about how stunning Demi Moore is and how viscerally disgusting some parts are. Neither of those things can be overstated.
Rating: R
Scare factor: ????????
?? Terrifier 3 shocks and disgusts theatergoers
How to watch: Terrifier 3 is now in theaters.
What to know: Art the Clown terrorizes a town before Christmas in the third installment of the small-budget slasher franchise.
Why I recommend it: The independent (and purposefully unrated) film is probably most notorious for attracting big audiences and making some people flee the theater. See it if you dare.
Rating: Unrated
Scare factor: ??????????
?? Smile 2 makes a smashing debut
How to watch: Smile 2 is now in theaters.
What to know: A singer preparing to make a comeback is plagued by a parasitic, smile-inducing demon and the torturous reality of her own fame.
Why I recommend it: The horror of pop stardom is a hot topic right now. The movie has a lot of jump scares, but the cultural commentary left me haunted. There’s a reason so many people are rushing to the box office.
Rating: R
Scare factor: ??????????
??Honorable mention: It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is a timeless treat
How to watch: It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is streaming on Apple TV+.
What to know: The Peanuts gang gets up to their usual seasonal antics in this classic special from 1966. Snoopy prepares his doghouse for an aerial battle as Linus awaits a visit from the elusive Great Pumpkin.
Why I recommend it: It might be decades old, but it’s a must-watch every year for me.
Rating: G
Scare factor: ??
Looking for more fall fun? Check out our guides: