October brings a strong selection of horror releases, spanning creature features, supernatural scares, found-footage thrills, psychological tension and restored cinema classics. Here are ten titles scheduled for Australian horror fans to keep an eye on this month.
Release details below reflect the supplied schedule. Australian cinema and streaming dates may vary, so check local listings before planning a session. For more entertainment and gaming coverage, visit the RETROCADE Arcade Blog.
October 2 releases
Beware Boiúna
In cinemas: October 2
Kiana Madeira, Jessica Rothe and Logan Marshall-Green lead this monster adventure set in the Amazon rainforest. A team of young doctors travels deep into the region on a medical outreach mission, only to encounter hostile locals and Boiúna, a gigantic mythological snake that hunts through the area.
Verity
In cinemas: October 2
Directed by Michael Showalter, this erotic thriller adapts Colleen Hoover’s novel. Dakota Johnson plays Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling ghostwriter hired by Jeremy Crawford, played by Josh Hartnett, to finish the final book of his wife Verity, portrayed by Anne Hathaway. After an accident leaves the celebrated mystery author unable to write, Lowen moves into the Crawford home and becomes increasingly fixated on Verity and her life.
The Influencer Project
In cinemas: October 2
This found-footage horror story follows Chiara King, playing herself, as she travels to Copenhagen with a documentary crew. The promised project is meant to give followers an unfiltered view of her life, but the trip changes when a local stalker takes an interest in her. The Blair Witch Project filmmakers Eduardo Sánchez and Gregg Hale are producers.
Appofeniacs
In cinemas: October 2
Chris Marrs Piliero directs this anthology-style horror film, which examines the destructive possibilities of generative artificial intelligence. Its connected vignettes include a rideshare driver who encounters an unstable passenger and a girl targeted by an online smear campaign. The ensemble cast includes Sean Gunn.
Other Mommy
In cinemas: October 2
Rob Savage directs this adaptation of Incidents Around the House. Arabella Olivia Clarke plays a young girl troubled by a supernatural being that resembles her mother, played by Jessica Chastain. The film attracted online attention after its trailer appeared with The Odyssey, particularly for a brief sequence featuring disturbing contortions.
October 16 releases
The Devils
In cinemas: October 16
Ken Russell’s controversial 1971 film returns in a 4K director’s cut presenting his complete vision, released 15 years after his death. Based on Aldous Huxley’s The Devils of Loudun, the story concerns a 17th-century priest accused of seducing an entire convent before being burned at the stake. Oliver Reed and Vanessa Redgrave star in performances widely regarded as career highlights.
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Crawlers
In cinemas: October 16
Ángel Gómez Hernández directs this creature feature about venomous spiders overrunning an apartment building. Police quarantine the property while its manager, played by Matilda Lutz, uses her knowledge of the building to help residents survive. Her task is made more difficult by her own arachnophobia.
Breeder
In cinemas: October 16, limited release
After premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival earlier in the year, this film receives a limited theatrical release. Daniel Doheny plays a cash-strapped university student who finds an online bargain: accommodation at a remote ranch owned by a poodle breeder, played by Dot-Marie Jones, who offers to fund his research. The arrangement comes with work, however, and the breeder’s ambitions extend far beyond dogs.
Hallowarrior
On Shudder following its Tribeca Film Festival premiere
Ben Sottak’s post-apocalyptic horror follows Pumpkin, played by Milly Shapiro, across a devastated wasteland. She fills her isolated life with Halloween decorations until scavengers arrive promising a way out. Their offer becomes dangerous, forcing Pumpkin to fight for survival.
Whalefall
In cinemas: October 16
Adapted from Daniel Kraus’ novel, Whalefall is written and directed by Brian Duffield. Austin Abrams plays a scuba diver searching the ocean for his father’s remains. The mission takes an extraordinary turn when he is swallowed by a sperm whale, leaving him with just one hour of oxygen.
Choose your October viewing setup
These films cover everything from classic controversy and literary suspense to spiders, snakes, artificial intelligence and survival horror. If you are building a dedicated entertainment space, the arcade machine buying guide can help you choose the right setup, while bartop arcades suit smaller rooms.
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