9 horror movies to stream in October 2026
October brings a broad selection of horror to streaming services, from landmark slashers and supernatural thrillers to vampire films, body horror and unsettling genre hybrids. Australian viewers can choose a familiar classic or discover a newer nightmare for a late-night session.
For a suitably atmospheric setup, browse RETROCADE’s arcade machines or explore compact bartop arcades for a dedicated entertainment space.
Bones and All (2022)
- Available on: Pluto
- Runtime: 2h 10m
- Director: Luca Guadagnino
- Cast: Taylor Russell, Timothée Chalamet, Michael Stuhlbarg
Bones and All turns a road romance into a graphic tale of two young cannibals. Maren, played by Taylor Russell, leaves home seeking her mother and an explanation for her violent cravings. She meets Lee, played by Timothée Chalamet, and their attempt to build a life together combines tenderness, danger and murder.
Doctor Sleep (2019)
- Available on: Paramount Plus
- Runtime: 2h 32m
- Director: Mike Flanagan
- Cast: Ewan McGregor, Rebecca Ferguson, Kyliegh Curran
Set 31 years after The Shining, this Stephen King adaptation follows Danny Torrance as he deals with the trauma of his father’s rampage. Danny’s psychic ability draws him towards a girl who shares “the Shining”, placing both of them in danger from a ruthless vampire.
From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)
- Available on: Paramount Plus
- Runtime: 1h 48m
- Director: Robert Rodriguez
- Cast: Harvey Keitel, George Clooney, Quentin Tarantino
Robert Rodriguez’s cult film begins as a crime thriller before abruptly becoming grindhouse vampire horror. Bank robbers Seth and Richie Gecko cross into Mexico and head for an all-night strip club, where the staff and performers reveal their supernatural nature. The surviving characters must fight until sunrise.
It Follows (2014)
- Available on: Paramount Plus
- Runtime: 1h 40m
- Director: David Robert Mitchell
- Cast: Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist, Daniel Zovatto, Jake Weary
After Jay has sex with Hugh, he explains that an unseen entity will pursue her until she passes the curse to somebody else through sex. The young woman can see the approaching force while others cannot, forcing her to search for answers and find a way to stay alive.
Hokum (2026)
- Available on: Hulu
- Runtime: 1h 47m
- Director: Damian McCarthy
- Cast: Adam Scott, Florence Ordesh, Peter Coonan
American writer Ohm Bauman travels to an Irish hotel connected to his parents’ honeymoon so he can scatter their ashes. The honeymoon suite is locked and rumoured to be haunted by a witch. As Ohm questions the locals and hotel staff, buried secrets and his own history become increasingly difficult to escape.
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
- Available on: HBO
- Runtime: 1h 31m
- Director: Wes Craven
- Cast: John Saxon, Robert Englund, Heather Langenkamp
Wes Craven’s influential horror film makes sleep dangerous. Freddy Krueger, portrayed by Robert Englund, enters the dreams of a group of teenagers and kills them there. The film is regarded as one of horror’s strongest releases and launched a long-running series of sequels.
Psycho (1960)
- Available on: Netflix
- Runtime: 1h 49m
- Director: Alfred Hitchcock
- Cast: Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles, John Gavin, Janet Leigh
Alfred Hitchcock’s suspense classic follows Marion Crane after she takes stolen money and checks into the isolated Bates Motel. Its famous shower sequence remains one of cinema’s best-known scenes, while the film’s motel mystery helped shape the slasher tradition.
Scream (1996)
- Available on: Pluto
- Runtime: 1h 51m
- Director: Wes Craven
- Cast: David Arquette, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox
Scream uses horror knowledge as both a weapon and a survival skill. High school students targeted by a masked killer attempt to apply the rules of scary movies while the film itself plays with slasher conventions. Pluto also carries the four sequels for viewers wanting a marathon.
Freaks (2019)
- Available on: HBO
- Runtime: 1h 45m
- Directors: Adam Stein and Zach Lipovsky
- Cast: Emile Hirsch, Bruce Dern, Grace Park, Lexy Kolker
Seven-year-old Chloe has never left the run-down suburban house where her father, Henry, keeps her hidden from supposedly dangerous people outside. As their tense relationship worsens, the film gradually reveals why the home is isolated and what Chloe and Henry are struggling to control.
The Sixth Sense (1999)
- Available on: Netflix
- Runtime: 1h 47m
- Director: M. Night Shyamalan
- Cast: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Haley Joel Osment
Child psychiatrist Malcolm Crowe seeks redemption after a former patient dies by helping Cole Sear, a boy who can see ghosts. Together they try to help the dead find peace. The film established M. Night Shyamalan’s reputation for twist endings and remains one of his most recognised works.
Want more interactive entertainment after the credits? RETROCADE’s arcade light guns suit horror-themed shooters, while the arcade parts range can help with repairs and upgrades.
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