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The best recent horror films to (re)watch for Halloween
Whether you want to face your greatest fears or just shudder for one night, the horror genre is on the rise in the film industry. Often synonymous with box office success, horror films are growing in number each year, becoming ever more inventive in the way they terrify us. Among a prankster demon, a killer clown and a deadly serum, here are the best recent horror releases to (re)watch for Halloween.
and Nathan Merchadier.
Frankenstein, among the must-watch horror films for Halloween
To say the wait was long is an understatement. While the announcement was first made about a decade ago, the project directed by Oscar-winning Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro (The Shape of Water, 2017) is finally set to premiere on Netflix on November 7th, 2025.
After multiple failed attempts, the famous American streaming platform eventually allowed the director to bring his vision to life. The film premiered in competition at the 2025 Venice Film Festival. Boasting a stellar cast that includes Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth and Christoph Waltz, Frankenstein promises a dark and poetic reinterpretation of the legendary myth…
Frankenstein by Guillermo del Toro, coming out on Netflix on November 7th, 2025.
Sinners, a wild vampire film
After Black Panther (2018), director Ryan Coogler reunites with actor Michael B. Jordan in Sinners (2025). A fantastical, horrifying, and political film, which has been one of this year’s major successes. Set in America in the 1930s, the story unfolds against the backdrop of a country torn apart by segregation.
We follow Elijah “Smoke” and Elias “Stack,” twin brothers both played by Michael B. Jordan, who return to Mississippi after a stint in Chicago. They dream of transforming an old abandoned sawmill into a blues club. But the foundations of the place are steeped in old stories, cursed legends, supernatural presences… and vampires.
With its bloodshed and retro aesthetic, Sinners tackles head-on the racial violence characteristic of that time. The brutality of the Ku Klux Klan takes on the appearance of a gothic nightmare, driven by a phenomenal soundtrack.
Sinners (2025) by Ryan Coogler, airing on October 31st, 2025, on Canal+.
MaXXXine starring Mia Goth
A few years after the niche projects X and Pearl, American director Ti West wraps up his provocative trilogy with a new sexy and terrifying film titled MaXXXine (2024). In this latest chapter, Maxine Minx (brilliantly played by Mia Goth) is a former porn actress and only survivor of the X massacre navigating the neon-lit nights of Los Angeles.
After casting Jenna Ortega (Wednesday) in X (2022), Ti West once again surrounds himself with a star-studded cast. The film stars Lily Collins (Emily in Paris) and Elizabeth Debicki (The Crown). Released in cinemas in 2024, MaXXXine is undoubtedly one of the must-watch horror films for Halloween.
MaXXXine (2024) by Ti West, starring Mia Goth, available on MyCanal.
The Substance starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley
Seven years after her debut film Revenge, Coralie Fargeat‘s return was eagerly-awaited by many film enthusiasts. Last year, at the Cannes Film Festival, the filmmaker unveiled The Substance. This feminist, over-the-top horror movie starred the incredible Demi Moore in the lead role. On the Croisette, tension peaked as audiences were confronted with the director’s gory visuals.
The Substance tells the story of Elizabeth Sparkle, a middle-aged television star fired from her own show because the industry deems her too old. She decides to use a mysterious serum sold on the dark web, supposedly designed to grant her a second youth.
However, the substance gives birth to a sort of alter ego named Sue (played by Margaret Qualley), who is younger, more perfect, and more dangerous. A scathing critique of the entertainment industry, The Substance earned Coralie Fargeat the award for Best Screenplay in Cannes and marked Demi Moore‘s powerful comeback in Hollywood.
The Substance (2024) by Coralie Fargeat, starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley, available on MyCanal.
Heretic with Hugh Grant and Sophie Thatcher
After charming audiences alongside Timothée Chalamet in Wonka (2023), Hugh Grant embraces the role of a villain. In Heretic, a film produced by A24 (Midsommar, Bodies Bodies Bodies), two young Mormon women visit Mr. Reed, a seemingly harmless man, hoping to convert him to Christianity. But they soon realize that they are trapped inside a house built like a labyrinth. Sophie Thatcher (MaXXXine, Yellowjackets) and Chloe East (The Fabelmans) star alongside Hugh Grant in this bloodcurdling feature.
Heretic (2024) by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, starring Hugh Grant and Sophie Thatcher, available on MyCanal.
Nosferatu starring Lily-Rose Depp and Bill Skarsgård
In 1922, Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau brought Bram Stoker’s cult novel Dracula to the silver screen. Upon its release, Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror instantly became a landmark in the history of cinema and a source of inspiration for countless vampire movies. A century later, Robert Eggers rewrites the iconic black-and-white horror film with his own hypnotic, gothic take on Nosferatu. In this ode to gothic cinema, Bill Skarsgård (It, The Crow) takes on the role of the new dark monster haunting Transylvania in the 1830s. As for Lily-Rose Depp, she may well be crowned Hollywood’s new scream queen with her portrayal of Ellen Hutter. Other reasons to go watch Nosferatu? The stellar cast also includes Willem Dafoe, Emma Corrin, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.
Nosferatu (2024) by Robert Eggers, starring Lily-Rose Depp and Bill Skarsgård, available on MyCanal.
Smile 2 starring Naomi Scott
Following the massive box-office success of the first instalment in 2022, Smile 2 returns with its sinister demon, which manifests by hijacking people’s faces with ear-to-ear smiles. After haunting a psychiatric hospital, the terror now moves on to the music industry. This time, the victim is a pop star named Skye Riley, a character reminiscent of Lady Gaga, who falls under the demon’s influence. Naomi Scott (Aladdin) delivers a standout performance, earning her place among the new scream queens to watch closely. Ray Nicholson, son of The Shining legend Jack Nicholson, and Drew Barrymore (Scream) are also part of the cast. A sequel that will give your the creeps… and a few laughs along the way.
Smile 2 (2024) by Parker Finn, starring Naomi Scott and Ray Nicholson, available on MyCanal.
Woman of the Hour with Anna Kendrick
After A Simple Favor starring Blake Lively, Anna Kendrick returns in a psychological thriller for Netflix titled Woman of the Hour. In addition to directing the project, the Pitch Perfect star takes on the lead role as Cheryl Bradshaw, an actress attending audition after audition hoping to land her breakout role. When opportunity finally knocks, she seizes it and joins a reality TV show called The Dating Game. The premise is simple: Cheryl must pick her perfect match. But what if one of the contestants turns out to be a criminal wanted by the police? With Daniel Zovatto (Station Eleven, Lady Bird) and Tony Hale (Veep) also on board, this just might be the perfect Halloween thriller to watch curled up under a blanket.
Woman of the Hour (2024) by Anna Kendrick, starring Anna Kendrick and Tony Hale, available on Netflix.
Don’t Move starring Finn Wittrock
On October 25th, 2024, Netflix released Don’t Move, a new horror film produced by none other than Sam Raimi (Evil Dead). This nerve-racking thriller follows a young woman being hunted by a serial killer in the forest. Her escape becomes even more harrowing when a paralytic agent begins to flow through her veins. She has about 20 minutes, watch on the wrist, before being completely paralysed. Starring Finn Wittrock (American Horror Story) and Kelsey Asbille, Don’t Move is a frightening race against the clock.
Don’t Move (2024) by Adam Schindler and Brian Netto, available on Netflix.
