At last, October has arrived! October brings with it the beginning of the Halloween season, a favourite time of year for many. Halloween is a popular time for trick-or-treating with friends, attending costume parties, and exploring haunted attractions. But, what if one desires to spend their season in a different way? For some, this time of the year season is better spent staying at home, far from all the chaos, and watching a sinister horror movie. With all its gory effects, frightful soundtracks, and horrifying jumpscares, now is the greatest time to appreciate a horror movie. So, here are 5 movies to watch this upcoming Halloween season!

Insidious (2010)

This film is a horror movie classic. Insidious is a 2010 supernatural horror film. In terms of the Insidious series’ inherent chronology, it is both the first and third installment. Dalton, the son of Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne, unexpectedly falls into a coma and becomes a conduit for a number of demonic beings through astral projection. When it appears to the parents that their new home is haunted and that their unconscious son is possessed by a malevolent spirit, the parents resort to extreme measures and are willing to do absolutely anything to save their son. How will Patrick and Rose deal with the horrific terror of two dimensions clashing and protect their once peaceful family? The Insidious series opens up a new universe of terror and intrigue. Insidious (2010) is available on Amazon Prime. 

The Conjuring (2013)

A 2013 supernatural horror film, The Conjuring is a part of the Conjuring universe franchise. The Warrens come to the rescue of the Perrons, who in 1971 began to encounter more unsettling occurrences at their newly occupied farmhouse in Rhode Island. Discover the malevolent spirit haunting this tranquil family with Ed and Lorraine Warren. Will they be able to overcome this force which has proven to be vicious and demonic? The Conjuring is renowned for its eerie soundscapes, terrifying jumpscares, and a disturbing plot that may not follow what one would expect. This film is the first of a spine-tingling trilogy that allows viewers to fully immerse themselves in the terrifying yet captivating Conjuring universe. The Conjuring (2013) is available on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Vudu. 

The Nun II (2023)

American Gothic supernatural horror film The Nun II, often referred to as The Nun: Chapter Two, was made in 2023 and is directed by Micheal Chaves. This movie begins with a priest being brutally murdered in France in 1956, and Sister Irene begins investigating into it. She encounters an evil force head-on once again. The cast of The Nun II comprises of Taissa Farmiga, Jonas Bloquet and Bonnie Aarons, with Storm Reid and Anna Popplewell joining the cast. Valak, the demon nun is played by Bonnie Aarons, who does an exceptional job of portraying the terrifying essence of the demon. The Nun II (2023) is available on HBO Max and is currently in theatres.

Talk to Me (2022)

Talk to Me is a 2022 Australian supernatural thriller film. This film follows the story of a group of teenagers who discover that they can communicate with the dead by using an enigmatic embalmed hand. As the group becomes addicted to the thrill and high risks of this party game, they regret taking their endeavours too far when one tests the limits and unleashes deadly forces. The second anniversary of her mother’s death from overdose is extremely difficult for Mia, as she also tries to save her friend, Riley and confront her new reality. Follow the group of teenagers as they go through difficult experiences while working together to achieve a common goal—saving the people they care about. Talk to Me (2022) is available on Paramount+.

Smile (2022)

Based on the short film Laura Hasn’t Slept directed by Parker Finn, the movie Smile is a 2022 psychological horror film. It follows a therapist, Dr. Rose Cotter, who undergoes a series of ominous and terrifying experiences after witnessing the death of a patient, leading her to conclude that there is an otherworldly force working in play. In order to survive and escape her new horrific actuality as an immense terror slowly consumes her life, Rose must confront her troubled past. Caution: this eerie and unsettling movie deals with some very serious themes and it is a frightening and gruesome horror movie. that is not advised to be watched alone. However, this movie is definitely worth watching as the plot develops and an unexpected truth is revealed. Smile (2022)  is available on Apple TV and Prime.