5 Other Movies to Watch This Halloween
This October, instead of only watching the usual horror movie fare like the original Halloween series, Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street and the usual things that go bump in the night, let’s try some of these lesser-known horror films on for size.
Now, if you’ve seen these movies, consider this validation of your exquisite taste and feel free to use this article when trying to convince others of your movie suggestions.
The Final Girls (2015)
Fans of the slasher films of the late 70s, and all through the 80s? Then The Final Girls is the movie for you! It’s been three years since Max’s (Taissa Farmiga) mother (Malin Akerman) passed away. Max has been struggling to move on. But when she’s convinced to attend the 20th anniversary of her mother’s performance in an 80s slasher movie, Camp Bloodbath, a journey of self-discovery and survival begins as Max and her friends are trapped inside the movie and must survive to get out.
This film plays with the genre and its tropes and has a heck of a lot of fun doing it. But don’t be fooled, because this film is driven by the mother-daughter relationship, and there is some real heart in the middle of this slasher homage flick.
Bonus. We cover this film in our upcoming Forgotten Horror 8: Butler Takes Manhattan series at Forgotten Cinema. Check out what we thought of the movie!
Disturbing Behavior (1998)
Maybe it’s the 90s teenager in me, but there’s just something fun about DisturbingBehavior. This invasion of the body snatchers (sorta, kinda) call back being played out this time in a small-town high school takes itself seriously enough where the audience is allowed to enjoy the story being told. And at the end of the day, isn’t that all we want?
Katie Holmes at the height of her Dawson’s Creek fame alongside a young James Marsden, fighting a horde of micro-chipped popular kids holds its own against those other popular 90s horror movies. This movie holds a special place in my heart as well, as it was one of the more memorable movie-going experience of mine.
But that isn’t solely why it’s on this list. This movie has developed a cult following, and maybe it’s time we all revisit it this spooky season. It’s a fun watch, and a movie that deserves the love.
Guess what? We did cover it on the show! I know…shameless self-plug.
Cuckoo (2024)
If you know your cuckoo bird facts, you’re going to get a sense of what this horror movie is about. But your massive knowledge shouldn’t deter you from watching! This horror film came out only two years ago, but I get the sense it’s been lost in the shuffle of the multitude of horror films, especially indie horror films, that have been released.
Gretchen (Hunter Schafer) has been struggling after the death of her mother, so as a way to cope with the grief, her father and stepmother, and half-sister take a trip to the Bavarian Alps! What could go wrong? Well, if the resort you’re staying at is run by Dan Stevens…then everything and anything will go wrong.
This film is creepy, interesting and well worth a watch. I’m not saying you’ll like it or love it, you may not be into it, but you’ll be thinking about it for days after, and that’s a mark of a really well-told story.
Sick (2022)
One day, I would love to examine the era of cinema that took place during the Covid-19 pandemic. There are many different avenues we could take with it. We have a lot of movies with minimal locations and minimal casts that felt like we were watching something a little different. And then you have movies that would usethe pandemic and quarantine as a subplot in their stories. We also have movies that people completely forgot existed.
The movie, Sick, lies in all three of these categories.
Co-written by Kevin Williamson (Scream, people!) and directed by John Hyams, Sick tells the story of two best friends who choose to quarantine together at a secluded lake house. But guess what? You guessed it. They’re not alone. The isolation and fear of the quarantine is used here to heighten the tension, and we get a tight, lean horror film that is an entertaining watch.
This film came out on Peacock in 2022, and only comes up in the algorithm during the Halloween season. Catch it, if you can, this year!
Demon Seed (1977)
Here’s the brief description: A scientist creates Proteus, an organic supercomputer with artificial intelligence which becomes obsessed with human beings, and in particular the creator’s wife.
AI, you say? Well, well, well….long before Skynet went self-aware….but a little after Hal wouldn’t open those pod bay doors, we get Proteus looking to create life. And yes, it’s exactly what you’re thinking about.
I’ve developed an affinity for films from the 1970s, especially in the sci-fi and horror genres, and Demon Seed doesn’t disappoint. It’s not perfect, but what movie is? This film is an interesting watch, and if you’re into horror movies or have started your film theory journey, I highly recommend you watch this wild ride of a movie.
What Have I Missed?
I could go on and on suggesting movies for your horror movie watch this October. There are dozens of titles floating around in my head right now. This list created here was based on having a good time while watching. So, please, if you’ve got some suggestions. Send them my way! If you’re a fan of the Forgotten Cinema show, we take movie suggestions.
About the Author:
Michael Field has been telling stories his whole life—on film sets, behind microphones, on the page, and in late-night writing sessions that stretch until morning. From short films and feature scripts to podcasts, digital series, and novels, he is drawn to characters who wrestle with identity, legacy, and the choices that define them.
Over the years, he has directed more than a hundred shorts, co-created the Forgotten Cinema podcast, and written scripts that blend pulp adventure, supernatural mystery, and human drama. His novels carry that same mix of heart, danger, and imagination, expanding his storytelling into new mediums and audiences. Storytelling isn’t just his career; it’s the way he moves through the world.
Website: MichaeldField.com
Podcast: Forgotten Cinema
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