We love a good horror film. In 2023, we had the likes of Shake, Rattle & Roll Extreme and Sister Death to torment us. Now that it’s October once again, there’s a new batch of horror films that will try to have us on the edge of our seats.
Whether it’s a story that shows the mundane as menacing, a new Filipino zombie movie, or famous rom-com actors taking a shot at being scary, let’s see if these particular new local and foreign films are truly petrifying.
Catch these seven films premiering in October and November this year:
1. Outside. Directed by Carlo Ledesma. Showing October 17 on Netflix.
“You can’t keep out what’s already inside.”
In this thrilling local zombie film, parents Francis (Sid Lucero) and Iris (Beauty Gonzales) take their sons to Francis’ remote childhood farmhouse to seek sanctuary. Viewers are left to wonder whether Francis, Iris, and the idyllic area will be able to keep the monsters away from their family.
2. Nanay, Tatay. Directed by Roni S. Benaid. Showing October 30 in SM Cinemas.
“Nanay… Tatay… Ano’ng tinatago niyo sa bahay?”
Family secrets plague in this official entry to the Sine Sindak 2024 film festival. After the loss of their 13-year-old daughter Malena, parents (Andrea Del Rosario, Jeffrey Hidalgo) welcome three girls in need (Xia Vigor, Aubrey Caraan, Heart Ryan) to their home. It gets interesting when they start experiencing supernatural occurrences in their new house, leaving them to wonder what really happened to Malena.
3. Pasahero. Directed by Roman Perez, Jr. Showing October 30 in SM Cinemas.
“Seven passengers will pay the price.”
Another movie in the lineup of Sine Sindak 2024 is Pasahero. After a gruesome crime committed on a train, seven passengers are haunted by their inaction.
4. Hold Your Breath. Directed by Will Joines and Karrie Crouse. Streaming October 3 on Hulu.
“If you breathe him in, he’ll make you do terrible things.”
Set in 1930s Oklahoma, United States, a mother (Sarah Paulson) safeguards her daughters (Amiah Miller, Alona Jane Robbins) from extreme dust storms. She becomes obsessively worried that they’re dealing with something more sinister than dust — a gray man said to make one do terrible things.
Hold Your Breath is part of the Toronto International Film Festival 2024 lineup.
5. Smile 2. Directed by Parker Finn. Showing October 18 in theaters.
“Discover what hides behind this smile.”
In the sequel to 2022’s Smile, global pop star Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) starts seeing eerie smiles after witnessing the death of a schoolmate from high school (Lukas Gage). The torment escalates, leaving Skye to grapple with maintaining control amidst preparations for her new world tour.
6. House of Spoils. Directed by Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle Krudy. Streaming October 3 on Prime Video.
“Once you get a taste, you’ll be dying for more.”
This psychological thriller follows a determined chef (Ariana DeBose) who’s set to open her first restaurant at a manor upstate. Apart from the chaos of working in the kitchen and setting up a business, she must also face the sinister specter of the estate’s previous owner.
7. Heretic. Directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods. Showing November 8 in theaters.
Heretic is a horror movie from A24 Films starring rom-com icon Hugh Grant. The story follows Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East) in their missionary efforts. This leads them to the door of Mr. Reed (Grant), who later forces them to make a life-threatening decision between belief and disbelief.
Think you’ll be spooked by these films? Let us know! – Felise Calza/Rappler.com
Felise Calza is a Digital Communications volunteer at Rappler. A caffeinated writing major, she is a Communication Arts student at the University of the Philippines-Los Baños. She also enjoys getting involved in collective zines, thrifting, and assembling melodramatic song playlists.
