Film Fix — Streaming
October 2026
By Jonathan W. Hickman
October streaming options transform an ordinary evening at home into a visit to
somewhere spooky: a haunted island, a cursed summer camp, or a house with something
creepy behind the walls. This month’s choices include new versions of classic nightmares
and a few seasonal discoveries. There is also room for viewers who prefer their scares
with some romance or humor.
Netflix:
Netflix pairs a recent award-winning coastal mystery with a Gothic romance set in a
crumbling mansion that is equal parts inviting and dangerous.
“Below” (October 8) — Josh Hartnett plays Calvin, a Newfoundland fisherman whose
community is invaded by a mysterious sea creature. When his son Wade (Charlie Heaton)
begins showing alarming symptoms, Calvin joins forces with marine biologist Fonda
(Mackenzie Davis). The six-part series reportedly offers an appealing combination of
recognizable actors and a setting with texture. “Below” appears to be one of the month’s
more intriguing new premises.
“Crimson Peak” (October 1) Fix Rating 7/10 — Oscar-winning writer/director
Guillermo del Toro’s 2015 “Crimson Peak” follows a young woman (Mia Wasikowska)
into the ancestral home of her dashing new husband (Tom Hiddleston) and his unsettling
sister (Jessica Chastain). Ghosts are part of the attraction, but the family secrets are just
as important. For viewers who want Halloween atmosphere without another masked
killer chasing teenagers, the elaborate costumes and decaying house offer a different kind
of escape. Think Gothic romance matched with a very troubling set of in-laws.
Prime Video:
Prime’s big horror event returns to Stephen King’s first published novel, with a
filmmaker who is vested in faithfully adapting the great writer’s work.
“Carrie” (October 7) — Mike Flanagan, whose credits include “The Haunting of Hill
House” and “Midnight Mass,” expands King’s book (one of his shortest novels) into an
eight-episode series. Summer H. Howell plays Carrie White, the isolated teenager whose
emerging powers make the cruelty of her classmates especially consequential. Samantha
Sloyan plays her overly religious mother, Margaret. All eight episodes hit the platform
simultaneously, which means that you can binge it in one lazy weekend. Still, Brian De
Palma’s 1976 adaptation of the same source material remains a formidable comparison,
but the longer format that Flanagan has perfected could give Carrie’s home life and
school relationships more room to develop.
Apple TV+:
Apple’s Halloween selections are already available, making this a good month to catch
up rather than wait for a premiere.
“Widow’s Bay” (Already streaming) Fix Rating 8/10 — This award-winning hit show
stars Matthew Rhys as Tom Loftis, the mayor of a struggling New England island town.
Tom’s big idea is to make Widow’s Bay a tourist destination. The locals believe the
island is cursed, an inconvenient reputation for anyone trying to fill hotel rooms.
Unfortunately, their fears have an unpleasant history. Created by Katie Dippold, the
series mixes supernatural horror with comedy. Stephen Root and Kate O’Flynn co-star.
Small-town boosterism meets a very difficult public-relations problem.
“The Gorge” (Already streaming) Fix Rating 6/10 — Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy
play exceptional skilled operatives assigned to guard opposite sides of a mysterious
gorge. Their instructions and geography keep them apart, but naturally, a relationship
develops as they watch for whatever is lurking in the gorge below. Director Scott
Derrickson, whose horror credits include “Sinister” and “The Black Phone,” combines
romance with a monster mystery. The irresistible movie star pairing makes this a possible
compromise for couples with different appetites for horror: a love and monster story
thriller.
HBO Max:
HBO Max offers two recent theatrical horror films, with an established franchise at one
end and an internet-born nightmare at the other.
“Evil Dead Burn” (October 2) — Director Sébastien Vaniček takes charge of the latest
installment in the demonic-possession franchise. Souheila Yacoub plays a woman who
seeks refuge with her late husband’s family, only to find herself facing a much worse
ordeal as relatives become Deadites. Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert produce. The premise
puts a particularly ugly spin on family hospitality. This is the selection for viewers who
want their October horror bloody and aggressive; anyone looking for a gentle ghost story
should choose elsewhere.
“Backrooms” (Already streaming) Fix Rating 6/10 — YouTuber Kane Parsons brings
his online horror phenomenon (an adaptation of the creepy pasta meme) to a feature
starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve. A strange doorway in a furniture
showroom opens onto a liminal space that should not exist. The appeal is the unease of
ordinary-looking rooms that no longer obey ordinary rules. Viewers who have never
encountered the internet stories do not need to study them first. The basic fear is easy to
grasp: you step somewhere familiar and discover that getting home may be impossible.
After the initial introduction to the liminal world, “Backrooms” gets repetitive.
Hulu:
Hulu has a returning television horror institution and a theatrical sequel that once again
turns survival into a deadly contest.
“American Horror Story: 13” (New episodes through October) — Ryan Murphy and
Brad Falchuk’s anthology reaches its appropriately numbered 13th installment, which
began in September. FX is promoting the return of regular performers in fan-favorite
roles, making this season especially important to series completists. After so many
haunted houses, witches, and other elaborate horrors, the challenge is giving this reunion
a reason to exist beyond mere fan service and callbacks. Catching this one on Hulu is a
convenient way to follow the season through the Halloween month without keeping up
with FX appointment TV.
“Ready or Not 2: Here I Come” (Already streaming) — Samara Weaving is back as
Grace, whose bloody escape from the first film’s murderous family unfortunately lands
her in a much larger game. This time around, she’s joined by her estranged sister Faith
(Kathryn Newton), as four rival families are hunting them. The sequel offers a Halloween
option for viewers who enjoy dark comedy alongside the bloodshed. Start with the
original if you have not met Grace; the appeal of the follow-up rests partly on knowing
just how much she has already survived.
Peacock:
Peacock returns to Camp Crystal Lake while also offering an animated choice for
households that want spooky rather than gory.
“Crystal Lake” (October 15) — Linda Cardellini (see “DTF: St. Louis”) plays Pamela
Voorhees in this eight-episode prequel to “Friday the 13th.” Created by Brad Caleb Kane,
the series explores the mother behind one of horror’s most recognizable family names.
Cardellini’s casting is the strongest reason to take another trip to the summer camp. A
longer story could make Pamela more than the murderous mother a famous killer,
although the series will still have to satisfy viewers expecting the franchise’s violence.
Along with this series, Peacock also adds the first three “Friday the 13th” films on
October 1.
“Coraline” (October 1) Fix Rating 8/10 — Henry Selick’s stop-motion adaptation of
Neil Gaiman’s story follows a girl into an alternate version of her home, where the
attention she craves comes at a frightening price. The button-eyed Other Mother remains
a wonderfully disturbing creation. Animation makes this a more accessible seasonal
choice than the month’s adult horror releases, but parents should remember that
accessible does not mean harmless. Younger or sensitive children may find its sinister
household and threats of captivity quite scary.
The October Film Fix streaming watch list starts with “Carrie” and “Below,” with
“Crystal Lake” close behind. For an evening without a new-series commitment,
“Crimson Peak” supplies the haunted-house atmosphere, while “The Gorge” offers
romance and thrills with its monsters. Families can consider “Coraline,” provided the children are ready for it. The hardest part may be deciding which nightmare to invite into
your living room first.
