Here are 5 horror must-see horror movies headed to HBO Max in October
HBO Max has been a solid destination for horror, with access to several Warner Brothers and A24 titles. This October, the streamer is stacked with horror franchises and classic genre movies. There's plenty to keep genre hounds entertained, and here are some of our recommendations.
Freaks
Freaks was directed by Tod Browning, one of the most important directors of early horror movies, having helmed Dracula (1931) for Universal and then the movie Freaks. The pre-Code genre movie stars Olga Baclanova as a cunning and treacherous trapeze artist. She plans to swindle the little person and wealthy circus performer Hans (Harry Earles) out of his money by marrying him. The movie has so many iconic scenes, including a wedding banquet where the performers chant, "Gabba, gabba, we accept you, we accept you, one of us," only to find out later that Cleopatra plans to screw over Hans. The movie's final few minutes are still just as potent and powerful today, when the performers indeed get their revenge in defense of Hans.
The Nightmare on Elm Street franchise
If you're in the mood for a slasher franchise, well, then you're in luck. A Nightmare on Elm Street 1-5 are landing on HBO Max this month, along with the 2010 remake. It's always the perfect time of year to have a Freddy marathon, but if you don't have time to binge watch all of them, consider just watching the original movie and A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, often cited as the two favorites among the fans.
Evil Dead Burn
Probably the biggest new release on HBO Max this month, at least in terms of horror movies, is Evil Dead Burn. The movie stars Souheila Yacoub as Alice, a grief-stricken young woman who has to battle the Deadites and well, her deceased husband's family who do not like her much. Evil Dead Burn is a nasty and gory movie that lacks the humor of some of the franchise's earlier entries when Sam Raimi was in the director's chair. That said, for fans of the franchise, there's still some connective tissue here and great kills. Make sure to watch past the credits.
The Exorcist
The Exorcist is likely one of the most watched horror movies during spooky season, but it's also a film that warrants rewatches for little tidbits that viewers might have missed during the first go-around or two. Director William Friedkin's iconic film stars Linda Blair as Regan, a sweet girl who is soon possessed by a demon. Her mother, Chris (Ellen Burstyn), tries everything to save her, including medical tests and psychiatric help. She eventually enlists Father Damien Karras (Jason Miller) and Father Merrin (Max von Sydow) to perform an exorcism. The Exorcist tackles several subjects, including Father Karras' increasing doubt in his faith, post 1960s-America, and the nature of evil itself. Even if you've seen the movie a few times, this month is a great time to rewatch it.
Trick 'r Treat
The horror anthology Trick 'r Treat truly is the perfect Halloween movie. Sam, the spirit of Halloween, has become synonymous with the season. You can't step into a store this time of year without seeing him on a T-shirt, mug, or other merchandise. Director Michael Dougherty's film has gorgeous set designs and costumes, including houses adorned with pumpkins and shots of costumed kids oaming the neighborhood, as Sam watches in the background. The film also has a great werewolf transformation scene starring Anna Paquin. It's really the perfect movie to watch this month.
Besides the movies mentioned above, HBO Max is also adding Friday the 13th, Freddy vs. Jason, The Walking Dead, The Shining, and more.
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