24 new scary movies and shows dropping the first week of October 2024

September had no shortage of horror content, but October will obviously be the month to beat when it comes to new scary movies and television shows to watch. From Netflix to Max to Hulu, there's plenty to get excited about as we finally kick off the best month of the year.

Netflix & Chills continues with the debut of movies like The Platform 2 and the Sundance breakout It's What's Inside, while Huluween delivers the Sarah Paulson-led film Hold Your Breath, and Max finally premieres its long-gestating Salem's Lot adaptation.

On the television side of things, prepare to do quite a bit of channel-hopping between the start of Freeform's annual "31 Days of Halloween" marathon, AMC's FearFest, and the premieres of Scare Tactics and Scariest House in America.

Keep reading to find out all of the scary content dropping this week on streamers and linear television.

20 horror movies dropping this week

Salem's Lot (Max, Oct. 3)

Five years after the modern Salem's Lot adaptation was announced, viewers will finally be able to experience the terrors of Jerusalem's Lot for themselves this week. Feeling stuck in his writer's block, Ben Mears (Lewis Pullman) returns to his childhood home, only to discover that the entire place has been overrun by vampires. Gary Dauberman (Annabelle Comes Home) helms the 2024 adaptation of Stephen King's 1975 horror novel starring Makenzie Leigh, Bill Camp, Pilou Asbæk, Alfre Woodard, and William Sadler.

Hold Your Breath (Hulu Oct. 3)

Acclaimed actress Sarah Paulson stars in this Hulu Original film from Searchlight Pictures. Set in 1930s Oklahoma, Paulson plays a traumatized young mother struggling to overcome a past incident. When a dust storm kicks up, she begins thinking a dark presence has come for her and must do whatever it takes to protect her daughter.

House of Spoils (Prime Video, Oct. 3)

After making its Fantastic Fest debut in September, this supernatural horror movie lands on Prime Video this week. The latest Amazon/Blumhouse collaboration, House of Spoils, stars Ariana DeBose as a chef who strikes out on her own to start her own restaurant in a beautiful, haunted estate, only to be met with obstacles at every turn due to the lingering spirit of the previous owner. Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle Krudy direct (Blow the Man Down).

V/H/S/Beyond (Shudder, Oct. 4)

The seventh overall entry in this long-running found-footage anthology franchise debuts on Shudder this Friday and is already being hailed as one of the best in the series. Featuring the directorial debut of Kate Siegel—based on a script by her husband and horror icon Mike Flanagan—and new shorts from Justin and Christian Long, Jay Cheel, Justin Martinez, and more, V/H/S/Beyond promises to be a bold, terrifying, and exciting entry into this beloved franchise.

It's What's Inside (Netflix, Oct. 4)

Netflix snagged this comedy-horror after it premiered to rave reviews at this year's Sundance Film Festival. Taking place at a pre-wedding party, a group of friends find themselves thrust into a genuine nightmare when an estranged friend shows up late touting a mysterious suitcase.

The Platform 2 (Netflix, Oct. 4)

A sequel to one of Netflix's top-performing non-English language films of all time, The Platform 2 introduces two mysterious new characters played by The Snow Girl star Milena Smith and Hovik Keuchkerian, best known for his work on Money Heist. Just like the first film, the "Vertical Self-Management System" is the real star here, along with someone attempting to impose a brutal new rule within the unorthodox prison.

• Strange Darling, VOD, Oct. 1 - Acclaimed horror-thriller arrives on digital
• The Deserving, VOD, Oct. 1 - Serial killer tormented at home by ghosts of his victims
• The Curse of the Necklace, VOD, Oct. 1 - A gift goes bad when it turns out it's haunted by an evil spirit
• Gremlins: The Wild Batch, Max, Oct. 3 - Follow-up to "Secrets of the Mogwai"
• Haunt Season, Select Theaters, Oct. 4 - A Halloween attraction turns into a night of terror when a masked man starts attacking
• Monster Summer, Theaters, Oct. 4 - David Henrie directs this adventure-horror film starring Lorraine Bracco, Mason Thames, and Mel Gibson
• Spin the Bottle, VOD, Oct. 4 - Paramount film starring Justin Long about a game of spin the bottle gone terribly awry
• Little Bites, Theaters/VOD, Oct. 4 - A mother allows a monstrous creature to feast on her to save her child
• The Radleys, Select Theaters/VOD, Oct. 4 - Comedy-horror film about a vampire family
• Operation Blood Hunt, VOD, Oct. 4 - Group of military rejects get attacked by werewolves in the South Pacific
• Things Will Be Different, VOD/Select Theaters, Oct. 4 - Sci-fi thriller film
• The Forest Hills, Select Theaters, Oct. 4 - Horror-thriller, Shelley Duvall's final on-screen performance
• Frankie Freako, Select Theaters, Oct. 4 - New film from Psycho Goreman director
• The Menendez Brothers, Netflix, Oct. 7 - Documentary about Erik and Lyle Menendez

4 scary shows starting up this week

The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula season 6, Shudder - Oct. 1

Also dubbed "season 666," the titular brothers Dracmorda and Swanthula return to find this season's next iconic drag "supermonster."

Unsolved Mysteries volume 5 (Netflix, Oct. 2)

The latest volume of episodes for the documentary series features a batch of cases perfect for the Halloween season. This time around, viewers will learn the surprisingly dark and in-depth truth behind thousands of cattle mutilations, an update on Roswell, and more.

Scare Tactics (USA Network, Oct. 4)

This Jordan Peele-produced reimagining of the popular hidden camera prank show returns and will premiere Friday, Oct. 4 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on USA Network. The episode will also air simultaneously across Bravo, SYFY and E!.

Scariest House in America (HGTV, Oct. 4)

Retta returns to host this HGTV follow-up to Ugliest House in America, featuring the actress and comedian touring the country for the spookiest properties. The scariest house will receive a $150,000 renovation from designer Alison Victoria. Premieres on HGTV Friday, Oct. 4, at 9 p.m. ET/PT

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